Adding Sound to TikTok: A Comprehensive Guide to Trending Audio and Creative Sound Design
TikTok has revolutionized the world of short-form video, and sound plays a pivotal role in its captivating allure. From trending audio clips to original music and voiceovers, sound can make or break a TikTok video’s success. Whether you’re a seasoned TikTok creator or just starting, understanding how to effectively add sound is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about adding sound to your TikToks, from browsing the sound library to creating your original audio.
## Why Sound Matters on TikTok
Sound is more than just background noise on TikTok; it’s an integral part of the experience. Here’s why it’s so important:
* **Trend Participation:** TikTok trends often revolve around specific audio clips. Using trending sounds increases your video’s visibility and reach, helping you tap into existing communities and conversations.
* **Emotional Impact:** Music and sound effects evoke emotions and set the tone for your video. A well-chosen sound can enhance the storytelling and make your content more engaging.
* **Humor and Comedy:** Many TikToks rely on comedic timing and unexpected sound effects to create humor. Sound can amplify the punchline and make your audience laugh.
* **Creative Expression:** TikTok offers a wide range of sound editing tools, allowing you to experiment with different audio effects and create unique soundscapes that reflect your personal style.
* **Accessibility:** Audio descriptions and captions make TikTok videos accessible to viewers with hearing impairments, broadening your audience and promoting inclusivity.
## Finding the Perfect Sound on TikTok
TikTok offers a vast library of sounds to choose from, including popular songs, sound effects, and original audio created by other users. Here’s how to navigate the sound library:
### Method 1: Browsing the TikTok Sound Library
1. **Open TikTok:** Launch the TikTok app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. **Start a New Video:** Tap the “+” (plus) icon at the bottom of the screen to begin creating a new video.
3. **Access the “Add sound” Button:** Before recording your video, look for the “Add sound” button at the top of the screen. Tap it to open the TikTok sound library.
4. **Explore the “For You” Section:** The “For You” section displays trending sounds that are currently popular on TikTok. This is a great place to discover new music and audio clips that are relevant to your audience.
5. **Browse the “TikTok Viral” or “Trending” Section:** These sections feature sounds that are currently going viral on the platform. Using these sounds can significantly increase your video’s visibility.
6. **Explore the “New” Section:** This section showcases the latest sounds added to the TikTok library. If you’re looking for fresh and unique audio, this is the place to be.
7. **Browse by Playlists:** TikTok organizes sounds into playlists based on genre, theme, and mood. Explore these playlists to find sounds that match the tone and style of your video. Examples include “Pop Hits,” “Funny Sounds,” “Workout Music,” and “ASMR.”
8. **Use the Search Bar:** If you have a specific song or sound effect in mind, use the search bar at the top of the screen to find it. You can search by song title, artist, or keyword.
9. **Preview Sounds:** Before adding a sound to your video, tap the play button next to the sound title to preview it. This allows you to make sure it’s the right fit for your content.
10. **Save Sounds to Favorites:** If you find a sound that you like but aren’t ready to use it yet, tap the bookmark icon next to the sound title to save it to your favorites. You can access your saved sounds later from your profile page.
### Method 2: Discovering Sounds from Other TikTok Videos
Another way to find great sounds is by exploring videos on your “For You” page. If you hear a sound that you like in another video, you can easily add it to your own.
1. **Watch a Video:** Find a TikTok video that uses a sound you want to use.
2. **Tap the Sound Icon:** At the bottom of the video, you’ll see a spinning record icon with the sound title and artist name. Tap this icon to open the sound page.
3. **Use the Sound:** On the sound page, you’ll see other videos that have used the same sound. You can tap the “Use sound” button at the bottom of the screen to add the sound to your video.
4. **Add to Favorites:** Alternatively, you can tap the “Add to Favorites” button to save the sound for later use.
## Adding Sound to Your TikTok Video: Step-by-Step
Once you’ve found the perfect sound, it’s time to add it to your TikTok video. Here’s how:
1. **Start a New Video:** Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to begin creating a new video.
