Give a face to your AI — and anything else you listen to.
Animate cloud APIs, web apps, or local LLMs with a VRM character that lipsyncs and moves while you work.
Or keep a companion on screen while you study, watch a video, hear a podcast, speech, or audiobook — a character that follows the audio instead of a blank background.
Quick Start · Download .exe · User guide · Documentation · Install · Avatars · Environments · Voice · Animations · Settings · Assets & Credits · Changelog · Cite
AVATAR is an open-source desktop companion from ARPA. The primary experience is the Electron transparent always-on-top overlay. A Windows .exe installer is available for end users. The browser / localhost Vite app is for development and contributors.
It renders .vrm models, plays .vrma motion, and drives mouth shapes from live audio — including system / device output on desktop.
- Electron desktop overlay — pin, snap, window scale, device loopback (user guide · settings)
- VRM avatars & skins — drop-in
avatarN.vrm/avatarNB.vrm(avatars) - Environments — built-ins, local Custom folder, color fade, or none (environments)
- Persistent settings —
config.yamlacross launches (user settings) - VRMA animations — Default greeting + loop, plus clips (VRMA)
- Browser / localhost — optional for contributors (install)
Download AVATAR-Setup-0.2.0.exe — no Node.js. Run the installer, accept the EULA, launch AVATAR.
(All releases · install notes)
Requires Node.js 20+ and npm:
cd avatar-demo
npm install
npm run desktopcd avatar-demo
npm install
npm run devOpen http://localhost:5173. Prefer Electron when testing lip sync against system audio.
Gear menu: Appearance (Avatars · Skins · Environments) · Voice · Camera · Animations · Settings. Scale control sits next to the gear.
First launch behavior: Greeting once, then a looping motion set; desktop audio defaults to device output; preferences restore from config.yaml on later launches. Full walkthrough: Using the app · First session.
- Gear → Voice → Device output (desktop) or Microphone / Tab (browser)
- Green pulsating dot next to the gear = active
More: Audio sources · Lip sync · Using the app → Voice
Gear → Animations → Default (greeting, then motion loop). Catalog: VRMA animations.
Drop avatar4.vrm (or avatar1B.vrm for a skin) into avatar-demo/src/assets/avatars/, restart desktop, pick it under Appearance. See Avatars & skins.
Drop trial GIFs into avatar-demo/src/assets/environments/custom/ (gitignored — local only; not shipped in the Windows installer). Restart, open Appearance → Environments → Custom. Details: Environments.
| Topic | Links |
|---|---|
| User guide | Using the app — every menu, default, and reset |
| Getting started | Install · First session |
| Download | AVATAR-Setup-0.2.0.exe · v0.2.0 release |
| Characters & stage | Avatars & skins · Environments · Camera & lighting |
| Motion & voice | VRMA · Audio sources · Lip sync |
| Settings | config.yaml & resets |
| Architecture | Overview · Layout |
| Assets | Assets & credits |
| Cite | CITATION.cff · Changelog |
avatar/
├── docs/
│ ├── using-the-app.md
│ ├── screenshots/ # product media for README & guides
│ └── …
├── avatar-demo/
│ ├── electron/
│ ├── public/
│ └── src/
│ ├── assets/avatars/
│ └── assets/environments/
│ ├── stars.gif / code.gif / bloom.gif
│ └── custom/ # local trials only (gitignored media)
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── CITATION.cff
└── README.md
Sample characters are made in VRoid Studio / VRoid Hub with free setups — no paid models or wearables are used in this repo.
Bundled motions are the 7 free VRMA files from the VRoid Project on BOOTH (2024). Copyright remains with pixiv Inc. Commercial use requires:
Animation credits to pixiv Inc.'s VRoid Project
（キャラクターアニメーション: ピクシブ株式会社 VRoidプロジェクト）
Full terms: docs/assets-and-credits.md · Rights holders: input@arpacorp.net
Runs locally. Audio uses Web APIs / Electron loopback; nothing is uploaded. See audio sources for capture options.
Built & Maintained by ARPA Hellenic Logical Systems