The music sounds right while you edit; then someone else watches and says "I can't hear what they're saying". This page sets out the rules for balancing levels, without jargon.
One rule: the voice is always the lead
Viewers came to hear someone speak; music is background. Whenever someone is talking, the music drops behind, to the point where you think "that seems a bit quiet", and that's usually right. While editing you already know what's said; a first-time viewer doesn't have that advantage.
When music is loud and when it's quiet
- The opening, before anyone speaks: music can be loud; that's the mood.
- The moment someone speaks: music drops at once, clearly, not a touch.
- Pauses in the speech: music can come back slightly, but don't ride it up and down on every sentence; it's irritating.
- The ending: after the last line, music returns to normal, then fades out slowly.
In editing software this is usually called ducking: once set, the software lowers the music whenever there's voice. Doing it by hand also works: pull the music's volume line down just before the voice starts.
Track choice matters too
Music with singing fights the speech; viewers don't know whom to listen to. Use instrumental tracks under voice. Strongly rhythmic, drum-heavy music also covers voices more easily; choose quieter tracks for spoken sections.
How to check properly
- After editing, listen once through the phone's speaker. It's the device most people actually use, and the one where voices disappear first.
- Listen again through earphones for any sudden jumps in level.
- Ask someone who hasn't seen it whether any line was hard to hear.
- Keep the level even across the whole video. If some sections are spoken softly and others loudly, level the voice first, then add music.
The whole video too loud or too quiet
Platforms (YouTube, Facebook and others) turn down videos that are too loud, but don't turn up ones that are too quiet. So the voice should be strong at export, without distorting; keep the software's level meter out of the red. If unsure, we handle this as part of the edit.
Frequently asked questions
Should the music start from the very first second?
Not necessarily. Many videos open with the first line and bring music in after, so viewers notice the content first. Where music enters and exits is part of the edit; try a few options.
The voice is quiet to begin with, and even soft music covers it.
Raise the voice first, then add music. If raising it also raises the noise, the recording is the problem; next time see how to record clear audio without a microphone.
If we commission the edit, who chooses the music?
If you have ideas, send them as references; if not, we offer licensed options suited to the video's purpose for you to choose from.
