From ad205bb5349d612e62edd67b36ebf8a15e14b5aa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Gregor Klevze <gregor@klevze.si>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:34:02 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Working version

---
 App.xaml                       | 300 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----
 MainWindow.xaml                | 236 +++++++++++++++-----------
 MainWindow.xaml.cs             |  38 ++++-
 Models/AppSettings.cs          |  31 +++-
 README.md                      |   5 +
 Services/AppSettingsStore.cs   |  10 +-
 Services/FfmpegLibraryProbe.cs | 238 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 Services/MediaProbe.cs         |  49 ++++++
 Services/ProcessRunner.cs      |  96 ++++++++++-
 Services/RenderPipeline.cs     | 129 +++++++++++---
 Services/ToolExtractor.cs      |  34 ++++
 publish-win-x64.ps1            |  19 ++-
 12 files changed, 1006 insertions(+), 179 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 Services/FfmpegLibraryProbe.cs
 create mode 100644 Services/MediaProbe.cs

diff --git a/App.xaml b/App.xaml
index 63302b1..7da4a18 100644
--- a/App.xaml
+++ b/App.xaml
@@ -19,72 +19,279 @@
         <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryTextBrush" Color="#07111D"/>
         <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SelectionBrush" Color="#295C87"/>
         <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SelectionTextBrush" Color="#FFFFFF"/>
+        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ScrollTrackBrush" Color="#11192B"/>
+        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ScrollThumbBrush" Color="#31476D"/>
+        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ScrollThumbHoverBrush" Color="#42608F"/>
+        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PopupBrush" Color="#10192B"/>
+        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="HeroBorderBrush" Color="#35507D"/>
+        <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="HeroBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="1,1">
+            <GradientStop Offset="0" Color="#122441"/>
+            <GradientStop Offset="0.55" Color="#0F1830"/>
+            <GradientStop Offset="1" Color="#1A2D4D"/>
+        </LinearGradientBrush>
+        <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="PageOverlayBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="1,1">
+            <GradientStop Offset="0" Color="#12000000"/>
+            <GradientStop Offset="1" Color="#00000000"/>
+        </LinearGradientBrush>
 
