No video that you edit is complete without great audio. But how can you give your projects a professional voiceover? If you don’t have access to a pro studio setup, can you make a voiceover narration on the go? With CapCut, the answer is absolutely.
In this full tutorial, you’ll learn everything you need to know about voiceovers in CapCut. CapCut, a powerful and free video editing app, includes an array of tools to create voiceovers that make an impact. It’s a leading tool to have in your pocket for video narration in 2024 and beyond. Let’s learn how.
Why record voiceovers for your CapCut videos?
If you’ve watched a TV show or documentary, you’ve heard a voiceover. Ditto for commercials, marketing videos, promos, and more.
Voiceovers are simply spoken words that appear on a video. They’re not spoken by people actively showing onscreen - that’s dialogue. Rather, voiceovers are recorded independently of video footage. Then, they’re overlaid with the footage.
So, what are the benefits of voiceovers on video? And why should you use CapCut to create these voiceovers? In fact, the benefits are many. While this adds a few extra steps to your editing workflow, it’s worthwhile.
Voiceover narrations are an essential element in many video genres. Here’s why you should bring them to your own video work with CapCut:
- You’ll build and boost audience engagement. Videos, especially social media videos, are a constant struggle for attention. You need some way to stand out from countless other videos that your audience encounters. With voice, you can capture viewer attention and hold their focus.
- Voiceovers can add context and improve clarity. Voiceovers are a good way to explain details of your video. You’re able to speak about what viewers are seeing onscreen.
- CapCut’s built-in tools make the process almost effortless. Voiceover features are included in CapCut for free. What does that mean to you? In short - you don’t need costly video or audio software to make your own voiceovers. Plus, you can do it on-the-go.
- Videos become more accessible with voiceovers added. Voiceovers are valuable to visually impaired viewers. They’re also useful for people who prefer learning by listening, rather than watching.
The benefits are clear: CapCut voiceovers are a compelling way to improve your videos. Now, let’s explore how they work and how to create voiceovers of your own - step by step.
How to create and record voiceovers in CapCut (step by step guide)
CapCut’s mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices. For this tutorial, I’ll demonstrate using CapCut voiceovers on an Apple iPhone. Desktop versions of the app are also available, with Windows and Mac versions offered.
In the background of the tutorial, you’ll see a stock video clip in use. I downloaded it from Envato Elements. You can click here to do the same, if you want to follow along.
1. Create or open a CapCut video project
In CapCut, video files are called projects. Projects group all of your multimedia together, be it videos, voiceovers, or sound effects. Plus, they give you access to editing tools and effects to enhance your work.
Open CapCut on your device, and make sure you’re working on the Edit tab. You’ll see that it’s accessible in the lower left corner of your screen. Choose Edit, and you’ll be on CapCut’s home project gallery. In the center, you’ll see thumbnails for any existing CapCut projects that you’ve already created. And just above it, you’ll see the blue New project button.
To make a brand-new project, choose New project. Your Camera Roll will open. From this, you can choose and import one or more video clips. Once you’ve done this, you’re taken to CapCut’s main Edit view. It’s here that the magic happens. It’s where you produce amazing productions from start to finish!
2. Find and open the audio menu panel in CapCut
Central on the Edit view is the video preview. It’s here that edits and changes made to your source footage will appear in real time.
Below the preview is the Timeline. It works like a filmstrip. It’s here that you will move, rearrange, and trim both video and audio files. The Timeline controls the flow and pace of your videos.
Down at the bottom of CapCut’s menu screen is the toolbar menu. It’s a row of buttons that take you to CapCut’s array of editing features. Reading from the left, you’ll see options like Edit, Audio, Text, Effects, and more.
Ready to add your first voiceover in CapCut? Find the Audio button and tap it. CapCut’s Audio panel will launch, and your voiceover creation process is underway!
3. Record a voiceover narration inside the app
With CapCut, you don’t have only one option for creating a voiceover. In fact, there are three good ways. First, you can record audio right inside the app. You can also import an existing recorded voiceover.
And finally, you can generate a voiceover automatically from a script that you type in. We’ll touch on all three options here. First, let’s learn how to record a voiceover in CapCut.
