How to Cut a Sound on TikTok

Trimming a sound on TikTok is one of the most fundamental skills for creating videos that feel polished and intentional. Instead of letting a trending sound start from the very beginning, cutting it to a specific beat drop, a key lyric, or a perfect punchline gives your video instant impact. This guide will walk you through exactly how to cut a sound on TikTok using the built-in editor, covering the two main methods for any situation you might encounter.

Why Does Perfectly Cut Audio Matter So Much?

Before we get into the step-by-step process, it’s worth understanding why this small editing trick makes such a big difference in your content's performance. In the fast-paced world of TikTok, you have just a fraction of a second to grab someone’s attention as they scroll. An audio track that immediately sets the tone is your first and best hook.

Here’s what mastering sound trimming helps you achieve:

• Better Pacing and Rhythm: A well-timed sound dictates the pace of your video. Whether it's a high-energy dance or a slow, cinematic reveal, starting the audio at the right moment establishes the rhythm and holds the viewer's attention. Think about transition videos where the swipe or jump happens precisely on a powerful beat drop - that's all in the audio trim.
• Stronger Emotional Impact: Sound is a shortcut to emotion. Starting a song on a particular lyric that matches your video's message makes the content instantly more relatable. For example, using a nostalgic song and starting it right at the chorus can immediately create a feeling of wistful joy, perfectly complementing a video of old photos.
• Sharper Storytelling and Comedy: For comedic skits, timing is everything. Cutting a sound effect to land at the exact moment of a punchline can be the difference between a video that makes someone smile and one that makes them laugh out loud and share. Cutting the iconic "Oh No" sound to start right as something breaks is a universal formula for a reason.

A perfectly cut sound elevates your content from a simple recording to a piece of crafted entertainment. It shows intentionality and makes your videos feel more professional, captivating, and shareable - all without needing complex third-party editing software.

Method 1: How to Cut a Sound Before You Record Your Video

This is the most common and straightforward way to trim audio on TikTok. You choose your sound, pick the part you want to use, and then film your video while that specific snippet plays. It's perfect for lip-syncs, dance challenges, and any video where you need to react to the audio in real time.

Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Open TikTok and Select Your Sound

Start by opening the TikTok app and tapping the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to open the camera. At the top of the camera screen, you'll see a music note icon that says "Add sound." Tap this to open TikTok's extensive sound library. You can browse trending sounds, search for a specific song or artist, or explore different playlists. Once you've found the sound you want to use, tap on it and then tap the red checkmark to select it and return to the camera view.

Step 2: Find the Trim Tool

Now that you're back on the camera screen, the name of the sound you selected will appear at the top. To the right of the song title, you’ll see several icons. Look for an icon of a musical note with a pair of scissors on it and the word "Trim". Tap this icon to open the audio trimming interface.

Step 3: Adjust the Waveform to Find Your Starting Point

You’ll now see a long, horizontal audio waveform representing the entire sound. This is your editing workspace. You can drag this waveform left and right with your finger to select which part of the song should play. The viewable part of the waveform inside the selection box shows the exact section of the sound that will play in your video.

As you drag, you can listen to the snippet to find the perfect moment. Most people look for:

• A distinct beat drop.
• The start of the chorus or a memorable verse.
• A specific sound effect within the clip.
• A clear lyrical cue for a lip-sync.

Use your ears and watch the waveform (spikes often indicate beats) to pinpoint the exact 15-second, 60-second, or 3-minute clip you need.

Step 4: Confirm Your Trim and Record

Once you are happy with the starting point of your sound, tap the red "Done" button at the bottom right. You’ll be taken back to the recording screen. Now, when you press the record button, your video will film over the exact trimmed section of the audio you selected. The sound will start playing precisely where you set it, giving you the perfect cue for your performance.

Method 2: How to Adjust Sound After You’ve Recorded

Sometimes you need to adjust the timing after the fact. Maybe you recorded a clip with original audio and want to add music that syncs up, or perhaps you just want to fine-tune how your video clips align with the sound you already used. The "Adjust clips" editor is where this happens.

