HeyGen: a tool that helps you generate multilingual digital people explainer videos

HeyGen is an Artificial Intelligence video generation platform that makes it easy for users to create high-quality video content. At its core, the platform utilizes generative AI technology to convert text directly into video narrated by an AI Avatar. Users don't need a camera, actors, or sophisticated editing software, just a script to generate realistic-looking videos. HeyGen offers more than 120 different styles of AI avatars and more than 300 voices for users to choose from, as well as the ability for users to create their own avatar and clone their own voice to personalize the video. Additionally, another powerful feature of the platform is video translation, which can translate the speech in a video into a variety of other languages and allow the lip-sync of the character in the video to be naturally matched to the new language. This is a very useful tool for content creators and businesses that need to reach a global market.

Function List

• Text to Video: Enter a text script, select an AI digital human image and voice, and the video is automatically generated.
• AI Digital People (AI Avatar): Offering more than 120 preset images of digital people covering different ages, races and styles, users can also upload their own photos or videos to create an exclusive digital persona.
• voice cloning: Users can upload samples of their voices and the platform is able to clone AI voices that sound very similar to the user's voice and apply them to the video.
• video translation: Upload a video, select a target language, and HeyGen can automatically translate the speech in the video into another language and adjust the mouth shape to match the new pronunciation.
• TalkingPhoto: Upload a portrait photo, enter text, and you can make a static photo move and speak.
• Massive number of templates: Over 300 video templates for different scenarios (e.g., marketing, online education, product introductions, etc.) are provided to help users get started quickly.
• AI scripting: If the user doesn't have a copywriter in mind, they can just provide a theme and let the AI assist in generating a video script.
• Custom Editing: In the AI Studio editor, users can add background music, B-roll clips, dynamic subtitles and scene switching effects to fine-tune the video.

Using Help

HeyGen's process is so simple that even newbies with no experience in video production can get started quickly.

Step 1: Register and familiarize yourself with the main interface
First, you need to visit HeyGen's official website and sign up for an account. You can sign in using your email address or directly through your Google account. Once logged in, you will see a clear homepage that lists all the core features like creating digital human videos, translating videos and making photos speak for themselves.

Step 2: Choose a video production method
You can choose different starting points depending on your needs:

1. Start with the text: This is the most basic way. Choose your favorite digital person image (Avatar) on the main screen.HeyGen offers a large number of ready-made images, or you can create a unique digital person by uploading your own photo.
2. TalkingPhoto: Select from the home pagePhoto to AvatarTo use this feature, upload a clear portrait photo and enter the words you want the photo to "say".
3. Translate Video: SelectionTranslate Videofeature, you can either upload a local video file or just paste a video URL (e.g. YouTube link).

Step 3: Create and edit your video
Whichever way you start, you end up in theAI StudioThis video editor interface. Here you can accomplish all the detailed adjustments of your video.

• Input Script: Type or paste your video script into the text box on the right side of the interface. This is the core of what drives the digital person to speak.
• Selecting a digital persona (Avatar): On the left side you can change the digital person at any time. You can choose from a variety of images offered by the platform, such as those suitable for professional explanations or those suitable for daily life sharing (UGC style). Adjusting the size and position of the digital person in the screen is as easy as manipulating a picture.
• Adjusting voice and tone::
  • Selecting a sound: The system offers hundreds of different sounds to choose from.
  • voice cloning: If you want the video to have your own voice, you can use the Voice Clone feature. Upload a recording of you and the system will generate an AI voice that sounds very similar to yours.
  • Emotion and tone (Voice Director): After entering the script, you can pass a file calledVoice DirectorThe AI can choose a specific emotion for a sentence or paragraph, such as "shocked," "excited," or "serious," and the AI will read it aloud with the appropriate intonation.
• Adding Visual Elements::
  • Background music and B-roll: The editor'sMediaThere is a rich library of images and video clips under the tabs. You can search for keywords (such asbeachmaybenews), find the right footage to use as a B-roll (supplemental frame) or background for the video, and drag and drop it directly onto the timeline.
  • subtitling: ClickCaptionsbutton can generate subtitles for videos with one click, and there are various dynamic styles to choose from.
  • Elements and transitions: You can add text, icons, and other elements to the video just like making a PPT, and add transition effects between different scenes to make the video look smoother.
• cooperative work: If it's a team project, you can use theCollabsFeature. Add comments anywhere in the video @ your coworkers for easy viewing and providing modifications.

Step 4: Generate and Export Video
When you're satisfied with all the settings, click the "Generate Video" button, HeyGen will process your request in the cloud, and in a few minutes, your video is ready. You can find it in "My Projects" and download it locally or share it directly.

application scenario

1. Marketing & Advertising
   For businesses that need to create a lot of advertising material quickly, HeyGen can be used to generate different versions of product introduction videos. For example, by uploading a product image and a suitable digital persona, ads that look like user-generated content (UGC) can be created for social media placement.
2. Online education and training
   Teachers or trainers can easily convert course handouts into videos using HeyGen. They can create their own digital persona, so that they can produce a "human" instructional video without appearing on camera, making the learning process less boring.
3. Globalization of content
   The video translation feature is extremely valuable for video bloggers or businesses looking to promote their content globally. Simply upload the produced Chinese video, select a target language such as English, Spanish or Japanese, and HeyGen will generate a translated version with matching lip-sync and voice, greatly reducing the cost and cycle time of content localization.
4. Intra-company communication
   Companies can use it to create internal training materials, policy update notices, or speeches from management. Not only is this more vivid than traditional emails or documents, it also saves executives the time of recording videos over and over again.

QA

1. Q: Do I need professional video editing skills to create videos with HeyGen?
   A: No need at all, HeyGen's platform design is very intuitive, the core operation is "enter text, select image, click to generate". Its editor is also like a simplified version of PPT software, most of the operations can be done by dragging and dropping, which is very friendly to newbies.
2. Q: Can I create a digital person exactly like myself?
   A: Yes. HeyGen supports users to upload their own video or photo to create a personal digital person (Avatar). To ensure that it is done in person, the system will ask for verbal consent and password verification to prevent identity theft.
3. Q: How does the video translation feature work? Do the mouths really match?
   A: The results are excellent. HeyGen's video translation not only converts the language, but also uses AI technology to re-render the lip movements of the characters in the video so that they are highly synchronized with the pronunciation of the new language and look very natural.
4. Q: Is HeyGen free?
   A: HeyGen offers a free trial program that allows users to experience basic features, but usually with limitations on video duration, quantity, or some advanced features. A subscription to a paid plan is required to gain access to more features and higher quotas.