MiniMaxTutorial
MiniMaxHow to Use MiniMax H3 Fast API
A step-by-step MiniMax H3 Fast API tutorial with Node.js, Python and cURL: submit a text to video job, poll it or receive a webhook, and download the video. The example below costs $0.33.
- Endpoints
- 3
- Text to Video · Image to Video · Reference to Video
- Example request
- $0.33
- Text to Video
- Languages
- 3
- Node.js · Python · cURL
- Failed runs
- $0
- refunded automatically
Get an API key
Create an account, add credits and create a key in Dashboard → API keys. Store it as CHEAPERGEN_API_KEY on your server. Every request sends it as a bearer token.
Choose a MiniMax H3 Fast endpoint
Each task has its own endpoint. All of them take a JSON body and return a generation you can poll.
| Task | Endpoint | Required | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text to Video | minimax/h3-fast/text-to-video | prompt | $0.0369/s |
| Image to Video | minimax/h3-fast/image-to-video | prompt, image_url | $0.0369/s |
| Reference to Video | minimax/h3-fast/reference-to-video | prompt | $0.0369/s |
Submit a text to video job
This program submits the job, polls every 3 seconds until it finishes and prints the video URL. Swap the prompt and settings for your own.
const API = "https://cheapergen.com/api/v1";
const headers = {
Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CHEAPERGEN_API_KEY}`,
"Content-Type": "application/json",
};
// 1. Submit the job
let job = await fetch(`${API}/run/minimax/h3-fast/text-to-video`, {
method: "POST",
headers,
body: JSON.stringify({
"prompt": "A paper boat drifts down a rain-filled gutter at dusk, the patter of rain and a distant tram bell",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "768P",
"duration": 6
}),
}).then((r) => r.json());
// 2. Poll until it finishes (or pass webhook_url and skip polling)
while (job.status === "queued" || job.status === "running") {
await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
job = await fetch(`${API}/generations/${job.id}`, { headers }).then((r) => r.json());
}
console.log(job.status === "succeeded" ? job.output.video.url : job.error);Set the parameters that matter
The settings for minimax/h3-fast/text-to-video, with what each one does to the price.
| Parameter | Type · default | What it does | Price effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| aspect_ratio | string (enum) · 16:9 | Output frame shape. 16:9 · 9:16 · 1:1 · 4:3 · 3:4 · 21:9 | Yes |
| resolution | string (enum) · 768P | Output resolution. Higher resolutions cost more per second. 480P · 768P | 480P: $0.0369/s 768P: $0.0546/s |
| duration | integer · 6 | Length of the generated clip in seconds (4–15s). You pay per second. | Billed per second |
| seed | integer | Use the same seed and settings to reproduce a result. Leave empty for random. | None |
| enable_safety_checker | boolean · true | If set to true, the safety checker will be enabled. Content our Acceptable Use Policy prohibits stays blocked either way. | None |
Other MiniMax H3 Fast endpoints take the same shape with their own inputs:
POST /api/v1/run/minimax/h3-fast/image-to-video
{
"prompt": "The flower opens slowly in the morning light, birdsong in the background",
"image_url": "https://cdn.cheapergen.com/samples/portrait.jpg",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "768P",
"duration": 6
}POST /api/v1/run/minimax/h3-fast/reference-to-video
{
"prompt": "The singer from @Image1 performs on the rooftop, following the camera move in @Video1, with the vocals from @Audio1",
"reference_image_urls": [
"https://cdn.cheapergen.com/samples/reference-1.jpg"
],
"reference_video_urls": [
"https://cdn.cheapergen.com/samples/reference-1.mp4"
],
"reference_audio_urls": [
"https://cdn.cheapergen.com/samples/reference-1.mp3"
],
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "768P",
"duration": 6
}Get the result
A job moves from queued to running to succeeded, failed or canceled. Poll GET /api/v1/generations/{id}, or pass webhook_url and we POST the result to you. Download the output and store it yourself.
200 — succeeded
{
"id": "gen_8c2QmX1nq0k4",
"object": "generation",
"model": "minimax/h3-fast",
"endpoint": "minimax/h3-fast/text-to-video",
"mode": "text-to-video",
"status": "succeeded",
"input": {
"prompt": "A paper boat drifts down a rain-filled gutter at dusk, the patter of rain and a distant tram bell",
"aspect_ratio": "16:9",
"resolution": "768P",
"duration": 6
},
"output": {
"video": {
"url": "https://cdn.cheapergen.com/outputs/gen_8c2Q.mp4",
"content_type": "video/mp4",
"duration": 5,
"width": 1280,
"height": 720
}
},
"error": null,
"cost": {
"amount_usd": 0.2255,
"currency": "usd",
"estimated": false,
"official_usd": 0.264,
"list_price_source": "reference",
"list_price_label": "Official MiniMax H3 API",
"saved_usd": 0.0385
},
"source": "api",
"created_at": "2026-10-15T09:21:04Z",
"started_at": "2026-10-15T09:21:06Z",
"completed_at": "2026-10-15T09:22:31Z"
}Price a request before you run it
The quote endpoint is free and needs no key. It returns the price, the official MiniMax H3 API price and your discount for exactly the input you send.
curl -X POST https://cheapergen.com/api/v1/quote/minimax/h3-fast/text-to-video \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"prompt":"A paper boat drifts down a rain-filled gutter at dusk, the patter of rain and a distant tram bell","aspect_ratio":"16:9","resolution":"768P","duration":6}'| Status | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | invalid_request | A parameter is missing or out of range — the message names it. |
| 401 | unauthorized | Missing, malformed or revoked API key. |
| 402 | insufficient_balance | Not enough credits for the quoted price; top up or enable auto top-up. |
| 429 | rate_limited | Too many requests or generations in progress; back off and retry. |
| 502 | upstream_error | The model provider failed; the hold is refunded and you can retry. |
| 503 | model_unavailable | No healthy route right now; retry later or pick another model. |
FAQ
MiniMax H3 Fast API questions
No. The API is plain HTTPS with JSON, so the Node.js (fetch) and Python (requests) examples on this page are complete programs. Any language that can send an HTTP request works.
Yes. Add "webhook_url" to the request body and we POST the finished generation to it, signed with a CheaperGen-Signature header (HMAC-SHA256 of the timestamp and raw body). Polling GET /api/v1/generations/{id} works too.
Pass public URLs in "image_url", "end_image_url", "reference_image_urls", "reference_video_urls", "reference_audio_urls". Files without a public URL can be uploaded first with POST /api/v1/uploads, which returns a URL to use in the request.
Text to Video starts at $0.0369/s; the example request on this page costs $0.33, 32% below the official MiniMax H3 API price. Failed generations are refunded automatically.