How to Edit Sound on a TikTok Slideshow

Your TikTok slideshow has the perfect photos, but the sound feels off - it’s too loud, starts at the wrong spot, or doesn't quite sync with your images. More than just background noise, the right audio transforms a simple photo reel into a compelling story that grabs attention. This guide will walk you through every step of editing sound on a TikTok slideshow, from basic trimming and volume adjustments to layering a voiceover on top of your favorite music.

Before You Edit: Adding Sound to Your TikTok Slideshow

First, let's get a sound attached to your slideshow. If you’ve already done this, feel free to skip to the next section. If you're starting from scratch, here’s a quick rundown of how to create your slideshow and add an initial audio track.

1. Create a New TikTok: Open the app and tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to start a new creation.
2. Select Your Photos: On the creation screen, choose "Photo" mode at the bottom (next to the video timer options). Tap "Select multiple" to choose all the images you want to include in your slideshow.
3. Choose Your Audio: Tap the "Add sound" button at the top of the editing screen. Here, you can browse TikTok’s massive commercial music library. You'll find playlists, recommended tracks based on your video, and a search bar to find a specific song or artist. Tap a song to preview it, then tap the red checkmark to add it to your slideshow.

With your music selected, you're now ready for the important part: making it sound just right.

The Main Event: How to Trim, Time, and Adjust Your Audio

This is where you gain full control over your slideshow's soundtrack. Once you've added a sound, you get access to a set of simple but powerful editing tools. You can find these by tapping on the song title at the top of the editing screen or by entering the "Edit" or "Adjust clips" menu.

1. Trim Your Sound to the Perfect Spot

Rarely does a song's opening perfectly match the start of your slideshow. Most of the time, you want to jump right into the chorus or a specific instrumental part. TikTok's trim tool makes this easy.

• After adding your sound, find and tap the small scissors icon labeled "Edit" next to the song's name at the top.
• This will open a soundwave editor. You'll see a long waveform representing the entire song.
• Press and drag the waveform from left to right. This allows you to "scrub" through the song. Find the exact part you want your slideshow to start on. For example, if you want your audio to kick in at the first beat drop, drag the waveform until that moment is at the very beginning of the selection window.
• Once you're happy with the start time, tap "Done." Your slideshow will now begin playing from that specific point in the song.

2. Adjust the Volume Levels

Does your added music drown out another audio element, or is it too quiet? Balancing volume is vital, especially if you ever mix video clips with photos or add a voiceover.

• On the main editing screen (where you can add text and filters), look for the editing tools on the right-hand side. Tap the downward arrow to expand the full list of options.
• Select "Volume."
• You will see two sliders:
  • Original sound: This slider controls the audio from your original video clips. If you're making a slideshow with only photos, this volume should be at zero, as there is no original sound. But if you have mixed in any video clips, this slider lets you keep or remove their original audio.
  • Added sound: This slider controls the volume of the music or other sound you selected from TikTok's library.
• Drag the "Added sound" slider to the right to make your music louder or to the left to make it quieter. Tap a checkmark to save your changes.

3. Sync Audio with Image Transitions

The magic of a great slideshow is when the photo changes happen right on the beat. This isn’t a direct sound editing feature but is critical to how the sound is perceived.

• Go to the editing screen and tap "Edit" in the top right or "Adjust clips" from the right-side menu. This takes you to the timeline view.
• Here, you can see all your photos laid out in sequence. Tap on any image clip in the timeline.
• You can now drag the white handles on either end of a clip to shorten or lengthen its duration. For example, you can set the first photo to last for exactly 2.1 seconds to align with a certain lyric or instrumental cue.
• For faster slideshows, try making each photo just a fraction of a second long to sync with a fast rhythm. Play your audio track in the editor and watch the preview to get the timing perfect. By adjusting each image's duration, you control the pace of your story and make the music feel deeply connected to the visuals.

