Edit the sound of a video

To effectively edit the sound of a video, you’ll want to leverage video editing software that provides precise audio controls, allowing you to manipulate volume, remove unwanted noise, add background podcast, or even replace the entire audio track. For a powerful and intuitive experience, consider exploring options like VideoStudio Ultimate 2023, a robust tool that makes advanced audio adjustments accessible. If you’re looking to give it a try and potentially save some money, you can get started with a free trial and even snag a discount here: 👉 VideoStudio Ultimate 15% OFF Coupon Limited Time FREE TRIAL Included. Whether you need to know how to edit the sound of a video on iPhone, how to edit the sound out of a video, or even how to change the sound of a video on TikTok, the principles remain similar across platforms, though the specific steps and available features will vary. Desktop software generally offers more comprehensive control, allowing you to meticulously edit audio of a video, including fine-tuning levels, applying effects, and synchronizing external audio. For quick mobile edits, apps on platforms like iPhone allow you to edit audio of a video on iPhone, often with basic trim, volume, and mute functions. Understanding how to edit the sound out of a video or how to change the sound of a video on iPhone involves detaching the audio, making your modifications, and then re-integrating it. Even for online tools like Canva, while perhaps less robust than dedicated video editors, knowing how to edit the audio of a video in Canva still follows the fundamental concept of selecting the audio track and applying available adjustments. Ultimately, mastering how do you edit the sound out of a video or enhance it comes down to familiarity with your chosen tool’s audio timeline and effects panel.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Video Audio Editing

When we talk about how to edit the sound of a video, we’re into a crucial aspect of video production that often gets overlooked.

Just as visual quality impacts perception, audio quality profoundly affects engagement and message delivery.

Effective audio editing can transform a mediocre video into a professional, compelling piece of content.

The fundamental principles revolve around controlling volume, clarity, and overall sonic atmosphere.

The Importance of Clear Audio

Clear audio is paramount. Viewers are far more forgiving of imperfect video quality than they are of poor audio. If your audience can’t understand what’s being said, or if the sound is distracting, they will quickly disengage. According to a recent survey by Statista, over 40% of viewers cite poor audio quality as a major reason for abandoning a video. This highlights why learning how to edit the sound out of a video or enhance it is not just a technical skill but a necessity for effective communication.

• Speech Intelligibility: Ensuring dialogues and narrations are loud and clear.
• Noise Reduction: Eliminating background hums, static, or environmental disturbances.
• Audio Balance: Making sure different audio elements podcast, dialogue, sound effects sit well together.

Basic Audio Editing Techniques

Before into complex tools, understanding basic techniques is essential.

These form the bedrock of how to edit the sound of a video effectively.

They include trimming, adjusting volume, and separating audio from video.

• Trimming and Cutting: Removing unwanted silence or extraneous noises at the beginning or end of clips. This is often the first step in how do you edit the sound out of a video.
• Volume Adjustment: Increasing or decreasing the loudness of specific audio tracks or the entire video’s audio.
• Detaching Audio: Most video editing software allows you to separate the audio track from its video counterpart, enabling independent manipulation. This is key when you want to know how to edit the sound out of a video.

Choosing the Right Tools for Video Audio Editing

Selecting the appropriate software is critical when you want to edit the sound of a video.

The choice often depends on your operating system, budget, skill level, and specific needs, such as whether you’re working on a desktop, mobile, or a web-based platform. Cdr file reader

Each offers different capabilities, from basic adjustments to professional-grade sound design.

Desktop Video Editing Software

For comprehensive control and professional-level results, desktop software is usually the go-to.

These applications offer multi-track editing, advanced audio effects, and precise synchronization capabilities.

• Corel VideoStudio Ultimate: A powerful option for Windows users, VideoStudio Ultimate provides a robust suite of audio editing tools, including noise reduction, audio ducking, and sophisticated mixing. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible for beginners while offering depth for experienced editors. This is particularly useful if you’re trying to figure out how to edit the sound of a video with detailed control.
  • Features: Multi-track audio mixer, audio normalization, royalty-free podcast library access, various audio filters.
  • Pros: User-friendly, extensive features, good value.
  • Cons: Windows-only, can be resource-intensive.
• Adobe Premiere Pro: A professional industry standard, offering unparalleled control over audio. It integrates seamlessly with Adobe Audition for advanced sound design.
  • Features: Parametric EQ, dynamic processing, spectral sound editing.
  • Pros: Industry-standard, highly versatile, excellent integration with other Adobe products.
  • Cons: Subscription-based, steep learning curve.
• DaVinci Resolve: A free, professional-grade option that includes Fairlight, a dedicated audio post-production page. It’s incredibly powerful but also has a significant learning curve.
  • Features: Professional audio mixing, mastering tools, extensive effect library.
  • Pros: Free for the basic version, comprehensive features, excellent for color grading and video editing too.
  • Cons: Resource-intensive, complex interface.