2. **Record Your Video:** Record your video as you normally would. You can record directly within the TikTok app or upload a pre-recorded video from your camera roll.
3. **Add Sound:** Tap the “Add sound” button at the top of the screen to open the TikTok sound library.
4. **Select Your Sound:** Choose the sound you want to use from the library, your favorites, or by searching for it.
5. **Adjust the Volume:** After adding the sound, you’ll see two volume sliders: one for the original sound (the sound you recorded in your video) and one for the added sound (the music or sound effect you selected). Adjust these sliders to create the perfect balance between the two sounds. You can also mute the original sound entirely if you only want to use the added sound.
6. **Trim the Sound (Optional):** If you only want to use a specific part of the sound, you can trim it using the trimming tool. This allows you to select the exact section of the sound that you want to use in your video.
7. **Add Effects (Optional):** TikTok offers a variety of audio effects that you can add to your sound. Experiment with these effects to create unique and interesting soundscapes.
8. **Post Your Video:** Once you’re happy with the sound, tap the “Next” button to go to the posting screen. Add a caption, hashtags, and tag your friends. Then, tap the “Post” button to share your video with the world.
## Using Original Audio on TikTok
While trending sounds are a great way to boost your video’s visibility, creating original audio can help you stand out from the crowd and establish your unique brand. Here’s how to use original audio on TikTok:
### Recording Original Audio
The simplest way to use original audio is to record it directly within the TikTok app.
1. **Start a New Video:** Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to begin creating a new video.
2. **Record Your Video:** Record your video while speaking, singing, or playing music. Make sure your audio is clear and audible.
3. **Post Your Video:** When you post your video, the audio you recorded will automatically be saved as an original sound. Other users can then use your original sound in their videos.
### Adding a Voiceover
Adding a voiceover is a great way to provide commentary, narration, or explanations to your video. Here’s how to add a voiceover on TikTok:
1. **Record or Upload Your Video:** Record a new video or upload a pre-recorded video from your camera roll.
2. **Tap the Microphone Icon:** After recording or uploading your video, look for the microphone icon on the right side of the screen. Tap it to access the voiceover tool.
3. **Record Your Voiceover:** Tap the record button to start recording your voiceover. Speak clearly and concisely, and try to match your voiceover to the visuals in your video.
4. **Adjust the Volume:** After recording your voiceover, you can adjust its volume using the volume slider. You can also adjust the volume of the original sound in your video to create the perfect balance.
5. **Edit Your Voiceover (Optional):** TikTok allows you to edit your voiceover by trimming it, adding effects, and adjusting its pitch. Experiment with these tools to create a professional-sounding voiceover.
### Using Music You Created
If you’re a musician or songwriter, you can use your original music in your TikTok videos. However, it’s important to understand TikTok’s copyright policies.
* **Own the Rights:** Make sure you own all the rights to the music you’re using. If you don’t own the rights, you could face copyright infringement issues.
* **Use a Music Distribution Service:** To ensure your music is properly licensed and available for use on TikTok, consider using a music distribution service like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby. These services will distribute your music to TikTok and other streaming platforms and handle the licensing and royalty payments.
* **Add Your Music to TikTok:** Once your music is distributed to TikTok, it will be available in the sound library. You can then search for your music by title or artist name and add it to your videos.
### Promoting Your Original Sound
If you’re using original audio, you’ll want to promote it to encourage other users to use it in their videos. Here are some tips:
* **Create Engaging Content:** Use your original sound in creative and engaging videos that are likely to go viral. The more popular your videos are, the more likely other users are to discover and use your sound.
* **Use Relevant Hashtags:** Use relevant hashtags in your video captions to help people find your content and your original sound. For example, if you’re using a funny sound effect, use hashtags like #funny #comedy #soundeffect.
* **Collaborate with Other Creators:** Collaborate with other TikTok creators and encourage them to use your original sound in their videos. This can help you reach a wider audience and increase the visibility of your sound.
* **Run a Challenge or Contest:** Create a TikTok challenge or contest that encourages users to create videos using your original sound. This can be a fun and engaging way to promote your sound and get more people involved.
