Creating videos is half about visuals and half about sound. But when you’re just getting started, there is a ton to figure out just on the visuals side, and when you add in audio, it can be overwhelming (to say the least). 

However, audio doesn’t have to be overwhelming or mundane. And in fact, when done with the right program and insights, it actually can be quite rewarding and fun. It’s a great way to make your videos really pop — often your audience won’t even realize why they find themselves more drawn in to your content and messaging.

So, while many film and video professionals will often still think of audio as an afterthought compared to cinematography, direction and video editing, let’s explore the audacious world of sound editing, including sound terms and fundamentals, and even how to choose the right sound editing software for your next video project.

What we’ll cover

    What is sound editing? 

    So, let’s start with some basic definitions before we dive deeper into some softwares and techniques. Sound editing is a basic term which we use to describe any sort of editing of sound or audio files. This isn’t a video-exclusive term either as there are many sound editors and professionals who work with audio and sound outside of video.

    However, for our purposes of looking at audio as it pertains to video, sound editing is usually thought of as separate from video editing — although they are often done (at least initially) at the same time.

    Sound editors do more than just edit too, they are often tasked with creating sounds on their own or also recording or re-recording audio or dialogue to help with the video editing process overall.

    Sound editing vs. sound mixing 

    Another question that usually comes up when one first starts off in video and sound editing has to do with defining the difference between sound editing and sound mixing. And while these two terms are actually quite similar and share many mutual facets, they are indeed different roles which require different expertise.

    Sound editing has to do with the editing, recording and recreating of sound and audio clips and effects. Sound mixing has to do more with audio levels and balancing everything out for the final “mix” for a project.

    And while on the majority of big budget and professional video projects these two roles are done by different professionals and companies, in the world of modern DIY video production these two terms and roles are often rolled into one. In fact, for many video editors today having skills in each of these practices is almost expected.

    Luckily, there are also some really great tools and resources available to aspiring video and sound editors of every skill level as digital technology has transformed what used to be a quite archaic task into one which can be done with some simple clicks of your mouse.

    18 sound editing terms you should know  

    Let’s dive into common audio terms that are important for all video creators to know. While this isn’t an exhaustive list (there are a lot of audio-related terms!), it’s a great primer on some of the more prevalent phrases for you to tuck away in your knowledge bank.

    Cardioid microphones are best explained by their shape: a heart. This is roughly the shape of this pickup pattern. Cardioid microphones will pick up most of their signal in one direction, rejecting most of the noise in the other directions but still picking up some ambient audio around the scene. These are great for speech-related uses, either for voice-overs or — everyone’s favorite — podcasts.

    ‘Polar pattern cardioid’ by Galak76 – self-made, Adobe Illustrator. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons 

    Diegetic sounds arise from the subjects or objects that appear on screen, or are implied to be present within your film’s world. These can be the actors’ voices, sounds of footsteps, or a tinkling piano.

    Dual-system recording is sound that was not recorded directly into the camera. You could use another sound recorder to capture the audio separately from the visual shots, for example. The result is having to sync sound in post, which can be done either manually, like with a slate marker, or by using software, like Red Giant’s PluralEyes.

    Foley is the recreation of noises synced to picture. Foley sound effects can either be made from the objects that appear in your film, or from completely different sources. For example, a bag of corn starch rustled in your hands hands sounds eerily similar to footsteps in snow — and now you don’t have to stand out in the cold to record that sound.

    Lavalier microphones are small microphones generally placed on the body, such as on the lapel of a jacket, in your talent’s hair, or underneath clothing. Paired with a wireless transmitter and receiver, lav mics can be used to record audio wirelessly while staying mostly or completely hidden if need be. 

    Microphone polar (pickup) patterns are how different microphones pick up sounds around their central axis. In other words, this is the audio the mic captures in relation to where you’re pointing it. Though there are several different types of patterns, three common examples are (from most to least focused) are shotgun, cardioid, and omnidirectional. Now, perhaps it would be helpful to overview those terms.

    ‘Polar pattern directional’ by Galak76 – self-made, Adobe Illustrator. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons  

    Natural sound (also called ‘nat sounds’) are sounds that are produced in their actual setting — a.k.a., nature. Think sounds of wind, tree branches, animals, insects, cars whizzing by, etc. Natural sounds may be the best way to add depth and realism to your films. They make your stories come alive in a way that your visuals can’t achieve all on their own.

