Spotify in-stream video ads must have sound: no silent files

Spotify's in-stream video ad specs take creative up to 30 seconds in 9:16 or 16:9 as MOV or MP4 up to 500 MB, and say: all files must include sound, and no silent videos will be accepted. A generated video can come out silent, so check before upload. Sume's Video inspect probe reports whether a clip has audio, and its docs show that probe is free when you skip stills and transcription.

The spec

Spotify lists a bit rate of 198 to 320 kbps as the maximum on its page, which reads like an audio figure, so ask Spotify if it applies to your file. It also asks for a 1:1 companion image of at least 600 by 600 in JPEG or PNG.

Check, then fix

Video inspect with frames: false is a probe-only call. The docs say a silent clip fails transcription with inspect_source_has_no_audio and that you should check probe.has_audio first. Apply the same check before upload.

If the clip is silent, the Videos API has a generate_audio field on models that support it, per the docs. Otherwise add a track on the timeline, whose audio spine runs 1 to 1800 seconds.

Limits

Spotify's loudness numbers need a measurement tool. Sume's docs list no loudness normalizer, so confirm levels outside before you submit.

Spotify says it can accept any creative up to 30 seconds. A 30 second spot rendered on Timeline bills as one minute at $0.10, per the docs.