How to Automate Videos of Your AI Clone with HeyGen, Airtable and Make.com

In this post I will explain how to automate video creation using your AI clone with the HeyGen platform, Make.com, and Airtable. This guide covers everything from setting up your AI avatar to implementing webhooks for seamless automation.

I created an automation that utilises AI to generate videos with custom avatars, making it easier to create content that resonates with viewers. The ability to create an AI avatar that mimics my own appearance and voice adds a unique touch to the videos, enhancing the connection with the audience.

Using HeyGen

HeyGen is a cutting-edge platform that enables users to create AI-generated video content effortlessly. It provides a user-friendly interface and powerful tools to generate avatars, customise video settings, and automate the entire production process.

One of the standout features of HeyGen is its extensive library of public avatars. These avatars come with various poses, expressions, and scenes, allowing users to select an avatar that best fits their content needs. Additionally, HeyGen offers the option to create a personalised avatar by uploading a short video of yourself, which the platform then uses to train an AI model.

This flexibility makes HeyGen suitable for a wide range of applications, from educational videos to marketing campaigns. The platform’s ability to generate realistic lip-syncing and translation features further enhances its appeal, allowing creators to reach a broader audience.

Key Features of HeyGen

• Custom Avatar Creation: Create your own avatar by uploading a video, allowing for a more personal touch in your content.
• Public Avatar Library: Access a variety of pre-made avatars for quick video production.
• Video Translation: Automatically translate videos into different languages, expanding your reach to global audiences.
• Realistic Lip Sync: Ensure that the avatar’s mouth movements match the audio, providing a more authentic viewing experience.

Creating Your Own AI Avatar

Creating a custom AI avatar on the HeyGen platform is a straightforward process. The first step involves uploading a two-minute video of yourself speaking directly to the camera. This video serves as the training material for the AI model, which will replicate your appearance and voice.

Once the video is uploaded, HeyGen processes the content to create a digital representation of your avatar. This avatar can then be customised further, allowing you to select different poses, expressions, and styles that align with your branding or personal preference.

The ability to generate a unique avatar enhances the authenticity of your videos. Whether you’re using the avatar for personal branding, educational purposes, or marketing, this feature ensures that your content stands out.

Steps to Create Your AI Avatar

1. Sign up for an account on HeyGen.
2. Navigate to the avatar creation section.
3. Upload a two-minute video of yourself speaking.
4. Wait for the AI model to process the video and generate your avatar.
5. Customise your avatar by selecting different styles and poses.

Exploring Video Translation and Lip Sync Features

One of the remarkable capabilities of HeyGen is its video translation feature. This allows you to take existing video content and translate it into various languages, making it accessible to a wider audience. The process is simple: you upload your video, select the target language, and HeyGen handles the rest.

Additionally, the platform’s lip sync feature ensures that the avatar’s mouth movements are synchronised with the translated audio. This is crucial for maintaining the video’s authenticity and engagement levels, as viewers are more likely to connect with content that appears natural and well-produced.

By utilising these features, creators can expand their reach and cater to diverse audiences, breaking down language barriers and enhancing viewer engagement.

Benefits of Translation and Lip Sync Features

• Global Reach: Reach audiences in different countries by translating content into their native languages.
• Enhanced Engagement: Viewers are more likely to engage with content that feels personal and relatable.
• Time-Saving: Automating the translation process saves time and resources, allowing creators to focus on content quality.

Setting Up Make.com for Automation

To fully leverage the capabilities of HeyGen, integrating with Make.com allows for seamless automation of the video creation process. Make.com provides a platform for creating workflows that can connect various applications and automate repetitive tasks.

Setting up this integration involves creating a scenario in Make.com that communicates with HeyGen’s API. The first step is to configure the API key and set up the necessary modules to trigger video generation requests.

Once the integration is complete, users can automate the entire video creation workflow, from generating videos to retrieving the final output. This not only streamlines the process but also allows for greater flexibility in managing content production.

Steps to Set Up Make.com for Automation

1. Create a Make.com account and log in.
2. Set up a new scenario and connect it with the HeyGen API.
3. Configure the modules to handle video generation and retrieval.
4. Test the workflow to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
5. Automate additional tasks as needed, such as uploading videos to social media platforms.

Integrating Airtable with Your AI Workflow

Integrating Airtable into your video automation workflow enhances your ability to manage and track video projects. Airtable serves as a powerful database and project management tool that allows you to organise scripts, avatar IDs, voice IDs, and video statuses all in one place.

I created an automation that connects Airtable with the HeyGen platform to streamline video generation requests. This integration allows for easy tracking of video projects, making it simple to update statuses and retrieve video URLs once they are generated.

Steps to Integrate Airtable

1. Set up an Airtable account and create a new base for your video projects.
2. Define the necessary fields such as script, avatar ID, voice ID, video URL, and status.
3. Create a button field that will trigger the automation for video generation.
4. Utilise Make.com to connect Airtable with the HeyGen API, allowing for seamless data transfer.
5. Test the integration by creating a new record in Airtable and triggering the video generation.

This integration not only improves organisation but also allows for scalability in video production. You can easily create multiple records for different video projects, each linked to its respective automation workflow.

Understanding HeyGen API Pricing

Before diving into the technical aspects of using the HeyGen API, it’s essential to understand the pricing structure. This ensures that you can budget effectively for your video automation needs.

I created an automation that utilises the HeyGen API, which has a tiered pricing model based on usage. This means that as your video production needs grow, you can scale your usage accordingly without incurring unnecessary costs.

