How to get clean audio for TikTok on just a phone
People scroll past muddy, echoey audio faster than they scroll past a slightly soft picture. The good news is that most audio problems come from the room and the distance, not from the phone.
Get the mic close
The phone's microphone is usually at the bottom edge. The closer your mouth is to it, the louder your voice is compared with the room. At arm's length you are already far; on a tripod two metres away the room wins.
If you are filming from a distance, record the voice separately on a second phone held near you, then line the two up in an editor.
Choose a soft room
Hard, empty rooms echo. Bedrooms with a bed, curtains and a wardrobe of clothes sound far better than kitchens or bathrooms.
A quick test: clap once. If you hear a ring after the clap, viewers will hear it behind every word.
Kill the background noise before you press record
Turn off fans and air conditioners for the take, close windows, and put the fridge out of earshot if you can. Noise removal in apps works, but it also makes voices sound thin and robotic.
Watch for noise you no longer notice: a ticking clock, a laptop fan, traffic. Record ten seconds of silence and play it back with headphones.
When to buy a mic
A wired or wireless clip-on (lavalier) mic is the single biggest upgrade for talking videos, and decent ones are inexpensive. Clip it on your chest a hand's width below the chin.
Check it works with your phone's connector before buying, and test once whether TikTok's in-app camera uses it. If not, record in the phone's camera app and upload.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my voice sound distant when filming on a tripod?
The phone's mic is usually at its bottom edge, and the further your mouth is from it, the more the room drowns you out. At a couple of metres away, the room wins.
How can I tell if a room will sound echoey on video?
Clap once. If you hear a ring after the clap, viewers will hear that echo behind every word. