How to create AI voice/narration
Table of contents
- What you can do with AI voice
- Scenes where video creators use AI audio
- Flow of using ElevenLabs
- Tips for making it sound natural
- Can I use it for commercial purposes?
- Create not only AI audio but also "subtitles" as a set
- When using AI even the singing voice in the MV
- Checklist before actual use
- Example of combination with AI video
- Read next article
- Reference materials
Even if only the video is made with AI, if the narration and dialogue are mechanical, it will immediately look like a product. AI voice has reached the stage where it is not only possible to read texts using TTS, but also to adjust the speaking style, emotion, and speed, to adjust the length of the speech in Studio, and to make it multilingual. This process is especially effective for music video skits, explanatory videos, short videos, and character introductions.
What you can do with AI voice
The most basic one is Text to Speech, which is the ability to create audio from text. Enter the script, choose a voice, and send the generated audio to your video editing software. In addition to simply reading aloud, depending on the service, you can also instruct the user to express expressions such as laughing, whispering, or speaking excitedly.
In addition, there is Speech to Speech, which changes existing voices and performances to a different tone, Studio, which arranges multiple voices to prepare long works, and dubbing and localization into other languages. Since the supported languages and method of specifying acting differ depending on the model, we will generate a short Japanese script to check how to read it.
Situations where video creators use AI voice
1. Explanatory narration
For videos such as how to make AI videos, news, rankings, and product introductions, check the reading and volume so that you can hear the explanation. The strength of AI voice is that you can recreate the voice immediately after modifying the script without having to record it yourself each time.
2. Character lines
This can be used to include skits before and after the music video, a character saying a few words, or multiple people having a conversation. By assigning the same voice to the same character, you can fixate the person not only in the image but also in the sound.
3. Overseas dubbing
After creating the Japanese version, if you want to expand it into English, Chinese, etc., changing not only the subtitles but also the audio will greatly change the viewing experience. Especially with Shorts and TikTok, users may leave the site before reading the on-screen text, so audio localization may be effective.
4. Temporary narration
Eventually, even for videos that use a human narrator, AI can be used as a temporary voice during the editing stage. You can decide on the length of the script, length of cuts, and position of subtitles before recording the actual recording, reducing rework during editing.
How to use ElevenLabs
Enter your script, choose a voice in Text to Speech and generate it. Start with just one sentence. Continue only after the voice and delivery work. Splitting the script by paragraph or line lets you regenerate only the failed part.
The key is to change the script to be read aloud. If you read the text of a web article as it is, the sentences will be too long or have too many parentheses, making it difficult to understand. Shorten each sentence and change the reading of numbers and alphabetical characters to hiragana or katakana as necessary.
On the video editing side, it is recommended to first put the audio on the timeline and then match it with the video. People tend to feel uncomfortable when the voice is cut off unnaturally, so we first determine the narration interval and then arrange the AI videos and images between them.
Tips for making it sound natural
Change sentences from “written words” to “spoken words”
Avoid cramming multiple topics into one sentence, and make it long enough for the listener to understand the breaks. For example, "After generating the voice, create subtitles and adjust the volume" can be divided into "Once the voice is created, add subtitles. Finally, adjust the volume."
Use punctuation marks as direction
Commas and punctuation marks affect between sounds. Simply breaking up important words into shorter sentences will make it easier to hear. Depending on the generative model, you can use voice tags and emotional expressions, so you can enhance your acting only in necessary scenes.
Don't give everything the same tension
If it's a short 30-second video, you can press it with force, but if you're talking a few minutes with an explanation video, you'll get tired if you keep shouting. Make changes depending on the situation, such as making the introduction a little stronger, the explanation calmer, and the conclusion stronger again.
Don't think that audio alone is complete.
If you include background music, environmental sounds, and sound effects when editing, the discomfort in your voice will become less noticeable. It is also effective to equalize the volume using a compressor or EQ. We adjust not only the quality of AI audio but also the "sound of the entire video."
Can it be used commercially?
ElevenLabs informs on its official page that Paid plans include the right to commercially use the generated audio. Examples include YouTube videos, podcasts, ads, audiobooks, movies, games, and apps. On the other hand, the free plan is for personal and non-commercial use and requires attribution.
Permission for commercial use does not mean permission to freely reproduce other people's voices. Uses such as cloning someone else's voice without their permission, or making content that a celebrity did not say appear to have been said by the celebrity themselves, are subject to other rights and terms and conditions.
The basic rule is to use materials for which you have clear usage rights, such as your own voice, company characters, and licensed performers. When using in advertisements, it is especially important to avoid expressions that ``appear to be endorsed by the person in question.''
Create not only AI voice but also “subtitles” as a set
Once the audio is complete, we create subtitles based on the audio. It is easier to read subtitles on a smartphone if you cut them into one or two lines rather than displaying the entire text as is. By having the voice and subtitles appear at the same time, you can also support silent viewing.
For multilingual development, there is also a method to export Japanese audio, English audio, and Chinese audio as separate videos. If video can be shared, an AI video created once can be reused in multiple markets. However, cultural jokes and internet memes lose their meaning when translated literally, so ``local rephrasing'' is needed rather than translation.
When using AI even the singing voice in the MV
Narration and singing are two different things. If we want to create the music itself using AI, we will use music generation services such as Suno, and for dialogue and narration, we will use ElevenLabs. Suno's paid plans give you commercial use rights for your own songs that you download with permission, but the terms differ for free songs and other people's Remixes.
Combining multiple services such as ``Suno for music, ElevenLabs for dialogue, Runway or Veo for video, and Premiere for finishing'' will be a natural structure for AI MV production in 2026.
Checklist before actual use
- If you want to monetize, have you checked the commercial terms of use of the paid plan?
- Have you confirmed the person's rights and permissions regarding the voice to be cloned?
- Are you using a large amount of other people's copyrighted works in your script?
- In the case of advertisements, does the expression make it seem like a real person is recommending the product?
- Did you divide long sentences into units that are easy to modify instead of generating them all at once?
- Have you checked the final volume including subtitles, BGM, and sound effects?
Example of combination with AI video
For a 30-second character introduction video, first create one image, then generate multiple movements of about 5 seconds using Runway, etc. After that, I created a 15-20 second line using ElevenLabs and lip-synced only the necessary cuts. Finally, use Premiere to match the voice, video, BGM, and subtitles.
You don't have to make every cut speak. It would be enough to make an MV just by lip-synching the two close-up shots and showing the rest of them walking and the background. It is efficient to use high-cost AI processes only in "conspicuous places."