Veo 3: Google’s AI video model that generates visuals and audio (and how to use it on Vertex AI)

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Generative video is moving from “cool demos” to something teams can actually ship. Veo 3 is a big step in that direction: it’s designed to create high-quality video and—most importantly—generate audio natively, including ambience, effects, and even dialogue synchronized with the visuals.

This article covers what Veo 3 is, how the Veo 3 family differs (including “Fast” and 3.1), and how to start using it responsibly in real workflows.



What makes Veo 3 different?

1) Native audio + video in one pass

The standout feature: Veo 3 can generate audio and visuals together, producing soundscapes like:

This reduces the usual “stitching” workflow of combining a video model + voice + SFX + editing timeline just to get a coherent short clip.

2) Stronger cinematic control via prompting

Veo 3 is positioned for narrative-driven creation, with better handling of creative intent from the prompt—camera style, lighting, mood, and scene detail.

3) More realistic motion and physics

Veo 3 emphasizes more natural motion and real-world physics, helping scenes feel less “AI-wobbly” and more believable.

Veo 3 vs Veo 3 Fast vs Veo 3.1: which should you use?

Veo 3 (quality-first)

Use this when you care most about:

  • fidelity and realism

  • cinematic look

  • fine prompt nuance

  • “final output” quality

Veo 3 Fast (iteration-first)

Built for speed and rapid iteration—ideal for:

Veo 3.1 / Veo 3.1 Fast (newer generation)

Veo 3.1 is generally described as improving:

  • richer native audio

  • greater narrative control

  • more consistent style and results

  • stronger image-to-video performance

Using Veo 3 on Google Cloud (Vertex AI)

Veo models are available through Google Cloud’s AI platform, commonly via:

  • a UI experience for trying media generation quickly

  • APIs for developers integrating generation into apps and workflows

If your goal is production use (teams, approvals, repeatability), the API route is usually where you end up.

Practical constraints to plan around

Typical settings you’ll encounter include:

  • Aspect ratios: 16:9 (horizontal) and 9:16 (vertical)

  • Resolutions: commonly 720p and 1080p

  • Frame rate: often 24 fps

  • Clip lengths: short bursts (e.g., a few seconds per clip), designed to be stitched into sequences

  • Prompt language: often English for best results

  • Quotas/rate limits: vary by account, region, and model

If you need a specific format (like 1080p vertical), verify the current behavior in your console/docs for the model/version you’re using.

A simple prompt recipe that consistently works

To get outputs that feel intentional (not random), structure prompts like this:

  1. Format + duration + aspect ratio

  2. Subject + setting

  3. Camera direction (wide/close-up, dolly, handheld, drone, lens feel)

  4. Lighting + color grade

  5. Action + timing (“as the door opens…”, “at the 3-second mark…”)

  6. Audio direction (SFX, ambience, dialogue style, music mood)

  7. Avoid list (no text overlays, avoid warped faces, etc.)

Example prompt (product / ad)

8-second video, 9:16 vertical. Close-up cinematic shot of a cold sparkling drink can on a sunlit kitchen counter, shallow depth of field. Condensation beads roll down the can as a hand opens it; crisp fizz and droplets burst upward in slow motion. Warm morning light, soft bokeh, high realism.
Audio: clean can “crack,” fizzy carbonation, subtle kitchen ambience, upbeat light percussion, no dialogue.

Example prompt (training / internal comms)

6-second video, 16:9. Office scene with a presenter pointing at a screen showing a simplified flowchart (no readable text). Smooth camera pan from audience to screen. Neutral lighting, professional tone.
Audio: quiet room tone, soft clicker sound, subtle transition whoosh, no music, no dialogue.

Image-to-video: bring static visuals to life

If your workflow starts with a still image (product render, hero image, slide visual), image-to-video can:

  • add gentle camera motion (push-in, pan, parallax)

  • animate subtle elements (steam, water movement, fabric, lighting shifts)

  • create looping visuals for landing pages or presentations

It’s often the fastest “upgrade” you can do for marketing and course content.

Responsible use: guardrails you should adopt

For production use, set a clear policy around:

  • who can generate content

  • prohibited categories (and safety filters)

  • review/approval steps before publishing

  • how you label or disclose AI-generated media (when appropriate)

This is especially important if you’ll generate dialogue, likenesses, or realistic scenes that could be misunderstood.

The fastest way to get value from Veo 3

A practical approach that works well:

  • Use Veo 3 Fast to iterate on ideas and storyboards quickly

  • Switch to Veo 3 / Veo 3.1 for your final shots and audio polish

  • Standardize prompts into a reusable “shot brief” template so outputs stay consistent across your team

If you tell me what you’re making (YouTube Shorts promo, course visuals, product ad, etc.), I can write 10 ready-to-run Veo 3 prompts in your exact style and aspect ratio. 

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