HeyGen Avatar 4: The strong all-rounder for video creators making AI avatars (opens in new tab)
HeyGen AI — Video, avatars and translation, sound included
Generate 5 to 15 second clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt with HeyGen Video 1.0, turn a photo and audio file into a talking avatar, or translate finished videos into new languages. No production crew, no studio, no reshoots.
What is HeyGen AI?
HeyGen AI is a video generation platform. On Artlist, three HeyGen models are available inside the AI tools: HeyGen Video 1.0 generates 5 to 15 second clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt or start frame, Avatar IV turns a photo and audio file into a talking avatar, and Video Translate localizes finished videos into new languages.
How HeyGen AI changes traditional video production
Every shoot costs time, money, and coordination. Creators using AI video and avatars report 80% less production time, 90% lower costs, and 10x the output. Here's how HeyGen AI makes that possible.
Lip sync that actually looks right
Mouth and facial movements match the audio, whether Video 1.0 is speaking a quoted line from your brief, Avatar IV is performing your recording, or Video Translate is dubbing an existing video into a new language. The result reads as native. How close it gets depends on source quality and language pair.
Audio as the creative input
For Avatar IV and Video Translate, audio is the main input: the voice drives expression, gesture, and delivery, and what goes into the recording is what comes out on screen. With Video 1.0 the brief is the input, and the dialogue, ambience and effects are generated from it.
The voice stays yours
With Avatar IV and Video Translate, HeyGen AI doesn't replace your voice; it preserves it. Vocal tone matches expression on one side, and carries across every language on the other. With Video 1.0, the voice is generated from the quoted lines in your prompt, delivered with lip sync.
Same presence, every video
Consistency is usually the first thing that breaks at scale. HeyGen's technology keeps the same face, delivery, and on-screen presence across every piece of content. A reusable avatar is consistent by design, and with Video 1.0 a start frame carries look, wardrobe and lighting into each new clip.
One asset, any language
Multilingual output is built in from the start. This is really where you save yourself time. One strong source video can cover dozens of markets without touching the production again.
Full clips from a written brief
HeyGen Video 1.0 generates a 5 to 15 second shot with dialogue, ambience and effects in one pass. Quoted lines are spoken with lip sync, so a presenter or product clip arrives ready to post, no separate voice or sound step.
What creators are actually making with HeyGen AI
From prompt-generated clips and presenter-led social content to localized campaign videos, here's where HeyGen AI's models fit into a real production workflow.
Presenter and product clips with sound
With HeyGen Video 1.0, write a brief or upload a start frame and get a 5 to 15 second clip with spoken lines, ambience and effects already in it. Best for single, contained shots with a locked or slow camera: presenters, products and short social clips.
Personal avatars and digital clones
Create a reusable digital version of yourself from an image and audio file. First generation takes minutes, then the same face is available for every project.
Marketing and social media assets
Short-form, presenter-led content for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Generate a product or presenter clip from a brief with Video 1.0, or run the same ad through Avatar IV with different CTAs. Ten variations cost the same effort as one.
Education and training resources
Generate avatar-led training videos and onboarding walkthroughs that stay consistent across teams. For longer content, segment your audio into focused sections.
Localization and global scaling
Finished videos can be translated into 76 languages (and 99 dialects) without rebuilding the production, with voice cloning to preserve the original speaker.
Singing and music content
Upload a song as your audio input, and the avatar sings it back with lip-sync precision. While one of the less obvious use cases, it’s an impressive example of what the model can actually do.
Which HeyGen AI model fits your project?
HeyGen AI offers three models in Artlist: generating full clips with sound from a prompt, creating avatar-led content from a photo and audio file, or translating existing videos into new languages.
HeyGen AI models
HeyGen Video 1.0
Best for: Generating short clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt
HeyGen Video 1.0 is HeyGen's first general-purpose video model, built on MiniMax H3 and post-trained by HeyGen. It makes 5 to 15 second clips from a text prompt or a start frame, in 16:9 or 9:16 at up to 2K, with dialogue, ambience and effects generated in the same pass.
