📹 ✅ You’ve probably heard it before: “People will watch bad video with good audio - but they won’t watch great video with bad audio.” And it’s true.

You could have the best visuals in the world, but if your sound is echoey, full of background noise, or hard to hear, your content’s impact drops fast. Whether you're making short-form videos, product reviews, hauls, or tutorials, your audio matters - a lot.

Below, we’re going all-in on helping you sound amazing and - with zero gatekeeping - how to get clean, clear, creator-worthy audio, on a budget.

Before you reach for post-production tools, great audio begins while you're recording. Here’s how to level up your sound right from the jump:

1. Choose the Right Space
🪑 Soft furnishings (sofas, pillows, blankets), carpets, and curtains absorb echo. Avoid big empty rooms and tile surfaces if you can. Recording in your closet? Actually not a bad idea!

2. Mind Your Mic (Yes, Even Your Phone’s)
✅ Use an external mic if possible - sometimes even a basic $20 Amazon mic is better than your built-in mic. Experiment, on a budget!

When do we want to see the mic in content?
🎤 Visible mic: Looks more pro, adds trust for educational/talking-head content. Think tutorials, or when the product sounds better if spoken about by a professional.
🤫 Invisible mic: Better for cinematic or lifestyle shots where aesthetics matter. Think testimonial when the authenticity is the key - lifestyle products, skincare - if using mic, clip-on mics under a shirt collar or wireless mic packs are probably a better option.

3. Reduce Background Noise IRL
🚫 Turn off fans, A/C, or buzzing lights. These background noises will kill the BEST video
📴 Airplane mode your phone to avoid pings and notifications (“Focus” mode is great!)
🕰️ Record during quiet hours if you’re near a busy street or have roommates (or babies, or pets, or a loud partner!) - remember to prioritise your recording time while choosing what to film when.

If you have still have some small background noise that’s impossible to reduce in real life, try the “Reduce Noise” tool on CapCut!

4. Positioning is Key
🎯 Keep the mic close to your mouth - but not too close (avoid those P-sound distortion).
🔄 Record a quick test clip and play it back before your full shoot. Small adjustments = big difference. You can never over-prepare!

If you still get some hum, or that mysterious background fridge buzz - no worries. Here are some tools to polish things up in post-production:

• Adobe Podcast Enhance (https://podcast.adobe.com/enhance)
  Upload your clip, and it’ll magically sound like you used a high-end mic in a studio. Just make sure to play around with the Voice and Background options to find a perfect balance - no one wants to sound like Ai…

• Audacity (Free desktop app)
  Great for reducing background noise, normalising levels, and even trimming awkward pauses.

• Krisp.ai (free plan)
  Removes background noise in real-time, perfect for live recordings. It can work well as a recording tool when you’re out next to a busy road etc.

📍Treat your shooting environment like your “studio.” No buzzing, background noises and people talking (even in another room).

📍Choose your mic based on your content style - visible builds trust with specific industries, invisible keeps it more authentic.

📍Record smart, edit lightly, and your audience will hear (but mostly feel) the difference.

We know it can feel like the visual gets all the glory - but remember that the story hits different when it’s also told (clearly). And now you’ve got all the tools to make your audio just as impactful.

Your voice is the heart of your content - let's make sure it's heard loud and clear.

👀 NEED MORE HELP? 👀

Make sure to watch our Clip Collective podcast! In the episode below we address all things production and post-production - trust us, you don’t want to miss out on all this info…

 LOOK AT YOU!

👋 Meet Charlie - three months ago, he was made redundant. It was a tough moment — but it gave him the push to fully focus on his illustration work and step into the world of UGC with @useclip. It’s been scary, but over time his confidence has grown, his videos have improved, and he’s incredibly grateful for the support from his wife Nikola and their dog Mochi 🐾💛

🚀 🛠 Ready to create some UGC magic? Log in to Clip, check out the latest briefs, and start applying today!

Happy Creating,

Team Clip