How to increase music and video volume without distorting the sound

This skill is easy to learn and can be applied to any audio or video editing software you commonly use.

What you need

To enhance the sound of your music or video, you will need the right software. We will be using free audio and video editors, all of which are great software that have been around for decades.

If you just need to enhance an audio file, use Audacity and follow the first tutorial. If you have video and want to enhance the volume, follow the second tutorial for DaVinci Resolve.

The audio enhancement technique is very simple and not tied to any specific software, so if you already use an audio or video editor, then you can apply this technique and get the same results.

How to increase audio file volume using Audacity

Increasing the volume of an audio file using Audacity is incredibly simple and this is a really useful audio editing tip that you need to know.

Open Audacity and drag your audio file into the workspace. Press the spacebar to play the audio and see the volume in the upper right corner of the window. Note the loudest volume it reaches - it's best to test at the loudest setting. Volume numbers range from -54 at the lowest setting to 0 db at the loudest, anything above this will distort the audio.

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Adjust the audio gain by moving the slider labeled plus and minus. This slider is located just below the Effects button and you can double-check by hovering over the slider to see "Gain: +0.0 dB".

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Press the spacebar to play the sound, then move the slider towards the + icon to increase the volume and make it louder. As you move the slider, pay attention to the playback level in the upper right corner of the window and you will see the volume increase.

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Set the gain so that the playback volume is close to 0 dB but does not exceed it. Aim for -12 to -6 dB for good volume. Always check the loudest part of the audio to make sure it does not go above 0 dB and start to distort.

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When you're happy with the audio levels, highlight the audio track by clicking on the audio region name, then click File > Export > Export as WAV (or Export as MP3 ). Rename the file and click Save .

You can see this difference when you compare the old audio file with the new audio file in Audacity.

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If you like this software, be sure to check out all the other great creative uses for Audacity that make it so much more than just a great audio editor.

How to increase video file audio using DaVinci Resolve

Increasing the volume of a video file follows a similar process, but instead of an audio editing software, we will be using a video editor. Just look for the gain control in the software you are using, and with many free video editors, you can use any of them and apply this technique.

Open DaVinci Resolve and start a new project. Drag and drop your video into the edit timeline, then click on the audio tab at the bottom of the screen. It's easy to find because it's represented by a musical note.

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Once you are in the audio editor window, use the two sliders on the toolbar, just above the audio. This will allow you to see a thin white line running across the entire audio region.

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Click and hold the white line and drag it up or down to change the gain of the audio. To increase the volume, drag the line up. You'll want to do this while looking at the volume meter labeled Bus 1, which you'll find in the upper right corner of the window and also just to the right of your audio area.

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Adjust the gain by moving the white line while looking at the Bus 1 volume meter, being careful not to push it all the way to 0 dB or it will sound very bad and distorted. The sound should be around -10 to -5.

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Once you're happy with your audio levels, return to the video editor window using the navigation tabs at the bottom of the screen. You can now export your video with your newly enhanced audio. To do this, click File > Quick Export and select the video settings you require.

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By using the right tools and tweaking a few key settings, you can increase the volume of your music and videos without sacrificing sound quality. Use these techniques to make your favorite music and videos louder without distorting the sound.

David Pac

Update 02 October 2024