Sound Design Explained: How to Make Your Videos Feel More Real

Sound Design Explained: How to Make Your Videos Feel More Real

Short Description: Learn how sound design and sound effects make videos more realistic, immersive and engaging.

Table of Contents

1. Step-by-Step Sound Design Workflow
2. Understanding the Five Layers of Sound Design
3. The Role of Music in Sound Design
4. Recording Dialogue Outdoors
5. Recording Audio Indoors
6. Using Audacity for Audio Recording
7. What Are Sound Effects (SFX)?
8. Popular Types of Sound Effects
9. What Are Foley Sounds?
10. Recording Foley Sounds
11. Adding Sound Design to Your Editing Timeline
12. Creating an Underwater Audio Effect
13. Summary
14. FAQs

Step-by-Step Sound Design Workflow

Everything around me seemed completely normal. But then, one small change transformed the entire scene. Did you notice the difference?

That's the power of sound design. Today, we're going to learn how to create that impact through sound.

How do we use different sound effects? How do we record audio indoors and outdoors? And how do we create Foley sounds for our videos?

In this tutorial, we'll go through the complete process, from recording audio to adding different sound layers to the editing timeline.

If you want to learn how to edit, write scripts and improve your storytelling, I've already posted episodes covering those topics. You can check them out as well.

This is Part 6 of our Content Creation Series. Let's get started.

Understanding the Five Layers of Sound Design

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Sound design is basically a process. Just like we shoot a video, we also work on its sound.

We record dialogue, capture ambience, add Foley and sound effects, and finally add music. This entire process is what we call sound design.

Whenever we talk about sound design, the work is generally organised into five layers:

1. Dialogue: The voices of the characters or the voice-over in a video.
2. Ambience: The background sounds that help establish the environment.
3. Foley: Sounds recorded separately to match specific actions or movements.
4. SFX: Sound effects used to add impact, movement or intensity.
5. Music: The background music that helps create the emotion and mood of a scene.

These five layers help us organise our audio and build a more complete sound experience.

The Role of Music in Sound Design

Let's start with music. What is music, and how do we use it? It's a very important part of sound design.

Without music, it becomes difficult to bring a particular feeling into a video.

For example, imagine I'm recording a simple video. Our friend is sitting here, and I walk over and place my hand on his shoulder.

It's a simple clip. Now, let's add different types of music to it.

First, we'll use something a little aggressive. Second, we'll use something slightly romantic, which will completely change the vibe of the same video. And third, we'll keep it completely sad.

Do you understand how important music is for any video?

The same footage can create different feelings depending on the music you use. It creates the mood we want in our videos, whether it's a reel, short film, regular video or even a movie.

The emotions we want to communicate in a scene can be supported through music. That's why music plays such an important role in sound design.

If you want to understand how sound effects can make your edits more cinematic, explore our guide on how to elevate your videos with the perfect sound design

Recording Dialogue Outdoors

Now comes the turn of dialogue.

Whatever I'm saying here, or whatever we record in a scene, comes under dialogue. In this layer, we keep the voices of all the characters.

For example, if I'm speaking right now, I'll record my voice separately and place it in the timeline later.

Whenever someone speaks in a scene, that voice becomes part of the dialogue layer. We also use voice-overs as part of this process.

Now let's understand how we record dialogue during outdoor shoots.

When recording audio outdoors, there are two major things you need to avoid.

The first is traffic. Traffic noise can be very distracting because it is often present all around us.

The second is wind. Wind hitting the microphone can create unpleasant noise in the recording.

Try to choose a location where there isn't much wind or traffic. But sometimes, problems still happen. In those situations, you may need to record a voice-over at home.

So, these are two important things to keep in mind while recording outdoors. But how do we actually record?

We can use a regular microphone. For example, I'm using a Hollyland microphone here. This isn't a promotion. You can use it if you want to.

There are many microphones available in the market. You can use Digitek, DJI or other microphones that give you good results.

But if you cannot afford a microphone right now, don't worry. You can use your phone's microphone as well.

Most phones already have a built-in voice recorder. You can simply open it and record your audio. You can keep your phone in your pocket or hold it in your hand.

The closer you keep the microphone to your voice, the better the audio quality will generally be.

However, if the background noise is still too distracting, you may need to record a voice-over. Movies and short films also use voice-overs quite often because we don't always get an environment without wind, people or traffic noise.