         <Style TargetType="Window">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource PageBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource PageBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="Bahnschrift"/>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ScrollViewer">
             <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent"/>
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="ScrollViewer">
+                        <Grid Background="{TemplateBinding Background}">
+                            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
+                                <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
+                                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+                            <ScrollContentPresenter Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"/>
+
+                            <ScrollBar x:Name="PART_VerticalScrollBar"
+                                       Grid.Row="0"
+                                       Grid.Column="1"
+                                       Orientation="Vertical"
+                                       Value="{TemplateBinding VerticalOffset}"
+                                       Maximum="{TemplateBinding ScrollableHeight}"
+                                       ViewportSize="{TemplateBinding ViewportHeight}"
+                                       Visibility="{TemplateBinding ComputedVerticalScrollBarVisibility}"/>
+
+                            <ScrollBar x:Name="PART_HorizontalScrollBar"
+                                       Grid.Row="1"
+                                       Grid.Column="0"
+                                       Orientation="Horizontal"
+                                       Value="{TemplateBinding HorizontalOffset}"
+                                       Maximum="{TemplateBinding ScrollableWidth}"
+                                       ViewportSize="{TemplateBinding ViewportWidth}"
+                                       Visibility="{TemplateBinding ComputedHorizontalScrollBarVisibility}"/>
+
+                            <Border x:Name="CornerBox"
+                                    Grid.Row="1"
+                                    Grid.Column="1"
+                                    Width="14"
+                                    Height="14"
+                                    Background="{DynamicResource ScrollTrackBrush}"
+                                    Visibility="Collapsed"/>
+                        </Grid>
+                        <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                            <MultiTrigger>
+                                <MultiTrigger.Conditions>
+                                    <Condition Property="ComputedVerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                                    <Condition Property="ComputedHorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                                </MultiTrigger.Conditions>
+                                <Setter TargetName="CornerBox" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                            </MultiTrigger>
+                        </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
+        </Style>
+        <Style x:Key="ScrollBarThumbStyle" TargetType="Thumb">
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="Thumb">
+                        <Border Background="{DynamicResource ScrollThumbBrush}" CornerRadius="6" Margin="2"/>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
+            <Style.Triggers>
+                <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
+                    <Setter Property="Opacity" Value="1"/>
+                </Trigger>
+            </Style.Triggers>
+        </Style>
+        <Style TargetType="RepeatButton" x:Key="ScrollBarButtonStyle">
+            <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="False"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Transparent"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="0"/>
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="RepeatButton">
+                        <Border Background="{TemplateBinding Background}" CornerRadius="6"/>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
+        </Style>
+        <Style TargetType="ScrollBar">
+            <Setter Property="Width" Value="14"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource ScrollTrackBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="ScrollBar">
+                        <Grid Background="Transparent" Width="{TemplateBinding Width}">
+                            <Border Background="{DynamicResource ScrollTrackBrush}" CornerRadius="7" Margin="2"/>
+                            <Track x:Name="PART_Track" IsDirectionReversed="True" Margin="1">
+                                <Track.DecreaseRepeatButton>
+                                    <RepeatButton Style="{StaticResource ScrollBarButtonStyle}" Command="ScrollBar.PageUpCommand"/>
+                                </Track.DecreaseRepeatButton>
+                                <Track.Thumb>
+                                    <Thumb Style="{StaticResource ScrollBarThumbStyle}"/>
+                                </Track.Thumb>
+                                <Track.IncreaseRepeatButton>
+                                    <RepeatButton Style="{StaticResource ScrollBarButtonStyle}" Command="ScrollBar.PageDownCommand"/>
+                                </Track.IncreaseRepeatButton>
+                            </Track>
+                        </Grid>
+                        <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                            <Trigger Property="Orientation" Value="Horizontal">
+                                <Setter Property="Height" Value="14"/>
+                                <Setter TargetName="PART_Track" Property="IsDirectionReversed" Value="False"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                        </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="TextBox">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource FieldBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="CaretBrush" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="SelectionBrush" Value="{StaticResource SelectionBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="SelectionTextBrush" Value="{StaticResource SelectionTextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource FieldBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="CaretBrush" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="SelectionBrush" Value="{DynamicResource SelectionBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="SelectionTextBrush" Value="{DynamicResource SelectionTextBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
             <Setter Property="Padding" Value="9,7"/>
             <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Center"/>
             <Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="True"/>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ComboBox">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource FieldBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource FieldBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
-            <Setter Property="Padding" Value="8,6"/>
+            <Setter Property="Padding" Value="8,0"/>
+            <Setter Property="Height" Value="42"/>
+            <Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="42"/>
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBox">
+                        <Grid>
+                            <Border x:Name="OuterBorder"
+                                    Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
+                                    BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
+                                    BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
+                                    CornerRadius="12"
+                                    Height="{TemplateBinding Height}"
+                                    MinHeight="{TemplateBinding MinHeight}">
+                                <Grid>
+                                    <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                        <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
+                                        <ColumnDefinition Width="42"/>
+                                    </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                    <ContentPresenter Margin="12,0,8,0"
+                                                      VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                                      HorizontalAlignment="Left"
+                                                      Content="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItem}"
+                                                      ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItemTemplate}"
+                                                      ContentTemplateSelector="{TemplateBinding ItemTemplateSelector}"/>
+                                    <Border Grid.Column="1" Background="{DynamicResource AccentSoftBrush}" CornerRadius="0,12,12,0" BorderBrush="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}" BorderThickness="1,0,0,0">
+                                        <Path HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                                              VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                              Fill="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
+                                              Data="M 0 0 L 4 4 L 8 0 Z"/>
+                                    </Border>
+                                </Grid>
+                            </Border>
+                            <Popup x:Name="PART_Popup"
+                                   Placement="Bottom"
+                                   AllowsTransparency="True"
+                                   Focusable="False"
+                                   IsOpen="{TemplateBinding IsDropDownOpen}"
+                                   PopupAnimation="Fade">
+                                <Border Margin="0,8,0,0"
+                                        Background="{DynamicResource PopupBrush}"
+                                        BorderBrush="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"
+                                        BorderThickness="1"
+                                        CornerRadius="14"
+                                        MinWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}">
+                                    <ScrollViewer Margin="6" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" MaxHeight="280">
+                                        <ItemsPresenter KeyboardNavigation.DirectionalNavigation="Contained"/>
+                                    </ScrollViewer>
+                                </Border>
+                            </Popup>
+                            <ToggleButton x:Name="HitTarget" Opacity="0" Focusable="False" IsChecked="{Binding IsDropDownOpen, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Mode=TwoWay}"/>
+                        </Grid>
+                        <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                            <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
+                                <Setter TargetName="OuterBorder" Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                            <Trigger Property="IsKeyboardFocusWithin" Value="True">
+                                <Setter TargetName="OuterBorder" Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                            <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
+                                <Setter Property="Opacity" Value="0.65"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                        </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ComboBoxItem">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource FieldBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource FieldBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch"/>
+            <Setter Property="Padding" Value="10,8"/>
+            <Setter Property="Template">
+                <Setter.Value>
+                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBoxItem">
+                        <Border x:Name="ItemBorder" Background="{TemplateBinding Background}" CornerRadius="10" Padding="{TemplateBinding Padding}">
+                            <ContentPresenter/>
+                        </Border>
+                        <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                            <Trigger Property="IsHighlighted" Value="True">
+                                <Setter TargetName="ItemBorder" Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentSoftBrush}"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                            <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
+                                <Setter TargetName="ItemBorder" Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
+                                <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource PrimaryTextBrush}"/>
+                            </Trigger>
+                        </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                    </ControlTemplate>
+                </Setter.Value>
+            </Setter>
             <Style.Triggers>
                 <Trigger Property="IsHighlighted" Value="True">
-                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource AccentSoftBrush}"/>
-                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentSoftBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
                 </Trigger>
                 <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
-                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource AccentBrush}"/>
-                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource PrimaryTextBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource PrimaryTextBrush}"/>
                 </Trigger>
             </Style.Triggers>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ListBox">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource FieldBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource FieldBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ListBoxItem">
             <Setter Property="Padding" Value="8,6"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent"/>
             <Style.Triggers>
                 <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
-                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource AccentSoftBrush}"/>
-                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentSoftBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
                 </Trigger>
             </Style.Triggers>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="Button">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource ButtonBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource ButtonBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="0"/>
             <Setter Property="Padding" Value="14,8"/>
             <Setter Property="Cursor" Value="Hand"/>
             <Setter Property="Template">
@@ -102,30 +309,37 @@
             </Setter>
             <Style.Triggers>
                 <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
-                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource ButtonHoverBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource ButtonHoverBrush}"/>
                 </Trigger>
                 <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
-                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource ButtonDisabledBrush}"/>
-                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource ButtonDisabledTextBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource ButtonDisabledBrush}"/>
+                    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource ButtonDisabledTextBrush}"/>
                 </Trigger>
             </Style.Triggers>
         </Style>
         <Style x:Key="PrimaryButton" TargetType="Button" BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type Button}}">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource AccentBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource PrimaryTextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource PrimaryTextBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="SemiBold"/>
             <Setter Property="Padding" Value="22,11"/>
         </Style>
+        <Style x:Key="IconButton" TargetType="Button" BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type Button}}">
+            <Setter Property="Width" Value="46"/>
+            <Setter Property="Height" Value="46"/>
+            <Setter Property="Padding" Value="0"/>
+            <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="20"/>
+            <Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="SemiBold"/>
+        </Style>
         <Style x:Key="SecondaryPanel" TargetType="Border">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource PanelBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource PanelBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
             <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="18"/>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="GroupBox">
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource BorderBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource PanelBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource PanelBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="Padding" Value="12"/>
             <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,0,0,16"/>
             <Setter Property="Template">
@@ -144,7 +358,7 @@
                                 <TextBlock Text="{TemplateBinding Header}"
                                            FontSize="16"
                                            FontWeight="SemiBold"
-                                           Foreground="{StaticResource TextBrush}"
+                                           Foreground="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"
                                            Margin="0,0,0,12"/>
                                 <ContentPresenter Grid.Row="1"/>
                             </Grid>
@@ -154,12 +368,14 @@
             </Setter>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="ProgressBar">
-            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource FieldBrush}"/>
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource AccentBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource FieldBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
             <Setter Property="Height" Value="12"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
         </Style>
         <Style TargetType="TextBlock">
-            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}"/>
+            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource TextBrush}"/>
         </Style>
     </Application.Resources>
 </Application>
diff --git a/MainWindow.xaml b/MainWindow.xaml
index 039209b..7c56875 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml
@@ -1,51 +1,43 @@
 <Window x:Class="AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.MainWindow"
         xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
         xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
-        Title="AmiReel" Height="850" Width="1120" MinHeight="720" MinWidth="940"
+        Title="AmiReel" Height="720" Width="980" MinHeight="620" MinWidth="840"
         WindowStartupLocation="CenterScreen">
-    <Grid Margin="24">
+    <Grid Background="{DynamicResource PageBrush}">
+        <Grid>
+            <Grid.Background>
+                <DrawingBrush Stretch="None" Viewport="0,0,36,36" ViewportUnits="Absolute" Opacity="0.08">
+                    <DrawingBrush.Drawing>
+                        <GeometryDrawing Brush="{DynamicResource PageOverlayBrush}">
+                            <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
+                                <GeometryGroup>
+                                    <EllipseGeometry Center="10,10" RadiusX="1.2" RadiusY="1.2"/>
+                                    <EllipseGeometry Center="28,18" RadiusX="1.2" RadiusY="1.2"/>
+                                </GeometryGroup>
+                            </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
+                        </GeometryDrawing>
+                    </DrawingBrush.Drawing>
+                </DrawingBrush>
+            </Grid.Background>
+        </Grid>
+
+        <Grid Margin="18">
         <Grid.RowDefinitions>
-            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
             <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
             <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
         </Grid.RowDefinitions>
-
-        <Grid Margin="0,0,0,20">
+        <Grid>
             <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
-                <ColumnDefinition Width="220"/>
-            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-
-            <StackPanel>
-                <TextBlock Text="AmiReel" Foreground="{StaticResource AccentBrush}" FontSize="18" FontWeight="Bold"/>
-                <TextBlock Text="Video Renderer" FontSize="38" FontWeight="SemiBold"/>
-                <TextBlock Text="AVI recordings → 4K50 YouTube video, thumbnails and animated preview"
-                           Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,6,0,0"/>
-            </StackPanel>
-
-            <Border Grid.Column="1" Style="{StaticResource SecondaryPanel}" Padding="14,10" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
-                <StackPanel>
-                    <TextBlock Text="Theme" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
-                    <ComboBox x:Name="ThemeBox" SelectionChanged="ThemeBox_SelectionChanged">
-                        <ComboBoxItem Content="Dark" Tag="Dark"/>
-                        <ComboBoxItem Content="Light" Tag="Light"/>
-                    </ComboBox>
-                </StackPanel>
-            </Border>
-        </Grid>
-
-        <Grid Grid.Row="1">
-            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                <ColumnDefinition Width="1.05*"/>
-                <ColumnDefinition Width="18"/>
-                <ColumnDefinition Width="0.95*"/>
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="1.08*"/>
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="14"/>
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="0.92*"/>
             </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
 