In October 2026 it ranked first on Artificial Analysis' blind text-to-video leaderboard. It is strongest on single, contained shots with a locked or slow camera: presenters, products and short social clips. The start frame is the only image input, so there is no end frame, reference images or video input.
HeyGen Video 1.0: Short Clips With Dialogue Built In
HeyGen Video 1.0 is HeyGen's first general-purpose video model. Write a brief or upload a start frame and get a 5 to 15 second clip at up to 2K, with spoken lines lip-synced, ambience and effects generated in the same pass. In October 2026 it ranked first on Artificial Analysis' blind text-to-video leaderboard.
HeyGen model comparison
Feature | HeyGen Video 1.0 | HeyGen Avatar IV | HeyGen Video Translate |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary strength | Short clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt | Expressive talking avatar from an image and audio file | Localizing a finished video into new languages |
Inputs | Text prompt, optional start frame (up to 16 MB) | One image + one audio file | Video file + target language |
Output length | 5 to 15 seconds | Up to 3 minutes | Matches the source, or dynamic |
Max resolution | 2K (480p, 768p, 1080p, 2K) | 1080p | Matches the source video |
Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16 (start frame sets the shape) | 16:9 only | Matches the source video |
Audio | Generated: dialogue, ambience, effects | Driven by your audio file | Translated voice, cloned from the speaker |
Lip sync | |||
Multi-speaker | Not confirmed | ||
Languages | Follows the prompt | Follows the audio | 76 languages, 99 dialects |
Best for | Presenters, products and short social clips | Presenter-led avatar videos at scale | Adapting existing videos for new markets |
Feature | HeyGen Video 1.0 | HeyGen Avatar IV | HeyGen Video Translate |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary strength | Short clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt | Expressive talking avatar from an image and audio file | Localizing a finished video into new languages |
Inputs | Text prompt, optional start frame (up to 16 MB) | One image + one audio file | Video file + target language |
Output length | 5 to 15 seconds | Up to 3 minutes | Matches the source, or dynamic |
Max resolution | 2K (480p, 768p, 1080p, 2K) | 1080p | Matches the source video |
Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16 (start frame sets the shape) | 16:9 only | Matches the source video |
Audio | Generated: dialogue, ambience, effects | Driven by your audio file | Translated voice, cloned from the speaker |
Lip sync | |||
Multi-speaker | Not confirmed | ||
Languages | Follows the prompt | Follows the audio | 76 languages, 99 dialects |
Best for | Presenters, products and short social clips | Presenter-led avatar videos at scale | Adapting existing videos for new markets |
How to create your first HeyGen AI video on Artlist
HeyGen AI lives inside the Artlist AI tools. Here's how you get the most out of all three models.
Navigate to the AI tools. Choose HeyGen Video 1.0 to generate a clip from a prompt, Avatar IV to create from a photo and audio file, or Video Translate to dub existing footage.
For Video 1.0: a text prompt, with an optional start frame image up to 16 MB. For Avatar IV: one image (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF) and one audio file (MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, AAC). For Video Translate: your video file, plus your target language.
For Video 1.0, set duration (5 to 15 seconds), resolution from 480p to 2K, 16:9 or 9:16, and Prompt Enhancement (Off, Turbo or Quality). For Avatar IV, set output resolution up to 1080p. For Video Translate, choose lip-sync on or off and toggle dynamic duration.
Run the generation and preview inside the AI tools before exporting. Avatar IV automatically saves generated avatars. Same face, next project, no re-upload.
Expert tips to get the most out of HeyGen AI
Most issues with HeyGen's models come from the same place: treating them as automatic when they're actually responsive. Here's where people usually go wrong.
Is HeyGen AI right for your workflow?
HeyGen AI is built for anyone producing video at scale without a camera, a crew, or a full production budget.
Marketing and performance teams
Produce UGC-style ads, product promos, and multiple campaign variations without reshooting. Change the hook, swap the CTA, test across channels, all from the same source assets.
Education and L&D teams
With HeyGen AI, you can create training modules and internal explainers that stay consistent across teams and locations. When content needs updating, regenerate the relevant segment.
Sales and outreach teams
Use avatar-led video for client updates, product walkthroughs, or outreach campaigns. It keeps a human presenter format without requiring a shoot every time the message changes.
