Updated October 2026 · Video podcasts and audio-first shows
An audiogram is a short video made from audio, with a waveform or simple visual and captions. Choose a clip that works alone, add a waveform and your show branding, caption every line, and check the sound and the first second on a phone before posting.
An audiogram is a simple video made from an audio clip. It usually shows a waveform or a plain visual that moves with the sound, plus captions and a logo. For shows that have no camera, or that are not ready for full video, an audiogram is a light way to share a moment on video platforms and social feeds.
This guide covers the choices that make an audiogram work: the clip, the visual, the captions, the sound and the check on a phone.
As with any clip, the moment needs to make sense without the rest of the episode. Look for a clear point, a surprising answer or a line people will want to repeat. Keep the length short, usually under a minute, and cut any setup that does not help the point land.
An audiogram gives the viewer nothing to look at except the waveform and the words. A moment that depends on a gesture or a reaction will feel flat, so choose audio that carries its own weight.
The most common audiogram uses a waveform that moves with the speech. Choose a shape and colour that match your show, and keep the background plain. Too much motion distracts from the words. A single static image behind a moving waveform is usually enough.
Put your show name and a small logo in a fixed place, so the viewer knows where the clip comes from. Avoid placing the logo where captions will sit.
Most people watch audiograms with the sound off at first. Captions are essential. Check every caption against the audio, because automatic captions make errors with names and technical words. Keep each caption short enough to read in the time it is on screen. The caption export guide explains the file formats for the platforms you use.
Use a readable font at a size that works on a small phone screen, and make sure the text contrasts with the background.
An audiogram that is quieter than the feed around it will be scrolled past. Set the clip to a steady, clear level, without clipping the loudest words. Check the peaks, since a clip that peaks too high can sound harsh on a phone speaker. The LUFS meter can show the loudness of the final file.
Fade the start and end gently, so the clip does not begin or stop abruptly.
Export the file at the size and format the platform recommends. Check it on a phone, with the sound on and off. Confirm that the first second hooks the viewer, the captions are readable and the sound is clear. Make the changes before posting, not after.
Every audiogram should point back to the full episode. Use the same name and artwork, and include a short line in the caption that says where the full conversation can be heard. A clip that leads nowhere is a missed listener.
The same audiogram can be shaped differently for different platforms. A square version with large captions suits a feed where most viewers scroll on a small screen. A vertical version works for short video. A wider version can suit a web page. Export each shape from the same master, and check the sound and captions on the device where each one will be seen.
Keep the caption style and the logo consistent across shapes, so viewers recognise the show wherever they find it.
An audiogram is a sound clip, so the sound must carry it. Choose audio with a clear voice and a clear point, and keep the visual as a frame around it. A bold waveform can draw the eye, but it should not hide the words or the speaker’s name. If a viewer can follow the clip with the sound off and enjoy it with the sound on, the balance is right.
Test the clip with someone who has not heard the episode. Ask them what the clip is about after one viewing, and what they would do next. Their answer tells you whether the audio has done its job.
An audiogram is a light format, and it cannot carry a full episode. It works best as an introduction or a highlight. Do not expect it to replace video, and do not make it look like a finished film. Keep the audio as the star, because that is what the show is known for.
An audiogram is only as good as the audio in it. The Vocal Checker shows clipping, noise and level problems in a recording, and the Tunedzy Go page covers cleaning a phone recording in your browser. For clips that also use a picture, read the short clips post in this series.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
A short video made from audio, usually with a waveform, captions and a logo.
Usually under a minute. Cut for the single point and keep the setup short.
Yes. Most viewers watch with the sound off at first.
Only with the right to use it. Check the licence before you post.
