As a filmmaker, you understand the impact that music and other audio elements have on your project. But how can you make your audio the perfect fit for your film? How can you make it sound professional and true to your film’s goals? You must edit your audio. Here are some of the most important things you should know before you embark on the editing process.

The Right Software Is Essential

There are some free audio editing programs out there that could get the job done, but don’t fall for the first one that pops up in your search. Some programs are too basic to help you accomplish what you need to, while others are glitchy or far too complex for your needs.

Audacity gets some good reviews. It’s a free, open source program that boasts a friendly user interface. It is a good tool to help you learn the ropes of editing audio before you invest in a more heavy-duty program.

You Have to Cut Out the Background Noise

When you record dialogue, the first time you listen back to it, it may sound clear and free from background noises that could distract an audience and make you appear unprofessional. However, there are usually sounds lurking in the background that could become more pronounced after you compress vocals in a track.

This is only an issue for music if you plan on recording your own. To streamline the creative process, you may want to search through a royalty free music library like MotionElements, that has a host of affordable stock music options and bgm music.

Synchronization Is Key

Ever listened to music and felt that something wasn’t quite right, even though you couldn’t put your finger on the specific problem? The issue may be something to do with incorrect synchronization. Learn how to use your digital audio workstation to move sounds around, so they all happen at the appropriate time. Don’t be afraid to fiddle, either. Just keep an original file of the track saved, so you always have something to compare.

You Must Have Patience

Whether you are editing dialogue, background music for video, or a feature track, you have to start the project knowing that it could take a while. Sometimes you may have to sift through a track beat by beat to make sure that it is crisp, clear, and well-timed.

If you find that a track you recorded is chock full of errors, you have to weigh editing it against re-recording. Sometimes starting fresh will save you time and a lot of headaches.

You Should Edit Before You Mix

The term “mixing” refers to when you combine individual tracks to form the finished music product. You could mix your tracks before you edit them, but then you will have to make constant tiny adjustments when you are trying to bring everything together. The process is simpler if you take care of the bulk of the editing before you mix.

Whether you record your own music, use library music, or just want to have crisp dialogue in your film, some audio editing skills are necessary. Knowing the above information will help you create films and other projects that sound just as good as they look.