Updated October 2026 · Video sound
Lower the music so it sits well below the speech, and duck it further when someone talks. Choose music with a steady rhythm and little vocal, keep the level consistent, and check the balance on a phone speaker, since that is where talking gets lost.
Background music can make a video feel warm and finished, but it often hides the speech. The aim is music that supports the talking without competing with it. A good balance is noticed only when it is wrong, so the goal is to make the words easy to follow at all times.
Pick music with a steady rhythm and little or no singing, since lyrics compete with the voice. Choose a track that matches the mood of the video, and check the licence before you publish, as covered in the intro music post. Quiet, simple tracks are often easier to mix than busy ones.
Start with the music well below the voice, then raise it only until you can hear it clearly during pauses. A common mistake is leaving the music too loud because it sounds good on its own. Listen to the whole video with the music, not just the music on its own.
Ducking lowers the music automatically while speech is present, and brings it back in the gaps. Use a smooth release, so the change is gentle rather than sudden. The ducking guide explains the method step by step.
Check the music level at the start, the middle and the end of the video. A track that suddenly rises in a quiet section can distract. Use a fade at the start and end, so the music does not begin or stop abruptly.
Play the final video on a phone speaker and in a noisy place if you can. Speech that is clear on headphones may vanish on a small speaker. If you cannot hear the words easily, lower the music again.
Music can help a video, but it cannot rescue poor speech. If the voice is hard to hear even with the music low, fix the voice recording first, then return to the music balance.
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Well below the speech. Raise it only enough to hear it clearly during pauses.
Usually not under speech, because the lyrics compete with the voice.
Automatically lowering the music while someone speaks, then bringing it back in the gaps.
Only music you have the right to use. Check the licence before you publish.
