You Can Forgive Bad Video, But Not Bad Audio

If a video is pixelated, people might squint. If the audio is scratchy, echoing, or piercing, they click off immediately.

Bad audio physically mimics pain in the ear. It triggers a "flight" response.

The Layers of Sound

Great videos have depth. That depth comes from layering:

1. The Dialogue (King)

This must be crisp, clear, and centered.

• EQ: Cut the "mud" (200-500Hz) to remove boominess. Boost the "presence" (3k-5kHz) to add clarity.
• Compression: Even out the louds and quiets so the listener doesn't have to ride the volume knob.

2. The Ambience (The Glue)

Dead silence is unnatural. Even a studio has "room tone."

• Add a low-level track of "coffee shop noise," "nature sounds," or "city hum."
• It fills the awkward gaps between cuts.

3. Sound Effects (The Punctuation)

Every visual movement should have a sonic reaction.

• Whooshes: For transitions.
• Pops/Clicks: For text appearing.
• Risers: Top build tension before a reveal.
• Hits: To emphasize a punchline or cut.

4. Music (The Emotion)

Music tells the viewer how to feel.

• Don't just loop one track.
• Edit the music. Cut the beat to match the video. Fade it out for emphasis. Use "stems" to remove the drums during quiet moments.

The "J-Cut" Secret

Amateurs cut audio and video at the same time.

Pros use J-Cuts (audio starts before video) and L-Cuts (audio continues after video changes).

Hearing the next scene before you see it creates a subconscious link. It pulls the viewer forward. It makes the edit feel "seamless" rather than "choppy."

Stop treating audio as an afterthought. It's the primary driver of emotion.