Audio is the quickest way to lift perceived quality. Small fixes can make a basic camera setup sound intentional, clear, and easy to follow.
The eight checks work with built-in mics, lav mics, USB mics, or recorded calls. Each one takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes and fits into any editing workflow.
1) Start with the right monitoring setup
Bad decisions happen when listening on laptop speakers. Use any wired headphones and set a comfortable volume.
Listen for noise, mouth clicks, and low rumble before exporting.
- Turn off audio enhancements on the computer if they exaggerate bass or treble.
- Listen at the same volume each time to avoid chasing loudness.
2) Pick the cleanest source track
If both a camera mic and an external mic were recorded, choose one as the main source. Mixing two noisy tracks can create phase issues and a hollow sound.
- Solo each track and choose the one with clearer speech and less room echo.
- Mute the unused track to prevent accidental bleed into the export.
3) Remove obvious problems before adding effects
Basic clean-up beats aggressive filters. Cut or reduce the worst parts first.
- Trim long breaths, bumps, and mic handling noise.
- Lower sections with loud keyboard clicks or chair squeaks.
- Use short fades on cuts so edits do not click or pop.
4) Set dialogue level and keep it consistent
Most viewers judge audio quality by how easy it is to understand speech without adjusting volume. Aim for steady dialogue loudness from start to finish.
- Bring quiet sentences up and tame the loud ones before compression.
- Check the meter for peaks that hit the red. Clipping sounds harsh and cannot be fully repaired.
5) Use gentle noise reduction only when needed
Noise reduction can help with steady hiss or fan noise, but it can also damage speech. Use the least amount that achieves the goal.
- Apply noise reduction in short sections if the noise changes across the recording.
- Stop if the voice starts to sound watery, metallic, or swirly.
- If noise is mild, prefer lowering the background with EQ instead of heavy reduction.
6) Cut low rumble and tame harshness with simple EQ
EQ is the fastest, most natural fix for many recordings. It shapes the sound without pumping or artifacts.
- High pass filter: remove very low frequencies that add muddiness and room rumble.
- Reduce harshness: if S sounds or sharp consonants hurt, lower the relevant band slightly.
- Add clarity: a small boost in the presence range can improve intelligibility, but keep it subtle.
When unsure, make smaller moves. A little EQ usually sounds more professional than a dramatic curve.
7) Add light compression to smooth peaks and whispers
Compression makes speech feel closer and more controlled. The key is a gentle setting that keeps natural dynamics.
- Use a mild ratio and avoid crushing the voice.
- Set the threshold so only the louder parts trigger compression.
- After compression, re-check overall level so the track is not too hot.
8) Mix music and ambience with intention
Music should support the message, not compete with it. The most common mistake is leaving music too loud under speech.
- Lower music during dialogue and raise it slightly during pauses or transitions.
- Fade music in and out to avoid sudden starts and stops.
- Choose tracks with fewer busy elements if the voice struggles to cut through.
- Leave a moment of clean speech at the start before music enters, if the hook relies on clarity.
After setting music levels, do a quick pass with fresh ears before exporting.
Checklist: fast audio pass before export
- Headphones on and volume consistent
- Main source track selected, unused tracks muted
- Obvious bumps and mouth noises trimmed with small fades
- Dialogue level consistent, no clipping
- Noise reduction used lightly and only where needed
- High pass filter applied to remove rumble
- Light compression for control, not flattening
- Music lowered under speech and faded cleanly
If one part still sounds wrong, use the quick fixes below rather than stacking more effects.
Common quick fixes when something still feels off
If the mix still sounds amateur, look for one of these typical causes.
- Room echo: lower the amount of reverb and use less noise reduction, then add a high pass filter and mild compression.
- Muffled voice: reduce low mids slightly and check that the mic was not covered or turned away.
- Sharp S sounds: lower harshness with EQ or use a de-esser if available.
- Music fights speech: choose a simpler track or lower it further during talking.
Fix one cause at a time and retest. Stacking changes makes the result harder to judge.
Next steps
Run this eight check list on one recent edit and export a short test clip. Listen on a phone speaker and in headphones, then adjust only one thing at a time before exporting the final version.