Mobile Video Editing Applications

Mobile devices have become powerful tools for content creation, and many apps now offer surprisingly robust audio editing features.

This is where you learn how to edit the sound of a video on iPhone or Android quickly.

• CapCut iOS/Android: Hugely popular, especially for short-form content. It allows users to easily change the sound of a video on TikTok or other platforms.
  • Features: Volume adjustment, muting original audio, adding podcast/sound effects from its library, voiceovers.
  • Pros: Free, user-friendly, great for social media.
  • Cons: Limited advanced audio controls compared to desktop software.
• iMovie iOS: Pre-installed on iPhones and iPads, iMovie offers basic yet effective audio editing. If you need to edit audio of a video on iPhone, this is a native and simple solution.
  • Features: Detach audio, adjust volume, add background podcast, fade in/out.
  • Pros: Free, intuitive for iOS users, good for quick edits.
  • Cons: Lacks advanced features.
• InShot iOS/Android: Another popular mobile editor with good audio capabilities.
  • Features: Mute original sound, extract audio from other videos, add custom podcast.
  • Pros: Easy to use, good for social media creators.
  • Cons: Free version has watermarks, in-app purchases for full features.

Online Video Editors

For quick edits without software installation, online tools are a viable option. They are generally less powerful but convenient.

If you’re wondering how to edit the audio of a video in Canva, it falls into this category, focusing on ease of use.

• Canva Web-based: While primarily known for design, Canva’s video editor has expanded its audio capabilities, allowing for basic volume adjustments, adding stock audio, and some simple trimming.
  • Features: Basic volume control, extensive stock audio library, simple drag-and-drop.
  • Pros: Easy to use, integrated with Canva’s design tools, good for simple edits.
  • Cons: Limited advanced audio editing features.
• Clipchamp Web-based: Now part of Microsoft, Clipchamp offers a decent online editing experience with basic audio manipulation.
  • Features: Mute, volume control, fade effects.
  • Pros: Browser-based, user-friendly.
  • Cons: Can be slow with larger files, limited professional features.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Edit the Sound of a Video Desktop

Editing the sound of a video on a desktop application like VideoStudio Ultimate provides the most comprehensive control.

This section will walk you through the general steps applicable to most professional-grade software, focusing on common tasks such as isolating audio, noise reduction, and mixing.

1. Importing and Detaching Audio

The first step in how to edit the sound of a video is getting your media into the software and preparing the audio track for independent manipulation. Video upgrade

• Import Your Video: Open your chosen video editor and import the video file you wish to edit. This is usually done via a “File > Import” option or by dragging and dropping the file into the media library.
• Place on Timeline: Drag the imported video clip from your media library onto the main video track in your timeline.
• Detach Audio if necessary: Many editors automatically separate video and audio into distinct tracks on the timeline. If not, right-click on the video clip on the timeline and look for an option like “Detach Audio,” “Unlink Audio/Video,” or “Extract Audio.” This creates a separate audio track that you can edit independently. This is crucial if you want to know how to edit the sound out of a video.

2. Basic Audio Adjustments: Volume and Trimming

Once the audio is on its own track, you can perform fundamental adjustments.

• Adjusting Volume:
  • Global Volume: Most audio tracks will have a volume slider or a line that you can drag up or down to adjust the overall volume of that track.
  • Keyframes for Dynamic Volume: For more precise control, especially if you need volume changes within a clip e.g., ducking podcast under dialogue, use keyframes. Place keyframes at points where you want the volume to change, then drag the line between them up or down.
  • Normalization: Look for a “Normalize Audio” feature. This automatically adjusts the audio level to a standard loudness, preventing clips from being too quiet or too loud compared to others.
• Trimming and Cutting:
  • Splitting Clips: Use the “razor” or “split” tool to cut the audio track at specific points. This is useful for removing pauses, mistakes, or unwanted sections.
  • Trimming Ends: Drag the edges of the audio clip on the timeline to trim off unwanted beginnings or endings. This is a common step in how do you edit the sound out of a video when there are extraneous noises.

