DreamTalk: Complete Step-by-Step Installation Guide

DreamTalk is a powerful tool that allows you to run it directly on your computer without needing a GPU. In fact, it can work faster on a CPU as well. In this guide, I will walk you through every step to download, install, and run DreamTalk on your system.

I will include all necessary instructions step-by-step so that you can set it up smoothly and get the desired output without missing any detail.

Introduction to DreamTalk Installation

DreamTalk is now accessible on your computer, even if you don’t have a GPU. This means that anyone can install and use it effectively with just a CPU.

Here’s a quick overview of what we’ll do:

• Download the main files from GitHub.
• Extract and set up the environment using Anaconda.
• Install all required dependencies and modules.
• Configure files and paths for audio and images.
• Run the main command to generate the final result.

What is DreamTalk?

DreamTalk is a software tool that allows you to create talking animations by combining an audio file with a static image. It processes both the voice input and the image, generating a result where the image moves and speaks according to the provided audio.

The best part is that it works even without a GPU, which means you can run it on almost any modern computer, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Overview of Requirements

Below is a quick summary of what you need before starting the installation:

Key Features of DreamTalk

• Runs smoothly without requiring a GPU.
• Compatible with CPU-only systems.
• Allows you to combine audio with an image to create a talking video.
• Works entirely offline once installed.
• Output files are automatically stored in a dedicated results folder.

Step 1: Download DreamTalk from GitHub

To get started, you first need to download the DreamTalk files to your computer.

Steps:

1. Open the GitHub page for DreamTalk by clicking the link provided.
2. Once the page loads, click on "Code" and download the ZIP file to your computer.
3. After downloading, extract the ZIP file to a folder where you want to install DreamTalk.

Step 2: Open Anaconda and Navigate to the Extracted Folder

We’ll use Anaconda to run commands and set up the environment.

Steps:

1. Open Anaconda as Administrator.
2. Navigate to the folder where you extracted the DreamTalk files using the cd command.

Example:

cd path_to_extracted_folder

Step 3: Create a Python Environment

DreamTalk works with Python 3.7, so you need to create a new environment specifically for it.

Steps:

1. Go to the GitHub main page and copy the environment creation code.
2. Paste it into Anaconda to create a new environment.

Example:

conda create -n dreamtalk python=3.7

Step 4: Activate the Environment

Once the environment is created, it must be activated before installing other dependencies.

Steps:

1. Copy the activation command from the GitHub main page.
2. Paste it into Anaconda.

Example:

conda activate dreamtalk

Step 5: Install Required Packages

DreamTalk requires several dependencies to run smoothly.

Steps:

1. Run the requirements installation command from the GitHub page.
2. Paste it into Anaconda to install all the necessary libraries.

Example:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Step 6: Install CUDA or CPU Version of PyTorch

DreamTalk supports both GPU and CPU. If you don’t have a GPU, you’ll need the CPU version of PyTorch.

Steps for CPU Setup:

1. Go to the PyTorch website.
2. Copy the installation command for CPU.
3. Paste it into Anaconda and run it.

Note: This process may take some time, depending on your internet speed and system performance.

Step 7: Install FFmpeg

DreamTalk requires FFmpeg for audio and video processing.

Steps:

1. Copy the FFmpeg installation command from the GitHub page.
2. Paste it into Anaconda and execute it.

Example:

conda install ffmpeg

Step 8: Install Additional Modules

There are three other essential modules you need to install before running DreamTalk.

Steps:

1. Go to the GitHub main page.
2. Copy the commands for these three modules.
3. Paste each command one by one into Anaconda.

Step 9: Download Checkpoints

DreamTalk requires checkpoints for processing.

Steps:

1. Download the checkpoint file from the provided link.
2. Paste the downloaded file inside the main folder of DreamTalk.

Step 10: Install Sound File

Before running the main code, you must install a sound file.

Steps:

1. Install the sound file package using the provided command.
2. Run the command in Anaconda.

Step 11: Prepare Your Audio and Picture Files

To generate your result, DreamTalk needs two files:

• Audio file – Your input voice file.
• Image file – The picture you want to animate.

Folder Structure:

Go to the main folder and locate the data folder. Inside it, you will find subfolders:

• audio – Place your audio file here.
• source_image – Place your picture here.

Step 12: Update the Main Command

You need to replace placeholders in the main command with your actual file names.

• Replace the audio path with your audio file name.
• Replace the picture path with your picture file name.

Example:

python main.py --audio data/audio/your_audio.mp3 --image data/source_image/your_image.jpg

Step 13: Run the Main Command

Now that everything is ready, run the main command to generate the output.

Note:

• The first run may take several minutes as it will download additional files.
• Even on CPU, it will work, but initial setup time will be longer.

Step 14: Locate the Output File

Once the process is complete, the result file will be available inside the result folder.

You can open this folder to check and use your generated file.

Final Folder Structure

Here’s how your DreamTalk folder should look after proper setup:

Complete Command Flow

Here’s a quick summary of the commands you’ll run in Anaconda:

# Navigate to folder
cd path_to_extracted_folder

# Create environment
conda create -n dreamtalk python=3.7

# Activate environment
conda activate dreamtalk

# Install requirements
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Install PyTorch for CPU
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu

# Install FFmpeg
conda install ffmpeg

# Install additional modules
pip install module1
pip install module2
pip install module3

# Run main command
python main.py --audio data/audio/your_audio.mp3 --image data/source_image/your_image.jpg

Troubleshooting Tips

• If the tool runs slowly:

  • This is normal when using only a CPU. Be patient during the first run.

• If you encounter missing module errors:

  • Double-check that you installed all dependencies correctly, especially the three extra modules mentioned in Step 9.

• If your files are not detected:

  • Ensure you placed your audio and image files in the correct subfolders (audio and source_image).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can DreamTalk run without a GPU?

Yes, DreamTalk works on CPU-only systems. It may be slightly slower than GPU processing, but it is fully functional.

Q2: Where should I put my audio and image files?

• Audio files go inside the audio folder located in the data directory.
• Image files go inside the source_image folder within the data directory.

Q3: Where can I find the output after processing?

The generated video file will be saved in the result folder.

Q4: What version of Python is required?

You need Python 3.7 to run DreamTalk successfully.

Q5: What should I do if I don’t have a GPU?

Install the CPU version of PyTorch instead of CUDA. Instructions are available on the PyTorch website.

Conclusion

By following this step-by-step guide, you can successfully install and run DreamTalk on your computer, even without a GPU. The process involves:

• Downloading and extracting files.
• Setting up a Python environment using Anaconda.
• Installing all required dependencies and modules.
• Organizing audio and image files in the correct folder structure.
• Running the main command to generate your desired output.

Once completed, you’ll find your generated files inside the result folder, ready to use.