Updated October 2026 · Video sound
Match the speech level of each clip to a common target, using gain changes rather than heavy processing. Check the sequence as a whole, not one clip at a time, and listen for jumps at each cut. A loudness target for the final export keeps the whole video consistent.
A video made of several clips can sound patchy, with some shots quiet and others loud. Viewers notice these jumps and reach for the volume control. The fix is to bring every clip to a similar level before you export, so the sequence sounds like one recording.
Choose a level for speech, such as a comfortable loudness that works on a phone and a laptop. Use it as the reference for every clip. Writing the target down helps you return to it across a long project.
Play each clip in turn, and adjust its gain until the speech sits at the target. Use small changes, and listen to the whole clip, not only the loudest word. Check the quietest clips first, since they are the ones most likely to be missed.
Play the sequence through, paying attention to each cut. A jump in level or room sound at a cut is more noticeable than a small difference across a clip. If the room tone changes, a short crossfade can smooth the join, as covered in the crossfade guide.
Once the clips match, measure the loudness of the whole export, and compare it with your target. The loudness guide explains common targets for online video. Adjust the whole mix, not each clip again.
Clips recorded in very different places will never match perfectly. Try to record the main clips in the same room and at the same distance. Consistency is easier to achieve at the start of a shoot than at the end.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Use it lightly, if at all. Gain changes usually keep the voice more natural.
Its level or room sound differs. Match the level, then check the join.
Peak matching is not enough. Match the speech level by ear and check the loudness of the whole export.
Match each clip by ear to the same speech level, then check the cuts.
