diff --git a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/minimax_h3.py b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/minimax_h3.py
index 0cff7d7..96de66b 100644
--- a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/minimax_h3.py
+++ b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/minimax_h3.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ from .src.packing import (
     unpatchify_video_tokens,
 )
 from .src.pipeline import MiniMaxH3Pipeline
-from .src.ref_video_cache import load_ref_video_latent
+from .src.ref_video_cache import load_ref_video_latent, load_video_ref_for_te
 from .src.text_encoder import (
     TEXT_ENCODER_LAYER,
     VideoRef,
@@ -187,6 +187,10 @@ class MinimaxH3Model(BaseModel):
 
         self.processor = None  # Qwen3VLProcessor
         self._warned_frame_trim = False
+        # video-ref presentation context: dataset config while caching training
+        # embeds; the sample's frame cap while encoding sample prompts
+        self._ref_video_dataset_config = None
+        self._sample_ref_max_frames = None
         self.latent_space_version = "minimax_h3_v1"
         # caption token cap (vision blocks are never truncated); the released
         # stack has no limit — set 0 to disable
@@ -206,6 +210,12 @@ class MinimaxH3Model(BaseModel):
         # auto_frame_count: snap dataset clips down to the VAE's 17n+5 grid
         return packing.align_num_frames_down
 
+    def prepare_sample_prompt_context(self, gen_config):
+        # sample prompts: video refs are treated at the sample's length, not
+        # the dataset's (which only applies while caching training embeds)
+        self._ref_video_dataset_config = None
+        self._sample_ref_max_frames = max(int(gen_config.num_frames), 5)
+
     @property
     def video_vae(self) -> MiniMaxH3VideoVAE:
         return self.vae.video_vae
@@ -673,8 +683,15 @@ class MinimaxH3Model(BaseModel):
                         Image.fromarray(arr.permute(1, 2, 0).cpu().numpy())
                     )
                 elif isinstance(img, str):
-                    # a control VIDEO path: 2 fps timestamped presentation
-                    pil_images.append(load_video_ref(img))
+                    # a control VIDEO path: 2 fps timestamped presentation over
+                    # the SAME frames the latent rows use (dataset treatment
+                    # when caching training embeds, sample-length at sampling)
+                    ds_cfg = getattr(self, "_ref_video_dataset_config", None)
+                    pil_images.append(
+                        load_video_ref_for_te(
+                            self, img, ds_cfg, max_frames=self._sample_ref_max_frames
+                        )
+                    )
                 else:
                     pil_images.append(img)
             if len(pil_images) == 1:
@@ -1281,13 +1298,14 @@ class MinimaxH3Ref2VAModel(MinimaxH3Model):
                 ph, pw = packing.reference_pixel_size(
                     img.shape[2], img.shape[1], target_h, target_w
                 )
+                # LANCZOS like ComfyUI / the sampling path
                 resized.append(
                     torch.nn.functional.interpolate(
                         img[None].to(device, torch.float32),
                         size=(ph, pw),
-                        mode="bilinear",
+                        mode="bicubic",
                         antialias=True,
-                    )[0]
+                    )[0].clamp(0.0, 1.0)
                 )
             shapes = {tuple(r.shape[1:]) for r in resized}
             if len(shapes) > 1:
@@ -1346,9 +1364,8 @@ class MinimaxH3Ref2VAModel(MinimaxH3Model):
             n = packing.align_num_frames_down(max(len(frames), 5))
             frames = frames[:n]
         h0, w0 = frames[0].shape[:2]
-        ph, pw = packing.reference_pixel_size(
-            w0, h0, gen_config.height, gen_config.width
-        )
+        # ComfyUI reference-video sizing (independent of the sample canvas)
+        ph, pw = packing.reference_video_pixel_size(w0, h0)
         pixels = torch.from_numpy(np.stack(frames)).float() / 255.0 * 2.0 - 1.0
         pixels = pixels.permute(3, 0, 1, 2)[None]  # (1, 3, T, H, W)
         pixels = (
@@ -1368,9 +1385,13 @@ class MinimaxH3Ref2VAModel(MinimaxH3Model):
             generator=generator,
             fp16_round=True,
         )
-        # soundtrack rides clean when the clip has one (best effort)
+        # soundtrack rides clean when the clip has one (same test as the TE label)
         audio_rows = None
         try:
+            from .src.text_encoder import video_has_audio
+
+            if not video_has_audio(path):
+                raise RuntimeError("no audio stream")
             import torchaudio
 
