How to Create a Sound on TikTok: Complete Guide for Creators

You've seen it happen. Someone creates a catchy sound on TikTok, and suddenly it's everywhere. Thousands of creators are using it, remixing it, and making it their own.

That's the power of original audio on TikTok. But here's what most people don't realize: creating your own sound isn't some secret skill reserved for viral creators.

It's incredibly simple.

If you're wondering how to create a sound on TikTok, you're in the right place. Whether you're a marketer looking to boost brand awareness, an ecommerce seller wanting to create signature audio for your products, or a creator building your personal brand, custom sounds are one of the most underutilized tools in your TikTok arsenal.

Let's change that.

• Recording directly in TikTok automatically creates a new sound when you publish your video. No extra steps needed
• Original sounds boost discoverability by creating a dedicated sound page where all videos using your audio appear
• Quality matters more than equipment. Clear audio without background noise is essential for other creators to use your sound
• Strategic sound creation can establish your brand identity and make your content more shareable
• Voiceovers and voice effects added during editing become part of your custom sound automatically

Let me be straight with you: original sounds are marketing gold.

When you create a sound on TikTok, you're not just adding audio to one video. You're creating a piece of content that can live beyond your account.

Other creators can discover it, use it, and inadvertently promote your content to their audiences. Each time someone uses your sound, their video links back to your original post.
For marketers and business owners, this is huge.

Think about it. Your brand message, your product jingle, or your catchy phrase spreading organically across thousands of videos.

That's reach you can't buy with ads alone.

Here's what original sounds can do for you:

• Build brand recognition through repeated audio exposure
• Create viral trends that center around your content
• Establish thought leadership in your niche
• Drive traffic back to your profile through sound attribution
• Community engagement and user-generated content

The best part?

Creating sounds doesn't require expensive equipment or audio engineering skills. At the bare minimum, all you need is something you already have. Your smartphone.

This is the easiest way to create a sound on TikTok. When you record a video directly in the app, TikTok automatically converts your audio into a sound that others can use. Simple as that.

1. Open TikTok and tap the '+' button

You'll find this at the bottom center of your screen. It's your gateway to content creation. You’re likely already familiar with where this button is.

2. Tap 'Record' to start filming

Hold down the red record button to capture your video. You can record in segments or all at once. The method depends on your preferences and whatever works for your content. The audio you record here will become your sound.

3. Add your voiceover (optional)

After recording, you can enhance your sound by adding a voiceover. Tap the 'Voiceover' option in the right-hand panel. This is perfect for adding commentary, instructions, or storytelling elements to your video.

4. Apply voice effects (optional)

Want to make your sound more distinctive? Use the 'Voice effects' option to modify your audio. You can make it deeper, higher, add echo, or use other creative effects. This can help your sound stand out in a crowded feed.

5. Edit and finalize your video

Add text, filters, and any other effects you want. Just remember: don't tap 'Add Sound' from the TikTok library. If you do, your video will use that library sound instead of creating your original audio.

6. Post your video

Once you hit 'Post,' your original audio becomes a TikTok sound. Done.

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Register Your Account

After publishing, you'll see a spinning record icon at the bottom right of your video. Tap it. This takes you to your sound's dedicated page, where you'll see:

• The sound name (initially labeled as "Original sound - [your username]")
• All videos using this sound
• Options to favorite the sound
• The ability to use it in new videos

Pro tip: Rename your sound to something memorable and searchable. A good name makes it easier for other creators to find and use your audio.

Want more control over your sound? The 'Adjust Clips' feature lets you trim and refine your audio with precision.

Here's how it works:

Select your clips: After recording, tap 'Adjust Clips' in the editing menu. You'll see all your video segments laid out.

Trim your audio: Drag the edges of each clip to select only the portions you want. This is perfect for:

• Extracting the catchiest part of a song
• Isolating a specific sound bite
• Removing awkward pauses or background noise
• Creating tight, punchy audio loops

Remove silence: Cut out any dead air at the beginning or end. Tight editing makes your sound more usable for other creators. Nobody wants to use a sound that starts with three seconds of silence.

Fine-tune the timing: Make sure your audio aligns perfectly with your visual content. The better the sync, the more professional your sound appears.

This method gives you studio-level control without leaving the TikTok app. It's especially useful for creating engaging short-form video content that stands out.

Voiceovers are powerful for creating distinctive sounds. After all, voices are, by default, unique. They add personality, provide context, and make your content more accessible

1. Record your video first: Get your visual content down. You can record with or without original audio. It doesn't matter because you'll be adding the voiceover later.

2. Tap 'Voiceover' in the editing panel: You'll find this on the right side of the screen after you finish recording.

3. Select the section for your voiceover: Drag the red bar to choose where your voiceover begins and ends. You can narrate the entire video or just specific sections.

4. Hit record and speak: Tap the record button and start talking. Speak clearly and close to your phone's microphone for the best quality.

