What's the trick to selecting music and sound effects for your videos?

1 Know your goal

Before you start browsing for music and sound effects, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your video. What is the main message or story you want to convey? Who are you targeting and what do you want them to feel or do after watching your video? How do you want to brand yourself or your business? Your answers to these questions will guide you to choose music and sound effects that match your goal and tone.

2 Consider the genre and mood

Different genres and moods require different types of music and sound effects. For example, a comedy video might use upbeat, quirky, or humorous music and sound effects, while a horror video might use dark, suspenseful, or scary music and sound effects. Think about the genre and mood of your video and look for music and sound effects that suit them. You can also use contrast or irony to create a different effect, such as using cheerful music for a sad scene or using dramatic music for a funny scene.

4 Match the tempo and rhythm

The tempo and rhythm of the music and sound effects can affect the pace and flow of your video. You want to match them to the speed and intensity of your video's scenes and transitions. For example, if your video has fast cuts, quick movements, or high energy, you might want to use fast, upbeat, or dynamic music and sound effects. If your video has slow motion, long shots, or low energy, you might want to use slow, calm, or ambient music and sound effects.

5 Balance the volume and frequency

The volume and frequency of the music and sound effects can also affect the quality and clarity of your video. You want to balance them with the voice-over, dialogue, or other sounds in your video. For example, if your video has a lot of speech, you might want to lower the volume and frequency of the music and sound effects to avoid drowning out the words. If your video has little or no speech, you might want to increase the volume and frequency of the music and sound effects to add more interest and depth.

6 Experiment and test

Finally, the best way to find out if your music and sound effects work for your video is to experiment and test. Try different combinations, variations, and edits of music and sound effects until you find the ones that fit your video's goal, genre, mood, tempo, rhythm, volume, and frequency. You can also ask for feedback from your peers, clients, or audience to see how they respond to your music and sound effects choices. Remember, there is no one right answer, but there are many possible solutions.