             waveform, sample_rate = torchaudio.load(path)
diff --git a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/packing.py b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/packing.py
index 48b5d5d..13f02bb 100644
--- a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/packing.py
+++ b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/packing.py
@@ -112,15 +112,30 @@ def resolve_canvas_size(aspect_width: float, aspect_height: float) -> Tuple[int,
 def reference_pixel_size(
     ref_width: int, ref_height: int, target_height: int, target_width: int
 ) -> Tuple[int, int]:
-    """Reference images match the TARGET's pixel area while keeping their own
-    aspect ratio; both axes snap to the canvas multiple. Returns (height, width)."""
-    scale = math.sqrt((target_height * target_width) / float(ref_width * ref_height))
+    """Reference IMAGE sizing (ComfyUI 'match'): aspect-preserving scale DOWN
+    ONLY to the target's pixel area — never upscaled; both axes snap to the
+    canvas multiple. Returns (height, width)."""
+    scale = min(
+        1.0, math.sqrt((target_height * target_width) / float(ref_width * ref_height))
+    )
     m = CANVAS_MULTIPLE
     height = max(m, round(ref_height * scale / m) * m)
     width = max(m, round(ref_width * scale / m) * m)
     return height, width
 
 
+def reference_video_pixel_size(ref_width: int, ref_height: int) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+    """Reference VIDEO sizing (ComfyUI): the 768-short-edge canvas with the
+    768*1344 area cap, or the native size (rounded to /32) when the source is
+    smaller than that canvas. Returns (height, width)."""
+    ch, cw = resolve_canvas_size(ref_width, ref_height)
+    if ref_width * ref_height < cw * ch:
+        m = CANVAS_MULTIPLE
+        cw = max(m, round(ref_width / m) * m)
+        ch = max(m, round(ref_height / m) * m)
+    return ch, cw
+
+
 def prepare_reference_image(
     image: Image.Image, target_height: int, target_width: int
 ) -> Image.Image:
diff --git a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/ref_video_cache.py b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/ref_video_cache.py
index a0e8f61..72d6784 100644
--- a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/ref_video_cache.py
+++ b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/ref_video_cache.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """Reference-video latents for ref2va, without dataloader machinery.
 
-A control VIDEO gets the dataset's treatment — num_frames / auto_frame_count,
-fps, resolution bucket with center crop — then a single VAE encode whose
+A control VIDEO gets the dataset's temporal treatment — num_frames /
+auto_frame_count, fps — and ComfyUI's reference sizing (768-short-edge canvas
+or native when smaller, aspect kept), then a single VAE encode whose
 result is cached next to the video in ``_latent_cache/`` (keyed like normal
 latent caches: file signature + the config values that shape the latent).
 Everything is deterministic (even frame spread, no random start) so the cache
@@ -20,7 +21,82 @@ import torch
 from safetensors.torch import load_file, save_file
 
 from toolkit.basic import get_quick_signature_string
-from toolkit.buckets import get_bucket_for_image_size
+from .packing import reference_video_pixel_size
+
+
+def ref_frame_indices(total, src_fps, num_frames, dataset_fps, trim_tail):
+    """Source frame indices a reference video is sampled at (dataset-identical)."""
+    if trim_tail:
+        # dataset trim mode: real-time pacing from the start, tail trimmed —
+        # keeps motion speed honest and the soundtrack in sync
+        fps_ratio = src_fps / dataset_fps if src_fps > 0 else 1.0
+        return [min(round(i * fps_ratio), total - 1) for i in range(num_frames)]
+    # deterministic even frame spread across the clip
+    return [
+        min(round(i * (total - 1) / max(num_frames - 1, 1)), total - 1)
+        for i in range(num_frames)
+    ]
+
+
+def ref_video_num_frames(model, path, dataset_config):
+    """Dataset-identical frame count for a reference video."""
+    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(path)
+    total = int(cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_COUNT))
+    src_fps = cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FPS) or dataset_config.fps
+    cap.release()
+    if dataset_config.auto_frame_count:
+        num_frames = int(total / src_fps * dataset_config.fps)
+        snapper = model.get_frame_count_snapper()
+        if snapper is not None:
+            num_frames = snapper(num_frames)
+    else:
+        num_frames = dataset_config.num_frames
+    return num_frames, total, src_fps
+
+
+def load_video_ref_for_te(model, path, dataset_config=None, max_frames=None):
+    """Build the Qwen presentation from the SAME frames the latent rows use:
+    2 fps over the frame-count-treated 24 fps clip (ComfyUI: frames[::12],
+    timestamps i/2). Without a dataset config (sampling), the clip is
+    treated as its own length capped at ``max_frames``, snapped to 17n+5."""
+    from PIL import Image as _Image
+
+    from .packing import align_num_frames_down
+    from .text_encoder import VideoRef, video_has_audio
+
+    if dataset_config is not None:
+        num_frames, total, src_fps = ref_video_num_frames(model, path, dataset_config)
+        ds_fps = dataset_config.fps
+        trim = bool(
+            dataset_config.auto_frame_count
+            and dataset_config.trim_auto_frame_count_tail
+        )
+    else:
+        cap = cv2.VideoCapture(path)
+        total = int(cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_COUNT))
+        src_fps = cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FPS) or 24.0
+        cap.release()
+        ds_fps = 24
+        n = int(total / src_fps * ds_fps)
+        if max_frames:
+            n = min(n, max_frames)
+        num_frames = align_num_frames_down(max(n, 5))
+        trim = True
+    indices = ref_frame_indices(total, src_fps, num_frames, ds_fps, trim)
+    # 2 fps over the treated 24fps clip: every 12th treated frame
+    step = max(1, int(ds_fps // 2))
+    picks = list(range(0, len(indices), step))
+    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(path)
+    frames, times = [], []
+    for j in picks:
+        cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_POS_FRAMES, indices[j])
+        ok, frame = cap.read()
+        if not ok:
+            break
+        frames.append(_Image.fromarray(cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2RGB)))
+        times.append(j / ds_fps)
+    cap.release()
+    return VideoRef(frames=frames, timestamps=times, has_audio=video_has_audio(path))
 