    Non-diegetic sounds are the tones emitted from subjects or objects that do not appear on screen, nor have they been implied to be present within your film’s world. A voice-over or a soundtrack (where the music is not being performed within the film) are solid examples of this.

    Omnidirectional microphones are directional mics that pick up sounds from all directions. When you either don’t want highly-focused sound captured, or are trying to record audio in an unpredictable setting, these are a great option. For example, most lavalier microphones (often called ‘lav mics’) are omnidirectional which, when clipped to your talent’s lapel, allows you to capture what they’re saying even when they turn their head and their mouth isn’t pointed at the mic.

    ‘Polar pattern omnidirectional’ by Galak76 – self-made, Adobe Illustrator. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons  

    Peaking/clipped audio is, in short, no good! Clipped audio is just liked clipped highlights in your video — once they’re gone, they’re gone. In the case of audio, it will result in distorted sound that’s virtually unusable. To avoid this, turn down your levels (usually -10db is a good place to start to provide a buffer for the unexpected), or turn on a built-in limiter in your audio-capturing device (most cameras have this ability).

    Phantom power is (1) power sent through microphone cables and (2) an awesome name. This phantom removes the need to power your mics individually, allowing your camera or audio recorder to act as its power source.

    Room tone is the sound of a space as a result of where your microphone is placed. Generally this is recorded after filming has stopped but before tear down has begun. This is used in the final edit to smooth out any sound edits, such as between interview sections.

    Shotgun microphones are highly-directional microphones that reject sound from other directions. These mics are great for recording focused audio when you want to focus in and eliminate the extraneous, such as in an interview.

    Sound effects, unlike foley, aren’t recorded to sync directly with picture. They are either created artificially or by enhancing existing sounds. Think explosions, mechanical sounds, or made-up objects (light sabers!)

    Sync sound are sounds that were recorded directly into the camera. An example would be plugging your shotgun mic directly into your camera.

    Timecodes are used for syncing multiple media tracks (video and audio). In the case of audio, using timecode is another way to sync dual-system recording. Timecodes can either be set in-camera manually or ‘jammed’ into the camera via a separate audio recorder (to ensure both are set at the same value). 

    Transient sounds happen quickly and abruptly. They arise sharply and cease almost instantly. Think of a footstep, a plate smashing on the ground, or a punch to the gut (ouch!). The goal in recording transient sounds is to obtain direct sound and minimize other interferences — so get in close.

    Walla is background sound, which typically captures the noise of a crowd or conversation. Walla adds a foundation to your films, particularly in scenes where you’d expect to hear distant ambient conversations, such as a couple dining at a busy restaurant. Pro tip: if you’re directing your extras and trying to record walla, ask them to describe what they ate for lunch in the last seven days … all at the same time.

    Wireless transmitters and receivers get a little nerdy, but here’s the basic breakdown: the transmitter takes your audio signal and converts it to radio waves, and then sends those to a receiver that does the opposite, and converts your radio waves back to an audio signal. This allows you to wirelessly record audio from a lav mic during a walk and talk interview, for example.

    Frequently asked questions about sound editing

    How do I mix audio and video? 

    You can mix audio and video in most video editing softwares and apps, however for more sophisticated audio controls you’ll need to use an app or software that is designed specifically for sound editing.

    How do I use a sound editor?

    You can use most sound editors by simply downloading them and diving in. However for the more advanced softwares you might need to read some articles and watch some tutorials first.

    How can I edit sound on my phone? 

    Most smartphones should have some basic sound editing apps built-in, however for more exact controls you’ll need to find a more powerful app or send your audio files to a laptop or computer.

    What do I need to get started? 

    To get started with audio editing all you need is a computer. You can choose some basic and free sound editing softwares like Audacity, GarageBand or Audio Cutter to quickly cut, splice and edit audio files.

    What’s the difference between sound editing and sound mixing? 

    Sound editing has to do with editing, creating or re-recording sound and audio files whereas sound mixing has to do with the mixing sound levels for a sound or video project.

    What’s the best sound editing software for beginners?

    There are several great sound editing softwares for beginners including GarageBand, Audacity and Adobe Audition, however the best one for you will come down to what type of computer you use, your familiarity with other programs and personal preference.

    Up your video editing know-how with these articles

    Hopefully these terms and techniques have helped you at least get a basic understanding of how audio is recorded, edited and mixed. If you’d like to learn more about the world of sound and video editing, here are some helpful tutorials and roundups to check out:

    More lessons from Vimeo video school

    **Content originally published on Vimeo by Story and Heart in 2015. Updated by Jourdan Aldredge in 2021.