Go Beyond the Basics: Advanced Sound Editing Tricks

Once you’ve mastered trimming and volume, you can start experimenting with more creative audio techniques that help your content feel unique and professional.

Adding a Voiceover to Your Slideshow

A voiceover is incredibly effective for storytelling, tutorials, or adding personal commentary. Here’s how to layer your voice over your music background.

1. First, add background music using the "Add sound" feature and trim it as needed. This will be the base layer.
2. Proceed to the final editing screen where you can add text and effects. On the right-hand panel, find and tap the "Voiceover" option (it usually has a microphone icon).
3. You’ll see a record button. You can drag the timeline marker (the white vertical line) to the exact spot where you want your voiceover to start.
4. Press and hold the red record button to record your voice. As you speak, the slideshow will play, so you can time your narration to the visuals. Release the button to stop recording. You can record multiple segments.
5. Important: There's a check box at the bottom that says "Keep original sound." If your slideshow is photos-only, this doesn't matter much. If you have video clips, unchecking this will silence their audio so only your voiceover and added music are heard.
6. After recording, tap "Save." Now, go back into the "Volume" tool. You’ll see the "Original sound" and "Added sound" sliders. Lower the "Added sound" (your music) a bit so your voiceover is clear and easy to understand over the background track. A good starting point is around 20-30% for music volume when there’s a voiceover.

Replacing the Sound Entirely

Sometimes you add a song, build out your entire slideshow, and then realize a different track would work better. You don't have to start from scratch.

• On the main editing screen, tap the song's name at the very top of the screen (e.g., "Trending Song - Artist Name").
• This will bring you back to the TikTok sound library. From here, you can simply browse and pick a new sound.
• The new song will replace the old one, but all your image timing and editing will remain intact. You may need to revisit the "Trim" tool to find the perfect starting point for the new track.

Pro Tips for Slideshows That Stop the Scroll

Editing audio is a technical skill, but using it effectively is an art. Here are a few strategic tips to make your slideshows more engaging and perform better on the platform.

Match the Vibe, Not Just the Beat

Before you even search for a sound, think about the mood you want to create. Is your slideshow a collection of serene vacation photos? Look for a calm, atmospheric track. Is it a fast-paced recap of a fun event? Find a high-energy song with a strong beat. The audio should amplify the emotion of your pictures. A mismatched sound can be jarring and cause viewers to scroll away, even if the photos are great.

Leverage Trending Sounds Strategically

Using a trending sound is one of the quickest ways to increase the potential reach of your TikTok. But don't just jump on any trend.

• Find relevant trends: Pay attention to the audio being used by creators in your niche. If you create content about cooking, look for sounds being used in popular recipe videos.
• Save sounds for later: While you're scrolling your For You Page, if you hear audio you like that might work for a future slideshow, tap the spinning record icon in the bottom right corner and add it to your "Favorites." This builds a personal library of relevant sounds to pull from later.
• Adapt, don't just copy: The best use of a trending sound is when you put your unique spin on it. Use the format of the trend, but apply it to your own story, photos, or message.

Use Third-Party Apps for Total Control

While TikTok's built-in editor is excellent for quick edits, apps like CapCut (which is also owned by ByteDance) offer even more granular control. With CapCut, you can add multiple sound layers, j-cuts, sound effects, and extract audio from other videos with more precision. You can perfect your entire video edit in CapCut and then upload the finished product directly to TikTok.

Final Thoughts

Perfecting the audio on your TikTok slideshow is the final touch that transforms a simple collection of photos into a captivating story. By trimming, timing, and layering your sounds with intention, you can control the mood and pace, creating content that truly connects with your audience.

Once you’ve created your masterpiece, consistency is what grows your audience. We've found that managing a full content calendar across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can become a huge time sink. That’s why we at Postbase built a social media tool that was designed for short-form video from the very start. It helps you schedule your content reliably and manage engagement in one place, so you can spend less time wrestling with apps and more time creating amazing slideshows.