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How to Add a Voice Over to a YouTube Video

Speechify is the #1 AI Voice Over Generator. Create human quality voice over recordings in real time. Narrate text, videos, explainers – anything you have – in any style.

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Adding a voiceover to YouTube videos can transform your video content, making it more engaging and professional. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced...

Adding a voiceover to YouTube videos can transform your video content, making it more engaging and professional. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced content creator, this tutorial will guide you through the process of adding high-quality voice-over audio to your videos. We'll cover everything from recording your own voice to using AI voiceover tools, suitable for various platforms including iPhone (iOS), Android, Mac, and more.

Preparing Your Video

Before you start recording a voiceover, make sure your video clip is ready. Use a reliable video editing software to edit your footage, incorporating transitions and background music as needed. If you're creating content for social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube channels, ensure your video adheres to the recommended formats and quality standards. Popular editing tools include iMovie for Mac and Apple users, and Premiere Pro for more advanced editing.

Choosing Your Voice Over Method

There are several ways to add a voiceover to your video:

  • Recording Your Own Voice: This gives a personal touch to your video. You can record audio directly using your smartphone (iPhone or Android) or a microphone connected to your computer. Apps like Voice Memos on iOS make it easy to start and stop recording.
  • Hiring a Professional Voice-Over Artist: For a more polished and professional voice-over, consider hiring a voice actor. This can be particularly useful for explainer videos, podcasts, or if you're not comfortable using your own voice.
  • Using Text-to-Speech Tools: If you're not keen on recording your voice and don't want to hire a voiceover artist, AI voiceover tools can generate quality voice narration in English or other languages from your script.
  • Recording for Podcasts and Explainer Videos: If your YouTube content is more like a podcast or an explainer, focus on recording clear, quality audio with minimal background noise.

Recording Your Voice Over

If you choose to record your own voice or voiceover artist's audio, follow these steps:

  1. Set Up Your Recording Environment: Find a quiet space to minimize background noise. If you're using a smartphone, use a voice recorder app. For computers, software like Audacity is excellent for audio editing and recording.
  2. Start Recording: Hit the record button and start narrating your script. If you're using a phone, apps like iMovie on iOS and various voice recording apps on Android are straightforward to use. On a computer, Audacity offers a simple interface to record and edit audio.
  3. Stop Recording: Once you've finished, stop the recording and save the audio file.

Adding the Voice Over to Your Video

Now, it's time to add your recorded voice over to your video:

  1. Import Your Video and Audio File: Open your video editing software, import your video clip, and the recorded voice over audio file.
  2. Synchronize the Audio with Video: Align your voice over audio with the video content. This might require trimming the audio or video, or adding pauses in the voiceover to match the video sequence.
  3. Edit for Quality: Use audio editing tools to enhance the voice quality. Remove any background noise, adjust the volume, and ensure the voiceover blends well with the background music, if any.
  4. Add Subtitles (Optional): Adding subtitles can make your content more accessible. You can either manually type them in or use automatic subtitle generators available in video editing software.
  5. Final Touches: Review the video to ensure the voiceover aligns perfectly with the video content. Look out for any discrepancies in transitions or audio mismatches.

Exporting and Uploading

Once your voice-over video is ready:

  1. Export the Video: Save your final product in the desired format. Ensure the quality settings are high enough for clear audio and video playback.
  2. Upload to YouTube or Social Media: Now, upload your video to your YouTube channel or other social media platforms. Make sure to customize your video's title, description, and tags for better visibility.

Additional Tips for Quality Voice Over Videos

  • Customize for Different Platforms: The requirements for a YouTube video might differ from those of TikTok or a podcast. Tailor your voice over and video editing accordingly.
  • Practice Makes Perfect: If you're recording your own voice, practice your script several times to sound more natural and confident.
  • Explore AI Voiceover Options: AI voiceover technologies like Google's text-to-speech service offer diverse voices and languages, which can be a great way to add variety to your videos.
  • Keep Learning and Experimenting: The world of video editing and voiceover recording is ever-evolving. Stay updated with the latest trends and tools to keep your content fresh and engaging.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to add professional, high-quality voiceovers to your YouTube videos, enhancing your content and engaging your audience more effectively. Remember, the key to great video content is not just what the audience sees, but also what they hear.

Speechify Voiceover

Cost: Free to try

Speechify is the #1 AI Voice Over Generator​. Using Speechify Voice Over is a breeze. It takes only a few minutes and you’ll be turning any text into natural-sounding Voice Over audio.

  1. Type in the text you’d like to hear spoken
  2. Select a voice & listening speed
  3. Press “Generate. That’s it!

Choose from 100’s of voices, and a plethora of languages and then customize each voice to make it your own. Add emotion like whisper, right up to anger and screaming. Your stories or presentations, or any other project can come alive with rich, natural sounding features.

You can also clone your own voice and use it in your voice over text to speech.

Speechify Voice Over also comes loaded with royalty free images, video, and audio that are all free to use for your personal or commercial projects. Speechify Voice Over is clearly the best option for your voice overs - no matter your team size. You can try our AI voice today, for free!

Frequently Asked Questions About Adding Voiceover to YouTube Videos

How do you add a voiceover to a YouTube video?

To add a voiceover to a YouTube video, use video editing software like iMovie or Premiere Pro. Record your voiceover using a quality microphone, then import the audio file into the video editor. Sync it with your video content, adjust levels, and include background music if necessary.

How do I add AI voiceover to a video?

For AI voiceover, use text-to-speech software that converts written text into spoken words. Choose a voice that suits your content, input the script, and generate the voiceover audio file. Import this file into your video editing software and sync it with your video.

How do I get a voice for my YouTube channel?

You can record your own voice using a microphone and audio recording software like Audacity. Alternatively, hire a professional voice-over artist or use text-to-speech tools for AI-generated voices.

Can I use voice on YouTube?

Yes, you can use your own voice or a professional voice-over in YouTube videos. Ensure the audio quality is high and it's synchronized well with the video content.

How do I dub my voice in a video?

To dub your voice, record your voiceover while watching the video to match the timing. Use video editing software to replace the original audio with your recorded voiceover, ensuring the synchronization is accurate.

How do I make a voice over video on YouTube?

Start recording your voice using a microphone, ensuring minimal background noise. Edit the voiceover audio for quality, then add it to your video using video editing tools. Sync the voiceover with the video content and make any necessary adjustments.

How do I make my voice sound more young?

To make your voice sound younger, practice speaking in a higher pitch and with more energy. You can also use audio editing software to adjust the pitch and tone of your recorded voice.

How do I make my own voice?

Create your own voice by recording with a good quality microphone, speaking clearly and expressively. Customize your voice style to match your content, and use audio editing software to refine the sound.

Can you put a voiceover on a video?

Yes, you can put a voiceover on a video by recording a voiceover audio file and syncing it with your video using video editing software. This enhances the video content and makes it more engaging.

What is the best voice over software?

The best voice over software for beginners and professionals includes Audacity for audio recording and editing, Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced video editing, and iMovie for Apple users seeking an easy-to-use interface. These tools offer robust features for creating high-quality voiceover videos.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.