> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tavus.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Understand Tavus replicas, learn how to create your own using a video or an image, or explore ready-to-use stock replicas. 

## What is a replica?

A **replica** is a realistic AI avatar that can speak, listen, learn, and respond like a real person.

With Tavus, you can create a replica that looks and behaves like you—or use a stock replica to generate conversations instantly. Replicas are designed to capture natural expressions, tone, and presence, making interactions feel more human and engaging. 

Replicas are generated using our Phoenix-4 model, built on advanced research in real-time human rendering and trained on large-scale conversational data to model natural expression, emotion, and behavior. 

## Custom Replicas

You can create a replica in one of two ways:

* **<u>Upload a training video</u>** – Record a 1-minute video with **30 seconds of speaking followed by 30 seconds of listening**. This method provides the highest quality and most control. With this short input, Tavus can reproduce appearance with high fidelity, voice, expressions, and accurate lip-sync. See [Training from a Video](/sections/replica/train-with-a-video).
* **<u>Upload an image</u>** – Upload a photo of a person or character, and Tavus will automatically generate the training data and create the replica for you. This path is faster to set up but lower fidelity than video. See [Training from an Image](/sections/replica/train-with-an-image).

<Note>
  Creating a Custom Replica is **only available** on the Starter, Growth, and Enterprise plans.
</Note>

## Stock Replicas

Alternatively, Tavus offers 100+ ready-to-use [stock replicas](https://docs.tavus.io/sections/replica/stock-replicas) recorded using real actors - great for quick prototyping, demos, or teams without access to custom training footage or images.

## Key Features

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Realistic Face Cloning" icon="face-smile">
    Custom replicas capture a person’s look, expressions, and speaking style.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Emotional Control" icon="arrows-repeat">
    Phoenix-4 replicas express emotions through lifelike facial expressions while speaking and listening.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Full Motion Control" icon="head-side">
    Smooth transitions between speaking and listening with fully generated, natural head motion.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  Emotional expression controls in conversational video apply only to **Phoenix-4**; see [Emotion Control with Phoenix-4](/sections/conversational-video-interface/quickstart/emotional-expression).
</Note>

## Platform Policies

By using the Tavus platform and APIs, you agree to comply with Tavus’ [Terms of Service](https://www.tavus.io/terms-of-service) and [Acceptable Use Policy](https://www.tavus.io/acceptable-use-policy). You are responsible for ensuring you have the necessary rights and permissions to upload and use any training data, including videos, images, voices, and likenesses.

## Getting Started

You can create a replica using either the Developer Portal or the API, depending on your workflow.

* For a guided replica creation flow with upload checks and inline validation, use the [Tavus Developer Portal](https://platform.tavus.io/dev/replicas/create).
* For API flows, use [Video to Replica](/sections/replica/video-to-replica-quickstart) or [Image to Replica](/sections/replica/image-to-replica-quickstart). For recording rules, consent, and best practices, see [Which training path?](/sections/replica/which-training-path)