             <ScrollViewer VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Auto" HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Disabled">
                 <StackPanel>
                     <GroupBox Header="Source recordings">
                         <Grid>
-                            <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition Height="Auto"/><RowDefinition Height="125"/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                            <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition Height="Auto"/><RowDefinition Height="110"/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
                             <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,0,0,8">
                                 <Button Content="Add AVI files…" Click="AddInputs_Click" Margin="0,0,8,0"/>
                                 <Button Content="Clear" Click="ClearInputs_Click"/>
@@ -58,7 +50,7 @@
                         <Grid>
                             <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/><ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                             <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition Height="Auto"/><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                            <TextBlock Text="Leave blank to use a built-in black end card." Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,6"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Leave blank to use a built-in black end card." Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,6"/>
                             <TextBox x:Name="EndCardBox" Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,8,8" ToolTip="Optional end-card image"/>
                             <Button Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Content="Browse…" Click="BrowseEndCard_Click" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
                             <TextBox x:Name="OutputFolderBox" Grid.Row="2" Margin="0,0,8,8" ToolTip="Output folder"/>
@@ -66,82 +58,25 @@
                             <TextBox x:Name="OutputNameBox" Grid.Row="3" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Text="amigadb_intro" ToolTip="Output filename prefix"/>
                         </Grid>
                     </GroupBox>
-
-                    <GroupBox Header="Video encoding">
-                        <Grid>
-                            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                            <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                            <StackPanel Margin="0,0,8,8">
-                                <TextBlock Text="Encoder" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
-                                <ComboBox x:Name="EncoderBox" SelectedIndex="0">
-                                    <ComboBoxItem Content="Auto (NVENC → CPU fallback)" Tag="Auto"/>
-                                    <ComboBoxItem Content="NVIDIA NVENC" Tag="NvidiaNvenc"/>
-                                    <ComboBoxItem Content="CPU libx264" Tag="CpuX264"/>
-                                </ComboBox>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                            <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,8">
-                                <TextBlock Text="Output" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
-                                <TextBox Text="3840 × 2160 · 50 FPS" IsReadOnly="True"/>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                            <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}"
-                                       Text="NVENC: preset P6 / CQ 16   ·   CPU: slow / CRF 13"/>
-                        </Grid>
-                    </GroupBox>
-
-                    <GroupBox Header="FFmpeg tools">
-                        <Grid>
-                            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/><ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                            <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition Height="Auto"/><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                            <TextBlock Text="Optional override. Leave blank to use embedded FFmpeg and FFprobe."
-                                       Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,6"/>
-                            <TextBox x:Name="FfmpegPathBox" Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,8,8" ToolTip="Path to ffmpeg.exe"/>
-                            <Button Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Content="Browse…" Click="BrowseFfmpeg_Click" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
-                            <TextBox x:Name="FfprobePathBox" Grid.Row="2" Margin="0,0,8,0" ToolTip="Path to ffprobe.exe"/>
-                            <Button Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" Content="Browse…" Click="BrowseFfprobe_Click"/>
-                        </Grid>
-                    </GroupBox>
                 </StackPanel>
             </ScrollViewer>
 
             <ScrollViewer Grid.Column="2" VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Auto" HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Disabled">
                 <StackPanel>
-                    <GroupBox Header="Timing and screenshots">
-                        <Grid>
-                            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition/><ColumnDefinition/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                            <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                            <StackPanel Margin="0,0,8,10">
-                                <TextBlock Text="Trim start (seconds)" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}"/>
-                                <TextBox x:Name="TrimBox" Text="4.414"/>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                            <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,10">
-                                <TextBlock Text="Fade (seconds)" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}"/>
-                                <TextBox x:Name="FadeBox" Text="3"/>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                            <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,8,0">
-                                <TextBlock Text="End-card hold (seconds)" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}"/>
-                                <TextBox x:Name="HoldBox" Text="4"/>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                            <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,0">
-                                <TextBlock Text="Thumbnail interval (seconds)" Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}"/>
-                                <TextBox x:Name="IntervalBox" Text="10"/>
-                            </StackPanel>
-                        </Grid>
-                    </GroupBox>
-
                     <GroupBox Header="Render progress">
                         <StackPanel>
                             <DockPanel Margin="0,0,0,8">
                                 <TextBlock x:Name="StageText" Text="Ready" FontWeight="SemiBold"/>
-                                <TextBlock x:Name="PercentText" Text="0%" Foreground="{StaticResource AccentBrush}" DockPanel.Dock="Right"/>
+                                <TextBlock x:Name="PercentText" Text="0%" Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}" DockPanel.Dock="Right"/>
                             </DockPanel>
-                            <ProgressBar x:Name="RenderProgress" Minimum="0" Maximum="100" Foreground="{StaticResource AccentBrush}"/>
+                            <ProgressBar x:Name="RenderProgress" Minimum="0" Maximum="100" Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
                             <TextBlock x:Name="StatusText" Text="Select the recordings and start the render. The end card is optional."
-                                       Foreground="{StaticResource MutedBrush}" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,8,0,0"/>
+                                       Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,8,0,0"/>
                         </StackPanel>
                     </GroupBox>
 
                     <GroupBox Header="FFmpeg log">
-                        <TextBox x:Name="LogBox" Height="280" IsReadOnly="True" AcceptsReturn="True"
+                        <TextBox x:Name="LogBox" Height="220" IsReadOnly="True" AcceptsReturn="True"
                                  VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Auto" HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Auto"
                                  FontFamily="Consolas" FontSize="11" TextWrapping="NoWrap"/>
                     </GroupBox>
@@ -149,12 +84,121 @@
             </ScrollViewer>
         </Grid>
 