Here's the process for adjusting your sound and video clips together.

Step 1: Record Your Clips and Go into the Editor

First, record all the video clips you need for your TikTok. Don’t worry about perfect timing just yet. Once you’re done recording, tap the red checkmark in the bottom right corner to proceed to the main editing screen - this is where you typically add text, filters, and stickers.

Step 2: Open the 'Adjust Clips' Editor

On the right-hand side of the editor screen, you’ll see a list of icons (Text, Stickers, Effects, etc.). Look for an icon that looks like a film strip with scissors on it and is labeled “Adjust clips.” Tap it. This action opens up TikTok's timeline editor, giving you a detailed view of all your video clips laid out in sequence.

Step 3: Trim or Rearrange Your Video Clips

Inside the "Adjust clips" view, you’ll see your video clips arranged chronologically. Here, you can:

• Trim Clips: Tap on any clip to select it. You’ll see white handles appear at the beginning and end. Drag these handles to shorten the clip from either side. This is great for cutting out dead air or unnecessary moments.
• Rearrange Clips: Press and hold a clip to "pick it up." You can then drag it to a different position in the timeline, easily changing the order of your scenes.

Below your video timeline, you'll see the audio waveform. By trimming and arranging your video clips, you can manually align key visual moments with specific points in the sound.

Step 4: Cut the Sound within the Timeline

While still in the "Adjust clips" editor, scroll down below your video clips. You’ll see the sound you added represented as a soundwave. You have a few options here:

• Trim the Sound: Tap on the sound clip at the bottom. Similar to the video clips, you’ll be able to tap the "Trim" option. A waveform will appear, and you can drag the edges to change where the song starts and ends in relation to your videos.
• Use Sound Sync (Automatic option): If you want TikTok to do the heavy lifting, you can use the "Sound Sync" feature. Instead of adjusting clips manually, exit the timeline. Go up to the scissor icon and you should see "Sound Sync", tap on "Sound Sync" which automatically cuts and aligns your video footage to the beats of the selected song. It often produces surprisingly good results, especially for montages or rapid-cut sequences.

Pro Tips for Perfectly-Timed Audio

Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start using sound trimming a little more strategically to make your content even better.

Tip 1: Always Listen with Headphones

Your phone’s speakers can be misleading. To hear the audio nuances, especially subtle beats or quiet intros, use a pair of headphones. This will help you find the precise moment to make your cut with much greater accuracy.

Tip 2: Prioritize the Loop

Great TikToks often loop seamlessly, making viewers watch them multiple times. When you trim your audio, think about the end point just as much as the start point. Can you cut the sound in a place where the end flows musically back into the beginning? Audio that loops well can significantly increase watch time.

Tip 3: Balance Your Added Sound with Your Original Audio

If you're making a voiceover or a video where your original recorded sound is important (like a satisfying ASMR clip or spoken dialogue), don’t forget to balance the levels. After adding your new sound and trimming it, tap "Volume" on the right-hand editing panel. Here, you can adjust two sliders: one for "Original sound" and one for "Added sound." Turn down the added music to let your voice come through clearly, or vice-versa.

Tip 4: Use Sound as Pacing for Education or Tutorials

Sound isn’t just for dance and comedy. If you're creating educational content, you can use subtle, instrumental sounds to keep your video engaging. Trim the audio to a low-key, repetitive beat. Pointing to text on screen in sync with the beats creates a hypnotic rhythm that keeps people locked in while they learn.

Final Thoughts

Getting your sound just right on TikTok is a small detail that makes a massive impact. Whether you're trimming audio before you film for a perfect lip-sync or adjusting clips after the fact for a polished montage, taking a few extra seconds in the editor can transform your video from good to great.

Of course, creating incredible content is only one piece of the puzzle. Once your video is perfected and your audio is timed just right, you need a smart way to plan and schedule it. That’s why we built Postbase from the ground up for the way social media actually works today - focused on video. We designed a clean, visual calendar and a rock-solid scheduler so creators and marketers can reliably get their perfectly edited TikToks, Reels, and Shorts out to the world without a headache.