With zero provider keys the whole pipeline runs. Generations queue, route, "render", score, produce assets with full provenance, land on the timeline and export an EDL.
The output is a deterministic local placeholder, clearly labelled as mock throughout the UI. Nothing pretends to be a real render.
What changes when you add keys:
| Add | Unlocks |
|---|---|
| Any model provider key | Real image and video generation |
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY | The four generative writing functions, the LLM Director, translation |
FFMPEG_PATH | Master render, measured LUFS, audio stem files |
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY | Any payment actually completing |
| An embedding provider | True semantic and visual asset search |
MOONVALLEY_API_KEY | Cleared Content mode |
Every surface reports which of these it has. Nothing fails obscurely because a key is missing — it tells you which key and what it would enable.