What is HeyGen's Digital Twin?
A Digital Twin on AvatarIV engine is your personal AI avatar, built from a short video of you, that captures your body language, expressions, and delivery style.
Your Digital Twin is trained on your real footage, which means it can:
Understand subtle movements (eyebrow raises, hand gestures, pauses).
Mirror your natural rhythm, tone, and emotion.
Preserve consistent mannerisms across videos.
Support full-body motion, not just head and shoulders.
What makes HeyGen's Digital Twin so great?
Creating a video avatar that moves like you, gestures like you, and expresses emotion the way you do is now possible- with just a short video. HeyGen’s Digital Twin on AvatarIV engine takes your real performance and turns it into the most advanced personal video avatar yet.
This Digital Twin is no regular video avatar - It captures your body language, facial expressions, and style, then adapts the performance to the type of script you write.
Whether you're training a team, pitching a product, or delivering a message at scale, this is the most authentic way to be present - without getting on camera every time.
🛎️ Don't feel like reading? Here's a quick tips video on how to create your first Digital Twin! Click Here
How to create your Digital Twin ?
Good news! Our Free users get one Digital Twin avatar slot for with up to 300 different looks!
To create your Digital Twin, simply log in or create your HeyGen Free account, click on Avatars--> Create New Avatar --> Digital Twin and record or upload your video!
You can find more detailed tips and technical guidance below ⬇️
Technical tips for filming your Digital Twin
🛎️ The short version- You can simply create a 30-second quick recording with your mobile phone or webcam, and add more professional looks later! 🛎️
Camera Quality: Professional cameras, Mobile phones or webcams all work!
Resolution & FPS: At least 1080p, 30fps. Higher quality (e.g., 4K, 60fps) is even better.
Orientation: You can record in 16:9 (landscape) or 9:16 (portrait).
Audio: External microphones can be connected for better sound, just make sure the room is has no external noise or strong echo! You can also create a separate voice from your footage afterwards using a separate audio file.
‼️ Important note‼️ Even if you want to use a different voice, please make sure your video includes sound of you speaking! This is crucial for lip syncing capabilities, even if you later choose a different voice.
Angles: Optional: Add a second camera for a side-angle take.
Prepare your recording environment
Lighting: Use bright, even lighting. Avoid harsh shadows or overexposure.
Background: Keep it simple and distraction-free. Static Background for best results.
Noise: Quiet environment only- no background voices or noises.
Natural performance & behavior when filming
Be Natural: Act and speak the way you normally do. The Digital Twin should mirror your natural style.
Eye Contact: Look directly into the camera lens. Avoid looking away or scanning around.
Facial Expressions: Smile, react, and keep visible expressions, especially during pauses. This helps create natural idling states.
Hand Gestures: Allowed and encouraged, but keep them within the frame and avoid covering your face.
Body Movement: You may move or walk, but note this will affect how your Digital Twin behaves. Controlled movement is best.
‼️ Reminder ‼️ Your avatar reflects exactly what you put into it. Any coughs, unusual movements, robotic or echoey voice, or off-pitch speech in your original footage will appear in the avatar. Ensure your footage is clean and precise for the best results!
Editing & uploading your footage
No Cuts: Do not edit or splice clips together. The entire video must be one continuous recording.
Light Adjustments: You may adjust brightness, contrast, or saturation before upload if needed.
HDR: Uploading HDR footage is fine if that’s your default setting.
Great job! You’re almost there.
The final step is recording a quick consent video from the person you’re creating the avatar for. This ensures they are aware of and agree to the avatar creation in line with our AI safety protocols.
You can follow the simple process directly on the platform, or review the article-
Recording your Consent Video
Don’t Like Your Look? No Problem—You’ve Got 99 More!
With your first avatar ready, you can create up to 100 different video looks for the same person- all under one avatar slot! Once your initial avatar is processed (about 10-20 minutes for non-4K footage), you can start creating more "looks." See this article for more information-
Avatars Looks Explained
FAQs: Recording Your Digital Twin
What should I wear?
Wear something you feel comfortable in. Avoid clothing with large logos or text, as these may cause artifacts or distortions in the final Twin.
Can I wear glasses, jewelry, or accessories?
Yes—but keep in mind that details may appear less clear or could create minor artifacts. Watches, glasses, or large accessories should be used with care.
What about facial hair or makeup?
No restrictions here. Record exactly as you are—facial hair and makeup are both fine.
How long should the video be?
Record at least 2 minutes, but we recommend up to 5 minutes for the best training results.
Do I need to memorize a script or can I improvise?
Either option works. Just make sure only your voice is recorded—no background speakers.
Can I move around or should I stay still?
You can move naturally, even walk if you’d like, but remember: your movements will influence how your Twin behaves. For a more consistent Twin, stay centered and controlled.
How many takes should I do?
We suggest doing 1–2 quick test recordings to warm up, then record your final take.
What if I make a mistake while recording?
Don’t stop or cut the footage. Either keep speaking naturally or restart from the beginning. Never stitch clips together.
Can I use HeyGen API to create my Digital Twin?
Yes, you can create avatars or videos using our API instead of directly through the HeyGen platform. The HeyGen API allows developers to programmatically generate videos, create and customize avatars, and access a range of other features that may be available on the platform.For more details on API capabilities and pricing, refer to our HeyGen API Plans article.
⚠️ Important Note: For every avatar slot you have, you can recreate each avatar once per month. Deleting an avatar permanently removes all its looks.
Monthly Subscription: Avatar deletion resets each month with your subscription renewal.
Annual Subscription: Avatar deletion resets on the 1st of every month.
Got more questions for us? feel free to review other articles in our help center or reach out to our team at [email protected].