Content creators
Stay off camera without losing your on-screen presence. Build a reusable digital presenter with Avatar IV, generate short clips with dialogue from a brief with Video 1.0, and keep a consistent face across every video.
Frequently asked questions
HeyGen AI is strongest at three things: generating short clips with dialogue and sound from a prompt or start frame with HeyGen Video 1.0, creating expressive talking-avatar videos from a single image and audio file with Avatar IV, and translating existing videos into 76 languages without losing the original speaker's voice with Video Translate. All three are built for human video at scale: one generates a shot from a brief, one performs your audio, and one adapts what already exists.
HeyGen Video 1.0 takes a start frame as its only image input, with no end frame, reference images or video. Text to Video offers 16:9 and 9:16 only; other shapes need a start frame in that shape. Hands operating objects, loose hair and fabric are the least reliable parts of a shot, faces can drift toward retouched skin, and plain surfaces can pick up invented logos unless the prompt rules them out. Unspecified sound is the model's choice and may add music.
Avatar IV has a few hard constraints worth knowing before you start:
Output is 16:9 horizontal only: portrait or square images will have white bars added, and that's not adjustable after generation. It's single-speaker only, so multi-character scenes aren’t possible in one generation.Maximum duration is three minutes per run, and resolution caps at 1080p. On the behavioral side: flat, monotone recordings produce flat avatars. The model reads what’s in the audio, but doesn't compensate for a low-energy performance.
For HeyGen Translate, the main limitation is cost. It’s the more expensive of the three models. Output resolution and ratio match the input video, so quality is only as good as your source file.
HeyGen Video 1.0 is HeyGen's first general-purpose video model, built on MiniMax H3 and post-trained by HeyGen. It generates 5 to 15 second clips from a text prompt or a start frame, in 16:9 or 9:16 at 480p, 768p, 1080p or 2K, with audio always on: quoted lines are spoken with lip sync, plus ambience, effects and optional music. In October 2026 it ranked first on Artificial Analysis' blind text-to-video leaderboard, just ahead of Wan 3.0 and MiniMax H3. It is at its best on single, contained shots with a locked or slow camera, such as presenters, products and short social clips.
Avatar IV requires an image and an audio file. The image becomes the visual base of the avatar. The audio drives speech, expression, and delivery. It’s the only creative lever you have over how the avatar performs. Supported image formats are JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and AVIF. Supported audio formats are MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, and AAC.
Yes. Only use images you have the rights to. Using someone’s likeness without consent can violate privacy and intellectual property laws, and goes against Artlist’s Terms of Use. When in doubt, use your own image or a purpose-built character. If you’re using a real person’s photo, make sure you have explicit permission before generating.
Realism comes mostly from the inputs, not the settings. To create your AI Avatar, start with a clear, well-lit photo where the face isn’t heavily obscured or angled. For audio, keep pacing natural and expressive — tone directly shapes facial movement.
Record in short, natural segments rather than one long continuous take. Matching gesture intensity to the content also helps avoid a staged look.
Generate your clip inside the Artlist AI tools: write a brief for HeyGen Video 1.0, or upload your image and audio file to Avatar IV, configure your settings, and export once you're happy with the output.
From there, bring it into your wider Artlist project and build around it with AI music, stock footage, and motion elements.
Edit everything into a finished piece, such as an ad, explainer, or social video, with the generated clip or avatar as the presenter.
HeyGen Translate supports 76 languages in total:
- 38 European, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese
- 30 Asian, spanning Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Chinese/Mandarin, and Indonesian
- 5 African (Afrikaans, Amharic, Somali, Swahili, and Zulu)
- 3 Middle Eastern (Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian)
Yes. HeyGen Translate also supports 99 regional dialects, so accent coverage goes well beyond basic translation. English alone has 16 accents, Spanish covers 22 regional variants across Latin America and Spain, Arabic has 16 dialects, and Chinese/Mandarin offers 9. French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Tamil, Urdu, and Swahili also include multiple regional options.
Yes. HeyGen Video Translate includes automatic lip syncing. The model updates the speaker’s lip and facial movements to match the translated audio, so the output looks and sounds like it was recorded in the target language.
Still have questions? We're here to help.