* **Share Your Sound on Other Platforms:** Share your TikTok videos on other social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. This can help you drive traffic to your TikTok profile and increase the visibility of your original sound.
## Editing Sounds on TikTok
TikTok provides several tools for editing sounds and customizing your audio experience.
### Adjusting Sound Volume
As mentioned earlier, you can adjust the volume of both the original sound and the added sound in your video. This allows you to create the perfect balance between the two sounds and ensure that your audio is clear and audible.
### Trimming Sounds
The trimming tool allows you to select a specific section of the sound that you want to use in your video. This is useful if you only want to use a particular part of a song or sound effect.
### Adding Audio Effects
TikTok offers a variety of audio effects that you can add to your sounds. These effects can be used to create unique and interesting soundscapes. Some popular audio effects include:
* **Voice Changer:** This effect allows you to change the pitch and tone of your voice.
* **Reverb:** This effect adds a sense of space and depth to your sound.
* **Echo:** This effect creates a repeating echo of your sound.
* **Robot:** This effect makes your voice sound like a robot.
* **Chipmunk:** This effect makes your voice sound high-pitched and squeaky.
### Using Sound Sync
Sound Sync is a feature that automatically synchronizes your video with the beat of the music. This can create a visually appealing and engaging effect.
1. **Select a Sound:** Choose a song or sound effect that has a clear beat.
2. **Record Your Video:** Record your video while moving or dancing to the beat of the music.
3. **Use the Sound Sync Feature:** TikTok will automatically analyze your video and synchronize it with the beat of the music.
## Common Sound Issues and Troubleshooting
While adding sound to TikTok is generally straightforward, you may encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
* **No Sound:** If your video has no sound, make sure your microphone is enabled and that you haven’t accidentally muted the sound in the TikTok app. Also, check your device’s volume settings to ensure that the volume is turned up.
* **Sound is Too Quiet:** If the sound in your video is too quiet, try adjusting the volume sliders in the TikTok app. You may also need to adjust your device’s volume settings.
* **Sound is Distorted:** If the sound in your video is distorted, try recording your video in a quieter environment. You may also need to adjust your microphone settings or use a different microphone.
* **Sound is Not Synchronized:** If the sound in your video is not synchronized with the visuals, try using the Sound Sync feature. You may also need to adjust the timing of your video manually.
* **Copyright Issues:** If you receive a copyright notice for using copyrighted music in your video, you may need to remove the music or obtain a license to use it. TikTok has strict copyright policies, so it’s important to be aware of the rules.
## Tips for Creating Engaging TikToks with Sound
* **Use Trending Sounds:** Incorporate trending sounds into your videos to increase their visibility and reach.
* **Choose Sounds that Match Your Content:** Select sounds that complement the visuals and theme of your video.
* **Experiment with Different Sounds:** Don’t be afraid to try new and different sounds to see what works best for your content.
* **Create Original Sounds:** Develop your own unique sounds to stand out from the crowd.
* **Pay Attention to Sound Quality:** Ensure that your audio is clear and audible.
* **Use Sound Effects Creatively:** Enhance your videos with well-placed sound effects.
* **Tell a Story with Sound:** Use sound to create a narrative and evoke emotions in your audience.
* **Engage with Your Audience:** Ask your audience what sounds they want to hear in your videos.
* **Stay Up-to-Date on Trends:** Keep an eye on the latest TikTok trends and adapt your sound choices accordingly.
* **Have Fun!** Experiment, be creative, and enjoy the process of creating TikTok videos with sound.
## Conclusion
Adding sound to TikTok is an essential part of creating engaging and successful videos. By understanding the different types of sounds available, how to find them, and how to edit them effectively, you can create TikToks that captivate your audience and help you achieve your goals. Whether you’re using trending sounds, original audio, or voiceovers, remember to be creative, experiment with different techniques, and always prioritize sound quality. With practice and dedication, you can master the art of adding sound to TikTok and create videos that stand out from the crowd.