Using Sound Effectively In Your Videos

When it comes to making sure you connect with your intended audience through video, you need to make sure that you turn down the noise and turn up the message.

What I mean by that is that you need to use sound to your advantage. Maybe you haven’t realized it yet, but sound is an incredible tool that can be a really good ally in getting your message across or a powerful enemy depending on how you use it.
And with video platforms taking over the mainstream, getting sound right has become essential.

So, how can you use sound effectively in your videos?

The first step would be to make sure you prepare for it and think ahead. Pre-Production is key on any project to make sure you eliminate potential problems before they happen.

One of the easiest ways you can make sure of this is by choosing the right mic for the job. There are a lot of microphones out there and all of them are useful for specific things, so make sure you use one that tailors to what you are trying to achieve.

The next thing you can do is to choose the right location to shoot your video and wear headphones when shooting to listen to the audio you are recording. Sometimes our ears cancel out certain noises that the microphone we are using might pick up. So you need to be aware of where the extra noise is originating from in order to fix it. Also, take into account that when you are shooting outside you need to protect your microphone from the wind.

Post-production is where you fix mistakes that might have happened during the shooting (it happens, we are all human), and start adding a little bit of extra magic. You can lower the volume from the original video and start adding music and effects, as well as fixing anything that needs to be fixed with different audio software tools. So if you are going to be adding sounds and music here are a few things you should consider:

1. Know the role of the music in your project. Does it have a supporting role or a leading one? This is very important because you want the music to play the part you need it to play. If you are going to be speaking in your video, then the music you choose needs to have a supporting role in the entire video. If you will not be speaking then chances are music will play a leading role in helping your message connect with your audience.

2. Align the music with your audience. Who is going to be watching the video? It is so important that you are aware and conscious of the people that are going to be seeing your video in order for you to choose music that connects well with your intended niche. But most importantly, to what you want them to feel.

3. Choose the song before the video. Then you can find ways to adapt the video to the song. The easiest thing you can do is know beforehand what music you want to include in your video. That way you’ll be able to listen to the music before doing the shots, so you can make sure they go together perfectly. Instead of searching for a song that fits into the video you’ve created.