What You’ll Learn
Blog to Video
Convert blog URLs to video storyboards automatically
AI Voice-Over
Add professional narration to blog videos
Voice Customization
Control speaker, speed, and amplification settings
Auto Sync
Voice-over syncs automatically with video scenes
Before You Begin
Make sure you have:- A Pictory API key (get one here)
- Node.js or Python installed on your machine
- The URL of a publicly accessible blog article
- Basic understanding of voice-over concepts
How Blog-to-Video with Voice-Over Works
When you convert a blog to video with voice-over narration:- Content Extraction - The API scrapes your blog URL for text content
- Scene Generation - The content is analyzed and split into logical scenes
- Visual Selection - Appropriate stock visuals are automatically matched to each scene
- Voice Generation - AI creates natural voice-over narration from the extracted text
- Synchronization - Voice-over is automatically synchronized with video timing
- Video Rendering - The final video is rendered with narration and visuals combined
The blog URL must be publicly accessible. Password-protected or paywalled content cannot be extracted. The AI will automatically determine the best way to structure your content into scenes.
Complete Example
Understanding the Parameters
Main Request Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
videoName | string | Yes | A descriptive name for your video project |
url | string | Yes | The URL of the blog article or webpage to convert |
voiceOver | object | Yes | Voice-over configuration object |
Voice-Over Configuration
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
enabled | boolean | Yes | Set to true to enable voice-over |
aiVoices | array | Yes | Array of AI voice configurations (currently supports one voice) |
speaker | string | Yes | The name of the AI voice (e.g., “Brian”, “Emma”) |
speed | number | No | Voice speed from 50-200 (default: 100 = normal speed) |
amplificationLevel | number | No | Volume level from -1 to 1 (default: 0 = normal volume) |
Voice Speed Reference
| Speed Value | Playback Rate | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.5x (Very slow) | Complex technical content, detailed explanations |
| 75 | 0.75x (Slower) | Educational content, learning materials |
| 90 | 0.9x (Slightly slower) | Professional presentations, important information |
| 100 | 1.0x (Normal) | Standard content, most blog articles |
| 110-120 | 1.1-1.2x (Slightly faster) | Casual content, quick summaries |
| 150 | 1.5x (Fast) | Quick recaps, energetic content |
| 200 | 2.0x (Very fast) | Speed reading, urgent updates |
Amplification Level Reference
| Level | Effect | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| -1.0 | Quietest | Background narration, ambient voice |
| -0.5 | Quieter than normal | Subtle emphasis, secondary information |
| 0 | Normal volume | Standard narration, most use cases |
| 0.3 | Slightly louder | Important points, key messages |
| 0.5 | Moderately louder | Strong emphasis, calls-to-action |
| 1.0 | Loudest | Maximum emphasis, attention-grabbing moments |
Supported Content Types
The API can extract and convert content from:- Blog posts and articles
- News websites
- Medium articles
- WordPress sites
- Most publicly accessible web pages
- Content management system (CMS) pages
The URL must be publicly accessible without authentication. Password-protected, paywalled, or login-required content cannot be extracted.
Common Use Cases
Content Marketing and Social Media
Educational and Tutorial Content
Business and Corporate Content
Quick News and Updates
Best Practices
Choose the Right Voice Speed
Choose the Right Voice Speed
Match voice speed to your content type and audience:
- Technical/Complex: Use 75-90 for slower, clearer delivery
- Standard Content: Use 100 for natural, comfortable pacing
- Casual/Social: Use 110-120 for energetic, engaging delivery
- Quick Updates: Use 120-150 for fast-paced content
- Test First: Always preview before production to ensure the pace feels right
Select Appropriate Amplification
Select Appropriate Amplification
Use volume strategically for emphasis:
- Subtle Changes: Use 0.1-0.3 for gentle emphasis on key points
- Normal Content: Keep at 0 for most narration
- Strong Emphasis: Use 0.4-0.6 sparingly for critical messages
- Avoid Extremes: Don’t exceed 0.7 to prevent audio distortion
- Consistency: Maintain similar levels across similar content types
Pick the Right AI Voice
Pick the Right AI Voice
Choose voices that match your brand and content:
- Professional/Business: Brian, Matthew, or Joanna
- Casual/Friendly: Emma, Amy, or Joey
- Technical/Educational: Brian or Emma for clarity
- Brand Consistency: Use the same voice across all your videos
- Test Options: Try different voices to find the best fit
Verify URL Accessibility
Verify URL Accessibility
Ensure your blog URL will work:
- Public Access: URL must be accessible without login
- No Paywalls: Content behind paywalls cannot be extracted
- Clean URLs: Avoid URLs with session parameters or tracking codes
- Test First: Manually check the URL opens in a browser
- Well-Structured: Articles with clear HTML structure work best
Optimize Blog Content
Optimize Blog Content
Prepare your blog for better video conversion:
- Clear Structure: Use headings and paragraphs effectively
- Concise Writing: Shorter sentences work better for narration
- Relevant Length: 500-2000 words is ideal for video conversion
- Visual Content: Include images that can be used in the video
- Clean Formatting: Remove excessive ads or sidebars when possible
Troubleshooting
Error: Unable to extract content from URL
Error: Unable to extract content from URL
Problem: The API cannot access or parse the blog content.Solution:
- Verify the URL is publicly accessible (test in incognito browser)
- Check that the article doesn’t require login or subscription
- Ensure the URL is complete and correctly formatted
- Try removing URL parameters (everything after
?) - Verify the blog page loads correctly and has text content
- Check if the site has anti-scraping protection
Voice sounds robotic or unnatural
Voice sounds robotic or unnatural
Problem: The voice-over sounds artificial or choppy.Solution:
- Try a different AI voice speaker (some sound more natural)
- Adjust the speed to 95-105 for more natural cadence
- Ensure your blog content has proper punctuation
- Avoid using all caps or unusual formatting in source content
- Use the Get Voiceover Tracks API to find higher-quality voices
Voice-over doesn't match video length
Voice-over doesn't match video length
Problem: Narration is too fast/slow for the video scenes.Solution:
- The API automatically syncs voice to video duration
- If issues persist, adjust the
speedparameter:- Increase speed (110-120) if narration is too slow
- Decrease speed (80-90) if narration is too fast
- Very long articles may be automatically summarized
- Consider breaking long articles into multiple videos
Audio quality is poor or distorted
Audio quality is poor or distorted
Problem: Voice-over audio sounds muffled or distorted.Solution:
- Reduce
amplificationLevelto 0 or below - Avoid levels above 0.7 which can cause clipping
- Try a different AI voice - some have better audio quality
- Check if the source content has unusual characters or formatting
- Ensure punctuation in source content is correct
Video created but no content extracted
Video created but no content extracted
Problem: Video completes but appears empty or very short.Solution:
- Check that the URL points to an article, not the homepage
- Verify the page has substantial text content (300+ words)
- Remove URL parameters and tracking codes
- Try a direct link to the article, not a shortened URL
- Ensure the page is in a supported language
Next Steps
Enhance your blog-to-video content with these features:Background Music
Add music to complement voice-over narration
Custom Captions
Add translated or custom subtitles to your videos
Brand Settings
Apply consistent branding across all your videos
Multi-Level Voice-Over
Use different voices for different scenes
API Reference
For complete technical details, see:- Get Voiceover Tracks - List all available AI voices
- Render Storyboard Video - Full API specification
- Get Job Status - Monitor job status and progress
