Cheap Shotcut Randomizer

Desktop app for randomizing and generating optimized Shotcut video project playlists using simulated annealing algorithms.

Note: AI upscaling and frame interpolation features have been moved to CheapUpscaler.

Features

Playlist Management

• Shuffle Playlists - Randomly reorder clips with one click
• Generate Smart Compilations - Create optimized playlists from multiple sources
• Advanced Controls - Fine-tune selection with duration and clip count weights
• Non-Destructive - Original projects are never modified

MLT/Shotcut Rendering

• Melt Integration - Render Shotcut projects directly via melt
• Multi-track Support - Select specific video and audio tracks for rendering
• In/Out Points - Render specific ranges using Shotcut markers
• Background Queue - Queue multiple render jobs with persistent SQLite storage
• Crash Recovery - Resume interrupted jobs automatically on startup

Dependency Management

• Auto-Detection - Automatic detection of FFmpeg, FFprobe, and Melt
• SVP Integration - Detects SVP's bundled FFmpeg for optimal encoding
• Installation Options - Chocolatey, portable, or manual installation
• First-Run Wizard - Guided setup on first launch

Usage

Playlist Randomization

1. Load Project - Select your .mlt Shotcut project file
2. Shuffle - Click shuffle button next to any playlist, or
3. Generate Compilation:
   • Check playlists to include
   • Adjust weights (optional):
     • Duration Weight: 0-20 (higher = prefer shorter clips, 4 = recommended)
     • Number of Videos Weight: 0-5 (higher = more clips, 0.8 = recommended)
   • Set target duration per playlist with slider (0 = use all)
   • Click "Generate Random Playlist"

Output files: OriginalName.Random[####].mlt

Video Rendering

1. Open Render Queue - Navigate to Render Queue page
2. Add Job - Click "Add Render Job"
3. Select Source - Choose MLT project file
4. Configure Settings - Codec, CRF, preset, track selection
5. Add to Queue - Job processes automatically in background

Algorithm

Uses simulated annealing optimization to select the best combination of clips based on:

• Target duration constraints
• Duration weight preferences
• Number of videos weight preferences

Building

Prerequisites

• .NET 10.0 SDK

Build

dotnet build

Publish Single Executable

dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64

Output: bin/Release/net10.0/win-x64/publish/CheapShotcutRandomizer.exe

This creates a self-contained single-file executable (~90MB) that includes the .NET runtime.

Requirements

• Windows 10/11
• FFmpeg (video encoding)
• Melt (Shotcut rendering) - Install Shotcut

Tech Stack

• Blazor Server + Avalonia (CheapAvaloniaBlazor)
• MudBlazor UI components
• Entity Framework Core + SQLite (job persistence)
• FFmpeg (video encoding/decoding)
• CheapHelpers (utilities)

Related Projects

• CheapUpscaler - AI upscaling (Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN) and frame interpolation (RIFE)
• CheapAvaloniaBlazor - Cross-platform Blazor desktop framework
• CheapHelpers - Shared utility library

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