Look to the toolbar again, after you’ve chosen the Audio panel. You can see that it’s now transformed to feature audio and sound-related tools. To record your own voiceover in CapCut, choose the third option from left: Voiceover.
When you tap the Voiceover button, the Voiceover menu launches. Front and center is a blue microphone. This controls your spoken narration! You have two options to activate it.
First, you can tap the mic icon. A three-second countdown will begin. Once it completes, you’re actively recording! Speak into your microphone until you’re finished. Then, press the icon again to stop the recording. You can always start and stop to generate multiple clips.
Second, you can press and hold the microphone icon as you speak. This is better for shorter voiceovers - but remember, if you let go, your recording instantly stops.
The buttons on each side of the mic let you add audio effects to enhance your voice. Some features are available only for the Pro version of CapCut. But free options are available to filter your spoken narration. Press the Checkmark icon when you’re finished.
4. Other voiceover options: imported sound recordings for high quality narration
What if you’ve recorded a voiceover already, and want to use it with your CapCut video? This is a great option, too! There’s no perfect substitute for professional studio-grade audio. And with CapCut, you can import recordings to use as voiceovers.
To do this, return to the main Audio panel in CapCut. This time, choose the Sounds button, instead of the Voiceover button. On the menu that pops up, navigate to the All tab. Then, choose the Folder icon. Then, choose Device.
A file browser launches. Navigate to a stored audio file on your device and tap to import it. This way, you can place pre-recorded voiceovers right onto your Timeline.
5. Text to audio: generate voiceovers with AI
What if you want a voiceover, but don’t want to record it yourself? Sure, you could hire a professional narrator. But those don’t come cheap. To quickly get a new voice, you can use CapCut’s Text to audio tool.
Access it by returning once again to the Audio panel. On the toolbar, next choose Text to audio. A text panel appears. Here, you can type in text. Think of this text as a script for your CapCut voiceover. You can also paste into the box if you’ve got text written and stored elsewhere.
When you’ve added text, go below to the Select voice tool. Choose More voices. Here, you can select from a sizable number of AI human voice options. Those labeled Pro are part of CapCut’s premium tier. But you can find many that are completely free. Choose a voice and hit Next. CapCut will produce an AI voiceover from your script!
6. Trim audio clips to fit the pace of a video
However you choose to create a voiceover, you’ll find the results on the Timeline. Return back to the main Edit view to see this. Video clips appear at the top of the Timeline. Audio clips appear just below, voiceovers included.
Once you’ve recorded a voiceover, you may want to trim the clip into multiple parts. This is the easiest way to sync voiceovers to the action onscreen. To trim a voiceover, move the Playhead to a position where you want to split your audio clips. The Playhead is the vertical white bar on the Timeline.
With the Playhead in place, tap on the audio clip to select it. Watch the toolbar transform once again.
Now, it shows audio features again. To trim (split) a clip, choose the Split button. Your audio track now splits into two! This way, you can independently move sections of narration on the Timeline.
7. Place voiceovers on the timeline
Whether or not you choose to split voiceovers, you can move your voiceover tracks on the Timeline. This way, your spoken narration will start and end exactly where you want.
Moving audio clips on CapCut’s Timeline is very easy. To do it, find an audio track that you want to reposition. Then, press and hold down on it with your finger. Drag left or right, and CapCut will move the audio into a new position. As always, you can try out different placements to find just the right fit.
Learn more CapCut tips and tricks for better videos in 2024
Voiceover tools are one of CapCut’s many useful features. Are you now ready to elevate your CapCut skills and take your videos to the next level?
Here at Envato Tuts+, we have plenty of leading CapCut tutorials to help with that. Boost knowledge right away by exploring these tutorial guides for CapCut:
How to quickly add transitions in CapCut
CapCut: How to Quickly Use Green Screen (Chroma Key)
How to create picture-in-picture videos in CapCut
How to Quickly Remove a CapCut Watermark
How safe is it to use CapCut? Is CapCut safe for kids?
Record a CapCut Voiceover Narration Today
In this comprehensive tutorial, I showed you how to create your own voiceovers in CapCut. With the suite of Voiceover features in the app, it’s a simple and straightforward process.
You have several good options. You can record instantly, import audio, or generate a voiceover with AI using a script. Whichever option you choose, you’ll transform and enhance the quality of all your CapCut productions.
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