-        <DockPanel Grid.Row="2" Margin="0,18,0,0">
+        <DockPanel Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,14,0,0">
             <Button x:Name="OpenOutputButton" Content="Open output folder" Click="OpenOutput_Click" IsEnabled="False"/>
             <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
+                <Button x:Name="OpenSettingsButton" Content="⚙" Click="OpenSettings_Click" Style="{StaticResource IconButton}" Margin="0,0,10,0" ToolTip="Settings"/>
                 <Button x:Name="CancelButton" Content="Cancel" Click="Cancel_Click" IsEnabled="False" Margin="0,0,10,0"/>
                 <Button x:Name="RenderButton" Content="Start render" Style="{StaticResource PrimaryButton}" Click="Render_Click"/>
             </StackPanel>
         </DockPanel>
+
+        <Border x:Name="SettingsOverlay" Grid.RowSpan="2" Background="#88060B14" Visibility="Collapsed">
+            <Grid Margin="40">
+                <Border Width="760"
+                        MaxHeight="720"
+                        HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                        VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                        Background="{DynamicResource PanelBrush}"
+                        BorderBrush="{DynamicResource HeroBorderBrush}"
+                        BorderThickness="1.5"
+                        CornerRadius="24"
+                        Padding="20">
+                    <Grid>
+                        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                            <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
+                            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+                        <TextBlock Text="Settings" FontSize="24" FontWeight="SemiBold" Margin="0,0,0,14"/>
+
+                        <ScrollViewer Grid.Row="1" VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Auto">
+                            <StackPanel>
+                                <GroupBox Header="Appearance">
+                                    <StackPanel>
+                                        <TextBlock Text="Theme" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
+                                        <ComboBox x:Name="ThemeBox" SelectionChanged="ThemeBox_SelectionChanged">
+                                            <ComboBoxItem Content="Dark" Tag="Dark"/>
+                                            <ComboBoxItem Content="Light" Tag="Light"/>
+                                        </ComboBox>
+                                    </StackPanel>
+                                </GroupBox>
+
+                                <GroupBox Header="Timing and screenshots">
+                                    <Grid>
+                                        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition/><ColumnDefinition/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                        <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                        <StackPanel Margin="0,0,8,10">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Trim start (seconds)" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}"/>
+                                            <TextBox x:Name="TrimBox"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                        <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,10">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Fade (seconds)" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}"/>
+                                            <TextBox x:Name="FadeBox"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,8,0">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="End-card hold (seconds)" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}"/>
+                                            <TextBox x:Name="HoldBox"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,0">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Thumbnail interval (seconds)" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}"/>
+                                            <TextBox x:Name="IntervalBox"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                    </Grid>
+                                </GroupBox>
+
+                                <GroupBox Header="Video encoding">
+                                    <Grid>
+                                        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                        <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                        <StackPanel Margin="0,0,8,8">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Encoder" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
+                                            <ComboBox x:Name="EncoderBox" SelectedIndex="0">
+                                                <ComboBoxItem Content="Auto (NVENC → CPU fallback)" Tag="Auto"/>
+                                                <ComboBoxItem Content="NVIDIA NVENC" Tag="NvidiaNvenc"/>
+                                                <ComboBoxItem Content="CPU libx264" Tag="CpuX264"/>
+                                            </ComboBox>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                        <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Margin="8,0,0,8">
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Output" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,4"/>
+                                            <TextBox Text="3840 × 2160 · 50 FPS" IsReadOnly="True"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                        <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}"
+                                                   Text="NVENC: preset P6 / CQ 16   ·   CPU: slow / CRF 13"/>
+                                    </Grid>
+                                </GroupBox>
+
+                                <GroupBox Header="FFmpeg tools">
+                                    <Grid>
+                                        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions><ColumnDefinition Width="*"/><ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/></Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                        <Grid.RowDefinitions><RowDefinition Height="Auto"/><RowDefinition/><RowDefinition/></Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                        <TextBlock Text="Optional override. Leave blank to use embedded FFmpeg and FFprobe."
+                                                   Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" Margin="0,0,0,6"/>
+                                        <TextBox x:Name="FfmpegPathBox" Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,8,8" ToolTip="Path to ffmpeg.exe"/>
+                                        <Button Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Content="Browse…" Click="BrowseFfmpeg_Click" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
+                                        <TextBox x:Name="FfprobePathBox" Grid.Row="2" Margin="0,0,8,0" ToolTip="Path to ffprobe.exe"/>
+                                        <Button Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" Content="Browse…" Click="BrowseFfprobe_Click"/>
+                                    </Grid>
+                                </GroupBox>
+                            </StackPanel>
+                        </ScrollViewer>
+
+                        <Grid Grid.Row="2" Margin="0,14,0,0">
+                            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
+                                <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Advanced settings are saved automatically." Foreground="{DynamicResource MutedBrush}" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+                            <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
+                                <Button Content="Close" Click="CloseSettings_Click" MinWidth="140" Margin="0,0,10,0"/>
+                                <Button Content="Done" Style="{StaticResource PrimaryButton}" Click="CloseSettings_Click" MinWidth="140"/>
+                            </StackPanel>
+                        </Grid>
+                    </Grid>
+                </Border>
+            </Grid>
+        </Border>
+        </Grid>
     </Grid>
 </Window>
diff --git a/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/MainWindow.xaml.cs
index 896e7c1..1c3f99f 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         EndCardBox.Text = _loadedSettings.EndCardPath;
         FfmpegPathBox.Text = _loadedSettings.FfmpegPath;
         FfprobePathBox.Text = _loadedSettings.FfprobePath;
+        TrimBox.Text = _loadedSettings.TrimStart;
+        FadeBox.Text = _loadedSettings.FadeSeconds;
+        HoldBox.Text = _loadedSettings.EndCardHoldSeconds;
+        IntervalBox.Text = _loadedSettings.ThumbnailInterval;
+        SelectEncoder(_loadedSettings.Encoder);
         SelectTheme(_loadedSettings.Theme);
         ApplyTheme(_loadedSettings.Theme);
         Closing += (_, _) => SaveSettings();
@@ -65,6 +70,14 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         if (dialog.ShowDialog(this) == true) FfprobePathBox.Text = dialog.FileName;
     }
 
+    private void OpenSettings_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) => SettingsOverlay.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
+
+    private void CloseSettings_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        SettingsOverlay.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
+        SaveSettings();
+    }
+
     private async void Render_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
     {
         try
@@ -174,10 +187,16 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
             EndCardBox.Text.Trim(),
             FfmpegPathBox.Text.Trim(),
             FfprobePathBox.Text.Trim(),
-            SelectedTheme()));
+            SelectedTheme(),
+            SelectedEncoder(),
+            TrimBox.Text.Trim(),
+            FadeBox.Text.Trim(),
+            HoldBox.Text.Trim(),
+            IntervalBox.Text.Trim()));
     }
 
     private string SelectedTheme() => ((ComboBoxItem)ThemeBox.SelectedItem).Tag!.ToString()!;
+    private string SelectedEncoder() => ((ComboBoxItem)EncoderBox.SelectedItem).Tag!.ToString()!;
 
     private void SelectTheme(string theme)
     {
@@ -193,6 +212,20 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         ThemeBox.SelectedIndex = 0;
     }
 
+    private void SelectEncoder(string encoder)
+    {
+        foreach (ComboBoxItem item in EncoderBox.Items)
+        {
+            if (string.Equals(item.Tag?.ToString(), encoder, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                EncoderBox.SelectedItem = item;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        EncoderBox.SelectedIndex = 0;
+    }
+
     private void ApplyTheme(string theme)
     {
         bool light = string.Equals(theme, "Light", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
@@ -217,7 +250,6 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
 
     private void SetBrush(string key, string color)
     {
-        if (Application.Current.Resources[key] is SolidColorBrush brush)
-            brush.Color = (Color)ColorConverter.ConvertFromString(color);
+        Application.Current.Resources[key] = new SolidColorBrush((Color)ColorConverter.ConvertFromString(color));
     }
 }
diff --git a/Models/AppSettings.cs b/Models/AppSettings.cs
index 4d529ce..f123818 100644
--- a/Models/AppSettings.cs
+++ b/Models/AppSettings.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,34 @@ public sealed record AppSettings(
     string EndCardPath,
     string FfmpegPath,
     string FfprobePath,
-    string Theme)
+    string Theme,
+    string Encoder,
+    string TrimStart,
+    string FadeSeconds,
+    string EndCardHoldSeconds,
+    string ThumbnailInterval)
 {
-    public static AppSettings Default(string outputFolder) => new(outputFolder, "", "", "", "Dark");
+    public static AppSettings Default(string outputFolder) => new(
+        outputFolder,
+        "",
+        "",
+        "",
+        "Dark",
+        "Auto",
+        "4.414",
+        "3",
+        "4",
+        "10");
+
+    public AppSettings Normalize(string fallbackOutputFolder) => new(
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(OutputFolder) ? fallbackOutputFolder : OutputFolder,
+        EndCardPath ?? "",
+        FfmpegPath ?? "",
+        FfprobePath ?? "",
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Theme) ? "Dark" : Theme,
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Encoder) ? "Auto" : Encoder,
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(TrimStart) ? "4.414" : TrimStart,
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(FadeSeconds) ? "3" : FadeSeconds,
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(EndCardHoldSeconds) ? "4" : EndCardHoldSeconds,
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(ThumbnailInterval) ? "10" : ThumbnailInterval);
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5f430e6..7c72282 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Windows WPF replacement for `amigadb-render.sh`. The first milestone implements:
 - PNG/JPG screenshots at a configurable interval;
 - animated WebP screenshot preview;
 - optional custom paths for `ffmpeg.exe` and `ffprobe.exe`;
+- automatic FFmpeg library probing when shared `avformat`/`avutil` DLLs are present beside `ffmpeg.exe`;
 - non-fatal missing thumbnails;
 - live FFmpeg log, progress and cancellation;
 - one-file Windows publishing with embedded FFmpeg and FFprobe.
@@ -46,3 +47,7 @@ licensing notices.
 If you prefer not to use the embedded binaries at runtime, you can point the UI
 at external `ffmpeg.exe` and `ffprobe.exe` files. Those paths are saved in the
 user settings file under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\AmiReel\settings.json`.
+
+If the selected FFmpeg folder also contains shared FFmpeg DLLs such as
+`avformat-*.dll` and `avutil-*.dll`, AmiReel will use those libraries for media
+probing in place of `ffprobe.exe` while keeping rendering on `ffmpeg.exe`.
diff --git a/Services/AppSettingsStore.cs b/Services/AppSettingsStore.cs
index 5bb9d5e..cc185bb 100644
--- a/Services/AppSettingsStore.cs
+++ b/Services/AppSettingsStore.cs
@@ -7,22 +7,24 @@ namespace AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.Services;
 public static class AppSettingsStore
 {
     private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new() { WriteIndented = true };
+    private static string DefaultOutputFolder => Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos);
 
