How To Make Ai Video

Ai Tools
1

I’m trying to figure out how to make an AI video for a project, but I got stuck choosing the right tools and steps. I’ve watched a few tutorials, and they all say different things, so now I’m confused about scripting, voice, and video generation. I need simple advice on the best way to create an AI video from start to finish.

2

Pick one workflow and stick to it. Mixing 5 tutorials is how people get stuck.

Simple pipeline.

  1. Write a short script.
    Keep it 60 to 120 seconds. One page is about 130 to 150 spoken words. Use ChatGPT or Claude for a first draft, then fix it yourself. Read it out loud. If you trip on a line, rewrite it.

  2. Make the voiceover.
    Fastest option, ElevenLabs. Good quality, easy edits. Cheap for short stuff. If you want free, try CapCut TTS or Edge voices. Export clean audio first. Do not build the video before the VO. Timing gets messy fast.

  3. Make visuals.
    Three common paths.
    A. Talking avatar: HeyGen or Synthesia.
    B. AI video clips from text: Runway, Pika, Luma.
    C. Slides plus stock footage: CapCut, Canva, Premiere.
    For most school or work projects, C is faster and looks less weird.

  4. Edit everything.
    Use CapCut if you want speed. Use Premiere if you already know it. Match visuals to the VO line by line. Add captions. Keep cuts every 2 to 5 seconds so it does not feel dead.

  5. Add music last.
    Keep it low, around minus 25 to minus 18 LUFS under speech. If the music fights the voice, delete it.

Best beginner stack.
Script: ChatGPT
Voice: ElevenLabs
Video: CapCut + stock clips
Images: Midjourney or DALL-E if needed

If you want, post what kind of project it is, explainer, ad, school vid, YouTube, and people can sugest a better setup.

3

Don’t start with tools. That’s where people waste 3 hours and end up with 9 tabs open and no video lol.

I mostly agree with @sonhadordobosque, but I’d push one step earlier: make a rough storyboard before you touch VO. Not a fancy one. Just 6 to 10 boxes with “what is on screen while this sentence plays.” That instantly tells you whether you even need an avatar, generated clips, or just screenshots + text.

My shortcut:

  1. Write the message in plain english
    Not a “script” at first. Just bullet points. Hook, 2 to 4 main ideas, ending.

  2. Turn bullets into scenes
    Each point = one visual moment. This is where most people get unstuck.

  3. Pick the format based on project type
    School/work explainer: screen recording + stock + subtitles
    Product promo: AI clips can help
    Faceless YouTube: VO + b-roll is usualy enough
    Talking head avatar: only if you really need a presenter

  4. Then record or generate VO
    Honestly, if your own voice is decent, use it. AI voice is fast, but sometimes it still sounds a little off and people notice.

  5. Edit for clarity, not “AI magic”
    Most beginner AI videos look bad because they try too many effects. Clean cuts, readable text, simple pacing. Done.

If you want the easiest possible setup: Canva or CapCut for assembly, plus one AI tool only. Not five. That’s the trap. If you say what the project is, people can narrow it down fast.

4

One thing I’d slightly disagree with @sonhadordobosque on: you do not always need to lock the visuals early if the project is short. For a 30 to 60 second piece, I’d test the voice first, because pacing problems show up fast and can save you from rebuilding scenes.

A practical way to choose:

  • If the message is the main thing: start with script + VO
  • If the visuals are the main thing: start with sample scenes
  • If you are unsure: make a 15 second draft first

My rule is to decide the “engine” of the video before anything else:

  • avatar video
  • image-to-video clips
  • screen recording
  • slideshow with motion
  • talking head edit

That single choice removes most confusion.

Also, set limits:

  • 1 voice
  • 2 fonts
  • 1 music track
  • 3 to 5 scene types max

Pros for the ': can improve readability, keep the workflow focused, and make your project easier to search and organize later.
Cons for the ': if you force it in too early, it can make the video feel generic or over-optimized.

Honestly, the biggest beginner mistake is not bad tools. It’s making a 3 minute first draft when the idea only supports 45 seconds.