3. Advanced Audio Enhancements: Noise Reduction and EQ

Once the basics are handled, you can move to more sophisticated techniques to improve audio quality, particularly if you want to know how to edit the sound out of a video.

• Noise Reduction:
  • Many video editors like VideoStudio Ultimate or Premiere Pro have built-in noise reduction filters.
  • Apply the “Noise Reduction” or “Denoise” effect to your audio track.
  • Adjust the parameters to find a balance between removing noise and preserving the clarity of the desired audio. Be careful not to over-process, as this can make the audio sound unnatural or “robotic.”
  • Tip: If possible, record a few seconds of pure background noise before speaking. some advanced noise reduction tools can “learn” this noise profile and remove it more effectively.
• Equalization EQ:
  • EQ allows you to boost or cut specific frequencies in your audio. This is powerful for improving speech clarity or making podcast sound better.
  • For dialogue, you might boost frequencies in the 1-4 kHz range to enhance clarity, and cut low-end rumble below 80 Hz if there’s a hum.
  • Experiment with presets e.g., “Voice Enhancer,” “Bass Boost” if available, then fine-tune manually.

4. Adding and Mixing Audio Elements

Beyond just the original video sound, you’ll often want to add podcast, sound effects, or voiceovers.

• Adding Background Podcast:
  • Import your podcast file and drag it onto a separate audio track on the timeline, usually below your dialogue track.
  • Volume Ducking: This is crucial. When dialogue is present, the background podcast should automatically lower in volume. Most professional editors have an “Audio Ducking” feature. If not, use keyframes on the podcast track to manually lower its volume during dialogue sections and raise it during non-dialogue segments. A common target for background podcast under dialogue is -20dB to -30dB relative to the dialogue.
  • Fading In/Out: Use fade handles at the beginning and end of the podcast track to ensure smooth transitions.
• Adding Sound Effects SFX:
  • Import and place SFX on their own tracks. Adjust their volume to complement, not overpower, the main audio.
  • Synchronization: Ensure sound effects are perfectly timed with on-screen actions.
• Recording Voiceovers:
  • Many editors have a “Record Voiceover” button often represented by a microphone icon.
  • Position your playhead on the timeline where you want the voiceover to start and begin recording.
  • Ensure you have a good quality microphone for clear voiceovers.

5. Finalizing and Exporting

The last stage ensures your audio is optimized for playback and distribution.

• Audio Mixing and Leveling:
  • Listen to your entire video critically, preferably with good headphones.
  • Adjust the levels of all audio tracks so they are balanced. Dialogue should be consistently audible. Podcast should support, not distract.
  • Aim for a final output loudness that meets industry standards if applicable e.g., -14 LUFS for YouTube, or -16 LUFS for podcasts. Many editors have a loudness meter to help you monitor this.
• Export:
  • When exporting your video, ensure the audio settings are configured correctly. Choose an appropriate audio codec e.g., AAC and bit rate e.g., 192kbps or 320kbps for high quality.
  • Most export presets for video will automatically handle optimal audio settings, but it’s good to double-check.

How to Edit the Sound of a Video on iPhone: Mobile Workflow

Editing video sound on an iPhone or other mobile devices has become incredibly accessible, making it possible to create compelling content on the go.

While offering less granular control than desktop software, mobile apps excel at quick, intuitive edits.

This is how to edit the sound of a video on iPhone using popular apps.

1. Basic Audio Adjustments in iMovie iOS

IMovie is a fantastic starting point for iPhone users looking to edit audio of a video on iPhone.

• Import Video: Open iMovie, start a new project, and import your video clip from your photo library.
• Adjust Volume: Tap on the video clip in the timeline, then tap the volume icon at the bottom. A slider will appear, allowing you to increase or decrease the volume of the original audio. You can also drag it all the way down to mute the original sound, which is how to edit the sound out of a video on iPhone.
• Detach Audio: Tap the clip, then tap the scissors icon Actions, and look for “Detach” or “Separate Audio.” This places the audio on a separate track, allowing you to delete it, trim it, or add fades independently.
• Add Background Podcast: Tap the “+” Add Media button, select “Audio,” then choose from “Soundtracks” royalty-free podcast provided by iMovie, “My Podcast” from your device’s library, or “Sound Effects.” Drag the chosen audio onto the timeline.
• Adjust Podcast Volume: Tap the podcast track, then the volume icon to adjust its loudness relative to your video’s original audio. You’ll often want podcast much quieter than dialogue, usually around 10-20% of full volume.
• Fades: Tap the audio clip, then tap the settings icon gear. You’ll see options for fade in/out.

