Improving Audio Quality in Your Videos: Tips and Tools

Let's say YouTube recommends you watch a fan-made music video of "Hey Mama" by David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack. You are an avid fan of these musicians, and can't wait to hear it. After the pre-roll ads play, the video kicks off, but you are not pleased with the sound quality so you vent your frustration in the comments section.

You hope to be entertained especially because their songs are a breath of fresh air, but a technical glitch played the spoilsport. 

It's not just the viewers that are disheartened by it. The negative feedback (the audio was recorded with a potato being one of the common comments) hurts the YouTuber. It affects the channel's outreach. 

No one likes static, background noises, and inconsistent volume levels. This is why podcasters such as Howard Stern, The Charismatic Voice, and Logan Paul use expensive equipment to provide an enjoyable experience to their listeners.

How Audio Makes Videos Viral

If you are an aspiring YouTuber, you would have probably wondered how they can be unique with content creation. Is it because of the content itself, the target audience, or the quality? 

Audio plays an important role in the user experience, with high-quality audio being appreciated. A study was conducted by the University of South Carolina (USC) and the Australian National University study in 2018. Scientists divided 97 students into two groups, with one watching the clip with good sound quality and the other with poor sound quality.

The studies concluded that the respondents who saw the clips with low quality thought about the speaker "being less intelligent, less likable and their research being less important."  

The above-mentioned study is a testament to the importance of the audio in videos. It conveys your message to the target audience and creates a positive impression among your listeners. The use of high-quality audio is also a reflection of you spending time recording decent audio. 

You might not be aware of it, but the bit rate levels play an essential role in the audio quality. Bitrates refers to the amount of data conveyed in audio. A higher bit rate indicates better audio quality. A bit rate of less than 90 kilobits per second (kbps) is not recommended.

The bit rate depends on the audio file type and listening mode. The recommended bit rate for streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music is between 96 to 160 kbps, whereas MP3 files have a bit rate of 96 to 320 kbps.

Improve Your Video's Audio Quality

No matter what you're creating, from captivating ads to informative online lectures, pristine audio is the key to grabbing and holding your audience's attention. 

Here are some tips to ensure your audio quality is up to the mark.

Good Microphone Works Wonders

The first thing when starting to create audio content is to invest in a good microphone. There is a built-in microphone on your computer and smartphone. An external headphone can be used to produce a video with high-quality audio.

Choosing the perfect microphone can feel overwhelming and confusing. With a vast selection on shelves and online stores, navigating the options can be a tedious task.

A boom arm will keep you safe from damage and inconsistency, whereas sturdy shock mounts will protect your microphone from unwanted noises and vibrations.

You can use a USB microphone. You just have to connect it to the computer and enhance the quality via an audio interface or an audio mixer.

Make Pop Filter Your Friend'

An experienced audio or YouTube content creator would be familiar with popping noises that can be heard when saying strong words with 'p' or 'b.' This is where a "pop filter" comes in.

Plosives, those harsh "p" and "b" sounds, can be the bane of a video's audio quality. A pop filter acts as a shield, diffusing the air that creates these pops. This ensures your voice comes through clean and professional, avoiding the distraction of pops that might drive viewers away.

Avoid Echo In Your Videos

It sounds fascinating when you shout inside a tunnel and hear your voice echo back at you. However, this is not desirable when recording audio for a video. It is recommended that you minimize echo to enhance the quality of your content. 

You can record soft surfaces instead of hard ones as it would prevent echo by absorbing the sound. You can record your content in a smaller room rather than in larger spaces.

However, echo can be used creatively as a sound effect, but for clear communication, it's best minimized.

Using The Right Software And Tools

You can create videos with crystal-clear audio by choosing high-quality software and online tools. However, not all audio recording software platforms are the same, as some serve different purposes.  

Zoom and Skype can be used for audio recording, but they are programmed to allow for internet calling. Recommended recording software should be able to:

• Support different audio formats (MP3 or uncompressed WAV files)
• Audio with a resolution of up to 48kHz.
• Audio mixing features with sound effects and music.
• Control Panel, which allows you to change settings.

If you are a content creator looking to remove background noises from a video, you can rely on Gling. 

Gling is making waves in the world of audio and visual content creation. The application helps you craft high-quality content with AI-powered tools such as background noise removal. You can simply remove unwanted sound effects in your video to craft compelling content.

Finish With Sound Check

This is a no-brainer, and many people ignore it. You can do a sound check after completing the recording at the same location and produce a small test video. 

You can check if everything is in order. A test recording assists you in making any necessary changes before recording your actual video. It will save you the hassle of repeated recordings.

Conclusion

Your video’s audio quality should be crystal clear. Remember, viewers will disengage quickly if the sound isn't clear. You can enhance the listener's experience by investing in the right equipment, software, and online tools, and choosing the right locations for the shooting.

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