     public static AppSettings Load()
     {
         string path = GetSettingsPath();
         if (!File.Exists(path))
-            return AppSettings.Default(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos));
+            return AppSettings.Default(DefaultOutputFolder);
 
         try
         {
             string json = File.ReadAllText(path);
-            return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<AppSettings>(json, JsonOptions)
-                ?? AppSettings.Default(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos));
+            return (JsonSerializer.Deserialize<AppSettings>(json, JsonOptions)
+                ?? AppSettings.Default(DefaultOutputFolder))
+                .Normalize(DefaultOutputFolder);
         }
         catch
         {
-            return AppSettings.Default(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos));
+            return AppSettings.Default(DefaultOutputFolder);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/Services/FfmpegLibraryProbe.cs b/Services/FfmpegLibraryProbe.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86190f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/FfmpegLibraryProbe.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+
+namespace AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.Services;
+
+internal sealed partial class FfmpegLibraryProbe : IDisposable
+{
+    private const int AvMediaTypeAudio = 1;
+    private const int AvLogInfo = 32;
+
+    private static readonly object ProbeLock = new();
+    private static readonly AvLogCallback SharedLogCallback = HandleLogMessage;
+    private static StringBuilder? s_activeLogBuffer;
+    private static FfmpegBindings? s_activeBindings;
+
+    private readonly IntPtr _avformatHandle;
+    private readonly IntPtr _avutilHandle;
+    private readonly FfmpegBindings _bindings;
+    private readonly string _libraryDirectory;
+
+    private FfmpegLibraryProbe(string libraryDirectory, IntPtr avformatHandle, IntPtr avutilHandle)
+    {
+        _libraryDirectory = libraryDirectory;
+        _avformatHandle = avformatHandle;
+        _avutilHandle = avutilHandle;
+        _bindings = new FfmpegBindings(avformatHandle, avutilHandle);
+    }
+
+    public static bool TryCreate(string executablePath, out FfmpegLibraryProbe? probe)
+    {
+        probe = null;
+        string? directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(executablePath);
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(directory) || !Directory.Exists(directory))
+            return false;
+
+        string? avformatPath = FindLibrary(directory, "avformat");
+        string? avutilPath = FindLibrary(directory, "avutil");
+        if (avformatPath is null || avutilPath is null)
+            return false;
+
+        try
+        {
+            IntPtr avformatHandle = NativeLibrary.Load(avformatPath);
+            IntPtr avutilHandle = NativeLibrary.Load(avutilPath);
+            probe = new FfmpegLibraryProbe(directory, avformatHandle, avutilHandle);
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            probe?.Dispose();
+            probe = null;
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public double ProbeDuration(string inputPath)
+    {
+        string dump = ProbeFormatDump(inputPath);
+        Match match = DurationRegex().Match(dump);
+        if (!match.Success)
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("FFmpeg library probing could not determine media duration.");
+
+        int hours = int.Parse(match.Groups["hours"].Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        int minutes = int.Parse(match.Groups["minutes"].Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        double seconds = double.Parse(match.Groups["seconds"].Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        return new TimeSpan(0, hours, minutes, 0).TotalSeconds + seconds;
+    }
+
+    public bool HasAudio(string inputPath)
+    {
+        IntPtr context = OpenInput(inputPath);
+        try
+        {
+            int streamIndex = _bindings.AvFindBestStream(context, AvMediaTypeAudio, -1, -1, IntPtr.Zero, 0);
+            return streamIndex >= 0;
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _bindings.AvFormatCloseInput(ref context);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        if (_avformatHandle != IntPtr.Zero) NativeLibrary.Free(_avformatHandle);
+        if (_avutilHandle != IntPtr.Zero) NativeLibrary.Free(_avutilHandle);
+    }
+
+    private string ProbeFormatDump(string inputPath)
+    {
+        IntPtr context = OpenInput(inputPath);
+        try
+        {
+            lock (ProbeLock)
+            {
+                StringBuilder buffer = new();
+                s_activeBindings = _bindings;
+                s_activeLogBuffer = buffer;
+                _bindings.AvLogSetLevel(AvLogInfo);
+                _bindings.AvLogSetCallback(SharedLogCallback);
+                _bindings.AvDumpFormat(context, 0, inputPath, 0);
+                s_activeLogBuffer = null;
+                s_activeBindings = null;
+                return buffer.ToString();
+            }
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _bindings.AvFormatCloseInput(ref context);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private IntPtr OpenInput(string inputPath)
+    {
+        IntPtr context = IntPtr.Zero;
+        int openResult = _bindings.AvFormatOpenInput(ref context, inputPath, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
+        if (openResult < 0)
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"FFmpeg library probing failed to open '{inputPath}': {FormatError(openResult)}");
+
+        int infoResult = _bindings.AvFormatFindStreamInfo(context, IntPtr.Zero);
+        if (infoResult < 0)
+        {
+            _bindings.AvFormatCloseInput(ref context);
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"FFmpeg library probing failed to read stream info for '{inputPath}': {FormatError(infoResult)}");
+        }
+
+        return context;
+    }
+
+    private string FormatError(int errorCode)
+    {
+        IntPtr buffer = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(1024);
+        try
+        {
+            int result = _bindings.AvStrError(errorCode, buffer, (UIntPtr)1024);
+            if (result < 0)
+                return $"error {errorCode}";
+            return Marshal.PtrToStringUTF8(buffer) ?? $"error {errorCode}";
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            Marshal.FreeHGlobal(buffer);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static string? FindLibrary(string directory, string prefix) =>
+        Directory.EnumerateFiles(directory, $"{prefix}*.dll", SearchOption.TopDirectoryOnly)
+            .OrderBy(path => path, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            .FirstOrDefault();
+
+    private static void HandleLogMessage(IntPtr avcl, int level, IntPtr format, IntPtr args)
+    {
+        StringBuilder? buffer = s_activeLogBuffer;
+        FfmpegBindings? bindings = s_activeBindings;
+        if (buffer is null || bindings is null)
+            return;
+
+        IntPtr lineBuffer = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(4096);
+        try
+        {
+            Marshal.Copy(new byte[4096], 0, lineBuffer, 4096);
+            int printPrefix = 1;
+            bindings.AvLogFormatLine2(avcl, level, format, args, lineBuffer, 4096, ref printPrefix);
+            string? line = Marshal.PtrToStringUTF8(lineBuffer);
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line))
+                buffer.Append(line);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            Marshal.FreeHGlobal(lineBuffer);
+        }
+    }
+
+    [GeneratedRegex(@"Duration:\s(?<hours>\d{2}):(?<minutes>\d{2}):(?<seconds>\d{2}(?:\.\d+)?)", RegexOptions.CultureInvariant)]
+    private static partial Regex DurationRegex();
