How to Prepare Audio for YouTube, TikTok and Instagram
Video platforms re-process every file you upload, which means the audio you record and the audio your audience actually hears go through several transformations you have no control over. Understanding what each platform does — and preparing your audio accordingly — is the difference between a video that sounds polished and one that sounds quiet, thin, or distorted.
Why platforms re-encode your audio
YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram all convert your uploaded audio to their own streaming format — typically Opus or AAC — regardless of what you uploaded. This re-encoding step is irreversible. If you start from a low-quality source, the platform’s encoder has less information to work with, and the final result sounds worse than if you had started from a clean, high-quality file. Always prepare your audio at the highest quality you can manage before uploading, even though the final delivery will be compressed.
Loudness targets by platform
Platforms normalise playback loudness to a target level so that different videos do not jump in volume when they play in sequence. The practical effect: if your audio is very quiet, the platform turns it up — which also turns up any background noise. If it is too loud and clips, the platform turns it down but cannot undo the distortion. Aim to be in the right range from the start.
- YouTube — normalises to −14 LUFS for Music content, −13 to −15 LUFS for general video.
- TikTok — targets approximately −14 LUFS; loud uploads are turned down, quiet ones are turned up.
- Instagram Reels — targets −14 LUFS; the same principle applies.
You do not need to hit these targets precisely — just avoid clipping and avoid very quiet recordings. A reasonable target is −16 to −18 LUFS integrated, which leaves headroom and still sounds confident. If your recording is too quiet, use the Volume Booster to bring it up before upload.
Sample rate: always use 48 kHz for video
48 kHz is the broadcast and video standard. Most video editing software expects audio at 48 kHz, and video platforms process audio at 48 kHz internally. If you upload audio at 44.1 kHz (the music CD standard), most platforms will resample it automatically — but this resampling is an extra lossy step that can subtly degrade quality. Recording and exporting at 48 kHz from the start avoids it. When converting audio using the Audio Converter, choose 48 kHz if you are preparing audio for a video.
Trim the silence from your starts and ends
A clip that starts one or two seconds late — a common result of hitting record a moment too early or late — feels awkward in a video and affects audience retention metrics in the first few seconds, which platforms weight heavily. Similarly, a long silence at the end can push down average-view-duration statistics. Use the Audio Trimmer to cut to the exact start and end, and add a short fade out (0.5–1 second) at the end so the audio does not cut off abruptly.
Format to deliver
For a video platform upload, deliver your audio as part of the video file rather than separately — your video editor handles this. But if you are preparing a standalone audio track (for a music video, a voiceover, or a sound effect), export as WAV, 48 kHz, 16-bit for the highest quality source going into the video timeline. If file size is a constraint, 320 kbps MP3 at 48 kHz is acceptable. Never upload a low-bitrate MP3 (under 192 kbps) as a source for video; the platform’s re-encoding will make it sound noticeably worse.
Frequently asked questions
What audio format does YouTube prefer? YouTube accepts most formats and re-encodes everything to Opus or AAC. Start from the highest quality you have — WAV or 320 kbps MP3 — so the platform has more to work with during its own encoding.
Why does my video audio sound quiet on TikTok? TikTok normalises loudness. If your original recording was too quiet, the platform raises it — but also raises any background noise. Record at a proper level from the start rather than relying on normalisation.
Should I use 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz for video? 48 kHz for video, always. It is the broadcast and video standard and avoids an extra resampling step when the platform processes your file.
Does Instagram compress audio quality? Yes. Instagram re-encodes audio to AAC at relatively low bitrates for Reels and Stories. Starting from a clean, loud, well-trimmed source helps the encoder produce better results.