Audio mixer board
Here's what you need to know about audio and sound editing to make sure your video's audio is the best it can be!

The worst mistake a videographer can make is forgetting about their audio. Bad audio and sound design can leave any great shot useless. Here’s how to avoid that.

In this article, we will provide you will a number of resources you can utilize to ensure your video sounds the best it can. Even the slightest audio improvement could make a world of difference for your videos, so let’s get started.

The Basics

Those new to video may start out thinking that there’s no need for audio like sound effects, music or miked audio. You can do it that way, but the results will probably be pretty disappointing.

Well recorded audio and effective sound design are essential to any production. You should be planning your sound design from day one of script writing. Make sound an active player in the development of your videos.

To ensure that you have the best equipment for capturing sound in the field, look through our Microphone Buyer’s Guide along with our Deciphering Mic Tech Specs article. And be sure to check out these resources on the basics of sound design:

Audio and Sound Design Techniques

The scope of audio covers a lot of ground — ranging from the dialogue your characters speak to the soft breeze you added into a scene for a more calming tone. So, there are different techniques for each type of audio you’re working on. And when recording in the field, you’re also forced to deal with unwanted noise getting into your recording. There are ways of working around that noise, like using a mic capable of blocking unwanted noise or rerecording in a sound booth.

When you’re recording outside with a mic or picking files and mixing them, use these techniques to ensure your audio adds life to your videos, instead of becoming a distraction:

Audio Mistakes and How to Fix Them

While most mistakes can be avoided through organization and preparation, don’t worry if there are mistakes in your audio. Just use it as a learning experience. To avoid mistakes, always understand how to use your equipment, check your levels and plan!

But sometimes mistakes are inevitable. Luckily there are techniques we can use to try and fix those mistakes in post.

These articles will both help you avoid audio goof-ups and help you correct those mistakes when they’re unavoidable:

Don’t forget music!

Audio — which includes music and sound effects — sets the tone of your entire video. When chosen right, music will pull your audience in. When chosen incorrectly, however, it can destroy any kind of believability in your video. Just imagine if Halloween’s Michael Myers stalked his victims to an upbeat disco track instead of the series’ iconic piano rift. The movie’s shots could be exactly the same, but the different soundtrack would ruin the suspense.

DIY Audio

Sometimes you just have to do it yourself. There are lots of stock music and sound effects online, but maybe they just aren’t working for you. The pros often have to create their own sounds because there’s nothing out there like what they want for their projects.

You can make your own sound effects, too! Here’s how — plus, some resources for perfecting a few other DIY audio techniques:

Audio and Sound Design should never be put on the back burner

Audio is important to the entire tone of your video, so never push it to the back burner. Poor audio will drop the production value of any video, no matter how good the video looks.