 
 def _cache_path(path: str, hash_dict: dict) -> str:
@@ -69,7 +145,7 @@ def load_ref_video_latent(model, path: str, dataset_config) -> dict:
     )
     hash_dict = {
         "signature": get_quick_signature_string(path),
-        "resolution": dataset_config.resolution,
+        "ref_sizing": "comfy_canvas",
         "num_frames": num_frames,
         "fps": dataset_config.fps,
         "trim_tail": trim_tail,
@@ -88,29 +164,13 @@ def load_ref_video_latent(model, path: str, dataset_config) -> dict:
         mem_cache[path] = entry
         return entry
 
-    # dataset-identical bucket sizing (center crop, no random)
-    bucket = get_bucket_for_image_size(
-        src_w,
-        src_h,
-        resolution=dataset_config.resolution,
-        divisibility=dataset_config.bucket_tolerance,
-    )
-    scale = max(bucket["width"] / src_w, bucket["height"] / src_h)
-    scale_w, scale_h = int(np.ceil(src_w * scale)), int(np.ceil(src_h * scale))
-    crop_x = (scale_w - bucket["width"]) // 2
-    crop_y = (scale_h - bucket["height"]) // 2
+    # ComfyUI reference-video sizing: 768-short-edge canvas (768*1344 area
+    # cap) or native size when smaller; aspect-preserving resize, no crop
+    out_h, out_w = reference_video_pixel_size(src_w, src_h)
 
-    if trim_tail:
-        # dataset trim mode: real-time pacing from the start, tail trimmed —
-        # keeps motion speed honest and the soundtrack in sync
-        fps_ratio = src_fps / dataset_config.fps if src_fps > 0 else 1.0
-        indices = [min(round(i * fps_ratio), total - 1) for i in range(num_frames)]
-    else:
-        # deterministic even frame spread across the clip
-        indices = [
-            min(round(i * (total - 1) / max(num_frames - 1, 1)), total - 1)
-            for i in range(num_frames)
-        ]
+    indices = ref_frame_indices(
+        total, src_fps, num_frames, dataset_config.fps, trim_tail
+    )
     frames = []
     for idx in indices:
         cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_POS_FRAMES, idx)
@@ -118,10 +178,7 @@ def load_ref_video_latent(model, path: str, dataset_config) -> dict:
         if not ok:
             raise ValueError(f"Could not read frame {idx} of {path}")
         frame = cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2RGB)
-        frame = cv2.resize(frame, (scale_w, scale_h), interpolation=cv2.INTER_AREA)
-        frame = frame[
-            crop_y : crop_y + bucket["height"], crop_x : crop_x + bucket["width"]
-        ]
+        frame = cv2.resize(frame, (out_w, out_h), interpolation=cv2.INTER_LANCZOS4)
         frames.append(frame)
     cap.release()
 