5. Review and adjust: Listen to your voiceover. If you don't like it, delete it and try again. There's no limit to retakes. It’s worth it to spend a few more minutes to get the voiceover right.

6. Adjust volume levels: Use the volume slider to balance your voiceover against any background music or original audio. 

You don’t want the voiceover audio to overpower the voiceover. That’s the fastest way to make the video annoying and tank viewership.

When you publish, your voiceover becomes part of the sound. This is perfect for:

• Tutorial content with step-by-step instructions
• Product demonstrations with explanations
• Storytelling videos with narration
• Educational content with commentary
• Brand messaging with a consistent voice

Many successful TikTok marketers use voiceovers to create signature sounds that become associated with their brand. Think of it as audio branding.

Sometimes you want to use audio from outside TikTok. That could be a song from Spotify, a podcast clip, or audio from another app. The screen recording method makes this possible.

Important note: Always respect copyright laws. Only use audio you have permission to use or that falls under fair use guidelines. You can learn more about fair use here.

1. Enable screen recording: On iPhone, add Screen Recording to your Control Center. On Android, most devices have built-in screen recording in the quick settings.

2. Play your desired audio: Open the app with the audio you want to capture. It could be a music app, video player, or any other source.

3. Start screen recording: Begin recording your screen, then play the audio. Let it run for the duration you want to capture.

4. Stop recording: Save the screen recording to your camera roll.

5. Upload to TikTok: Instead of recording new content, upload the screen recording as your video. TikTok will extract the audio.

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Start For Free

6. Edit as needed: Trim the video, add effects, or layer new visuals over it. The audio from your screen recording becomes your TikTok sound.

This method is a workaround, but it's effective. Just be mindful of audio quality—screen recordings can sometimes pick up notification sounds or other interference. You can use third-party tools to clean up the audio before uploading to TikTok.

Creating a sound is easy. Creating a sound that people want to use? That requires strategy and effort.

Your audio needs to be crisp and clear. Background noise, echo, and muffled sound make your audio unusable for other creators. Here's how to ensure quality:

Record in quiet environments: Find a space with minimal background noise. Close windows, turn off fans, and silence notifications.

Get close to the microphone: Your phone's mic is designed for close-range recording. Hold it 6-12 inches from your mouth for optimal clarity.

Use external mics when possible: A simple lavalier mic or phone-compatible microphone dramatically improves quality. You don't need expensive gear. Even a $20 mic makes a difference over the built-in mic of your phone.

Test your audio: Record a few seconds, play it back, and listen critically. If you hear issues, fix them before recording your full content.

If you're using TikTok for business, your sounds should serve your marketing goals. Here's how to think strategically:

Create brand-specific audio signatures: Develop sounds that are uniquely yours. Use them generously in your content. You can make it a signature of your brand as part of the intro or even the outro. This could be:

• A catchy jingle or tagline
• Your brand name said in a distinctive way
• A sound effect associated with your products
• A phrase that encapsulates your brand values

Make it repeatable and remixable: The best viral sounds are easy to recreate. Other creators should be able to use your sound without specialized equipment or skills.

Include a call-to-action: Subtle CTAs in your audio can drive action. "Show me how you..." or "Tag someone who..." encourages participation.

Align with trending topics: Create sounds that tap into current conversations in your niche. Timeliness increases the likelihood of adoption. With that being said, it also gives your sound a shelf-life, so take that into consideration.

Keep it short and punchy: The most shareable sounds are typically 5-15 seconds. Longer sounds work for specific content types, but shorter is usually better for virality.

For more insights on leveraging automated short-form video creation for your marketing strategy, check out our comprehensive guide.

Creating the sound is just the beginning. You need to make it discoverable if you want to get tangible results. After all, millions of searches are performed on TikTok every day. Optimizing your sound right could result in massive exposure

The default name "Original sound - [username]" isn't doing you any favors. Rename it to something:

Descriptive: Tell people what the sound is. "Upbeat Morning Motivation" is better than "My Sound #1"

Searchable: Include keywords people might search for. Think about how users would look for this type of audio. If the audio is for a specific niche, even better.

Memorable: Make it catchy enough that people remember it and can find it again.

Brand-aligned: If it's for business, include your brand name or product. Keep in mind that this may limit reach, but ensure those using it are more engaged.

To rename a sound, go to your sound page (tap the spinning record icon on your video) and tap the three dots. Select "Edit sound name" and update it.

Favorite your own sounds: Add them to your favorites so you can easily access them for future videos. This also signals to TikTok that the sound is worth promoting.

Create multiple videos with the same sound: The more you use your own sound, the more TikTok understands its context and can recommend it to others.

Encourage others to use it: Ask your audience to create content with your sound. User-generated content builds momentum.

Check your sound page regularly to see:

• How many videos are using your sound
• Which types of content creators are using it
• How your sound is being remixed or reinterpreted
• Engagement metrics on videos using your sound

This data helps you understand what resonates and informs your future sound creation strategy.