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate void AvLogCallback(IntPtr avcl, int level, IntPtr format, IntPtr args);
+
+    private sealed class FfmpegBindings
+    {
+        public FfmpegBindings(IntPtr avformatHandle, IntPtr avutilHandle)
+        {
+            AvFormatOpenInput = GetDelegate<AvFormatOpenInputDelegate>(avformatHandle, "avformat_open_input");
+            AvFormatFindStreamInfo = GetDelegate<AvFormatFindStreamInfoDelegate>(avformatHandle, "avformat_find_stream_info");
+            AvFormatCloseInput = GetDelegate<AvFormatCloseInputDelegate>(avformatHandle, "avformat_close_input");
+            AvFindBestStream = GetDelegate<AvFindBestStreamDelegate>(avformatHandle, "av_find_best_stream");
+            AvDumpFormat = GetDelegate<AvDumpFormatDelegate>(avformatHandle, "av_dump_format");
+            AvLogSetCallback = GetDelegate<AvLogSetCallbackDelegate>(avutilHandle, "av_log_set_callback");
+            AvLogSetLevel = GetDelegate<AvLogSetLevelDelegate>(avutilHandle, "av_log_set_level");
+            AvLogFormatLine2 = GetDelegate<AvLogFormatLine2Delegate>(avutilHandle, "av_log_format_line2");
+            AvStrError = GetDelegate<AvStrErrorDelegate>(avutilHandle, "av_strerror");
+        }
+
+        public AvFormatOpenInputDelegate AvFormatOpenInput { get; }
+        public AvFormatFindStreamInfoDelegate AvFormatFindStreamInfo { get; }
+        public AvFormatCloseInputDelegate AvFormatCloseInput { get; }
+        public AvFindBestStreamDelegate AvFindBestStream { get; }
+        public AvDumpFormatDelegate AvDumpFormat { get; }
+        public AvLogSetCallbackDelegate AvLogSetCallback { get; }
+        public AvLogSetLevelDelegate AvLogSetLevel { get; }
+        public AvLogFormatLine2Delegate AvLogFormatLine2 { get; }
+        public AvStrErrorDelegate AvStrError { get; }
+
+        private static T GetDelegate<T>(IntPtr handle, string exportName) where T : Delegate =>
+            Marshal.GetDelegateForFunctionPointer<T>(NativeLibrary.GetExport(handle, exportName));
+    }
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate int AvFormatOpenInputDelegate(ref IntPtr context, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPUTF8Str)] string url, IntPtr format, IntPtr options);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate int AvFormatFindStreamInfoDelegate(IntPtr context, IntPtr options);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate void AvFormatCloseInputDelegate(ref IntPtr context);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate int AvFindBestStreamDelegate(IntPtr context, int mediaType, int wantedStream, int relatedStream, IntPtr decoder, int flags);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate void AvDumpFormatDelegate(IntPtr context, int index, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPUTF8Str)] string url, int isOutput);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate void AvLogSetCallbackDelegate(AvLogCallback callback);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate void AvLogSetLevelDelegate(int level);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate int AvLogFormatLine2Delegate(IntPtr avcl, int level, IntPtr format, IntPtr args, IntPtr line, int lineSize, ref int printPrefix);
+
+    [UnmanagedFunctionPointer(CallingConvention.Cdecl)]
+    private delegate int AvStrErrorDelegate(int errorCode, IntPtr errorBuffer, UIntPtr errorBufferSize);
+}
diff --git a/Services/MediaProbe.cs b/Services/MediaProbe.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7132900
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/MediaProbe.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.Services;
+
+internal sealed class MediaProbe
+{
+    private readonly ProcessRunner _runner;
+    private readonly Action<string>? _log;
+
+    public MediaProbe(ProcessRunner runner, Action<string>? log)
+    {
+        _runner = runner;
+        _log = log;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<double> ProbeDurationAsync(ToolPaths tools, string input, CancellationToken token)
+    {
+        using FfmpegLibraryProbe? libraryProbe = CreateLibraryProbe(tools);
+        if (libraryProbe is not null)
+            return libraryProbe.ProbeDuration(input);
+
+        string output = await _runner.RunAsync(tools.Ffprobe,
+            ["-v", "error", "-show_entries", "format=duration", "-of", "default=nk=1:nw=1", input],
+            null, null, token);
+        return double.Parse(output.Trim(), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<bool> HasAudioAsync(ToolPaths tools, string input, CancellationToken token)
+    {
+        using FfmpegLibraryProbe? libraryProbe = CreateLibraryProbe(tools);
+        if (libraryProbe is not null)
+            return libraryProbe.HasAudio(input);
+
+        string output = await _runner.RunAsync(tools.Ffprobe,
+            ["-v", "error", "-select_streams", "a", "-show_entries", "stream=index", "-of", "csv=p=0", input],
+            null, null, token);
+        return !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(output);
+    }
+
+    private FfmpegLibraryProbe? CreateLibraryProbe(ToolPaths tools)
+    {
+        if (!FfmpegLibraryProbe.TryCreate(tools.Ffmpeg, out FfmpegLibraryProbe? probe))
+            return null;
+
+        _log?.Invoke($"Using FFmpeg shared libraries for media probing from '{Path.GetDirectoryName(tools.Ffmpeg)}'.");
+        return probe;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Services/ProcessRunner.cs b/Services/ProcessRunner.cs
index 39d63ff..40dce08 100644
--- a/Services/ProcessRunner.cs
+++ b/Services/ProcessRunner.cs
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ namespace AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.Services;
 
 public sealed partial class ProcessRunner
 {
+    public sealed record ProcessOutput(string Line, TimeSpan? Time, double? FramesPerSecond, double? Speed, int? Frame);
+
     public async Task<string> RunAsync(
         string executable,
         IEnumerable<string> arguments,
         Action<string>? log,
         Action<TimeSpan>? position,
         CancellationToken token,
-        bool allowFailure = false)
+        bool allowFailure = false,
+        Action<ProcessOutput>? outputHandler = null)
     {
         ProcessStartInfo start = new()
         {
@@ -33,8 +36,8 @@ public sealed partial class ProcessRunner
         StringBuilder output = new();
         process.Start();
 
-        Task stdout = PumpAsync(process.StandardOutput, output, log, position, token);
-        Task stderr = PumpAsync(process.StandardError, output, log, position, token);
+        Task stdout = PumpAsync(process.StandardOutput, output, log, position, token, outputHandler);
+        Task stderr = PumpAsync(process.StandardError, output, log, position, token, outputHandler);
         using CancellationTokenRegistration registration = token.Register(() =>
         {
             try { if (!process.HasExited) process.Kill(true); } catch { }
@@ -48,18 +51,97 @@ public sealed partial class ProcessRunner
 
     private static async Task PumpAsync(
         StreamReader reader, StringBuilder output, Action<string>? log,
-        Action<TimeSpan>? position, CancellationToken token)
+        Action<TimeSpan>? position, CancellationToken token, Action<ProcessOutput>? outputHandler)
     {
         while (await reader.ReadLineAsync(token) is { } line)
         {
             output.AppendLine(line);
-            log?.Invoke(line);
-            Match match = TimeRegex().Match(line);
-            if (match.Success && TimeSpan.TryParse(match.Groups[1].Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out TimeSpan time))
+            ProcessOutput parsed = ParseOutput(line);
+            if (!IsNoise(parsed))
+                log?.Invoke(line);
+            if (parsed.Time is { } time)
                 position?.Invoke(time);
+            outputHandler?.Invoke(parsed);
         }
     }
 
