MediaRuntime Python SDK

Official synchronous Python client for the MediaRuntime asynchronous media API.

Status: production/stable 1.3.0, published on PyPI with GitHub trusted publishing.

The documented 1.x public API follows semantic versioning. Breaking changes to public imports, arguments, exceptions, or documented response projections require a new major version; compatible fields and capabilities may be added in minor releases.

Install

pip install mediaruntime

For a complete clone-and-run project, see the MediaRuntime Python quickstart. The shared repository also includes webhook receivers, Postman guidance, and equivalent Node.js, Go, and PHP examples.

Set MEDIARUNTIME_API_KEY; the production API URL is built in. Pass the server-held key explicitly when you want the credential source to be visible in application code.

import os

from mediaruntime import MediaRuntime

media = MediaRuntime(api_key=os.environ["MEDIARUNTIME_API_KEY"])
job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./video.mp4",
    outputs=["video.web"],
    idempotency_key="video:vid_123:v1",
)

# Polling is convenient for scripts, tests, and first-run verification.
result = job.wait(timeout=300)
bundle_url = result.bundle.get("download_url")
if result.status != "COMPLETED" or not bundle_url:
    raise RuntimeError(f"MediaRuntime job ended with {result.status}")
print(bundle_url)

bundle_url is a short-lived URL for the canonical ZIP containing every requested deliverable. One job can place a video, poster, subtitles, multiple renditions, or a complete HLS directory tree in that bundle; the SDK does not model those files as separate delivery URLs.

In production, persist job.id and complete the workflow from the signed terminal webhook sent to the destination configured under Account → Webhooks. Redeem delivery.bundle.download.url from that event for the same ZIP. A job submission does not supply or override the webhook URL.

MediaRuntime() without arguments is equivalent: it reads MEDIARUNTIME_API_KEY automatically. Never put the key in frontend code or commit its literal value.

Aliases are frozen gateway contracts: video.web, video.streaming, video.social, audio.web, audio.transcription, and image.web. The gateway materializes them before validation, estimation, billing, and persistence. Explicit { "type": ..., "preset": ... } output dictionaries remain supported and may be mixed with aliases.

Hosted recipes

Hosted recipes are immutable, account-scoped versions of a complete outputs, moderation, and watermark policy. They let several services and teammates run the same policy without copying request configuration.

available = media.recipes.list()

created = media.recipes.create(
    name="team-video",
    description="Default web playback policy",
    template={"outputs": ["video.web"]},
)

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./launch.mp4",
    recipe=created.reference,  # team-video@1
    metadata={"asset_id": "launch-01"},
)

Use media.recipes.get(name, version=...), create_version(...), and archive(name) to manage custom policies. Versions are immutable and optimistically locked. Built-ins web-video@1, social-video@1, and ai-transcription@1 are always available. A recipe job cannot also supply inline outputs, moderation, or watermark; the gateway resolves it before validation, estimation, billing, idempotency, and dispatch.

HTTP(S) and gs:// sources are submitted directly. Other strings and pathlib.Path instances are treated as local files and uploaded through MediaRuntime's signed upload flow.

Hosted Sticker Runtime

Use media.stickers to configure application collections and access enabled hosted packs. Collection configuration uses the same server-held API key as the rest of the SDK and does not purchase or activate a pack.

collection = media.stickers.create_collection(
    name="Support chat",
    description="Approved stickers available to support agents",
)

# The pack must already have an active Hosted Sticker Runtime activation.
media.stickers.enable_pack(collection.collection_id, "sage-summer-v1")

# Binding the collection once prevents accidental cross-collection searches.
stickers = media.stickers.collection(collection.collection_id)
matches = stickers.search("beach", animated=True, limit=12)
if not matches.items:
    raise RuntimeError("No matching sticker is enabled")

selected = matches.items[0]
asset = stickers.resolve(selected.sticker_id, "small_160")
print(asset.url)  # Five-minute, generation-pinned private delivery URL.

The collection-bound client also provides list_packs(), typeahead(), and get(). Workspace management is available through list_collections(), get_collection(), update_collection(), archive_collection(), list_pack_bindings(), add_activation(), enable_pack(), and disable_pack(). Disabling a pack removes it from new discovery while the gateway preserves eligible historical asset resolution. Read current pooled limits and usage with media.stickers.usage().

API keys belong only on trusted servers. If a browser or mobile application must call runtime reads directly, mint a short-lived, collection-scoped token on your server and return only that token to the client:

token = media.stickers.create_client_token(
    collection_id=collection.collection_id,
    expires_in_seconds=900,
    scopes=["stickers:search", "stickers:read", "assets:resolve"],
)

# This resource sends Authorization: Bearer and never sends the workspace API key.
client_stickers = media.stickers.collection(
    collection.collection_id,
    client_token=token.access_token,
)
result = client_stickers.search("hello")

Scoped tokens cannot alter collections or read workspace usage. The gateway rechecks the parent API key on every token-authenticated call, so revoking the key invalidates its outstanding client tokens. Signed asset URLs authorize at most the reported byte count; authoritative delivered-byte accounting remains a storage/CDN concern.

