Creator Audio Tips
Last Updated: June 2026
Good audio is one of the most important parts of online video. Viewers may forgive average lighting or a simple camera angle, but they often leave quickly when audio is too quiet, distorted, harsh, or hard to understand.
Test on Real Devices
Always test your final MP4 on the devices your audience actually uses. Phone speakers, earbuds, laptop speakers, Bluetooth speakers, TVs, and car systems can all reveal different problems.
Record Clean Audio First
LUFS optimization works best when the source audio is already clean. Record close enough to the microphone, reduce background noise, avoid clipping, and keep voice levels steady.
YouTube Creators
YouTube videos should be clear and consistent. A practical starting point is often around -14 LUFS with true peak protection. Speech should be easy to understand without forcing the viewer to raise the volume.
TikTok and Short-Form Creators
Short-form videos need strong audio immediately. If the first few seconds are too quiet, viewers may swipe away. Test short videos on a phone before posting.
Instagram Reels
Reels should sound clean on mobile speakers. Make sure music does not cover speech, and avoid boosting the file until it distorts.
Podcasters
Podcast clips need steady speech levels. If one person is much louder than another, the listener experience suffers. Normalize after editing, not before.
DJs and Music Videos
DJ mixes and music-heavy videos are often already compressed. Avoid pushing them too hard. Clean consistency usually sounds better than extreme loudness.
Common Mistakes
- Only checking audio with headphones.
- Letting background music cover speech.
- Boosting volume until clipping appears.
- Uploading without listening to the final MP4.
- Using one loudness setting for every type of content.