diff --git a/node-agent.exe~ b/node-agent.exe~
deleted file mode 100644
index 227c001..0000000
Binary files a/node-agent.exe~ and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/services/node-agent/cmd/agent/main.go b/services/node-agent/cmd/agent/main.go
index 3f3b304..3c22638 100644
--- a/services/node-agent/cmd/agent/main.go
+++ b/services/node-agent/cmd/agent/main.go
@@ -424,6 +424,11 @@ func (a *Agent) runJob(ctx context.Context, job *client.ClaimedJob) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	binds := make([]runner.Binding, 0, len(job.Bindings))
+	for _, b := range job.Bindings {
+		binds = append(binds, runner.Binding{Key: b.Key, Type: b.Type, Value: b.Value})
+	}
+
 	rJob := &runner.Job{
 		JobID:          job.JobID,
 		SavedProjectID: job.SavedProjectID,
@@ -434,6 +439,8 @@ func (a *Agent) runJob(ctx context.Context, job *client.ClaimedJob) {
 		HasVoiceover:   job.HasVoiceover,
 		AEPFilePath:    aepPath,
 		CompName:       job.CompName,
+		AfterFxPath:    a.cfg.AfterFxPath,
+		Bindings:       binds,
 	}
 
 	onProgress := func(ctx context.Context, pct int, msg string) error {
diff --git a/services/node-agent/internal/client/client.go b/services/node-agent/internal/client/client.go
index e934c52..0400c98 100644
--- a/services/node-agent/internal/client/client.go
+++ b/services/node-agent/internal/client/client.go
@@ -164,6 +164,16 @@ type ClaimedJob struct {
 	// CompName is the AE composition to render (-comp), e.g. "frfinal". Empty → the
 	// node falls back to the project's render queue (-rqindex 1).
 	CompName string `json:"comp_name,omitempty"`
+	// Bindings are the user's edited input values to write into the AE project before
+	// rendering (render binder). Key = AE layer/footage name (frl_c{n}{t|m}{i}).
+	Bindings []RenderBinding `json:"bindings,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// RenderBinding is one input value to write into the AE project before render.
+type RenderBinding struct {
+	Key   string `json:"key"`
+	Type  string `json:"type"`
+	Value string `json:"value"`
 }
 