+    private static ProcessOutput ParseOutput(string line)
+    {
+        TimeSpan? time = null;
+        double? fps = null;
+        double? speed = null;
+        int? frame = null;
+
+        Match timeMatch = TimeRegex().Match(line);
+        if (timeMatch.Success && TimeSpan.TryParse(timeMatch.Groups[1].Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out TimeSpan parsedTime))
+            time = parsedTime;
+
+        Match frameMatch = FrameRegex().Match(line);
+        if (frameMatch.Success)
+        {
+            if (int.TryParse(frameMatch.Groups["frame"].Value, NumberStyles.Integer, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out int parsedFrame))
+                frame = parsedFrame;
+            if (double.TryParse(frameMatch.Groups["fps"].Value, NumberStyles.Float, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out double parsedFps))
+                fps = parsedFps;
+            if (double.TryParse(frameMatch.Groups["speed"].Value, NumberStyles.Float, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, out double parsedSpeed))
+                speed = parsedSpeed;
+        }
+
+        return new ProcessOutput(line, time, fps, speed, frame);
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsNoise(ProcessOutput output)
+    {
+        if (output.Frame is not null || output.Time is not null)
+            return true;
+
+        string line = output.Line.TrimStart();
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line))
+            return true;
+
+        if (line.StartsWith("ERROR:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("WARNING:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("selected.", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("Falling back to FFmpeg from PATH", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("skipped", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("could not", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("failed", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("not found", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.Contains("Output file is empty", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            return false;
+
+        return line.StartsWith("ffmpeg version ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("built with ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("configuration:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libavutil", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libavcodec", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libavformat", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libavdevice", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libavfilter", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libswscale", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("libswresample", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Input #", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Output #", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Stream mapping:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Stream #", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Metadata:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Side data:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("encoder         :", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("title           :", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Press [q] to stop", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("[", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("Duration:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("video:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("audio:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("subtitle:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("other streams:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("global headers:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || line.StartsWith("muxing overhead:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
     [GeneratedRegex(@"time=(\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}(?:\.\d+)?)", RegexOptions.CultureInvariant)]
     private static partial Regex TimeRegex();
+
+    [GeneratedRegex(@"frame=\s*(?<frame>\d+).*?fps=\s*(?<fps>\d+(?:\.\d+)?).*?speed=\s*(?<speed>\d+(?:\.\d+)?)x", RegexOptions.CultureInvariant)]
+    private static partial Regex FrameRegex();
 }
diff --git a/Services/RenderPipeline.cs b/Services/RenderPipeline.cs
index f30f73a..2b08ab2 100644
--- a/Services/RenderPipeline.cs
+++ b/Services/RenderPipeline.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ namespace AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.Services;
 public sealed class RenderPipeline
 {
     private readonly ProcessRunner _runner = new();
+    private readonly MediaProbe _probe;
+
+    public RenderPipeline()
+    {
+        _probe = new MediaProbe(_runner, null);
+    }
 
     public async Task RenderAsync(
         RenderSettings settings,
@@ -17,6 +23,8 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
     {
         Validate(settings);
         ToolPaths tools = await ToolExtractor.ResolveAsync(settings.FfmpegPath, settings.FfprobePath, token);
+        tools = await PrepareToolsAsync(tools, log, token);
+        MediaProbe probe = new(_runner, log);
         Directory.CreateDirectory(settings.OutputDirectory);
         string workDir = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "AmiReel", Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"));
         Directory.CreateDirectory(workDir);
@@ -32,6 +40,7 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
             string concat = Path.Combine(workDir, "inputs.txt");
             await File.WriteAllLinesAsync(concat, settings.InputFiles.Select(f => $"file '{EscapeConcat(f)}'"), token);
             string encoder = await SelectEncoderAsync(tools, settings.Encoder, log, token);
+            double joinDuration = await ProbeCombinedDurationAsync(probe, tools, settings.InputFiles, token);
 
             progress.Report(new(2, "Joining recordings", "Creating the 4K 50 FPS intermediate video"));
             List<string> joinArgs = ["-y", "-f", "concat", "-safe", "0", "-i", concat,
@@ -39,9 +48,9 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
                 "-r", settings.FramesPerSecond.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)];
             joinArgs.AddRange(EncoderArguments(encoder));
             joinArgs.AddRange(["-c:a", "aac", "-b:a", "384k", "-ar", "48000", main]);
-            await RunStageAsync(tools.Ffmpeg, joinArgs, log, progress, 2, 48, null, token);
+            await RunStageAsync(tools.Ffmpeg, joinArgs, log, progress, "Joining recordings", 2, 48, joinDuration, token);
 
-            double originalDuration = await ProbeDurationAsync(tools.Ffprobe, main, token);
+            double originalDuration = await probe.ProbeDurationAsync(tools, main, token);
             double trimmedDuration = originalDuration - settings.TrimStart;
             if (trimmedDuration <= 0)
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("Trim start is beyond the end of the video.");
@@ -84,7 +93,7 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
             double fadeStart = Math.Max(0, trimmedDuration - settings.FadeSeconds);
             double finalDuration = trimmedDuration + settings.EndCardHoldSeconds;
             double cardDuration = finalDuration + 2;
-            bool hasAudio = await HasAudioAsync(tools.Ffprobe, main, token);
+            bool hasAudio = await probe.HasAudioAsync(tools, main, token);
             progress.Report(new(60, "Final render", "Applying trim, fade and AmiReel end card"));
 
             List<string> finalArgs = ["-y", "-ss", F(settings.TrimStart), "-i", main,
@@ -95,7 +104,7 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
                 "-map", "[v]", "-map", "[a]", "-r", settings.FramesPerSecond.ToString()]);
             finalArgs.AddRange(EncoderArguments(encoder));
             finalArgs.AddRange(["-c:a", "aac", "-b:a", "384k", "-ar", "48000", "-movflags", "+faststart", final]);
-            await RunStageAsync(tools.Ffmpeg, finalArgs, log, progress, 60, 99, finalDuration, token);
+            await RunStageAsync(tools.Ffmpeg, finalArgs, log, progress, "Final render", 60, 99, finalDuration, token);
             progress.Report(new(100, "Complete", final));
         }
         finally
@@ -127,6 +136,73 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
         return "x264";
     }
 
