🎬 HeyGen Avatar + n8n Automation Guide

🎯 Complete Workflow Overview

1

Setup HeyGen

Create account, record 2-5 min footage, clone voice

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2

Configure n8n

Setup HTTP nodes, add API authentication

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3

Get IDs

Retrieve Avatar ID and Voice ID

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4

Generate Video

Send script to HeyGen API

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5

Poll Status

Wait and check until video completed

🎥 HeyGen Avatar Setup

Recording Requirements:

• High-resolution camera in well-lit, quiet environment
• Look directly into camera
• Use generic gestures with hands below chest
• Exaggerate emotions for expressive avatar
• Submit 2-5 minutes of footage

🔧 n8n API Configuration

Authentication Setup

Create Header Auth credential in n8n:

Name: "HeyGen Demo" API Key: [From HeyGen Settings > Subscriptions & API]

Key API Endpoints

1. List All Avatars (V2)

GET /v2/avatars

Returns all available avatars with their IDs

2. List All Voices (V2)

GET /v2/voices

Returns all available voices with their IDs

3. Generate Video (V2)

POST /v2/video/generate

Creates a new video with specified avatar and script

4. Get Video Status

GET /v1/video.status.get?video_id={video_id}

Checks the processing status of a video

📝 Video Generation Request Body

{ "caption": false, "title": "My Generated Video", "dimension": { "width": 1920, "height": 1080 }, "video_inputs": [ { "character": { "type": "avatar", "avatar_id": "YOUR_AVATAR_ID", "avatar_style": "normal" }, "voice": { "type": "text", "input_text": "Your script text here", "voice_id": "YOUR_VOICE_ID", "speed": 1.0 } } ] }

🔄 Polling Mechanism

Generate Video

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Wait 30s

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Check Status

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If Complete?

✅ Yes: Continue

❌ No: Wait Again

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The workflow continues polling until the video status returns "completed"

🚀 Example Use Case: News Video Automation

1

Scrape News

Use Apify node to gather content

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2

Generate Script

GPT-4.1 Mini processes into summary

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3

Create Video

HeyGen avatar reads the script

💡 Pro Tips for Success

• Test your avatar recording in good lighting conditions
• Keep scripts concise and natural-sounding
• Use appropriate wait times in polling (30+ seconds recommended)
• Store avatar_id and voice_id as n8n variables for reuse
• Monitor API rate limits and usage
• Consider video dimensions based on your target platform
• Use the free HeyGen plan to test before scaling

🎯 Key Benefits:
This automation allows you to significantly increase content output by combining AI-powered script generation with personalized avatar videos. Perfect for news summaries, educational content, social media posts, and regular content creation workflows.