 // OutputUploadURLResponse is returned by GetOutputUploadURL.
diff --git a/services/node-agent/internal/runner/binder.go b/services/node-agent/internal/runner/binder.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..966b78c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/node-agent/internal/runner/binder.go
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+package runner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	_ "embed"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+//go:embed bind.jsx
+var bindScript []byte
+
+func isMediaBinding(t string) bool {
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(t)) {
+	case "media", "image", "video":
+		return true
+	case "audio", "voiceover":
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func bindMediaType(t string) string {
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(t)) {
+	case "audio", "voiceover":
+		return "audio"
+	default:
+		return "media"
+	}
+}
+
+func mediaExt(url string) string {
+	u := url
+	if i := strings.IndexAny(u, "?#"); i >= 0 {
+		u = u[:i]
+	}
+	ext := filepath.Ext(u)
+	if ext == "" || len(ext) > 6 {
+		return ".bin"
+	}
+	return ext
+}
+
+func downloadFile(ctx context.Context, url, dst string) error {
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download %s: HTTP %d", url, resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	f, err := os.Create(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+	_, err = io.Copy(f, resp.Body)
+	return err
+}
+
+// ── bind-spec (matches bind.jsx) ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+type bindLayerSpec struct {
+	Key   string `json:"key"`
+	Type  string `json:"type"` // "text" | "media" | "audio"
+	Value string `json:"value"`
+}
+type bindSpec struct {
+	Comp   string          `json:"comp,omitempty"`
+	Fps    int             `json:"fps,omitempty"`
+	Layers []bindLayerSpec `json:"layers"`
+}
+
+// RunBinder writes the user's edited input values into the template (text layers'
+// source text, media footage replacement) via bind.jsx, saving a "bound" .aep that
+// aerender then renders. Returns the path to the bound .aep. Uses afterfx.exe.
+//
+// Media values are URLs; they are downloaded locally first (the JSX imports them by
+// path). Text values are passed through the JSON bind-spec (json-escaped, never eval'd
+// as code — bind.jsx eval()s valid JSON only).
+func RunBinder(ctx context.Context, job *Job, workDir string) (string, error) {
+	if job.AEPFilePath == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("binder: empty aep path")
+	}
+	if job.AfterFxPath == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("binder: empty afterfx path")
+	}
+
+	dir := filepath.Join(workDir, "bind", job.JobID)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	spec := bindSpec{Comp: job.CompName, Fps: job.FrameRate, Layers: []bindLayerSpec{}}
+	for i, b := range job.Bindings {
+		key := strings.TrimSpace(b.Key)
+		if key == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if isMediaBinding(b.Type) {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(b.Value) == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			mp := filepath.Join(dir, fmt.Sprintf("m%d%s", i, mediaExt(b.Value)))
+			if err := downloadFile(ctx, b.Value, mp); err != nil {
+				log.Printf("[bind] media download failed for %s: %v", key, err)
+				continue
+			}
+			spec.Layers = append(spec.Layers, bindLayerSpec{Key: key, Type: bindMediaType(b.Type), Value: mp})
+		} else {
+			spec.Layers = append(spec.Layers, bindLayerSpec{Key: key, Type: "text", Value: b.Value})
+		}
+	}
+
+	specBytes, err := json.Marshal(spec)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	specPath := filepath.Join(dir, "spec.json")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(specPath, specBytes, 0o644); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	// Save the bound .aep next to the original so its relative footage/fonts resolve.
+	savePath := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(job.AEPFilePath), "bound.aep")
+	donePath := savePath + ".done"
+	errPath := savePath + ".error"
+	_ = os.Remove(donePath)
+	_ = os.Remove(errPath)
+	_ = os.Remove(savePath)
+
+	scriptPath := filepath.Join(workDir, "scripts", "bind.jsx")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(scriptPath), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(scriptPath, bindScript, 0o644); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	PrepareFreshAE() // kill stale AE + clear crash markers before launch
+
+	bctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 12*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// AE opens the project itself (bind.jsx app.open); launch with -r script.
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(bctx, job.AfterFxPath, "-r", scriptPath)
+	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(),
+		"FR_BIND_AEP="+job.AEPFilePath,
+		"FR_BIND_SPEC="+specPath,
+		"FR_BIND_SAVE="+savePath,
+	)
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("start afterfx: %w", err)
+	}
+	exited := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { exited <- cmd.Wait() }()
+
+	for {
+		if eb, rerr := os.ReadFile(errPath); rerr == nil && len(eb) > 0 {
+			_ = cmd.Process.Kill()
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("binder script error: %s", string(eb))
+		}
+		if st, serr := os.Stat(savePath); serr == nil && st.Size() > 0 {
+			if _, derr := os.Stat(donePath); derr == nil {
+				_ = cmd.Process.Kill()
+				log.Printf("[bind] bound %d input(s) → %s", len(spec.Layers), savePath)
+				return savePath, nil
+			}
+		}
+		select {
+		case <-exited:
+			if st, serr := os.Stat(savePath); serr == nil && st.Size() > 0 {
+				return savePath, nil
+			}
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("binder exited without producing %s", filepath.Base(savePath))
+		case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		case <-bctx.Done():
+			_ = cmd.Process.Kill()
+			return "", bctx.Err()
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/services/node-agent/internal/runner/runner.go b/services/node-agent/internal/runner/runner.go
index efdc26c..2e2f792 100644
--- a/services/node-agent/internal/runner/runner.go
+++ b/services/node-agent/internal/runner/runner.go
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@ type Job struct {
 	// CompName is the composition to render (-comp), e.g. "frfinal". When empty the
 	// node renders the project's render queue (-rqindex 1) instead.
 	CompName string
+	// AfterFxPath is afterfx.exe (the AE app, scriptable) — used by the binder to write
+	// input values into the project before rendering. Render itself uses aerender.exe.
+	AfterFxPath string
+	// Bindings are the user's edited input values to write into the .aep before render.
+	Bindings []Binding
+}
+
+// Binding is one input value written into the AE project before render.
+type Binding struct {
+	Key   string // AE layer/footage name, e.g. frl_c1t1 / frl_c1m1
+	Type  string // content element type (Text, Media, …)
+	Value string // text content, or a media URL
 }
 
