How To Make Ai Video

General
1

I’m trying to make my first AI-generated video for social media, but I’m overwhelmed by all the tools, models, and settings. I’m not sure which platform to start with, how to write prompts that give good results, or how to add voice and music without it looking low-quality or fake. Can someone walk me through the basic steps and recommend beginner-friendly tools so I can create a decent AI video from scratch?

2

Start simple. Treat this like a 3 step pipeline: script → voice → video.

  1. Pick 1 platform to start
    Easiest all in one tools:
    • For talking head style: HeyGen, Synthesia, Colossyan
    • For short social edits from text: Pika, Runway, Kapwing AI, Veed AI

    If you want the least friction, try:
    • HeyGen for face talking videos
    • Pika or Runway for more stylized clips

    Do not try 10 tools at once. Pick one and stay there for a week.

  2. Write solid prompts
    For social content, think:
    • Who is this for
    • One main outcome
    • One style

    Example text prompt for a video generator:
    “15 second vertical video. Style: clean, minimal, modern. A young person working on a laptop in a coffee shop. Soft daylight. Camera slowly zooms in. No text on screen.”

    Example for avatar video:
    • Write a short script of 60 to 90 words.
    • Avoid tongue twisters.
    • Use short sentences.
    • Example:
    “Here is how to start with AI video for social media. Step one, choose one tool and learn it for a week. Step two, write short clear scripts. Step three, test many hooks in the first three seconds.”

  3. Basic workflow
    A. Script
    • Use ChatGPT or similar to rewrite your idea into a 45–60 sec script.
    • Ask it: “Write a script for a 30 second TikTok explaining X. Use simple language. Hook in the first line. Call to action at the end.”
    • Read it out loud and fix parts that sound weird.

    B. Voice
    Options:
    • Built in AI voice in HeyGen, Synthesia, etc
    • ElevenLabs or similar then upload audio
    Keep sentences short to avoid odd pacing.

    C. Video
    For avatar tools:
    • Paste script
    • Pick avatar and voice
    • Set aspect ratio 9:16 for shorts / Reels / TikTok
    • Turn on captions if the tool supports it

    For “text to video” tools like Runway or Pika:
    • Start with 3 to 5 second clips
    • Use storyboards: break your script into moments, then generate one clip per moment
    • Edit clips together in CapCut or VN

  4. Prompt tips that help a lot
    • Always mention: aspect ratio, length, style, setting, camera movement
    • Example:
    “Vertical 9:16. 4 second clip. Cinematic close up. A person typing on a laptop at night, blue screen light, shallow depth of field, slow camera pan.”

    • Add “no text overlay” if you want to add your own text later.
    • For consistent style, save your best prompt and reuse it with small tweaks.

  5. Settings to avoid at the start
    • Avoid high resolution and long clips on your first tests, they take time and credits.
    • Start with 512 or 720p, 3 to 5 seconds.
    • Do not touch advanced things like guidance scale or seed at first. Use defaults, see what you get, then change one thing at a time.

  6. What to post first
    Ideas that work for beginners:
    • Face avatar explaining “3 tips about X”
    • Short product demo with AI b‑roll on top of your own voice
    • Before/after style: show problem, then show AI generated concept or solution

    Aim for:
    • Hook in first 2 seconds
    • One clear point
    • Big captions, high contrast

  7. Simple starter setup
    If you want the most beginner friendly route:
    • Step 1: Ask ChatGPT for “a 45 second script about [topic] for TikTok”
    • Step 2: Paste that into HeyGen or Synthesia, pick an avatar, select vertical 9:16
    • Step 3: Export, then use CapCut to add large captions, emojis, or simple cuts

    If you prefer more creative, less “corporate” look:
    • Step 1: Short script
    • Step 2: Break into 3 shots
    • Step 3: Use Pika or Runway to generate each shot with clear prompts
    • Step 4: Stitch in CapCut, add music and text

  8. How to improve over time
    • Save your prompts and outputs in a doc or Notion page
    • Note what worked, like: “This prompt gave clean backgrounds” or “This avatar looks good on mobile”
    • A/B test hooks. Record 2 or 3 different first lines for the same video.

If you share what kind of content you want to post, people here can suggest a specific tool plus an exact first prompt for you to try.

3

Short version: stop thinking “tools,” start thinking “pipeline + assets.”

@viaggiatoresolare already laid out a very clean 3‑step pipeline. I actually disagree with one part though: I don’t think “pick one tool and stick to it for a week” is always best. For social content, aesthetic matters a lot, and some tools just won’t fit your vibe. I’d do very quick tests on 2 platforms in one evening, then commit to the winner for a week.

Here’s how I’d tackle it without rehashing their steps:

  1. Start from the look, not the platform
    Ask yourself: if this was a non‑AI video, what would it look like?
    Vertical selfie style, clean UGC, cinematic b‑roll, animated infographic, etc.
    Once you know the look, the tool choice is obvious:
  • Talking to camera vibe → avatar tools (HeyGen/Synthesia/Colossyan)
  • “Cool visuals over audio” vibe → Runway / Pika / Kaiber / etc.