2. Using CapCut for TikTok and Social Media

CapCut is incredibly popular, especially for those who need to know how to change the sound of a video on TikTok or other social platforms due to its user-friendly interface and direct integration features.

• Import Video: Open CapCut and start a new project, adding your video.
• Mute Original Audio: Tap on the video clip in the timeline. At the bottom, you’ll see a “Volume” option. Tap it and drag the slider all the way to 0 to mute the original sound. This is a common method for how to edit the sound out of a video.
• Add Sounds/Podcast:
  • Tap “Audio” at the bottom.
  • “Sounds”: Browse CapCut’s extensive library of trending sounds, often categorized for TikTok. Select one and tap the “+” to add it.
  • “Extracted”: You can extract audio directly from another video on your device. This is useful if you found a sound you like in another clip.
  • “Voiceover”: Tap and hold the microphone icon to record a voiceover directly within the app.
• Adjusting Added Audio: Tap the added audio track. You’ll see options for:
  • Volume: Adjust the loudness of the podcast or sound effect.
  • Fade: Apply fade in/out effects.
  • Split: Cut the audio clip.
  • Beat Sync: CapCut can automatically add beat markers to podcast, which is great for syncing visual edits.
• How to Change the Sound of a Video on TikTok Directly: While CapCut helps, TikTok itself has robust in-app audio editing. You can record a video or upload one, then tap “Add Sound” to choose from trending audios, your saved sounds, or original sounds from other TikToks. You can then adjust the volume of the “Original Sound” versus the “Added Sound” directly in TikTok’s editor. This is effectively how to change the sound of a video on TikTok without leaving the app.

3. Editing Audio in InShot

InShot provides a good balance of features for mobile editing, especially for those looking for a versatile mobile editor. Art to art

• Import Video: Open InShot, select “Video,” and import your clip.
• Volume Control: Tap on the video clip in the timeline. At the bottom, swipe through the options until you find “Volume.” Adjust the slider to increase or decrease the original audio. To completely remove the sound, drag it to 0, which answers how do you edit the sound out of a video using InShot.
• Add Podcast/Effects: Tap the “Podcast” icon.
  • “Tracks”: Add podcast from InShot’s library or import your own.
  • “Effects”: Add sound effects.
  • “Record”: Record a voiceover.
• Manage Audio Tracks: Once added, tap on the podcast or effect track. You’ll have options to adjust its volume, split it, duplicate it, or add fades.

Specific Audio Editing Scenarios and Solutions

Beyond general editing, certain scenarios require specific approaches to how to edit the sound of a video.

These often address common issues like removing unwanted noise or managing multiple audio sources.

How to Edit the Sound Out of a Video

This is one of the most frequently asked questions.

Whether it’s background chatter, wind noise, or just silence you want to replace, removing the original audio is straightforward in most editors.

• Method 1: Muting the Original Track:
  • In most software desktop or mobile, simply select the video clip on the timeline and look for a volume slider. Drag it all the way down to zero.
  • Example VideoStudio Ultimate: Select the clip, go to the “Audio” panel, and lower the master volume slider to 0.
  • Example iMovie on iPhone: Tap the clip, tap the volume icon, and drag the slider to 0.
• Method 2: Detaching and Deleting:
  • Right-click on the video clip on the timeline desktop or tap for options mobile. Select “Detach Audio” or “Unlink Audio.” This will separate the audio into its own track.
  • Once detached, select the audio track and press “Delete” on your keyboard desktop or find the “Delete” option in the mobile app. This completely removes the original audio from your project, allowing you to add new sound without interference.

How to Change the Sound of a Video on TikTok

TikTok’s ecosystem prioritizes sound, often relying on trending audios.

Changing the sound of a video on TikTok usually means replacing or layering the original audio with a popular sound.