Pricing Tiers Explained

• Free Tier: Ideal for small projects or initial testing. Limited access to features and a cap on the number of video generations.
• Basic Tier: Suitable for individual users or small teams. Provides a higher limit on video generations and access to additional features.
• Pro Tier: Designed for larger organisations with extensive video production needs. Offers unlimited video generations and premium support.

Understanding these tiers allows you to choose the best plan that aligns with your video creation goals. It’s important to regularly review your usage to ensure you are on the most cost-effective plan.

Basic AI Clone Flow Setup

Setting up a basic AI clone flow is a crucial step in automating video generation with HeyGen. This flow acts as the foundation for integrating various components, from avatar selection to video retrieval.

I created an automation that simplifies the process of setting up this flow, allowing users to generate videos quickly and efficiently. The basic structure involves triggering a video generation request, waiting for the video to render, and then retrieving the video URL.

Components of the Basic AI Clone Flow

• API Key Configuration: The first step is to set your HeyGen API key within the automation tool.
• Video Generation Request: This involves calling the HeyGen API to generate a video using specified parameters such as avatar ID and voice ID.
• Delay Mechanism: A delay is implemented to allow time for the video to render before retrieving the video status.
• Video Status Retrieval: Finally, a GET request is made to fetch the video URL once the generation is complete.

This flow can be customised further to include additional features, such as error handling and notifications, ensuring a robust automation process.

Implementing Webhooks for Real-Time Updates

Webhooks are an essential feature for real-time updates in your video automation workflow. By implementing webhooks, you can receive immediate notifications when a video has completed rendering, eliminating unnecessary delays.

I created an automation that leverages webhooks to provide instant feedback on video generation status. This ensures that you are always informed about the progress of your video projects without manual checks.

Steps to Implement Webhooks

1. Register a webhook URL in your automation tool, which will receive notifications from the HeyGen platform.
2. Set up the HeyGen API to send a notification to your webhook URL when a video generation is complete.
3. Configure your automation tool to process the incoming webhook data, updating the status of the video in Airtable or another database.
4. Test the webhook to ensure it triggers correctly and updates the video status as expected.

With webhooks, you can significantly improve the efficiency of your video production workflow. Instead of waiting for a set period, your automation can respond to events as they occur, allowing for a more streamlined process.

Creating a Video Generation Request

The final step in your automation process is creating a video generation request. This involves specifying the necessary parameters to ensure that your video is produced with the desired characteristics.

I created an automation that simplifies this request creation, allowing users to input parameters such as the avatar ID, voice ID, and the script for the video. This ensures that each video generated meets the specific needs of the project.

Parameters for the Video Generation Request

• Avatar ID: The unique identifier for the avatar you wish to use in the video.
• Voice ID: The identifier for the voice that will narrate the video.
• Script: The text that the avatar will deliver in the video.
• Aspect Ratio: Specify the dimensions of the video, commonly set to 16:9.

By carefully selecting these parameters, you can create videos that are not only engaging but also tailored to your audience. This level of customisation enhances the effectiveness of your video content, making it more relevant and impactful.

Testing the Automation Flow

Once you have set up the automation, the next step is to test the entire flow to ensure everything functions as expected. I created an automation that allows you to generate videos using your AI clone or a public avatar, and validating this process is crucial for success.

Start by triggering a video generation request from your chosen platform, whether it’s Airtable or directly through Make.com. Make sure to monitor the status of the request and check that the video is being processed correctly.

Steps to Test the Automation

1. Open your Airtable base or Make.com scenario.
2. Fill in the required fields, including the script, avatar ID, and voice ID.
3. Click the action button to trigger the video generation.
4. Monitor the automation logs for any errors or issues.
5. Once the video is generated, check the URLs for the video and thumbnail in Airtable.

During testing, if you encounter any issues, note the error messages and adjust your setup accordingly. This phase is vital to ensure that your automation will run smoothly during actual use.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While working with automation, you may face several common issues. I created an automation that helps identify and resolve these problems effectively. Understanding the potential pitfalls can save you time and frustration.

Common Issues and Solutions

• API Key Errors: Ensure that your API key is correctly configured and has the necessary permissions. Double-check for any typos or formatting issues.
• Video Generation Delays: If videos take longer than expected to generate, consider increasing the delay in your automation settings. Alternatively, implement webhooks for real-time updates.
• Missing Video URLs: If the video URL is not being returned, verify that the video generation request is correctly formed and that all required parameters are included.
• Webhook Not Triggering: Make sure your webhook URL is correctly registered and that the events you want to listen for are properly set up in the HeyGen platform.

By being proactive in troubleshooting, you can avoid many common issues that may arise during the automation process.

Exploring Advanced Features and Customization

Once you have mastered the basics of video generation automation, you can explore advanced features and customization options to enhance your workflow. I created an automation that allows for various custom parameters to be set for each video.

Advanced Features to Consider

• Custom Backgrounds: Change the background of your videos by specifying image URLs in the API request. This allows for a more tailored presentation.
• Green Screen Options: Enable green screen settings to overlay your avatar on different backgrounds or scenes, adding a professional touch to your videos.
• Dynamic Script Input: Instead of hardcoding the script, you can set up your automation to pull scripts from external sources like Google Sheets or Airtable, enabling dynamic content generation.
• Multiple Avatar Use: Create scenarios where you can alternate between different avatars for varied presentations, keeping the content fresh and engaging.

These advanced features can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your video content, catering to a wider audience and improving engagement.