Batch inputs

Use source on every batch item. Each value accepts the same HTTP(S), gs://, local-path, or pathlib.Path forms as a single job; the SDK uploads local files before submission.

batch = media.jobs.create(
    inputs=[
        {"source": "https://cdn.example.com/a.mp4", "input_id": "asset-a"},
        {"source": "./b.mp4", "input_id": "asset-b", "metadata": {"position": 1}},
    ],
    outputs=["video.web"],
)

Animated WebP and APNG

Animated images use type: "image" with a timeline-specific Premium preset. The Python SDK accepts the gateway request fields directly:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./launch.mp4",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "image",
            "preset": "image_animated_webp_v1",
            "animation": {
                "width": 720,
                "fps": 15,
                "start_time": 0,
                "duration": 6,
                "loop": 0,
                "quality": 80,
            },
        }
    ],
)

Use image_animated_apng_v1 for lossless animated PNG. loop: 0 repeats forever; quality applies only to WebP. Watermarking these animation presets is rejected until that combination is explicitly supported.

BlurHash, ThumbHash, and LQIP

The Standard image_placeholders_v1 preset accepts a still image or video and returns placeholders.json plus a byte-bounded lqip.webp in the canonical ZIP bundle:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./product-photo.png",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "image",
            "preset": "image_placeholders_v1",
            "placeholders": {
                "max_dimension": 32,
                "source_time_sec": 0,
                "lqip_quality": 50,
                "lqip_max_bytes": 4096,
            },
        }
    ],
)

placeholders.json contains standard BlurHash and base64 ThumbHash values, explicit source and placeholder dimensions, source format, requested frame time, and an alpha-aware dominant colour. source_time_sec defaults to the first frame at 0; no representative-frame selection is performed. The job fails instead of silently exceeding lqip_max_bytes; watermarking this preset is rejected.

Audiograms

Compose timed audio with supplied artwork, a generated waveform, and optional supplied captions using the Premium audiogram_v1 preset:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./episode.mp3",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "social",
            "preset": "audiogram_v1",
            "audiogram": {
                "artwork_source": "https://cdn.example.com/podcast/cover.png",
                "captions_source": "https://cdn.example.com/podcast/episode.vtt",
                "burn_captions": True,
                "layout": "square",
                "artwork_fit": "blurred_background",
                "background_color": "#101827",
                "waveform_color": "#5B5CFF",
                "waveform_gain": 2,
                "caption_position": "bottom",
                "caption_font_scale": 1,
                "normalize_audio": True,
                "loudness_target_lufs": -16,
                "duration_sec": 60,
                "fps": 30,
            },
        }
    ],
)

Artwork must be PNG, JPEG, or WebP up to 10 MB; captions must be UTF-8 SRT or VTT up to 2 MB. Artwork can be contained, covered, or preserved over a blurred fill. Waveforms and captions use separate regions in a reserved high-contrast safe band; top and bottom select the caption strip and never place text over caller artwork. Multi-line cues scale down adaptively, and the caption-free poster is sampled after waveform activity begins. Loudness normalization is optional and reports its target plus measured input/output values. The ZIP contains audiogram.mp4, a caption-free poster.jpg, audiogram.json, and audiogram.waveform.json. Account watermarking and speech-generated subtitles cannot be combined with this preset in v1.

Composite video contact sheets

Use the Standard contact_sheet_v1 preset to produce numbered review grids plus contact_sheet.json, which maps every tile to its exact source timestamp:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./interview.mp4",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "frames",
            "preset": "contact_sheet_v1",
            "contact_sheet": {
                "columns": 5,
                "rows": 4,
                "tile_width": 240,
                "tile_height": 135,
                "interval_sec": 12,
                "start_time_sec": 0,
                "duration_sec": 0,  # remaining video
                "max_sheets": 3,
                "format": "jpg",
                "quality": 80,
            },
        }
    ],
)

Billing is one flat processing unit per produced composite sheet. Watermarking this preset is rejected. quality applies to JPG and WebP; PNG is lossless.

For JPG and WebP renditions, max_bytes is a hard final-file ceiling. The engine searches between quality and min_quality, verifies the encoded file, and fails instead of returning an oversized artifact:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./product-photo.png",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "image",
            "preset": "image_multi_v1",
            "images": [
                {
                    "width": 1280,
                    "height": 720,
                    "mode": "cover",
                    "format": "webp",
                    "quality": 86,
                    "max_bytes": 200_000,
                    "min_quality": 35,
                }
            ],
        }
    ],
)

The ZIP includes image_size_limits.json with the selected quality, final byte count, and bounded attempt history. PNG and AVIF do not currently accept max_bytes.

