Produce short videos without a studio

What it is

Short videos for social, onboarding and product explainers, made by a small team without a studio. Two kinds of tool do most of the work: text-based editors, where you cut video by editing its transcript, and avatar generators, which create a presenter from a script.

How it works

1. Write a short script with one clear point.
2. Record yourself, or generate a presenter. HeyGen offers library avatars, photo avatars and custom avatars. Descript also offers AI avatars.
3. Edit by transcript in a tool such as Descript, then add captions and brand elements.
4. Export versions per platform. Descript lists translation and dubbing for reaching other languages.
5. Generate from an assistant if you prefer. HeyGen’s MCP server lets AI agents create videos, billed against your HeyGen plan credits.

Benefits

• Lower cost per video.
• Faster iteration on messages.
• Translation and dubbing for new markets.

Limits and risks

• Consent before likeness. HeyGen’s Content Moderation Policy requires the explicit consent of the person a custom avatar represents, lets that person ask for their likeness to be removed at any time, and bans avatars of real people, including public figures, without explicit consent. Descript’s terms prohibit using its AI voices to imitate a speaker who hasn’t consented.
• Label synthetic presenters. Tell viewers when a presenter is generated. Content credentials can record how a piece of media was made.
• Generated visuals can contain errors. Review every frame before publishing.
• Plans cap usage. Minutes, credits and exports depend on your plan.