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First Setup

What to do the first time you launch Glambot Studio Desktop, after installing it.

Initial configuration

First launch​

On first launch you land on the project manager, which lists your projects and their state (Local, Server, Synced). From here you sign in, then create a new project or open an existing one.

How projects work

Projects live inside the app and stay continuously synced with the cloud — there's no project file to manage. If this is new to you, read Managing Projects first.

Step 1: Sign in to your account​

Sign in when you launch the app so it can sync with the cloud:

  1. Click Connect to cloud on the project manager (or Glambot Studio → Login in the menu bar).
  2. Enter your Glambot Studio account email and password.
  3. Click Connect.

Cloud connection

Once connected you'll see your account email and a Connected status, and syncing is unlocked: Server projects can be opened and new projects can be created in the cloud.

Working offline

If you have no connection at launch, you can still work. Create a project and it starts in Draft mode — transcodes carry a watermark and uploads are capped at a short preview limit — until you sign in and create its cloud project. See Managing Projects.

Step 2: Choose your organization​

If you belong to more than one organization, pick the right one from the organization selector at the top of the project manager. The project list updates to show that organization's projects.

If a project you expect is missing, it's usually because a different organization is selected, or because the project doesn't exist yet at dashboard.glambot-studio.app.

Step 3: Create or open a project​

Open an existing cloud project​

  1. On the project manager, find a Server project (☁️ badge).
  2. Double-click it — it downloads to your Mac and becomes Synced.

Create a new project​

  1. Click New Project.
  2. Give it a descriptive name (e.g. "Jean & Marie Wedding").
  3. The project opens in Draft mode. To put it in the cloud, use the Create your cloud project banner inside the project: click its button to open your browser, create the project on the cloud, and the app syncs it down as a Synced project.
No project file to manage

You don't choose a file location for a project. The project lives inside the app and is mirrored to the cloud. Video files themselves still live in the import and transcode folders you configure below.

Full details on states, the cloud link, and offline behavior: Managing Projects and Sync & Offline.

Step 4: Configure working folders​

Define where files are imported and transcoded.

Import folder​

Where imported files are copied:

  1. Click "Configure Import Folder".
  2. Select or create a folder, e.g. /Users/yourName/GlambotProjects/Wedding2024/Import.

Transcode folder​

Where transcoded files are stored:

  1. Click "Configure Transcode Folder".
  2. Select or create a folder, e.g. /Users/yourName/GlambotProjects/Wedding2024/Transcoded.

Folders configuration

Disk space

Make sure the disk has enough room: HD/Full HD 100 GB minimum, 4K 500 GB minimum, intensive production 1 TB+.

Step 5: Default transcode settings​

These apply by default to every import.

Output format​

  1. Container: MP4 (recommended), MOV, or WebM
  2. Video codec: H.264 (compatible), H.265 (compact), or ProRes (max quality)
  3. Resolution: keep original, or force 1080p / 4K

Quality and performance​

  1. Quality preset: Fast, Balanced (recommended), or High quality
  2. Hardware encoding: enabled (Apple Silicon recommended), threads on Auto

Transcode settings

Color grading (optional)​

Color grading isn't part of the transcode defaults. You set it up later in the Video Editing tab, as a setting of each Effect Group — there is no automatic grading. See Automatic Editing and the Color Correction guide.

Step 6: Finish​

Review the summary (account, project, folders, transcode settings) and click "Complete". The app opens with your project ready.

You can change any of this later from Preferences (Cmd + ,): General, Folders, and Transcode. Color grading and editing live in the Video Editing tab.

Troubleshooting first setup​

Can't sign in​

  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. Verify your email/password by logging in at dashboard.glambot-studio.app.
  3. Contact support if it persists.

No cloud project appears​

  1. Confirm you're signed in and in the right organization.
  2. Create the project at dashboard.glambot-studio.app if it doesn't exist.
  3. Refresh the project list.

Folder creation error​

  1. Check you have write permission to the location.
  2. Choose a folder outside System/Applications.
  3. Create it in Finder first, then select it.

Next steps​

  1. Managing Projects — the project manager and the local/cloud link
  2. Import Services — automatic watchfolders
  3. Import & Transcode — process your footage

Need help? Check the Troubleshooting section.