New users to TikTok can quickly become overwhelmed by all the options and content flooding the app. In order to create a TikTok that fans will notice, you need to learn how to add music to a TikTok post, or it won’t be successful. This can be tricky if you’ve never done it before.
Although it may seem intimidating at first, adding music and sound effects to a TikTok post can really benefit your videos. TikTok is made up of very short videos that need to capture the attention of users quickly in order to get their message across.
If you have a business you are hoping to grow, a message to share, or just a funny cat video, you’ll need to learn how to add sound and music to help make your video the best it can be. This article is designed to help you learn how to add music or sounds to your TikTok, so your posts sound as good as they look.
How to Add Music to TikTok from In-App Music Library?
The TikTok app has a selection of sounds and music available for free in its own In-App library. These can be easily accessed through the + sign at the bottom and then by selecting “Sounds” located at the top of the screen. This will open an “Audio Menu.” Preview different songs until you find one that you like, and then add it to your video once you find one that you like.
You can even do this by recording your video after selecting a song and pretending to sing along to the music. TikTok allows a lot of flexibility in what you can do with the music they offer, including lots of editing options and filters to help make your videos look and sound the best.
Effects are located to the bottom left of the screen and can be accessed at any time. Check the video carefully when you are done so you can make sure that you have stayed in sync the whole time.
How to Add Your Own Music to TikTok?
TikTok used to allow you to select music from your own library but no longer allows you to do so. This is likely due to copyright infringement issues in the past. There is currently no way to add your own music to TikTok from the TikTok app itself.
If you have your own audio files and want to include them in your video, you’ll need a third-party app to help you. You’ll also need to make sure that the audio clip you are using either belongs to you or you have the rights. Using copyrighted music in your TikTok could get your account banned, so you can’t be too careful when working with custom music.
To add your own music, download an app such as “BeeCut.” This is a video editor unique because it allows you to use the aspect ratio TikTok uses—9:16. Import your audio and video into the editor through the media section, and then select File > New Project to begin editing it.
BeeCut allows you to import your own music, as well as edit the video in other ways, such as using filters. Use the red checkmark when you find the song you want to complete the video. Once you’ve finished editing your video, you can save it and then go back to the original TikTok App and import it into TikTok using the bottom left gallery button.
Although you can’t import your own music, TikTok allows you to import edited videos with your own custom music already in. This is currently the only workaround for adding custom music.
How to Add a Voiceover to TikTok?
Another option for sound on your video is to do a voiceover. A voiceover is where you talk about a video or pass on a narrative while the video is playing. It can be very important for situations where you might want to explain what you are doing but can’t do so while the video is being taken.
To add a voiceover, you’ll need to wait until your video is complete. Once you have finished recording, you’ll see a small red checkmark at the bottom right of the video. Select this, followed by the voiceover option once again on the right side.
Select next and record your audio using the record button. If you don’t want background noise or audio from the original video in the background, uncheck the box keep original sound before saving your video.
Tips for Creating Sounds on TikTok
Sometimes music or voiceovers aren’t quite what you’re looking for when creating a new TikTok. Adding sounds to your TikTok can accentuate parts of your video and make it stand out from other similar videos. A funny sound for a cat video or a sound effect during promotion can be of great service in making a TikTok pop.
How you create this sound effect can make a big difference in the quality of the finished video. Here are a few thoughts on how you can create an original sound for your work.
1. Make it Clear
When recording a sound effect, make sure nothing else is adding background noise to your recording. This could be anything from people talking in the background to the sound of wind in the microphone. A clear sound effect will be much more effective than one that is muffled or unclear.
2. Loop it
A loop repeats the sound over and over again. If you’re recording a bell tower, for example, you can use a loop to control how often people hear the bell—and you don’t have to rely on a perfect, continuous sound to get it right.
3. Turn Up the Volume
Your sound effect won’t do you any good if it can’t be heard. Adjust the volume on your sound effect so people can clearly hear the sound you want when it is playing.
4. Create Something New and Unique
New sounds capture the attention of viewers. Social media is packed with sounds and visuals that demand a viewer’s attention. Creating something new and unique will help it stand out. If you create a great sound, you may even discover that your sound gets adopted by other TikTok users.
At the bottom of the screen of your video is a record you can click to save the sound for later. Selecting this will let you save that sound and reuse it on another video.
Final Thoughts
TikTok is a popular form of social media that can benefit businesses, influencers, and those with important messages to get across. Music, sound, and voiceovers are all important tools you will need to help make your video the best it can be.
Although it might be a little bit difficult to figure out at first, it’s worth taking the time to experiment with different types of music and sound and find some audio that works for you.
