Model update
Kling 4.0: half a minute in one pass, with 15 references
Kuaishou opened Kling 4.0 to everyone on 15 October. A single generation can now run up to 30 seconds, and one scene takes up to 15 references and 10 keyframes. Here is what that changes when you plan a scene.
By: Priya RamanModel comparisons, prices, new releases (News)
In short: Kling 4.0 has been open to all users since 15 October, after an early-access phase that started on 30 September. Kuaishou promises three things: steadier large-scale motion in fast action and complex camera work, videos of up to 30 seconds in a single pass, and a feature called Omni Reference that takes up to 15 reference assets and 10 keyframes per generation. These are the company's own claims; no independent tests have been published yet.
What is new in Kling 4.0?
Everything new in Kling 4.0 points towards longer, continuous scenes. Until now a thirty-second scene had to be stitched together from several short clips, and every join was a chance for the actor's face, the outfit or the light to drift. A single 30-second pass shrinks that risk to one generation.
| What is new | What it means for planning |
|---|---|
| 30 seconds in one pass | A whole scene can fit into one generation. The prompt now has to describe the full arc, though: the opening, the turn and the ending. |
| Up to 15 references | Actor, wardrobe, location and props can each be pinned with their own image, so character consistency depends less on luck. |
| Up to 10 keyframes | You can fix the turning points of a scene in advance and let the model fill in the motion between them. |
| Steadier large-scale motion | Fast action and complex camera moves should show less jitter and fewer warping bodies, according to Kuaishou. |
What does it mean for your prompts?
A longer pass needs more thinking up front. For a five-second clip, one action and one camera move are enough. For thirty seconds you need a script: what happens in the first ten seconds, where the turn comes, and where the shot ends. Ask for half a minute with one moody sentence and you get half a minute of guesswork back.
Keyframes also make the start frame matter more. Once the first and last images are fixed, the model only has to work out the journey between them. That is how the weblockai planner already works: it writes a start-frame prompt for every shot first, and only then the video prompt. Kling 4.0 rewards exactly that order.
What is still unknown?
Some of the announced features are not out yet. The API for developers and businesses, 10-bit HDR at 4K and 1080p, and extending a video several times up to two minutes are all still listed as coming soon. Kuaishou has not published pricing or a detailed specification.
Is it worth switching now?
If your films are built from five- to ten-second shots, there is no rush: your current workflow handles short clips well. If you are planning longer continuous scenes or a recurring character, test it on a single scene before you move the whole film over. Watch two things: whether the face still holds at the thirtieth second, and how many attempts it takes to get a usable take. For the full route from plan to finished film, we walk through it step by step here.
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Common questions
What is new in Kling 4.0?
According to its maker, Kuaishou, it can produce a video of up to 30 seconds in a single pass, accepts up to 15 references and 10 keyframes for one generation, and gives smoother motion in fast action and complex camera work. These are the maker's claims, and no independent test has been published yet.
When did Kling 4.0 come out and who can use it?
Kuaishou opened it to everyone on October 15, and it could be tried with early access from September 30. The developer API, 10-bit HDR and repeated video extension are for now marked as coming soon by the maker. It has not published a price or a detailed technical description.
How should I prompt differently for a 30-second Kling video?
A 30-second clip needs a script: what happens in the first ten seconds, where the turn comes, and where the shot ends. Whoever asks for half a minute with one atmospheric sentence gets half a minute of guesswork. The rule stays the same: one shot, one camera move, and you separate any further moves with keyframes.
What are keyframes and references good for in Kling 4.0?
With references, the character, clothing, location and props can each be fixed with a separate image, so keeping the face consistent depends less on luck. With keyframes, the turning points of the scene can be set in advance, and the model only fills in the movement between them. If the first and last image are fixed, it only has to invent the path.