• In-App TikTok Editing:
  • After recording/uploading: On the edit screen, tap “Sounds.”
  • Browse: Choose a trending sound, browse categories, or search.
  • Volume Mixer: After selecting a sound, tap the “Volume” option usually a small speaker icon. Here, you can adjust the volume of your “Original Sound” the audio captured with your video and the “Added Sound” the TikTok audio. This is critical for how to change the sound of a video on TikTok effectively. You’ll often turn the Original Sound down significantly, sometimes to 0, and bring the Added Sound up.
• Using Third-Party Apps CapCut Recommended:
  • Edit your video in CapCut as detailed above, muting the original sound and adding your desired podcast/effects.
  • Export the video from CapCut.
  • Upload the CapCut-edited video to TikTok. Since the audio is already baked into the video from CapCut, you won’t need to add additional sounds on TikTok, unless you want to layer more.

How to Edit the Audio of a Video in Canva

Canva is primarily a design tool but has expanded its video capabilities, including basic audio editing.

It’s more about adding and layering sounds than deep manipulation.

• Upload Video: In your Canva project, upload your video or select one from Canva’s library. Place it on your page.
• Add Audio:
  • On the left sidebar, click “Audio.”
  • Browse Canva’s extensive stock audio library often royalty-free or upload your own audio file via “Uploads.”
  • Drag the chosen audio track onto your video timeline.
• Adjust Audio:
  • Volume: Click on the audio track at the bottom. A volume slider will appear. Drag it to adjust the loudness.
  • Position: Drag the audio track left or right to sync it with your video.
  • Trim: Drag the ends of the audio track to trim its duration.
  • Split/Delete: Right-click the audio track for options to split or delete it.
• Mute Original Video Sound: Click on the video clip itself on the timeline. A speaker icon will appear. Click it to mute the video’s original audio. This is how to edit the audio of a video in Canva when you want to replace its sound entirely.
• Layering: You can add multiple audio tracks e.g., background podcast + sound effects. Each will have its own volume control.

Optimizing Audio for Different Platforms

The platform where your video will be published significantly influences how you should edit the sound of a video.

Each platform has its own audience expectations, technical specifications, and playback environments. The best video maker

Ignoring these can lead to a less impactful viewing experience.

YouTube Audio Best Practices

YouTube is a major platform for longer-form content, and its audience expects clear, well-balanced audio.

• Loudness: YouTube normalizes audio to approximately -14 LUFS Loudness Units Full Scale. If your audio is louder than this, YouTube will automatically turn it down. If it’s much quieter, it might sound weak compared to other videos. Aim for your peak loudness to be around -14 LUFS to ensure consistent playback. Many desktop editors have LUFS meters or normalization tools.
• Clarity of Dialogue: Prioritize dialogue. Ensure voices are crisp and intelligible, ideally peaking between -6dB and -3dB before normalization.
• Stereo Mix: Export your audio in stereo. Mono audio can sound flat.
• No Copyrighted Podcast: Use royalty-free podcast or podcast you have licensed to avoid copyright strikes. A single strike can lead to your video being muted or taken down, directly impacting your ability to edit the sound of a video successfully for distribution.

TikTok and Instagram Reels Audio Considerations

These platforms are dominated by short-form, mobile-first content, heavily relying on trending sounds and quick engagement.

Knowing how to change the sound of a video on TikTok is essential here.

• Trending Sounds: The fastest way to gain visibility is often to use trending audio. Users scroll quickly, and familiar sounds grab attention.
• Mix of Original and Added Sound: For vlogs or narrative content, you’ll often mix your original voiceover with trending background podcast. The key is to keep the original dialogue clear while the podcast acts as an engaging backdrop. TikTok’s in-app mixer Original Sound vs. Added Sound is perfect for this.
• Mobile-First Listening: Assume most viewers will be listening on phone speakers or earbuds. Overly complex soundscapes or very quiet elements might get lost.
• Captions: Always consider adding captions subtitles as many users watch without sound. This is especially important if you’ve done significant work to edit the sound out of a video but want to ensure accessibility.

Podcast and Long-Form Audio

While primarily audio-focused, many podcasts also have video versions e.g., on YouTube. The principles here are similar to YouTube but with an even greater emphasis on audio quality.

• Consistent Loudness: Maintain a consistent loudness throughout your podcast. -16 to -19 LUFS is a common target for podcasts.
• Noise Reduction: Be aggressive but careful with noise reduction. A clean, silent background is crucial for long-form listening. Tools in desktop software like spectral noise reduction are very effective here.
• Breath and Plosive Removal: Edit out harsh “p” and “b” sounds plosives and distracting breaths.
• Compression: Apply compression to balance loud and quiet parts of speech, making voices sound more consistent and present.