That's why learning how to record voice-overs is important.

You can record your dialogue outdoors first. If the audio isn't clear enough, record the exact same dialogue indoors later.

That's how you can manage outdoor dialogue recording.

Recording Audio Indoors

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Now let's look at how we record audio indoors.

The first thing is to block out as much outside noise as possible.

For example, if the fan is running, it will create unwanted noise in your recording. So, switch it off.

The AC can also create a lot of noise, so turn it off while recording if possible.

And if noise is coming through your house door, close the door as well.

These small steps can make a noticeable difference to your recording. Once we reduce the outside noise, the audio becomes much clearer.

But there's another problem with indoor recording: echo.

An empty room often has a lot of echo. When you record and listen to the audio, you may notice that the sound reflects around the room.

How do we reduce that?

You can add simple things to your room to help control sound reflections.

For example, we have added carpets. A carpet can help reduce sound reflections from hard surfaces.

We have also added clothes and curtains. These materials can help reduce the echo in the room.

With these changes, the sound becomes clearer because less audio reflects around the space.

So, what have we done so far?

First, we reduced outside noise. Second, we reduced echo. Now comes the third step: recording.

For indoor recording, we are going to use a good microphone. This is our table microphone, which is mainly used for indoor recording rather than outdoor shoots.

This isn't a promotion. It's simply the microphone we're using for this setup.

Using Audacity for Audio Recording

Now let's talk about software.

We are going to use Audacity. It's a useful software for recording audio and reducing background noise.

You can record your voice and clean up the audio using its Noise Reduction feature.

Before recording, make sure your microphone is connected properly.

Sometimes, a microphone can also pick up slight wind noise. A windscreen can help reduce that noise. You can place it in front of the microphone while recording.

So, these are a few things to remember:

1. Reduce outside noise.
2. Control echo in the room.
3. Use a suitable microphone.
4. Record your audio properly.
5. Clean up unwanted background noise when needed.

Now let's see how we actually record audio on a PC.

How to Remove Background Noise in Audacity

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First, open your PC and search for Audacity in Chrome. You can download and install it for free.

Once you open Audacity, select your microphone.

Go to Audio Setup and choose the microphone you are using. I'm connecting my microphone through a Type-C cable.

Now press the red Record button to start recording.

Once the recording starts, speak normally. But before recording your actual dialogue, make sure to record an extra five seconds of room noise.

This extra recording will help Audacity identify the background noise.

Now follow these steps:

1. Select the portion containing only the background noise.
2. Go to Effect.
3. Select Noise Reduction.
4. Click Get Noise Profile.
5. Press Ctrl + A to select the entire recording.
6. Go to Effect again.
7. Select Repeat Noise Reduction.

That's it. Audacity will process the recording and help reduce the background noise.

This is how we record and clean up indoor audio. You may have noticed that the voice-overs in my videos sound clearer. This is one of the ways we work on our audio.

What Are Sound Effects (SFX)?

Now, our main question is: what is SFX?

SFX stands for sound effects. We use them whenever we need to add a sound to a movement or an event in a video.

Whether it's whooshes, risers, impacts, thunder or any other effect, we use sound effects to make a scene more intense or creative.

For example, suppose my phone drops. Many times, I won't be able to record that exact sound while shooting. In that case, I can use an already available sound effect.

You must have heard different types of sound effects, such as whooshes, risers and impacts. These are used regularly in video editing.

Other examples include:

1. Door slams
2. Glass breaking
3. Phone notifications
4. Rain
5. Thunder
6. Cars passing by
7. Explosions
8. Impacts and movement sounds

Now let's see where we can find these sounds.

There are many websites available. Some offer free sound effects, while others are paid.

You can explore both types depending on your requirements.

For this demonstration, I'm using Epidemic Sound. This isn't a promotion. You can also find sound effects through other platforms or search for them on YouTube.

For example, I'll search for a sound effect like "lightning." You can explore different options, listen to them and download the one that suits your video.

But remember, adding sound effects doesn't mean you should place them randomly.

You have to use them thoughtfully. Sound design isn't about adding as many sounds as possible. The more natural you keep it, the better it feels.

To understand how different sound effects work in professional editing, check out our complete guide to using sound effects in videos

Use sound effects only where they are actually needed.

Popular Types of Sound Effects

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Let's understand some popular sound effects.