@@ -133,9 +190,14 @@ def load_ref_video_latent(model, path: str, dataset_config) -> dict:
         "latent": latent,
         "num_frames": torch.tensor(num_frames, dtype=torch.int64),
     }
-    # the soundtrack rides as clean condition rows; best effort (no track = None)
+    # the soundtrack rides as clean condition rows iff the file has an audio
+    # stream (the TE presentation's "<Audio j>" label uses the same test)
     audio_rows = None
     try:
+        from .text_encoder import video_has_audio
+
+        if not video_has_audio(path):
+            raise RuntimeError("no audio stream")
         import torchaudio
 
         waveform, sample_rate = torchaudio.load(path)
diff --git a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/text_encoder.py b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/text_encoder.py
index 6eaef6b..3475e1b 100644
--- a/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/text_encoder.py
+++ b/extensions_built_in/diffusion_models/minimax_h3/src/text_encoder.py
@@ -35,9 +35,23 @@ class VideoRef:
 
     frames: list = field(default_factory=list)  # PIL images
     timestamps: list = field(default_factory=list)  # float seconds, per frame
+    # a soundtrack that rides as reference audio rows: the presentation gets an
+    # "<Audio j>: " label emitted BEFORE the "<Video k>: " block (audio itself
+    # never enters Qwen)
+    has_audio: bool = False
 
 
-def load_video_ref(path, max_frames: int = 0) -> "VideoRef":
+def video_has_audio(path) -> bool:
+    try:
+        import av
+
+        with av.open(path) as c:
+            return len(c.streams.audio) > 0
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+
+def load_video_ref(path, max_frames: int = 0, has_audio=None) -> "VideoRef":
     """Sample a video at 2 fps (slot rounding on its native fps) into a
     VideoRef with per-frame timestamps in seconds."""
     import cv2
@@ -70,7 +84,9 @@ def load_video_ref(path, max_frames: int = 0) -> "VideoRef":
     cap.release()
     if not frames:
         raise ValueError(f"No frames decoded from control video {path}")
-    return VideoRef(frames=frames, timestamps=times)
+    if has_audio is None:
+        has_audio = video_has_audio(path)
+    return VideoRef(frames=frames, timestamps=times, has_audio=has_audio)
 
 
 @torch.no_grad()
@@ -126,12 +142,18 @@ def encode_minimax_h3_prompt(
             pixel_values_videos = vids["pixel_values_videos"]
             video_grid_thw = vids["video_grid_thw"]
 
-        pic_idx, vid_idx = 0, 0
+        pic_idx, vid_idx, aud_idx = 0, 0, 0
         for k in keyframes:
             if isinstance(k, VideoRef):
                 grid = video_grid_thw[vid_idx]
                 per_pair = int(grid[1] * grid[2]) // merge
-                label_ids = tokenizer(
+                label_ids = []
+                if k.has_audio:
+                    aud_idx += 1
+                    label_ids += tokenizer(
+                        f"<Audio {aud_idx}>: ", add_special_tokens=False
+                    )["input_ids"]
+                label_ids += tokenizer(
                     f"<Video {vid_idx + 1}>: ", add_special_tokens=False
                 )["input_ids"]
                 token_ids += label_ids
diff --git a/extensions_built_in/sd_trainer/SDTrainer.py b/extensions_built_in/sd_trainer/SDTrainer.py
index 1f2289e..537c3bc 100644
--- a/extensions_built_in/sd_trainer/SDTrainer.py
+++ b/extensions_built_in/sd_trainer/SDTrainer.py
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ class SDTrainer(BaseSDTrainProcess):
                     has_control_images = True
                 # see if we need to encode the control images
                 if self.sd.encode_control_in_text_embeddings and has_control_images:
+                    self.sd.prepare_sample_prompt_context(gen_img_config)
                     
                     video_exts = ['.mp4', '.avi', '.mov', '.webm', '.mkv', '.wmv', '.m4v', '.flv']
 
diff --git a/toolkit/dataloader_mixins.py b/toolkit/dataloader_mixins.py
index 0a5ef89..bd460ec 100644
--- a/toolkit/dataloader_mixins.py
+++ b/toolkit/dataloader_mixins.py
@@ -2309,10 +2309,15 @@ class TextEmbeddingCachingMixin:
                         self.sd.set_device_state_preset('cache_text_encoder')
                         did_move = True
 