Ethical Considerations and Halal Alternatives in Video Production

As Muslim professionals, our approach to content creation must always align with Islamic principles.

While editing the sound of a video is a technical skill, the content of the sound itself – podcast, dialogue, and overall message – requires careful consideration.

Encouraging positive, beneficial, and permissible content is paramount.

Discouraged Elements in Video Sound

It is important to avoid or discourage the inclusion of certain audio elements that are not permissible in Islam.

• Podcast Podcastal Instruments: While there is scholarly debate, a significant body of Islamic scholarship considers instrumental podcast to be impermissible. This is a crucial point when learning how to edit the sound of a video. Instead of using instrumental background scores, consider alternatives.
• Harmful Dialogue/Lyrics: Audio containing profanity, backbiting, gossip, promoting immoral behavior such as dating, illicit relationships, or blasphemous content should be strictly avoided.
• Sound Effects Promoting Immorality: Any sound effects that glorify violence, gambling, or other haram activities should not be used.
• Unnecessary Noise/Distraction: While not forbidden, excessive or distracting sounds can detract from the beneficial message. Clarity and purpose should guide all audio choices.

Halal Alternatives for Video Audio

Instead of relying on discouraged elements, we have abundant and beautiful halal alternatives to enhance your video content. Commercial window painting

• Nasheeds Vocals-Only: Nasheeds are vocal pieces, often with percussion daff as the only permissible instrument, that convey Islamic messages, praise Allah, or recount stories. They can provide a beautiful and permissible backdrop for your videos. Many talented artists produce high-quality nasheeds that are emotionally resonant and impactful.
• Natural Soundscapes/Ambiance: Instead of podcast, consider using natural sounds relevant to your video’s theme. For example, sounds of nature rain, birds, ocean waves, city ambiance gentle street sounds, or sounds relevant to your topic e.g., a bustling marketplace sound for a travel video on Islamic history. These can add depth and authenticity without instrumental podcast.
• Voiceovers and Recitations: The human voice is a powerful tool. Clear, well-articulated voiceovers, recitation of Quran, or beneficial spoken word content poetry, wisdom sayings can be incredibly engaging and permissible. This is where mastering how to edit the sound of a video for clarity and presence becomes vital.
• Silence Strategic Use: Sometimes, silence is the most powerful audio choice. It allows the viewer to focus on visuals, reflect, or provides emphasis. Don’t be afraid to use strategic pauses or periods of silence instead of feeling the need to fill every moment with sound. This demonstrates thoughtful audio editing.
• Dua Supplications and Dhikr Remembrance of Allah: Incorporating the beautiful sounds of authentic supplications or remembrance of Allah can elevate your content spiritually and provide immense benefit to the listener.

By focusing on these halal alternatives, we can produce video content that is both professional and spiritually enriching, aligning our creative endeavors with our faith and guiding our audience towards goodness.

When you edit the sound of a video, remember the intention behind the sound.

Advanced Audio Editing Techniques for Professional Results

Once you’ve mastered the basics, exploring advanced techniques can significantly elevate the quality of your video’s audio.

These methods allow for greater precision, dynamic control, and a polished, professional sound.

1. Audio Compression

Compression is a fundamental tool for making audio sound more consistent and impactful.

It reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal, meaning it makes the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder, resulting in a more balanced sound.

• Why use it: For dialogue, compression ensures that whispers are audible and shouts aren’t jarring. For podcast, it makes the track sound fuller and more controlled.
• Key Parameters:
  • Threshold: The level at which the compressor starts to work. Audio above this level gets compressed.
  • Ratio: How much the audio is compressed once it hits the threshold. A ratio of 2:1 means that for every 2dB the audio goes over the threshold, only 1dB comes out.
  • Attack: How quickly the compressor starts working.
  • Release: How quickly the compressor stops working after the audio falls below the threshold.
• Application: Apply compression to individual dialogue tracks to make them more consistent. You might also apply light compression to podcast tracks to make them sit better in the mix. Typically, a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio with a suitable threshold is a good starting point for dialogue.

2. Gating and Expansion

While compression reduces dynamic range, gating and expansion work in reverse to increase it or eliminate unwanted low-level noise.