You’re not “choosing AI.” You’re choosing a style.

  1. Design your repeatable format first
    Before prompts, decide your recurring structure, for example:
  • “Hook / 3 bullets / recap”
  • “Problem / what people usually do / what actually works”
  • “Myth / reality”
    Then every script is just a re‑skin of that template. This matters because AI video tools are bad at improv, great at repetition. Same skeleton, new skin.
  1. Prompting: think like a director, not a poet
    People write poetic prompts, the model gives chaos. Instead, write like a shot list:
  • “Vertical 9:16, 5 seconds. Medium shot. One person at a desk in a small apartment at night. Neutral colors. No text on screen. Slow camera move from right to left.”
    That is not “creative,” it is a checklist. That’s why it works.

For scripts, instead of just “write a script,” use constraints:

  • “Write a 70‑word script for TikTok about [topic]. First line is a pattern interrupt. Max 12 words per sentence. No jargon. One call to action at the end.”
    Then you add your personality when you edit that script.
  1. Use real audio first, fancy voices later
    Tiny disagreement with the “just use AI voices” approach: early on, AI voices can make everything feel generic. If you’re ok using your voice, record a rough VO on your phone and build visuals around that. Way more forgiving, and people scroll past robotic voices fast.

Workflow idea:

  • Write 60‑second script
  • Read it in your own voice in one take (don’t chase perfection)
  • Cut any awkward pauses in CapCut / VN
  • Generate short AI clips for the main beats and drop them over your audio
  1. Minimum viable tech setup
    You do not need to learn advanced settings:
  • Resolution: 720p
  • Clip length: 3–5 seconds
  • Aspect ratio: 9:16 for everything social
  • Advanced sliders (guidance, seed, etc.): leave at default for now

If a platform gives you a scary “advanced” tab, ignore it until you’ve made at least 5 videos.

  1. Make the first 3 videos with intentionally low standards
    Serious advice: your first 3 vids are “training data for you, not content for the audience.” Tell yourself they’re throwaways. It kills the perfectionism. Focus only on:
  • Does the hook feel scroll‑stopping?
  • Can I clearly see what’s happening on a phone screen?
  • Are the captions readable without sound?
  1. Time‑boxed experiment plan
    Day 1:
  • Test 2 tools for 30 minutes each, using the same 1‑line idea
  • Pick whichever one produced something you’d actually post

Days 2–4:

  • Make one 15–30 sec video per day in that tool
  • Reuse the same visual style prompt and just change the topic

Day 5:

  • Re‑make your best video from earlier in the week, using improved prompts + better hook
    You learn more from re‑doing than from constantly starting from zero.
  1. Simple prompt templates you can steal and tweak

Text‑to‑video (b‑roll style):
“Vertical 9:16, 4 seconds. Clean, modern, realistic. Close‑up shot of [object/action]. Soft natural light. Slight camera movement. No text overlay, no logos.”

Avatar / talking head:
“I am explaining [topic] to beginners in a friendly, casual tone. Short sentences. 70–80 words. Strong hook in the first sentence, one clear takeaway, and one direct call to action about [follow me / comment / save]. Avoid complex numbers and brand names.”

Last thing: you’re overwhelmed because you’re trying to solve “AI video” as a whole. Shrink the problem to:

“I’m just making one 20‑second vertical explainer with clear captions that a stranger can understand on mute.”

Solve only that. Then repeat.

4

Skip the tool talk for a second and think in assets, not platforms:

  • 1 hook bank
  • 1 visual bank
  • 1 workflow that you can run half‑asleep

That’s how you stop feeling overwhelmed.

1. Decide your asset kit, not your “forever tool”

@viaggiatoresolare and @mikeappsreviewer are both very tool‑oriented. Helpful, but this is where I disagree a bit: early on, you don’t actually need to “marry” HeyGen, Runway, Pika, etc. You need a repeatable kit you can plug into whatever wins later.

Think in three buckets:

Hooks (text only)
Keep a doc with 20+ open‑ended starters like:

  • “Nobody tells you this about [your niche]…”
  • “If I had to start from zero with [topic], I’d do this…”
  • “You’re wasting time doing [common mistake]. Try this instead…”

You reuse these lines forever across tools.

Visual patterns
Pick 2 or 3 visual formats you’ll cycle:

  1. Talking head / avatar explaining a tip
  2. B‑roll montage over voice
  3. Single looping shot with big captions

You can achieve all three with any modern AI video tool, so you won’t be locked in.

Audio style
Choose one of these and commit for 10 videos:

  • Your real voice (my pick for social)
  • One AI voice you like and never change
  • Music + text only (no voice) for ultra short explainers

Locking this choice simplifies everything that follows.

2. Use AI tools to pre‑visualize, not just to “generate a final video”

A trick that almost nobody mentions: use AI video as your rough storyboard generator.

Workflow:

  1. Write a 30–40 second script in plain bullets, not full narration.
    Example:

    • Hook: “You’re overthinking AI video. Here’s a 10 minute method.”
    • Point 1: Choose assets, not tools.
    • Point 2: Reuse visuals.
    • CTA: “Save this for your next video.”

