Create a PVC
A PVC closely matches the audio you train it on. Use clean recordings of a single speaker at the volume, pacing, and audio quality you want. The more you provide, the better: 30 minutes is the minimum. Training then takes up to 3 hours.Recording tips
Recording 30 minutes of usable audio takes planning. With that much audio the model learns the voice itself: accent, timbre, and the small habits that make it recognizable. Vary the emotion across the dataset so the clone isn’t locked to one register. A PVC is trained on one language at a time, so record a separate dataset for each language you need.- Cover a realistic range of emotional registers: neutral, warm, upbeat, concerned, reassuring
- Approve a test read before recording the full dataset
- Take breaks. A tired voice drifts, and the drift ends up in the clone
- One speaker, no background noise. A quiet room, no music, no echo off bare walls.
- Speak the way you want the clone to speak. Tone, accent, pacing, and energy all carry over.
- Speak naturally, not like an announcer. Over-enunciation and theatrical delivery make the clone sound less conversational.
- Avoid long pauses. The clone mimics your pacing, including the silence between sentences.
- Record in a language the speaker actually speaks. Each clone is built from one language.
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Speak slightly off to the side of the mic, about a 45° angle | Speak straight into it - this causes plosives (popping on your p’s and b’s) |
| Keep a steady distance and volume the whole time | Lean in and out, or let your volume drift up and down - this can cause inconsistency in the clone’s volume |
| Record raw, with all effects and filters turned off | Add noise reduction, echo, or EQ tweaks - this can cause unnatural artefacts in the clone |
| Stay hydrated | Record with a dry mouth - this can cause subtle mouth noises to be picked up by the mic |
Example delivery brief
Example delivery brief
Decide how the clone should sound before you record, and write it down. Adapt this for your own brand.Voice Quality
medium pitchcompetentprofessionalfriendlyapproachable
Voice Deliverywarmclearconversationalupbeatlively
Goal: Sound like a genuine, empathetic voice, not a scripted agent.Delivery notesWhat a pro voice clone dataset should cover
What a pro voice clone dataset should cover
Map the conversations your agent will actually have and write transcripts for each. Mix scripted lines with semi-improvised responses, so the dataset captures real phrasing, breaths, and transitions. For example, a customer service dataset should include:
- Opening greetings, in several variations
- Scheduling and confirmations
- Spelling, emails, and alphanumerics
- Errors and empathy
- Misunderstanding and clarification
- Times, dates, and durations
- Natural speech patterns and filler
- Closings
In the dashboard
Open the Pro Voice Clone page. From here you create a PVC and track the status of your existing clones. Follow the steps on screen to provide audio data, start the training, and listen to the voices it creates.With the API
Create PVCs programmatically using the following endpoints:- Create a dataset to hold your data
- Upload files to the dataset
- Create a fine-tune from the dataset
- List the voices the fine-tune produced
Prerequisites
- You have a Cartesia API key (export it as
CARTESIA_API_KEY).- You have a folder called
samples/with one or more.wavfiles.
Use a PVC in Text-to-Speech
In your text-to-speech API request, setmodel_id to one of the voice’s supported models, returned in the fine_tunes.public_model_id field of the Get Voice response.
You can’t use a PVC with sonic-preview. It’s a beta model that changes without notice, so a voice trained against one snapshot isn’t compatible with the next.
Passing sonic-preview or an unsupported model_id returns HTTP 400 with a voice_model_mismatch error:
FAQs
Should I use an IVC or a PVC?
Should I use an IVC or a PVC?
For most use cases, start with an IVC: it’s fast, high quality, and needs only 10 seconds of audio. Choose a PVC to clone character voices, preserve rare accents, or match a specific tone and pacing.
How do I find my PVCs?
How do I find my PVCs?
Find your PVCs from the Cartesia dashboard or the API. In the dashboard, go to My Voices in the Voice Library and look for the PRO badge. From the API, call List Voices with
is_owner=true and filter for voices where is_pro=true.How many PVC fine tunes can I create?
How many PVC fine tunes can I create?
The number of PVC fine tunes you can create depends on your subscription plan:
To find how many PVC fine tunes you currently have, open the Pro Voice Clone page in the dashboard. The Limit line shows how many fine tunes you’ve created against your plan’s total.
What if I've reached my plan's slot limit?
What if I've reached my plan's slot limit?
Your existing PVCs keep working. To train a new one, delete a fine-tune you no longer need from the Pro Voice Clone page or the Delete Fine Tune endpoint, or upgrade your plan for more slots.
Can I buy more slots without upgrading my plan?
Can I buy more slots without upgrading my plan?
Slots aren’t sold separately. To make room for a new PVC, free up a slot by deleting a fine-tune you no longer need, or upgrade your plan for more slots.
What happens to my PVCs if I downgrade or cancel my plan?
What happens to my PVCs if I downgrade or cancel my plan?
Your existing PVCs keep working, even if you’re over your new plan’s limit. You can’t train a new one until you’re back under the limit.
Do I need to migrate my PVC when Cartesia releases a new model?
Do I need to migrate my PVC when Cartesia releases a new model?
No. We automatically adapt your PVC to new TTS models as they’re released, so it keeps working when you switch
model_id. These adapted versions don’t count against your plan’s slots.