-                    if file_item.encode_control_in_text_embeddings and file_item.control_path is not None:
+                    control_video_paths = getattr(file_item, 'control_video_paths', None) or []
+                    if file_item.encode_control_in_text_embeddings and (
+                        file_item.control_path is not None or len(control_video_paths) > 0
+                    ):
                         ctrl_img_list = []
                         control_path_list = file_item.control_path
-                        if not isinstance(file_item.control_path, list):
+                        if control_path_list is None:
+                            control_path_list = []
+                        elif not isinstance(control_path_list, list):
                             control_path_list = [control_path_list]
                         for i in range(len(control_path_list)):
                             try:
@@ -2328,6 +2333,14 @@ class TextEmbeddingCachingMixin:
                             except Exception as e:
                                 print_acc(f"Error: {e}")
                                 print_acc(f"Error loading control image: {control_path_list[i]}")
+                        # control VIDEOS ride into the presentation by path (models
+                        # with supports_video_control_images turn them into
+                        # timestamped vision blocks); images first, then videos.
+                        # The model needs the dataset config to treat the clip
+                        # exactly like its latent rows (frame count / trim)
+                        ctrl_img_list.extend(control_video_paths)
+                        if len(control_video_paths) > 0:
+                            self.sd._ref_video_dataset_config = self.dataset_config
                         
                         if len(ctrl_img_list) == 0:
                             ctrl_img = None
diff --git a/toolkit/models/base_model.py b/toolkit/models/base_model.py
index 2b94023..64c8788 100644
--- a/toolkit/models/base_model.py
+++ b/toolkit/models/base_model.py
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ class BaseModel:
             divisibility = divisibility * 2
         return divisibility
 
+    def prepare_sample_prompt_context(self, gen_config):
+        """Optional hook called right before a sample prompt is encoded, with
+        the sample's GenerateImageConfig, for models whose control conditioning
+        in the text embeds depends on sample settings (e.g. a video reference's
+        length capped at the sample's frame count)."""
+        return None
+
     def get_frame_count_snapper(self):
         """Optional hook for video models whose VAE accepts frame counts on a
         grid other than the default ``temporal_compression * n + 1``.
@@ -605,6 +612,7 @@ class BaseModel:
                             else:
                                 ctrl_img = ctrl_img_list[0] if len(ctrl_img_list) > 0 else None
                         # encode the prompt ourselves so we can do fun stuff with embeddings
+                        self.prepare_sample_prompt_context(gen_config)
                         if isinstance(self.adapter, CustomAdapter):
                             self.adapter.is_unconditional_run = False
                         conditional_embeds = self.encode_prompt(
diff --git a/toolkit/stable_diffusion_model.py b/toolkit/stable_diffusion_model.py
index 915bc00..d90a7ea 100644
--- a/toolkit/stable_diffusion_model.py
+++ b/toolkit/stable_diffusion_model.py
@@ -215,6 +215,9 @@ class StableDiffusion:
         
         # set true for models that encode control image into text embeddings
         self.encode_control_in_text_embeddings = False
+        # control files may be VIDEOS (paths exposed on the batch as
+        # control_video_paths_list); see minimax_h3 ref2va
+        self.supports_video_control_images = False
         # control images will come in as a list for encoding some things if true
         self.has_multiple_control_images = False
         # do not resize control images
@@ -292,7 +295,20 @@ class StableDiffusion:
         if self.is_flux or self.is_v3:
             divisibility = divisibility * 2
         return divisibility * 2 # todo remove this
-        
+
+    def get_frame_count_snapper(self):
+        """Optional hook for video models whose VAE accepts frame counts on a
+        grid other than the default ``temporal_compression * n + 1``. Return a
+        MODULE-LEVEL function ``(num_frames) -> int`` (picklable — file items
+        travel into dataloader workers) that snaps a frame count DOWN to a
+        valid count, or None for the default auto_frame_count math."""
+        return None
+
+    def prepare_sample_prompt_context(self, gen_config):
+        """Optional hook called right before a sample prompt is encoded, with
+        the sample's GenerateImageConfig, for models whose control conditioning
+        in the text embeds depends on sample settings."""
+        return None
 
     def load_model(self):
         if self.is_loaded:
diff --git a/ui/src/app/jobs/new/options.tsx b/ui/src/app/jobs/new/options.tsx
index a4bdf92..c1e461d 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/jobs/new/options.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/app/jobs/new/options.tsx
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ export const modelArchs: ModelArch[] = [
       <div className="space-y-2">
         <p>
           Reference-to-video: control images condition the output as subject/style references (never as a first frame).
-          Each reference keeps its own aspect ratio, is resized to the target's pixel area, rides into the packed
+          Reference images keep their aspect and scale down (never up) to the target's pixel area; reference videos use the 768-short-edge canvas (or native size if smaller). Each rides into the packed
           sequence as a reference block, and is also shown to the Qwen3-VL conditioner as a{' '}
           <code>&lt;Picture i&gt;</code> vision block. Training references come from the dataset control path(s);
           sampling uses the sample ctrl images — always as references. Image references only for now (no reference