  2. Drop each bullet into a text‑to‑video tool (Runway, Pika, etc.) and generate 2–3 second clips, even if they look slightly weird.

  3. Import all clips into CapCut or VN. You now have a visual draft that shows pacing, movement, and vibe.

Only after you see this rough cut do you decide if you want to re‑generate higher quality clips or switch platforms. This kills 90% of “I don’t know what to make” paralysis, because you are just improving a sketch instead of inventing from zero.

3. Prompt structure that prevents “AI weirdness”

Both replies talked about prompts, but here is a structure that specifically reduces messy, unusable generations:

Use 5 blocks:

  1. Format

    • “Vertical 9:16, 4 seconds, social media reel.”

  2. Subject & action

    • “One young professional sitting at a desk, working on a laptop.”

  3. Environment & mood

    • “Small modern apartment, warm cozy light, early evening, shallow depth of field.”

  4. Camera behavior

    • “Static camera or very slow zoom in, no fast movement.”

  5. Restrictions

    • “No text overlay, no logos, no extra people, no glitch effects.”

Example full prompt:
“Vertical 9:16, 4 seconds, social media reel. One young professional sitting at a desk, working on a laptop. Small modern apartment, warm cozy light, early evening, shallow depth of field. Static camera with a very slow zoom in. No text overlay, no logos, no extra people, no glitch effects.”

You can paste this template into any AI video tool, swap 2–3 details, and get something consistent enough for TikTok or Reels.

4. Where I’d actually disagree with the others

  1. On AI voices as default
    I’m with @mikeappsreviewer on favoring real audio first. AI voices still scream “template content” in a lot of niches. Even a slightly messy real voice usually performs better than a perfect synthetic one.

  2. On testing tons of visuals
    I’d go stricter than both replies: pick one visual vibe and hammer it for at least 10 videos. Constantly switching style makes your feed look chaotic and makes it harder to know what works.

  3. On script length
    They’re playing safe with 45–60 seconds. For your first AI videos on TikTok/IG, I’d push you to 12–20 seconds. Shorter scripts mean:

    • Less chance for AI voice to sound robotic
    • Fewer clips to generate and stitch
    • Easier to watch to the end, which helps performance

5. Using “How To Make Ai Video” as your anchor topic

If you literally want to make a first post about “How To Make Ai Video” for social, a simple structure:

  • Hook: “Stop trying 10 different AI tools. Use this 3‑asset setup instead.”
  • Visual: Looping shot of someone scrolling through a cluttered desktop, then cut to calm workspace.
  • Body: 2 lines: “Pick your hook bank, your visual pattern, and your audio style. Then just repeat.”
  • CTA: “Comment ‘KIT’ if you want my exact prompts.”

Pros of using “How To Make Ai Video” as your core theme:

  • Highly searchable phrase on YouTube/TikTok
  • Attracts people already primed to experiment
  • Easy to chunk into short tips

Cons:

  • Competitive niche with lots of similar content
  • Can push you toward over‑tutorializing instead of showing your unique angle
  • Higher viewer expectations on visual quality

You can still make it work if you keep your focus narrow, like “How To Make Ai Video for Etsy sellers” or “for fitness coaches.” That niche twist matters.

6. Pros & cons of that “How To Make Ai Video” style approach

Treat “How To Make Ai Video” almost as if it were your “product” or signature series.

Pros

  • Clear promise: people know exactly what they’ll get
  • Easy to create recurring episodes like “Ep 1: scripts,” “Ep 2: voices,” etc.
  • Good SEO phrase baked into your title, description, and captions
  • Pairs nicely with demo style AI visuals

Cons

  • If you ever want to pivot away from AI content, the title locks expectations
  • Risk of sounding like every other “AI tutor” in feeds
  • Needs frequent updates as tools change and features move

7. How to use competitors without copying them

Treat @mikeappsreviewer and @viaggiatoresolare as benchmarks, not templates:

  • Watch how fast they get to the main point
  • Notice how often they reuse the same format with different topics
  • Pay attention to their caption design and pacing more than which tools they name

Then do the opposite in at least one dimension, for example:

  • If their videos are clean and corporate, make yours playful and scrappy
  • If they talk from an expert POV, you speak as “learning in public”
  • If they use AI avatars, you anchor around your real voice or face

That way you can tap into the “How To Make Ai Video” interest without looking like a clone.

8. Very short, repeatable workflow you can try tonight

To keep it concrete, here is a 30–40 minute loop you can run:

  1. Write a 15–20 second script:

    • 1 hook line
    • 2 short lines of value
    • 1 CTA

  2. Record the voice on your phone in a quiet room.

  3. Break script into 3 beats and generate 3 clips in any text‑to‑video tool using the structured prompt format above.

  4. Drop into CapCut:

    • Align clips to audio
    • Add big, high‑contrast captions
    • Export vertical 9:16

Post it. Do not try to “fix” it endlessly. Then make another one tomorrow.

If you share your niche or example script, people can spit out 1–2 tailored prompts you can paste straight into your tool of choice.