Adding Library Sounds to Your Video

If you tap "Add Sound" and select music from TikTok's library, your video will use that sound—not create a new one. Your original audio gets replaced. Only add library sounds if you specifically want to use someone else's audio.

Poor Audio Quality

Muffled, noisy, or echo-filled audio won't get used by other creators. It's that simple. Invest time in recording clean audio.

Copyright Violations

Using copyrighted music or audio without permission can get your video taken down and potentially get your account banned. Stick to original content or properly licensed audio.

Forgetting to Remove Silence

Sounds that start or end with long pauses are annoying to use. Trim them tight so you don’t give other creators extra work.

Making It Too Complex

If your sound requires specific context or setup to make sense, most creators won't use it. Keep it versatile and universally applicable. That said, some complex audio has performed well. Test it out. Make most audio simple and a few of them a bit more complex.

Not Promoting Your Sound

Creating a great sound and hoping it goes viral is like writing a book and never marketing it. You need to actively promote your sounds through your content strategy.

Product Launch Sounds

Create a distinctive sound for new product launches. Make it catchy, memorable, and tied to your product's unique value proposition. Encourage customers to create unboxing or review videos using your sound.

Educational Series Sounds

If you're creating tutorial content, use the same sound intro for each video in the series. This builds recognition and helps viewers identify your educational content instantly.

Brand Storytelling

Share your brand story through audio. A 15-second sound bite about your mission, values, or origin story can be powerful when other creators share it.

User-Generated Content Campaigns

Create a challenge sound that encourages customers to show how they use your product. The sound becomes the thread connecting all campaign content.

Seasonal or Event-Based Sounds

Develop sounds for specific seasons, holidays, or events relevant to your business. This creates timely, shareable content that capitalizes on existing search behavior.

For ecommerce marketers specifically, original sounds can showcase product features, highlight customer testimonials, or create memorable brand moments that drive purchase intent.

You can't improve what you don't measure. Here's how to track your sound's performance:

Number of videos using your sound: The primary indicator of sound adoption. More videos = more reach.

View counts on the sound page: Shows total views across all videos using your sound. This demonstrates overall reach and impact.

Follower growth correlation: Track if your follower count increases when your sounds gain traction. Sound virality often drives profile visits.

Engagement on videos using your sound: Look at likes, comments, and shares on videos using your audio. High engagement suggests your sound resonates.

Sound page visit rate: How many people tap through to your sound page from your videos? This indicates interest in using your audio.

TikTok's native analytics (available for Pro accounts) provides some sound data, but it's limited. For deeper insights:

• Manually track your sound's usage weekly
• Screenshot your sound page to document growth
• Monitor hashtags associated with your sound
• Use third-party TikTok analytics tools for comprehensive data

Based on your business objectives, set specific goals:

• •Brand awareness: Target X number of videos using your sound per month

•  Engagement: Aim for Y average engagement rate on videos with your sound

• Conversion: Track how many sound users convert to followers or customers

• Reach: Monitor total views across all videos using your sounds

Regular measurement helps you understand the types of sounds that resonate with your audience and informs your content strategy moving forward.

Running into problems? Here are solutions to common issues:

"My sound isn't appearing on my video"

This usually means you accidentally added a library sound. Delete the video and re-record without selecting any sounds from the library. Your original recorded audio will automatically become the sound.

"Other creators can't find my sound"

Make sure you've:
• Published the video (drafts don't create searchable sounds)
• Renamed the sound to something searchable
• Made your account public (private accounts have limited sound discoverability)
• Given it time—new sounds take a few hours to become fully searchable

"The audio quality is poor"

Record in a quieter environment, get closer to your phone's microphone, or invest in an external mic. Also, check that your phone's microphone isn't blocked or damaged.

"My sound got removed"

This typically happens due to copyright violations. If you used copyrighted music or audio without permission, TikTok will remove it. Stick to original content or properly licensed audio.

Sometimes, the algorithm makes mistakes. You may need to upload it again without changes. Only do this is you're sure there are no issues with the audio. 

"The sound doesn't sync with my video"

Use the 'Adjust Clips' feature to fine-tune timing. You can also record your video and audio separately, then sync them during editing for perfect alignment

Here's the bottom line: creating sounds on TikTok isn't complicated, but it IS strategic. Whether you choose the simple direct recording method or invest in professional audio equipment, the key is to start creating original audio that represents your brand and resonates with your audience.

Remember these essential points:

• Quality over quantity - One great sound beats ten mediocre ones
• Keep it simple - The easiest sounds to recreate spread the fastest
• Be consistent - Develop a recognizable audio style
• Promote strategically - Don't just create sounds; actively encourage their use
• Monitor and adapt - Pay attention to what works and refine your approach

So here's your action step: Open TikTok right now. Tap that '+' button. Record something—anything—and publish it. Your first original sound doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to exist. 

Now get out there and make some noise.