> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.memorystring.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.memorystring.app/get-started/essential-studio.md). # Essential and Studio Essential and Studio in MemoryString: the same free app at two depths. What each mode shows in the Inspector. **Essential** and **Studio** are two levels of the same app. The toolbar segmented control switches between them. The project file is the same. **Studio** shows more Inspector tabs and options. ![Essential selected on the toolbar](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-680c4b5862e67402e1e301408389b4a4bfad4522%2Ftoolbar-essential.png?alt=media) ![Studio selected on the toolbar](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a0ac8fc6cb49e90614fce8d2b518f454801d72b2%2Ftoolbar-studio.png?alt=media) **View → Switch to Studio Mode** / **Switch to Essential Mode** does the same. ## Inspector tabs **Essential** shows **Style**, **Titles**, **Audio**, and **Format**. **Studio** adds **Motion**. ![Essential inspector tabs](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9856c50df099a6b2dd380ce039cf1db6c5c06b7d%2Finspector-essential-tabs.png?alt=media) ![Studio inspector tabs](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-fc75d61457955810016a284bc889eb57753c4a57%2Finspector-tabs.png?alt=media) ![Essential Style inspector](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8ef798c9d42956ba9b8337aa37ffd7e5f54cf14b%2Finspector-essential-style.png?alt=media) ## What changes | | Essential | Studio | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Inspector tabs | Style, Titles, Audio, Format | those plus **Motion** | | Style → **Stage Intensity** | Hidden | Slider under Dark / Light | | Style → **Customize** | Hidden | Plate, Ambience, Lens Effects, Film, Atmosphere & Decals | | Captions | Type in the clip bar; bulk Auto Caption / Clear | plus **Type & Placement** (every installed font, each name in its own type; color, size, align, motion, placement, shade) and **Caption Details** (what auto captions say, and in which language) | | Opening background | Choose / remove a still | plus Start zoom, Slow Zoom, Soften, Color / Grayscale. Loudness is Titles → Opening → Stage → Intensity | | Opening **Text** (font, color, size, align, outline, shadow) | Hidden. Type in the title field | Shown (every installed font, each name in its own type) | | Opening Card & Motion | None | Frame, Motion, Lens, Decoration | | Closing words | **Show closing words**; box starts with **The End** | plus font, color, size, align, ornament, legibility | | Smooth play | Auto-warms on **Play**; **Preparing smooth playback** card until the next five photo slides are ready; **Stop** while warming | Auto-warms on **Play** without blocking; **Warm Now** and **Stop** on the transport row | | Per-slide **Lens Effect** (right-click) | Hidden | Timeline / Library / opening card | | Export **Quality** | Compact / Share / High / Best (slider; default **Share**) | same slider, plus target Mbps | Looks, Energy, Stage, Photo Size, Format, music, import, and export work in both modes. **Essential import:** if the **Library** was empty or already **Oldest First**, new stills auto-sort **Oldest First (Story Order)**. **Studio** does not. **⌘Z** undoes it. **Keep Best Shots** and **Auto Trim** work in both modes ([Auto detection](/build-your-movie/auto-detection.md#keep-best-shots)). {% hint style="info" %} **MemoryString → Reset All Settings…** restores app preferences only (mode, text size, chrome layout, library badges, walkthrough flag). It does **not** change the open slideshow. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://docs.memorystring.app/get-started/essential-studio.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. 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