Updated October 2026 · Voiceover and narration
Write and time the script first, record it in a quiet room with the microphone close, and keep each line as a separate clean take. Level the narration to a steady target and fit it to the edit, then check it on a phone speaker before you publish.
A voice-over is often the difference between a video people watch to the end and one they leave after a minute. The picture does a lot of the work, but a clear, steady narration carries the explanation. Recording it well is mostly a matter of preparation and a calm, consistent setup.
Write short sentences, and say each one the way you would tell it to a friend. Read the script aloud and time it against your rough edit. The timing guide shows how to fit the words to the picture before you record.
Choose a room with soft surfaces and no fans or traffic. Record at a time when the house is quiet, and switch off notifications. Place the microphone close, with a pop filter, and keep the distance steady for every line. A consistent sound makes the edit easier.
Record each sentence or short paragraph as its own take, with a gap of a second or two. Clear gaps make the takes easy to find and easy to edit. If you make a mistake, repeat the line from the start of the sentence, not in the middle of a word.
Record with the peaks well below full scale, so the voice does not clip. Match the narration to a steady loudness target before you publish, so it sits at a comfortable level beside the music and effects. The LUFS meter can show the loudness of the finished file.
Place each line on the timeline, then trim the gaps between lines so the voice and the picture match. Keep a short pause after a key point, so the viewer can take it in. If music plays under the narration, lower it so the words stay clear.
Many viewers listen on a phone speaker. Play the finished video on your phone before you upload, and check that the voice is clear and the level is comfortable. Fix anything that is hard to hear before you publish.
A voice-over cannot fix a weak script or a dull edit. Use the narration to add what the picture cannot show, and let the video breathe where it can.
Record voice-overs with live noise removal, or clean an existing file. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
A close microphone in a quiet room gives the clearest result. A phone can work well if you place it close and keep it steady.
Keep it steady and comfortable beside the music. Use a loudness target rather than a single peak level.
No. Re-record only the line that needs it, from the start of the sentence.
That is a separate choice with its own rules. Check the terms of any tool and be clear with viewers about how the voice was made.