• Noise Gates: A noise gate silences audio below a certain threshold. It’s excellent for removing background hums or room tone during silent passages in dialogue, particularly useful when you need to know how to edit the sound out of a video’s quiet parts.
  • Threshold: Set just above the noise floor but below the actual speech/sound.
  • Attack/Release: Adjust to avoid cutting off the beginning or end of words.
• Expanders: An expander makes quiet parts even quieter. It can be used subtly to make audio sound more dynamic or to push noise further down.

3. De-essing and De-clipping

These are specialized tools for common audio problems.

• De-essing: Addresses harsh “s” and “sh” sounds sibilance that can be piercing, especially with certain microphones or speakers. A de-esser acts as a frequency-specific compressor, only reducing the volume of those harsh high frequencies.
• De-clipping: If your audio was recorded too loud and “clipped” distorted at peak volumes, some advanced software has de-clipping tools that attempt to reconstruct the clipped waveforms. While not perfect, they can sometimes salvage otherwise unusable audio. Prevention through proper gain staging is always better than cure.

4. Reverb and Delay

These effects add space and depth to audio, simulating how sound behaves in different environments.

• Reverb: Simulates the natural reflections of sound in a room. A small amount of reverb can make a voice sound more natural and less “dry.” Too much, however, makes it sound like you’re speaking in a cave.
• Delay: Creates distinct echoes. Useful for specific artistic effects but generally used sparingly in video dialogue.
• Application: Use sparingly on dialogue to add a sense of space, or more pronouncedly on sound effects or podcast to create specific moods. For example, a subtle reverb can make a voiceover sound more “present” rather than sounding like it was recorded in an echo chamber.

5. Multi-track Mixing and Leveling

This is where all your individual audio elements come together. File software

Professional video editing software allows for multiple audio tracks, each with its own controls.

• Track Organization: Assign different types of audio to different tracks e.g., dialogue on track 1, background ambiance on track 2, podcast on track 3, sound effects on track 4. This makes managing your mix much easier.
• Leveling: The primary goal is to ensure all audio elements are balanced.
  • Dialogue First: Always prioritize dialogue. It should be the clearest and most prominent sound.
  • Podcast Ducking: As mentioned, podcast should “duck” significantly lower in volume when dialogue is present. A good rule of thumb is to have podcast about -20dB to -30dB quieter than dialogue.
  • Sound Effects: Should complement the visuals without overwhelming the main audio.
• Panning: Adjust where a sound appears in the stereo field left or right speaker. This can enhance immersion, like a car sound panning from left to right as it crosses the screen.
• Master Output: Monitor your master audio output level to ensure it doesn’t peak into the red clipping, which causes distortion. Aim for your overall mix to peak consistently in the -6dB to -3dB range before export, allowing headroom for platform normalization.

By systematically applying these advanced techniques, you move from merely editing the sound of a video to crafting an immersive and professional audio experience that significantly enhances your visual content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “edit the sound of a video” mean?

“Edit the sound of a video” refers to the process of manipulating the audio track of a video recording.

This can involve adjusting volume, removing noise, adding background podcast, recording voiceovers, synchronizing sound effects, and generally refining the audio for clarity, impact, and overall quality.

How do I remove the original sound from a video?

To remove the original sound, most video editing software allows you to either mute the video’s audio track by lowering its volume to zero or detach/unlink the audio from the video and then delete the detached audio track.

This is a common step when you want to replace the original sound entirely.

Can I edit the sound of a video on my iPhone?

Yes, you can edit the sound of a video on your iPhone using various mobile apps.

Popular choices include iMovie pre-installed, CapCut, and InShot, which offer features like volume adjustment, muting, adding background podcast, and voiceovers.

How do I add background podcast to a video?

To add background podcast, import your podcast file into your video editing software, then drag it onto a separate audio track on the timeline.

Adjust its volume so it complements your main audio e.g., dialogue without overpowering it, and consider using fade-in/out effects for smooth transitions. Paint shop pro online

What is audio ducking and why is it important?

Audio ducking is a technique where the volume of one audio track typically background podcast is automatically lowered when another audio track typically dialogue or voiceover is present.

It’s crucial because it ensures that speech remains clear and audible, making your video professional and easy to understand.

How do I remove background noise from a video?

Most desktop video editing software like VideoStudio Ultimate, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve has built-in noise reduction filters or effects.