1. Whooshes

Our first type is whooshes.

Whenever there is movement in a clip, such as someone walking, shaking clothes or performing any action, a whoosh can be added to make the movement feel smoother.

It's one of the most commonly used sound effects.

2. Impacts

Our second type is impacts.

Whenever something happens suddenly, you can use an impact sound.

For example, someone slamming a door, getting punched or falling. These are situations where impact sounds can be used.

Whenever a sudden event happens in a scene, an impact can help make it feel stronger.

3. Ambience

Our third type is ambience.

Every room, background and location has its own sound.

For example, even when I'm not speaking, there is some background noise around me. That background sound is called ambience.

Ambience helps make a clip feel more realistic.

Suppose I want to record the ambience of a location. What will I do?

I'll record my entire video and leave around 10 to 15 seconds empty at the end. Then I'll take the background sound from that portion and use it in the timeline.

This helps maintain the natural atmosphere of the scene.

So, don't forget to add ambience where it is needed. It can make your video feel much more realistic.

4. Risers

Next, we have risers.

We use risers whenever we want to create tension or build anticipation in a clip.

For example, imagine someone is walking, and something important is about to happen. We can add a riser to build tension before that moment.

Or suppose the camera moves over something and suddenly reveals something new. A riser can make that reveal feel more impactful.

But a riser doesn't always work best on its own. You can combine it with bass drops or similar effects to make the moment feel stronger.

What Are Foley Sounds?

Now we're going to talk about Foley sounds.

What exactly is a Foley sound?

We don't always get the exact sound for every action while shooting. For example, suppose I'm lighting a match or performing some small activity.

I may not get a realistic sound for that action in the original recording. So, we record the sound ourselves using a microphone.

That is what we call a Foley sound.

Think about a video where someone comes out of a house, walks, runs, puts a key into a car and drives away.

We don't always have to download every sound separately. We can create many of these sounds ourselves.

You don't get every sound beforehand, so recording Foley is an important part of sound design.

For example, I want to record the sound of a matchstick. I'll take a microphone and place it near the match.

Then I'll take out a matchstick and light it.

The sound of the match lighting is recorded separately. We can take that specific part of the recording and place it into the video timeline.

This gives us a more realistic sound for the action.

The same process works for many small sounds.

You can record the sound of:

1. A matchstick lighting
2. A pen cap being put on
3. A remote control being used
4. Paper or pages being torn
5. Keys being picked up
6. A door opening or closing

These small sounds may not always feel realistic when taken from an unrelated source. You can record them yourself and match them to the action in your video.

Whatever sound you need, simply record it and use the relevant portion in your timeline.

Recording Foley Sounds

Now let's talk about how we actually record Foley sounds.

Let's take the example of a matchstick. We have already recorded that sound. Now we need to record some other sounds, starting with a door.

You can record Foley sounds using your phone as well.

I'll turn on the recording and bring the microphone close to the door. Then I'll open and lock it.

The sound of the door locking is what we are going to use in the timeline.

Let's stop the recording. Now we have the sound, and we can use it wherever it is needed.

For example, if we've just shot a door, we can record its sound separately.

Next, we can record footsteps and keys.

Take a key, bring it close to the microphone and record its sound. Then pick that recording and place it in the timeline.

These are simple things.

Whatever movement is happening in your video, observe it carefully. Analyse the action and record the sound that matches it.

Sometimes, people even create sounds using everyday objects. For example, someone might shake a blanket to create a sound that resembles thunder.

The important thing is that the sound should feel similar to what the viewer sees.

Make sure the sounds are clear and match the action properly.

Adding Sound Design to Your Editing Timeline

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Now, no matter how much we talk about sound design, these are all just explanations.

The practical question is: how do we place sound effects on the timeline?

That's what we're going to learn now.

You can use any editing software. The technique remains the same whether you use After Effects, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

If you want to develop your editing skills further, explore our Complete Video Editing Course Bundle covering After Effects and Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is easier for us in some ways because the layers are visible more clearly. But I'm going to teach you in After Effects because I'm more comfortable with it.

The same process can be followed in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

You can work layer by layer. The main thing is to organise your audio instead of adding random layers without a system.

We are going to work with five layers:

1. Dialogue
2. Ambience
3. Foley
4. SFX
5. Music

Let's start with the video.

Here is our video. We haven't added any sound to it yet. Let's play it.

