Memory Reel

Memory Reel Workbench

Create a memory, import your photos and music, preview the reel, refine it in Excel, and share — step by step.

  1. Create
  2. Import
  3. Preview
  4. Edit
  5. Apply
  6. Export

Quick example: Veenu and Nimma Visit to San Diego

1. Choose community

2. Create or select memory

3. Select source folder

Put photos, videos, audio, and PDFs in one folder on your Mac. LifeLoveMe detects the type and sorts them for you.

4. Create first reel

We generate a one-time Terminal command for your Mac. Copy it, run it from the LifeLoveMe project folder, then preview.

  1. Copy the command.
  2. Run it in Terminal from the LifeLoveMe project root.
  3. Click Preview reel below.

Timing summary

Blank timing fields in Excel are okay — LifeLoveMe builds a default reel. Fill StartTime and EndTime only when you want precise control.

Select a memory to see timing estimates and warnings.

5. Preview & actions

Preview reel Open Excel timeline Admin preview Community memories

6. Refine timeline

Edit the Excel file to adjust captions, order, slide durations, start/end times, and background music.

  1. Edit Excel.
  2. Save Excel.
  3. Click Apply Excel changes and run the command in Terminal.
  4. Refresh preview.

7. Export MP4

Share a video file when your reel is ready. MP4 export requires ffmpeg on your Mac.

Install: brew install ffmpeg

Advanced / developer details
  • Internal files use 3-digit names (001.jpeg); originals stay in media_manifest.json.
  • Viewer reads memory_reel_timeline.json (generated from Excel).
  • Import script: scripts/import_memory_folder.py
  • Excel converter: scripts/convert_memory_timeline_xlsx_to_json.py
  • Local preview server: port 8770 after scripts/prepare_deploy.sh

Memory Import Assistant · Memory create guide · Create a community group · All communities