Privacy redaction

Privacy redaction is an explicit Premium Preview for still-image inputs and image outputs. Video and animated-image requests are rejected before billing and execution.

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./team-photo.jpg",
    outputs=[
        {
            "type": "image",
            "preset": "image_multi_v1",
            "images": [
                {
                    "width": 1280,
                    "height": 720,
                    "mode": "fit",
                    "format": "png",
                    "quality": 80,
                }
            ],
            "privacy_redaction": {
                "detectors": ["face", "license_plate", "text"],
                "style": "blur",
                "failure_mode": "fail_closed",
                "min_confidence": 0.65,
                "sample_interval_sec": 0.2,
                "max_frames": 1800,
                "box_padding_ratio": 0.15,
                "privacy_strength": "strong",
                "pixel_block_size": 24,
                "include_debug_observations": False,
            },
        }
    ],
)

Use report_only only when an unsafe or incomplete image is acceptable for review. fail_closed stops on detector failure, unresolved ambiguity, bounded-limit truncation, or a residual that remediation cannot eliminate. Recognizable residuals under blur or pixelation may be escalated to bounded opaque masks and verified again. The ZIP includes the redacted image and privacy_redaction.json schema v3. Public metadata reports stable detector categories, counts, verification outcomes, and ZIP-relative report_bundle_path and output_bundle_paths; it does not expose detector vendors, model identities, model or worker paths, bucket names, or raw OCR text. Automated recall is not exhaustive, so coverage_verified remains false and human review is required. Per-sample observations are included only when include_debug_observations is true.

Moderation

Choose observational report moderation or fail-closed block enforcement when creating a visual-media job, then retrieve its result after completion. In block mode, review or block ends the job as REJECTED before transcoding; allow continues.

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="https://cdn.example.com/photo.jpg",
    outputs=["image.web"],
    moderation={
        "enabled": True,
        "mode": "report",
        "checks": ["sexual", "violence", "dangerous"],
    },
    idempotency_key="image:photo_123:v1",
)

result = job.wait()
moderation = media.jobs.get_moderation(result.id)
print(result.status, moderation.verdict, moderation.flagged_checks)

For an actionable, versioned delivery verdict, request the compatibility sidecar and read it directly after completion (it also remains in the ZIP bundle):

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="https://cdn.example.com/video.webm",
    outputs=[{"type": "image", "preset": "compatibility_report_v1"}],
)
result = job.wait()
compatibility = media.jobs.get_compatibility_report(result.id)
print(compatibility.report["profiles"] if compatibility.report else None)

To extract QR codes and barcodes from an image, sampled video frames, or an audio file's embedded cover artwork, request code_detect_v1 and read the report:

job = media.jobs.create(
    source="./label.png",
    outputs=[{"type": "frames", "preset": "code_detect_v1"}],
)
job = media.jobs.wait(job.id)
codes = media.jobs.get_code_detections(job.id)
print(codes.report["detections"] if codes.report else [])

The engine samples the first visual frame and then every 10 seconds, up to 12 frames and 16 unique codes per frame. Plain audio without embedded artwork is rejected. Decoded values are untrusted input: render them as text and never automatically follow a detected URL.

The five named profiles are conservative, versioned guidance rather than exhaustive certification of every browser, device, editor, or social platform version.

Explicit output mappings support MPEG-DASH and VP9/WebM:

outputs = [
    {"type": "dash", "preset": "dash_ladder_v1"},
    {"type": "webm", "preset": "webm_vp9_1080p"},
]

media.capabilities.retrieve() includes the gateway's full preset catalog and feature contracts, including smart-crop semantics and moderation enforcement modes.

Verify webhooks

event = media.webhooks.verify(raw_body, request.headers)
print(event.id, event.job_id, event.status)

media.webhooks.flask(handler), fastapi(handler), and django(handler) provide optional framework adapters without making those frameworks package dependencies. Persist and deduplicate event.id in your own datastore before acknowledging a delivery.

Error handling

Every gateway response carries X-Request-Id. API exceptions expose the same correlation ID together with the gateway-owned code and retry classification:

from mediaruntime import MediaRuntimeAPIError

try:
    media.jobs.get("job_123")
except MediaRuntimeAPIError as error:
    print(error.code, error.status, error.retryable, error.request_id, error.details)

response_body retains the complete compatibility response. Treat retryable as a transport classification. Every jobs.create() call uses one opaque, invocation-scoped Idempotency-Key for its own bounded retries, including a response lost after gateway acceptance. That generated key exists only for the live call; a later call receives a new one. Continue to pass a stable idempotency_key when the same business operation may be attempted after a process restart, queue redelivery, or from another machine.

See the software design document for boundaries, retry safety, security behavior, compatibility, and release gates.