 // Run executes the render job, calling onProgress and onPreview as it advances.
@@ -58,6 +70,20 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, aePath, workDir string, job *Job, onProgress Progr
 		}
 		return mockRender(ctx, job, outputPath, onProgress, onPreview)
 	}
+
+	// Render binder: write the user's edited input values into the project before
+	// rendering so the MP4 reflects their text/media. Non-fatal — on failure we render
+	// the template defaults rather than failing the job.
+	if len(job.Bindings) > 0 && job.AfterFxPath != "" {
+		_ = onProgress(ctx, 6, "Applying your edits…")
+		bound, berr := RunBinder(ctx, job, workDir)
+		if berr != nil {
+			log.Printf("[job %s] binder failed (%v) — rendering template defaults", job.JobID, berr)
+		} else {
+			job.AEPFilePath = bound // render the bound project with the user's values
+		}
+	}
+
 	return aeRender(ctx, aePath, job, outputPath, onProgress, onPreview)
 }
 
diff --git a/services/render/internal/db/db.go b/services/render/internal/db/db.go
index d41b373..9907090 100644
--- a/services/render/internal/db/db.go
+++ b/services/render/internal/db/db.go
@@ -646,6 +646,31 @@ func (s *Store) GetTemplateCompName(ctx context.Context, originalProjectID uuid.
 	return *comp, nil
 }
 
+// GetRenderBindings returns the user's edited input values for a saved project so the
+// node can write them into the AE project before rendering (the render binder). Only
+// inputs with a non-empty value are returned (defaults are already in the template).
+func (s *Store) GetRenderBindings(ctx context.Context, savedProjectID uuid.UUID) ([]models.RenderBinding, error) {
+	rows, err := s.pool.Query(ctx, `
+		SELECT c.key, c.type, COALESCE(c.value, '')
+		FROM studio.saved_scene_contents c
+		JOIN studio.saved_scenes s ON s.id = c.saved_scene_id
+		WHERE s.saved_project_id = $1 AND c.value IS NOT NULL AND c.value <> ''`,
+		savedProjectID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []models.RenderBinding
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var b models.RenderBinding
+		if err := rows.Scan(&b.Key, &b.Type, &b.Value); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, b)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
 func (s *Store) CreateExportForJob(ctx context.Context, jobID uuid.UUID) (*models.Export, error) {
 	// Look up the job to get tenant/user/project context
 	job, err := s.getJobByIDInternal(ctx, jobID)
diff --git a/services/render/internal/handlers/internal.go b/services/render/internal/handlers/internal.go
index 0761e4e..21cbb36 100644
--- a/services/render/internal/handlers/internal.go
+++ b/services/render/internal/handlers/internal.go
@@ -292,6 +292,10 @@ func (h *InternalHandler) Claim(c *gin.Context) {
 	// Composition to render (-comp). Non-fatal: empty → node uses the render queue.
 	compName, _ := h.store.GetTemplateCompName(c.Request.Context(), job.OriginalProjectID)
 
+	// User's edited input values → the node writes them into the AE project before
+	// rendering (render binder). Non-fatal: empty → renders template defaults.
+	bindings, _ := h.store.GetRenderBindings(c.Request.Context(), job.SavedProjectID)
+
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, models.ClaimedJob{
 		JobID:          job.ID,
 		SavedProjectID: job.SavedProjectID,
@@ -304,6 +308,7 @@ func (h *InternalHandler) Claim(c *gin.Context) {
 		IsBundle:       isBundle,
 		BundleMD5:      bundleMD5,
 		CompName:       compName,
+		Bindings:       bindings,
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/services/render/internal/models/models.go b/services/render/internal/models/models.go
index 3e8c15f..46761af 100644
--- a/services/render/internal/models/models.go
+++ b/services/render/internal/models/models.go
@@ -432,6 +432,17 @@ type ClaimedJob struct {
 	// template's render_aep_comp (e.g. "frfinal"). Empty → node falls back to the
 	// project's render queue.
 	CompName string `json:"comp_name,omitempty"`
+	// Bindings are the user's edited input values to write into the AE project before
+	// rendering (the render binder). Key = AE layer/footage name (frl_c{n}{t|m}{i}).
+	Bindings []RenderBinding `json:"bindings,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// RenderBinding is one input value the node writes into the AE project before render:
+// a Text layer's source text, or a Media footage replacement.
+type RenderBinding struct {
+	Key   string `json:"key"`   // AE layer/footage name, e.g. frl_c1t1 / frl_c1m1
+	Type  string `json:"type"`  // content element type (Text, Media, …)
+	Value string `json:"value"` // text content, or a media URL
 }
 
 // OutputUploadURLResponse is returned by POST .../output-upload-url.