Prompts
Reference style prompts: copy pacing, captions, and music from a video you like
A reference prompt names which properties to copy from the attached video, like pacing, captions, music energy, color, and text placement.
By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24
Attaching a reference isn't an instruction. Say what to copy from it. Pacing, captions, music, color, text placement, or all of them.
Minimal:
Match the reference video.
Standard:
Look at the attached reference. Copy its cut rhythm, caption style, and where the text sits on screen. Use only my footage.
Full:
Use the attached reference as the style guide. Match the pace of cuts (roughly one every 1-2 seconds in the intro, slower in the middle), the caption font weight and placement, the way music drops out when the speaker makes a point, and the warm color grade. Do not match its length or its content. My video should be 45 seconds and about my studio setup.
If your prompt and the reference disagree, say which wins. One user wasn't sure whether her style prompt "overrode" the reference. This line settles it:
Where my instructions and the reference disagree, follow my instructions.
Fixes
- Not sure it looked at the reference. "Describe the reference's pacing, captions, and music in three lines before you edit."
- Copied the wrong thing. "Match only the captions. Leave the cut rhythm as it is."
- Reference footage ended up in my video. "Remove any clips from the reference. My footage only."
FAQ
Does it use the reference automatically? It can see it, but it won't apply it unless you say what to take from it.
Can I reference one moment instead of the whole video? Yes. Scrub the reference to that frame, click "Add to chat," and say what you like about it.
Related
- /prompts/captions
- /prompts/troubleshooting
- /features/reference-style-matching
- /tutorials/match-a-reference-video
Rules that apply to every prompt
- One target per prompt. Length, platform, purpose.
- Quote the exact line when you mean a specific moment.
- Give numbers, not adjectives. "Pauses over half a second," not "snappy."
- Say what not to add. Zooms, transitions, music, effects.
- One fix per follow-up message. Ask for a list of changes with timestamps if you want to check.