Voiceovers can enhance your mobile videos by adding narration, commentary, or context to your visuals. However, recording and editing voiceovers on your phone can be challenging, especially if you want to achieve high-quality audio and sync it with your video clips. In this article, we will share some tips and tools to help you optimize your mobile videos for voiceovers.
The first step is to choose an app that allows you to record and edit voiceovers on your phone. There are many options available, but some of the features you should look for are: the ability to import and export video files, the ability to adjust the volume and timing of your voiceover, the ability to add background music or sound effects, and the ability to trim, crop, or split your video clips. Some examples of apps that offer these features are InShot, Splice, and Adobe Premiere Rush.
One of my favourite apps for 'phonography' editing and voice over work is absolutely Adobe Rush. But like most things Adobe, expect a steep learning curve so that you can get the most out if it.
We all come from different backgrounds of productions but my suggestions: Beginner - Tiktok, Capcut, and VN Intermediate/Advanced - Divinci, Premier Pro + After Effects | Final Cut
There are lots of great apps out there (Adobe Rush is awesome) but one of my fav quick-and-dirty solutions for recording on the go is the Voice Recorder app. It's crazy simple and I've used the audio files in professional videos.
Before you start recording your voiceover, you should prepare your script and equipment. Your script should be clear, concise, and relevant to your video content. You should also rehearse your script and time it with your video clips to ensure a smooth flow. Your equipment should include a good microphone, a pair of headphones, and a quiet and comfortable place to record. You can use the built-in microphone and headphones of your phone, but you may get better results with an external microphone and headphones that can reduce noise and feedback.
Someone famous once said that people will forgive poor-quality visuals in a video IF the audio is high quality. You can see certain content creators 'get away' with the phone microphone in a bid to simply produce an extraordinary amount of content for their socials. But here's the truth: with the price point of wireless mics and the TRS to TRRS adapters available, the rest of us should aim for a higher audio standard. The ROI will pay dividends back in the end.
You can either write out word for word what you're going to say in the script or you can have bullet points that help guide you along the way.
Before recording, take a minute to listen to the room you are in. Pay attention to: - traffic noise - HVAC hum - refrigerator noise Consider moving to a quiet environment (a closet is a great option). Once you've eliminated background noise, listen to a recording and see if you have any echos. If your voice sounds tinny, consider laying down rugs, blankets or pillows to absorb sound. I once recorded a video with a mattress propped against a wall out of shot to reduce echo. The audience never knew!
When you are ready to record your voiceover, you should open your app and import your video file. Then, you should select the option to add a voiceover and follow the instructions on the screen. You may need to adjust the settings of your microphone and headphones to get the best sound quality. You should also speak clearly and confidently, and avoid any background noises or distractions. After you finish recording, you should listen to your voiceover and edit it if necessary. You can use the app's tools to trim, fade, or adjust the volume of your voiceover, or to add music or sound effects.
You're going to mess up, but don't be too hard on yourself; failure is a natural part of the journey. Overall story telling can be hard sometimes, but keep trying, and then try some more.
The final step is to sync your voiceover with your video. This means that you should align your voiceover with the appropriate video clips, and make sure that there are no gaps or overlaps. You can use the app's tools to drag and drop your voiceover track along the timeline of your video, or to cut or split your video clips to match your voiceover. You should also preview your video and voiceover together, and make any adjustments if needed.
Review and check to ensure your audio sounds fantastic. A great video with poor audio can be disappointing, but a video with excellent sound quality can make all the difference.
Once you are satisfied with your video and voiceover, you can export and share your video. You should choose a suitable format and resolution for your video, depending on the platform and device you want to share it on. You should also check the file size and quality of your video, and compress it if necessary. You can use the app's tools to export and share your video directly to your social media accounts, or to save it to your phone or cloud storage.
You can either export directly to your social accounts. As you get better at storytelling, update your script to reflect that journey.
If you're editing in Adobe, both Premiere Pro and Media Encoder have great export settings for various social channels. I also often export on my computer and airdrop to my phone for quick posting!