+    private async Task<ToolPaths> PrepareToolsAsync(ToolPaths tools, Action<string> log, CancellationToken token)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await ValidateToolAsync(
+                tools.Ffmpeg,
+                ["-version"],
+                "FFmpeg",
+                "Configure AmiReel to use a real standalone FFmpeg build, or replace the embedded ThirdParty binaries with standalone ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe files.",
+                token);
+
+            await ValidateToolAsync(
+                tools.Ffprobe,
+                ["-version"],
+                "FFprobe",
+                "Configure AmiReel to use a real standalone FFprobe build, or replace the embedded ThirdParty binaries with standalone ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe files.",
+                token);
+
+            return tools;
+        }
+        catch (InvalidOperationException)
+        {
+            if (!ToolExtractor.TryResolveFromSystemPath(out ToolPaths? systemTools) || systemTools is null)
+                throw;
+
+            await ValidateToolAsync(
+                systemTools.Ffmpeg,
+                ["-version"],
+                "FFmpeg",
+                "AmiReel found FFmpeg on PATH, but it could not be started.",
+                token);
+
+            await ValidateToolAsync(
+                systemTools.Ffprobe,
+                ["-version"],
+                "FFprobe",
+                "AmiReel found FFprobe on PATH, but it could not be started.",
+                token);
+
+            log($"Configured or embedded FFmpeg tools are unusable. Falling back to FFmpeg from PATH: '{systemTools.Ffmpeg}' and '{systemTools.Ffprobe}'.");
+            return systemTools;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task ValidateToolAsync(
+        string executable,
+        IEnumerable<string> arguments,
+        string toolName,
+        string guidance,
+        CancellationToken token)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _runner.RunAsync(executable, arguments, null, null, token);
+        }
+        catch (InvalidOperationException exception) when (exception.Message.Contains("Cannot find file at", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                $"{toolName} is not a standalone binary and points to missing companion files.\n{guidance}", exception);
+        }
+        catch (InvalidOperationException exception)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                $"{toolName} could not be started from '{executable}'.\n{guidance}", exception);
+        }
+    }
+
     private static IEnumerable<string> EncoderArguments(string encoder) => encoder == "nvenc"
         ? ["-c:v", "h264_nvenc", "-preset", "p6", "-tune", "hq", "-rc", "vbr", "-cq", "16", "-b:v", "0",
            "-maxrate", "100M", "-bufsize", "200M", "-multipass", "fullres", "-spatial-aq", "1", "-aq-strength", "8",
@@ -150,30 +226,41 @@ public sealed class RenderPipeline
         }
     }
 
+    private static async Task<double> ProbeCombinedDurationAsync(MediaProbe probe, ToolPaths tools, IEnumerable<string> inputs, CancellationToken token)
+    {
+        double total = 0;
+        foreach (string input in inputs)
+            total += await probe.ProbeDurationAsync(tools, input, token);
+        return total;
+    }
+
     private async Task RunStageAsync(string executable, IEnumerable<string> args, Action<string> log,
-        IProgress<RenderProgress> progress, double from, double to, double? duration, CancellationToken token)
+        IProgress<RenderProgress> progress, string stageName, double from, double to, double? duration, CancellationToken token)
     {
-        await _runner.RunAsync(executable, args, log, time =>
+        await _runner.RunAsync(executable, args, log, null, token, outputHandler: output =>
         {
-            if (duration > 0)
-                progress.Report(new(from + Math.Min(1, time.TotalSeconds / duration.Value) * (to - from), "Rendering", time.ToString(@"hh\:mm\:ss")));
-        }, token);
+            if (duration is not > 0 || output.Time is not { } time)
+                return;
+
+            double percent = from + Math.Min(1, time.TotalSeconds / duration.Value) * (to - from);
+            string message = BuildProgressMessage(time, duration.Value, output.FramesPerSecond, output.Speed, output.Frame);
+            progress.Report(new(percent, stageName, message));
+        });
     }
 
-    private async Task<double> ProbeDurationAsync(string ffprobe, string input, CancellationToken token)
+    private static string BuildProgressMessage(TimeSpan current, double durationSeconds, double? fps, double? speed, int? frame)
     {
-        string output = await _runner.RunAsync(ffprobe,
-            ["-v", "error", "-show_entries", "format=duration", "-of", "default=nk=1:nw=1", input],
-            null, null, token);
-        return double.Parse(output.Trim(), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
-    }
+        TimeSpan total = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(durationSeconds);
+        List<string> parts = [$"{current:hh\\:mm\\:ss} / {total:hh\\:mm\\:ss}"];
 
-    private async Task<bool> HasAudioAsync(string ffprobe, string input, CancellationToken token)
-    {
-        string output = await _runner.RunAsync(ffprobe,
-            ["-v", "error", "-select_streams", "a", "-show_entries", "stream=index", "-of", "csv=p=0", input],
-            null, null, token);
-        return !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(output);
+        if (fps is > 0)
+            parts.Add($"{fps:0.#} fps");
+        if (speed is > 0)
+            parts.Add($"{speed:0.##}x");
+        if (frame is > 0)
+            parts.Add($"frame {frame.Value:N0}");
+
+        return string.Join(" · ", parts);
     }
 
     private static string BuildFinalFilter(RenderSettings s, double trimmed, double fadeStart, double finalDuration, bool hasAudio)
diff --git a/Services/ToolExtractor.cs b/Services/ToolExtractor.cs
index c884ad3..d77c4a7 100644
--- a/Services/ToolExtractor.cs
+++ b/Services/ToolExtractor.cs
@@ -22,6 +22,18 @@ public static class ToolExtractor
         return await ExtractAsync(cancellationToken);
     }
 
+    public static bool TryResolveFromSystemPath(out ToolPaths? tools)
+    {
+        tools = null;
+        string? ffmpeg = FindOnPath("ffmpeg.exe");
+        string? ffprobe = FindOnPath("ffprobe.exe");
+        if (ffmpeg is null || ffprobe is null)
+            return false;
+
+        tools = new ToolPaths(ffmpeg, ffprobe);
+        return true;
+    }
+
     private static async Task<ToolPaths> ExtractAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         string toolDir = Path.Combine(
@@ -66,4 +78,26 @@ public static class ToolExtractor
         byte[] bHash = sha.ComputeHash(b);
         return aHash.AsSpan().SequenceEqual(bHash);
     }
+
+    private static string? FindOnPath(string fileName)
+    {
+        string? path = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH");
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(path))
+            return null;
+
+        foreach (string directory in path.Split(Path.PathSeparator, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries | StringSplitOptions.TrimEntries))
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                string candidate = Path.Combine(directory, fileName);
+                if (File.Exists(candidate))
+                    return candidate;
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+            }
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/publish-win-x64.ps1 b/publish-win-x64.ps1
index 4bbb053..4b505c0 100644
--- a/publish-win-x64.ps1
+++ b/publish-win-x64.ps1
@@ -4,22 +4,33 @@ $projectDir = Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path
 $ffmpeg = Join-Path $projectDir 'ThirdParty\ffmpeg.exe'
 $ffprobe = Join-Path $projectDir 'ThirdParty\ffprobe.exe'
 $releaseExe = Join-Path $projectDir 'bin\Release\net8.0-windows\win-x64\AmiReel.exe'
+$publishDir = Join-Path $projectDir 'bin\Release\net8.0-windows\win-x64\publish'
+$publishExe = Join-Path $publishDir 'AmiReel.exe'
 
 if (-not (Test-Path $ffmpeg) -or -not (Test-Path $ffprobe)) {
     throw 'Add ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe to ThirdParty before publishing.'
 }
 
-if (Test-Path $releaseExe) {
+if ((Test-Path $releaseExe) -or (Test-Path $publishExe)) {
     $runningReleaseInstances = Get-Process AmiReel -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
-        Where-Object { $_.Path -and [string]::Equals($_.Path, $releaseExe, [System.StringComparison]::OrdinalIgnoreCase) }
+        Where-Object {
+            $_.Path -and (
+                [string]::Equals($_.Path, $releaseExe, [System.StringComparison]::OrdinalIgnoreCase) -or
+                [string]::Equals($_.Path, $publishExe, [System.StringComparison]::OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            )
+        }
 
     if ($runningReleaseInstances) {
-        Write-Host 'Stopping running release build before publish...' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        Write-Host 'Stopping running AmiReel build before publish...' -ForegroundColor Yellow
         $runningReleaseInstances | Stop-Process -Force
-        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 500
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 800
     }
 }
 
+if (Test-Path $publishDir) {
+    Remove-Item -LiteralPath $publishDir -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+}
+
 dotnet publish (Join-Path $projectDir 'AmigaDB.VideoRenderer.csproj') `
     -c Release `
     -r win-x64 `