You apply this filter to your audio track and adjust its settings to reduce hums, static, or environmental noise.

Be careful not to over-process, as it can make the audio sound unnatural.

Can I record a voiceover directly within video editing software?

Yes, most modern video editing software, both desktop and mobile, allows you to record voiceovers directly within the application.

You usually find a microphone icon or a “Record Voiceover” button on the timeline or audio panel.

What’s the difference between volume adjustment and audio normalization?

Volume adjustment manually increases or decreases the loudness of an audio clip.

Audio normalization automatically adjusts the audio level of a clip or track to a specific peak loudness or average loudness LUFS to ensure consistent volume across multiple clips or to meet platform standards.

How do I make my dialogue clearer in a video?

To make dialogue clearer, ensure proper recording techniques use a good microphone, minimize background noise. In editing, use noise reduction, apply an equalizer EQ to boost frequencies that enhance speech clarity e.g., 1-4 kHz range, and use compression to balance loud and quiet parts of speech. Corel video studio ultimate x10

How do you change the sound of a video on TikTok?

On TikTok, after recording or uploading, tap “Sounds” to browse and add trending audio.

Then, use the “Volume” mixer to adjust the balance between your “Original Sound” your video’s captured audio and the “Added Sound” the TikTok audio, often turning the original down significantly.

What are LUFS and why are they important for video audio?

LUFS Loudness Units Full Scale are a standard for measuring perceived audio loudness.

They are important because platforms like YouTube normalize video audio to a specific LUFS target e.g., -14 LUFS. Mixing to these targets ensures your video’s sound plays consistently and doesn’t get automatically turned down or sound too quiet compared to other content.

Is instrumental podcast permissible as background sound in videos for Muslim professionals?

A significant body of Islamic scholarship considers instrumental podcast to be impermissible.

As Muslim professionals, it is best to avoid instrumental podcast in videos and instead use permissible alternatives like nasheeds vocals-only, natural soundscapes, voiceovers, Quranic recitations, or strategic silence.

How can I synchronize sound effects with my video?

You synchronize sound effects by placing them on a separate audio track in your video editor and then precisely dragging them along the timeline until they match the visual action or event they are meant to accompany.

Most editors allow you to zoom into the timeline for precise placement.

Can I replace the entire audio track of a video with a new one?

Yes, you can.

First, mute or delete the original audio track of your video. Create your own youtube video

Then, import your new audio track e.g., a voiceover, a new podcast track and drag it onto the timeline.

Adjust its length and synchronization to match your video.

What is the role of an equalizer EQ in video audio editing?

An equalizer EQ allows you to adjust the volume of specific frequency ranges within your audio.

You can use it to boost certain frequencies to make voices clearer, cut low-end rumble, or shape the overall tonal quality of podcast or sound effects.

How do you edit the sound out of a video that has complex background noise?

For complex background noise, more advanced noise reduction tools in desktop software are usually required.

These often use AI or spectral analysis to identify and remove specific noise profiles.

Sometimes, layering clean ambiance or Foley sound effects can help mask residual noise if complete removal isn’t possible.

What is the best way to mix multiple audio tracks dialogue, podcast, SFX?

The best way is to prioritize dialogue, ensuring it’s the loudest and clearest element.

Use audio ducking for background podcast, keeping it significantly quieter than dialogue.

Sound effects should be at a volume that enhances the visuals without distracting from the main audio. Coreldraw 13 download

Constantly listen to the full mix with headphones to ensure balance.

Can I edit the audio of a video using online tools like Canva?

Yes, online tools like Canva offer basic audio editing capabilities.

You can typically adjust volume, mute original audio, add stock podcast or uploaded audio files, and trim audio clips.

They are suitable for simple edits but lack the advanced features of dedicated desktop software.

What should I look for in video editing software for good audio features?

Look for software with a multi-track audio mixer, noise reduction tools, equalization EQ, compression, and the ability to apply keyframes for dynamic volume changes.

Features like audio ducking, support for various audio formats, and a clean audio waveform display are also beneficial.

Why is good audio editing as important as good video editing?

Good audio editing is arguably even more critical than good video editing for audience engagement.

Viewers are more likely to tolerate imperfect visuals than poor audio.

Clear, well-produced sound significantly impacts a video’s professionalism, message clarity, and overall impact, leading to higher viewer retention and better communication.

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