There is no sound here at all.

Now we're going to start adding the audio. Assume that you've already finished editing your video. The visuals are ready, and now we're going to work on the sound.

Layer 1: Dialogue

The very first thing we're going to add is dialogue.

Here is our dialogue layer. I've already created the audio separately, so I'll simply import it and drag it into the timeline.

This is the voice-over.

Now our voice has arrived in the timeline. Let's play it.

"One day, something happened that I never thought of. I went out in my car like every other day."

I'll keep the video layer at the top and change its colour so that it is easier to identify.

Now I'll rename the first audio layer as Dialogue.

Our dialogue has been added.

Layer 2: Ambience

The second layer is ambience.

Whenever I'm speaking, there is some background sound behind me. We need to add that ambience to make the scene feel natural.

For this, I'm using Epidemic Sound. You can also use other platforms or find suitable sounds through YouTube.

Let's understand how to find ambience.

If I'm inside a room, I'll need room ambience. But when I move outside, I'll need traffic ambience.

So, we'll use two different types of background sounds depending on the location.

Go to Sound Effects and search for "traffic." You'll find many options.

I'll download one and drag it into the timeline. This is our ambience layer, and we'll place it on the second audio layer.

Now let's play it under the dialogue.

The traffic sound starts here, so I'll place it at the correct point.

We can also lower the sound at the beginning. In After Effects, you can use the audio controls and keyframes to adjust the volume.

I'll add a keyframe and set the beginning volume to zero. Then the ambience will gradually become audible.

Let's play it again.

You should be able to hear the background sound along with the dialogue. This is how we can add ambience to a scene.

For this demonstration, I'll remove this temporary audio because I've already prepared the layers.

I'll simply drag and drop the ambience that I've created earlier.

These layers are already prepared because if I start creating everything from scratch, the video will easily become an hour long.

Now our dialogue and ambience are ready.

Layer 3: Foley

The third layer is Foley.

Wherever there is movement in the video, we can add Foley sounds.

I've already explained how to record Foley, so here we'll simply drag and drop the recorded sounds.

Wherever there is a matchstick, we'll add the matchstick sound. Wherever there is a movement or action, we'll add the corresponding sound.

I've already recorded the Foley beforehand. Let's drag and drop it into the timeline.

Now let's play it.

The movements in the video, such as tying my shoelaces or lighting a cigarette, will have their own sounds.

That's how we make the scene feel more realistic.

And don't think you need separate software for every small task. You're a creator and an artist. You can use any software and follow the same process.

The more systematically you work, the easier it becomes to manage your project later.

I could have done this in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve as well. The overall process would remain the same.

There is no fixed rule that a particular sound must always be placed in one specific position. You should place sounds according to the action and what feels right for the scene.

For example, when I insert the key, the key sound should be heard at that moment.

When I come out of the car, the corresponding movement sounds should match the visuals.

And when I light the cigarette, the fire sound should match that action.

That's how we work with Foley.

Layer 4: SFX

Now comes the fourth layer: SFX.

Adding sound effects becomes easier once the other layers are in place.

For example, if something explodes at the end of the video, I'll go to a sound effects website and search for "explosion."

You can do the same thing through YouTube. I'll download the sound and drag it into the timeline.

Now we simply need to place it exactly where the explosion happens.

The blast is here, so I'll place the sound at that point.

Let's play it and check.

You can add sound effects according to your preference. Download the sound, place it in the timeline and adjust it according to the action.

Don't add effects just because someone else is using them. Place whatever feels right for your video.

Now our dialogue, ambience, Foley and SFX are ready.

The last layer is music.

Layer 5: Music

Music plays an important role in the final sound design.

For this project, I need to use a copyright-free track.

If you're posting on YouTube, you need to be careful about copyright. Choose music that you have permission to use or that is covered by the appropriate licence.

Now let's play our video.

We've added a music track at a low volume so that it supports the scene without overpowering the dialogue.

And that's how we've completed the five layers of sound design.

You can move audio layers up or down and adjust them according to your project. You can use any editing software and organise the layers in a way that works for you.

Creating an Underwater Audio Effect

Keep one more thing in mind.

Sometimes, we need to create an underwater effect for audio. So, how do we do that?

I'll show you a simple example.

First, I'll turn off the other layers and keep only the dialogue open. Then I'll add some background music.

