How to Add Audio to TikTok

The right audio clip can be the difference between a forgotten TikTok and a viral sensation. On a platform where sound is everything, mastering how to add and edit audio isn't just a technical skill - it's the core of creating content that connects. This guide covers every method for adding audio to your TikTok videos, from using the massive built-in sound library to creating and sharing your own original sounds.

How to Add Audio Using TikTok's Sound Library

This is the most common and straightforward method for adding music or popular sounds to your videos. TikTok's library is vast and constantly updated with trending songs, comedic skits, and viral soundbites. Following trends is one of the fastest ways to get your content seen by new audiences.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Record or Upload Your Video: Open the TikTok app and tap the + icon to start creating. You can either record your video directly in the app or upload a pre-recorded clip from your camera roll.
2. Open the Sound Library: Once you have your video clip(s) on the editing timeline, look at the top of the screen. You'll see an "Add sound" button with a musical note icon. Tap it.
3. Find a Sound: You'll be taken to the commercial sound library. Here you have a few options:
   • For You: This feed shows sounds TikTok's algorithm recommends based on your activity and location. It's an excellent place to find currently trending audio.
   • Playlists: TikTok curates sounds into playlists like "TikTok Viral," "New Music," and genre-specific lists.
   • Search: If you know the name of a song or a specific trending sound, use the search bar at the top to find it directly.
   • Favorites: If you've saved sounds you've come across while browsing, you can find them here. (More on how to do that below!)
4. Select and Trim the Sound: Tap on a sound to preview it. Once you find one you like, tap the red checkmark to add it to your video. You’ll be taken back to the editing screen where you’ll see the title of the song at the top. To choose a specific part of the song, tap the music note icon labeled "Trim" that appears on the right-hand panel. Use the waveform editor to slide the audio left or right until you have the exact clip you want.
5. Adjust the Volume: This is a step many creators forget, but it's essential for creating professional-quality content. On the editing screen, tap the down arrow in the right-hand menu to reveal more tools, then tap on the "Volume" icon. Here you’ll see two sliders:
   • Original sound: The audio that was originally recorded with your video footage.
   • Added sound: The music or sound you just selected from the library.
   If you want the music to be the only thing audiences hear, slide the "Original sound" volume all the way down to zero. If you filmed a speaking clip and want quiet background music, turn the "Original sound" up and the "Added sound" down. Finding the right mix is a game changer.

Using Your Own Audio: Voiceovers and Original Sounds

Sometimes, the perfect audio is your own voice or a custom sound you created. Using original audio helps you establish a unique brand voice and can even become its own trend if other people start using your sound.

Method 1: Recording a Voiceover

Voiceovers are perfect for tutorials, storytimes, unboxings, and instructional-style videos. You can talk over a video clip to explain what's happening on screen.

1. Record or Upload Your Video: Start a new project, just like before.
2. Access the Voiceover Tool: On the editing screen, find the "Audio Editing" or "Voiceover" icon in the right-hand menu (it often looks like a microphone).
3. Record Your Audio: Tap the "Record" button. As your video plays, speak into your device's microphone. You can move the video timeline marker to begin recording at any point. Many creators record one sentence at a time to get the timing perfect. If you mess up, simply tap the back arrow to delete the last clip and try again. A key detail is the "Replace original sound in the video" checkbox. Leaving it unchecked will let your voice lay over the original sound of the clip instead of overwriting it, which can be exactly what you're going for.
4. Adjust Volume as Needed: After recording, you can still go to the "Volume" settings to balance your new voiceover audio with the video's original sound.

Method 2: Creating an "Original Sound" for Others to Use

Have you ever seen a TikTok video where the audio is credited as "original sound - [username]"? You can create one of these too, either intentionally or accidentally.

How it works: Any video you upload to TikTok that is not using a sound from TikTok's library will automatically have its audio classified as an "original sound." If others like it, they can tap on the spinning record icon and use your audio for their own videos.

Here’s a common workflow for this:

1. Create Your Audio/Video Externally: Use a video editing app like CapCut, Adobe Premiere Rush, or InShot. This is where you can mix different sound effects, add custom music you've licensed, and perfect your audio mix.
2. Export and Upload: Once you have your final video file with the perfectly synced audio, save it to your phone's camera roll.
3. Upload to TikTok: Open TikTok, tap the + icon, and upload this finished video. Since you aren't adding a sound from TikTok's library, TikTok will recognize your audio track as an original.
4. Name Your Sound (Indirectly): Once your video is posted, the audio will be named something generic initially. To change it, tap the spinning audio icon on your video, and you'll see an option to edit the title. Give it a clear, catchy name that will encourage others to use it.

How to Find Trending Sounds (and Use Them to Your Advantage)

Using trending sounds is the most reliable way to boost your video's visibility. The TikTok algorithm favors videos that use popular audio clips, pushing them onto more For You pages.

Sourcing and Saving Sounds

• Follow the Trend Arrow: When you're scrolling through your For You page, look at the sound description at the bottom of the video. If a sound is currently trending, there will be a small arrow icon pointing diagonally upwards next to it. Prioritize using these sounds in your own videos.
• "Steal" Audio Directly from a Video: If you find a video with audio you love, just tap on the spinning record icon in the bottom-right corner. This will take you to the audio's dedicated page. From there, you can tap the red "Use this sound" button at the bottom to immediately start creating your video with that track.
• Save Sounds for Later: Don't have a video idea yet? No problem. On that same audio page, you can tap "Add to Favorites." This saves the sound in your personal library so you can easily find it later when you’re ready to film. Actively saving trending sounds is a standard practice for social media managers and creators who need a constant supply of fresh ideas.

Advanced Tips for Editing Audio Like a Pro

To really make your videos stand out, you'll want to move beyond the basics of just adding and trimming sound.

Perfecting Your Audio Mix

We mentioned the volume mixer earlier, but its importance can't be overstated. A well-mixed video feels professional and is easier to watch. Here are some scenarios where mastering the volume sliders is essential:

• "Talking head" video with background music: Set the "Original sound" (your voice) to 80-100% and the "Added sound" (music) to a subtle 5-15%. The music should set a mood, not overpower your message.
• Highlighting an ASMR moment: If your video has a satisfying sound like a crunch, a tap, or a click, you might want to mute the "Added sound" entirely for that portion of the video (which you could achieve via cuts), allowing the original sound to be the star.
• Creating a dramatic reveal: You might start a video with dialogue (original sound only) and then, at a key moment, have a trending song kick in by setting the "Added Sound" volume to 100% and "Original" sound to 0.

Using Voice Effects

Tucked away in the audio editing settings is another fun tool: Voice Effects. After you've recorded a voiceover or a video of you speaking, you can apply filters to make your voice sound like a robot, a chipmunk, or like it's echoing in a hall. These comedic effects are often used in skits and meme formats to add another layer of humor.

Final Thoughts

Mastering audio is fundamental to success on TikTok, whether you're using a trending song from the library, recording your own instructional voiceover, or crafting a custom sound that becomes its own trend. By learning how to find, trim, mix, and edit audio effectively, you elevate your content from simple clips to engaging stories that capture attention.

Getting your audio right is half the battle, but consistent posting is what truly grows your account. When you're managing a busy content schedule, you need tools built for today's visual, video-first world. That's why with Postbase, we built a visual scheduler specifically for short-form video like TikToks and Reels, so you can plan everything on a calendar, get your perfectly-soundtracked videos scheduled reliably, and see your whole strategy at a glance without the headaches of older, clunky platforms.