Video editing isn’t just about visuals—sound plays a massive role in the viewer’s experience. In fact, poor audio can ruin even the most beautifully shot video. For new editors, learning how to manage and mix audio correctly is often overlooked. But don’t worry—most mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for.
Here are 5 common audio mistakes new editors make—and how to fix them to give your videos professional sound.
1. Not Normalizing Audio Levels
The Mistake:
One clip is super loud, the next is whisper-quiet. Inconsistent volume levels make your video feel unpolished and frustrate your audience.
The Fix:
Use audio meters in your editing software to keep dialogue around -6dB to -12dB, and background music around -20dB to -30dB. In apps like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro, you can normalize clips to a target loudness (LUFS) or use audio gain to adjust levels evenly across the timeline.
Bonus Tip:
Use limiter effects to prevent peaks that clip or distort.
2. Using Music That Overpowers Dialogue
The Mistake:
Your background music is so loud, it drowns out the person speaking. This is especially common in vlogs or tutorials.
The Fix:
Duck your music—that means lowering its volume when someone is talking. In most editors, you can keyframe volume to lower the track during dialogue and raise it during pauses. Many apps now offer auto-ducking features that do this for you.
Ideal Balance:
- Dialogue: clear and crisp
- Music: soft enough to support without distracting
3. Forgetting to Clean Up Background Noise
The Mistake:
Hissing, humming, or street noise makes your voiceover sound unprofessional and hard to hear.
The Fix:
Use a noise reduction filter. Tools like:
- Adobe Audition (Spectral Noise Reduction)
- DaVinci Resolve Fairlight
- Audacity (Noise Removal)
Identify a “noise print” (a silent section of the audio), and let the software reduce that noise throughout the clip. Just don’t overdo it—too much filtering can make your voice sound robotic.
Pro Tip:
Record in a quiet environment and use a pop filter or external mic to reduce the need for cleanup.
4. Not Syncing Audio and Video Properly
The Mistake:
Your audio doesn’t match your video—especially when using external mics or voiceovers. This breaks immersion instantly.
The Fix:
In professional tools like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, you can auto-sync audio and video using the waveform. For manual syncing:
- Find a clear sound (like a clap or a word).
- Match the waveform peaks.
- Trim and align both tracks.
Tip for Voiceovers:
Write a script and play it alongside your video to time the narration with on-screen actions.
5. Ignoring Room Tone and Transitions
The Mistake:
You cut from one audio clip to another and there’s an awkward jump or dead silence. This makes editing obvious and distracting.
The Fix:
Always capture and use room tone—the natural ambient sound of your recording space. Use it to smooth over audio cuts or to fill gaps in the timeline. Also, apply crossfades or audio transitions between clips to make edits seamless.
Most editors have simple fade tools you can drag onto the timeline (e.g., “Constant Power” in Premiere or “Crossfade” in Final Cut).
Final Thoughts
Audio is half your video—don’t ignore it. With a few simple fixes, you can dramatically improve the sound quality of your edits and keep your audience fully engaged. Whether you’re creating content for YouTube, social media, or professional projects, avoiding these five mistakes will make your videos sound clean, balanced, and way more professional.
