Tutorial 1: Basic setup

Part 1: The sprites

The most simple avatar can be created using only a single layer and two images.

Start by typing a name for your avatar in the “Layer Set” box. A Layer Set is the format in which your avatar is saved. Press the Save button to create your file. When the file exists, the “Save” button will change to say “Overwrite”, so you’ll know if you’ve already used that name before.

Now you can create a layer. You can use the pencil icon on its header bar to rename it however you like.

Now add an image for your idle sprite. This will be visible while you’re not talking. I’ll use the files in the Demo_Sprites package available as an optional download from itch.io. The idle sprite is called “static_idle.png”. First, click the “?” box, then select the file you want.

Next, add an image for your talking sprite. This one’s called “static_talk.png”.

While this is already a functional avatar, we can also add a “blink” sprite to give it a bit more life. That’s “static_blink.png”.

There are other options automatically enabled to give your character some motion. These are the “Bouncing” and “Breathing” options. 

While idle, the Breathing option will move and scale your avatar to give the impression of breathing. You can click that header to show the options, and you can use the checkbox in the header to disable it.

While talking, the Bouncing option will move your sprites up and down. This can either be driven by the loudness of your voice, or a constant regular bouncing motion.

Part 2: The audio

At the bottom of RahiTuber’s menu you will find the “Audio Input” section. Here you can select the microphone you want to use as input.

If you click the Audio Input title, some more options will become visible. You can use these to tweak the overall behaviour in response to your voice (below, you can see my preferred settings), but it’s best to leave these alone until you get a feel for how the avatar moves on the default settings.

On your avatar’s layer, check beneath the sprites. 

You will see a “Talk Threshold” slider. When you speak into the microphone, the bar will light up to show your current speaking volume, and turn green when that volume passes the threshold set by the yellow bar. Speak normally into your microphone, and adjust the slider until the bar turns green for each syllable you speak, but goes red when you’re not talking.

Press Esc or right-click to close the menu, and talk into your microphone - the avatar will now bounce and open its mouth while you’re talking!

Don't forget to overwrite your layer set once you're happy with it!