To create an underwater-style effect, go to the Effects panel.

Search for High/Low Pass and select Low Pass.

I'll set it to 400 Hz.

Now let's play the audio.

You can hear how the sound changes. The Low Pass filter reduces the higher frequencies, making the audio sound more muffled. This can help create an underwater-style effect.

Whenever I use dialogue in my Instagram videos, I sometimes use this kind of effect.

You can adjust it further depending on the result you want. I'll set it to 200 Hz and play it again.

Now you can hear the difference.

You can experiment with the settings and choose the result that works best for your scene.

That's how you can create this effect using a Low Pass filter.

Summary

Sound design is an important part of making videos feel complete and engaging. It helps turn ordinary footage into a more immersive experience.

In this tutorial, we covered the complete sound design process, including:

1. Five audio layers: Dialogue, ambience, Foley, SFX and music.
2. Music: Using different types of music to create different emotions and moods.
3. Dialogue recording: Recording voices outdoors and indoors while managing traffic, wind and background noise.
4. Audio recording with Audacity: Using Noise Reduction to reduce unwanted background noise.
5. Sound effects: Understanding whooshes, impacts, ambience and risers.
6. Foley recording: Creating realistic sounds for actions such as opening doors, using keys, lighting a match and tearing paper.
7. Timeline workflow: Organising dialogue, ambience, Foley, SFX and music in separate layers.
8. Underwater audio effect: Using a Low Pass filter to create a muffled sound.

The main idea is to work systematically and use sounds where they are actually needed. You don't need to add effects randomly. Focus on matching the audio with the visuals and the feeling of the scene.

FAQs

1. What is sound design in video editing?

Sound design is the process of recording, selecting, arranging and mixing audio elements to make a video feel more realistic and engaging. It includes dialogue, ambience, Foley, sound effects and music.

2. What are the five layers of sound design?

The five layers covered in this tutorial are:

1. Dialogue
2. Ambience
3. Foley
4. SFX
5. Music

Working with these layers helps keep the audio organised during editing.

3. What is ambience in sound design?

Ambience is the background sound of a location or environment. For example, a room may have a slight background noise, while an outdoor location may have traffic or environmental sounds. Adding suitable ambience helps make a scene feel more realistic.

4. What are Foley sounds?

Foley sounds are sounds recorded separately to match specific actions in a video. Examples include footsteps, opening a door, using keys, lighting a matchstick and tearing paper.

5. What is SFX in video editing?

SFX stands for sound effects. These are sounds added to a video to support movements, actions or events. Examples include whooshes, impacts, risers, thunder, glass breaking and explosions.

6. How do you remove background noise in Audacity?

Record a few seconds of background noise, select that portion, and go to Effect > Noise Reduction > Get Noise Profile. Then press Ctrl + A, open Noise Reduction again and select Repeat Noise Reduction.

7. Which software can you use for sound design?

You can use After Effects, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve to arrange audio layers and work on sound design. Audacity can also be used for audio recording and noise reduction.

8. How do you create an underwater audio effect?

You can use a Low Pass filter to reduce higher frequencies and create a muffled, underwater-style sound. In this tutorial, the effect is demonstrated at 400 Hz and then 200 Hz.

Conclusion

Sound design isn't just about adding background music or a few sound effects. It's about making every sound work with the visuals.

When you organise your audio into dialogue, ambience, Foley, SFX and music, the entire process becomes easier to manage.

Start by recording clear dialogue, add the right background sounds, create Foley for important movements and use sound effects only where they make sense. Finally, bring everything together with music.

Keep experimenting with different sounds and editing techniques. The more you practise, the better you'll understand how sound can change the way a scene feels.

In the next part, we'll talk about why video and audio quality can drop when you upload your content, how to improve that quality and when to post videos for better reach.

If you want to see that tutorial, leave a comment.

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Disclaimer

This blog is created for educational purposes to help video editors and content creators understand sound design, audio recording, sound effects, Foley recording and audio mixing techniques. The tools, software, microphones and platforms mentioned are examples used in the tutorial. Features and settings may vary depending on the software version and equipment.

Last Updated: October 30, 2026

This guide is reviewed and maintained by the EDISKOOL editorial team. It covers practical sound design workflows, audio recording techniques, Foley creation, sound effects and audio layering to help creators improve the overall sound quality and storytelling of their videos.