How to Add Mandatory Caption Lines Per Channel
Step 1: Open the Channel Settings Page
Go to autoclip.dev/dashboard and click the source channel name in your channel list. The detail page has a Captions tab — that's where mandatory lines live. The setting is per-source-channel, not per-clip, because the same source typically has the same credit rules across every clip.
If this is a fresh channel you haven't configured yet, the Captions tab will be empty with a single button: Add Mandatory Line. Click it. A line editor opens with three fields: text, position, platform.
The Captions tab is also where you'll later set caption styling (font, color, position) but those default to the workspace-level preset. Mandatory lines are channel-specific because credit rules vary by source.
Step 2: Enter the Required Text — Handle, Brand, or Link
Type the credit string into the text field. Common patterns: `@username on Twitch`, `Source: Joe Rogan Experience`, `Powered by [SponsorBrand]`, or a referral link like `clip.spotter.dev/r/marcusk`.
The text field accepts up to 80 characters. Longer lines wrap, which usually looks bad on a 9:16 clip. If you need more credit text than 80 chars, split into two mandatory lines stacked vertically.
For Whop bounty programs specifically, check the bounty's exact required text — most bounties have a precise format string and submitting clips with even small variations disqualifies the clip from the payout pool. Copy-paste from the bounty's terms page rather than typing freehand.
Step 3: Pick the Position — Above, Below, or Watermark
Three position options: Above AI Caption, Below AI Caption, Top Watermark. Each renders the line at a fixed location relative to the clip's auto-generated caption block.
Above AI Caption is the default and works for most credit lines — it sits in the bottom-third where viewers expect attribution text. Below AI Caption pushes it to the very bottom edge, useful if your AI captions are already large and you want minimal visual interference.
Top Watermark renders at the top of the frame in 50% opacity, typical for sponsorship branding. The trade-off: viewers' eyes track the bottom for captions, so top-watermark text gets less attention but also doesn't compete with the main caption block.
Step 4: Set Per-Platform Overrides if Needed
The line editor's third field is a platform multi-select: TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, X. Default is all four enabled. Disable specific platforms when the line doesn't make sense for that platform.
A common pattern: a referral URL like `clip.spotter.dev/r/marcusk` gets disabled on TikTok (where URLs in captions don't click) but enabled on YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels (where descriptions support clickable links). The line still renders visually on TikTok if you keep it on, but the URL becomes copy-only — usually not what bounty programs want.
For brand sponsorships, the override setting matters more than for organic credits. A sponsor paying for a YouTube Shorts mention won't pay for the same line silently appearing on TikTok if their tracking is YouTube-only.
Step 5: Save and Verify on the Next Clip
Click Save. The mandatory line activates immediately for any clip rendered from this source channel after the save. Existing already-rendered clips don't retroactively update — the system treats them as final outputs.
Verify by triggering a manual clip from the channel's VOD list. Pick any short segment (30 seconds is enough), click Generate, and inspect the rendered output. The mandatory line should appear at the position you chose, with the text exactly as entered, on every platform you enabled.
If the line is missing or formatted unexpectedly, the most common cause is a special character in the text (curly quotes, em dashes, emoji). The renderer accepts these but they sometimes shift line layout. Replace with straight quotes and standard hyphens for predictable output.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — each line has a per-platform toggle. Add separate lines for each platform if the credit text differs (e.g., `@handle on YouTube` for the YouTube version, `@handle on TikTok` for TikTok).
Slightly. Buffer's 2024 short-form analysis found a 8-12% reach decrease for clips with branded credit lines vs unbranded. For bounty programs, the per-view payout typically more than offsets the lost organic reach.
No. Mandatory lines apply to clips rendered after the setting is saved. Already-rendered clips need to be re-rendered to pick up the new line — the dashboard has a Re-render button on each clip's detail page.
Related Articles
See also
Configure Once. Credit Forever.
Per-channel mandatory caption lines in AutoClip take 90 seconds to set and run on every future clip from that source.
Get started for free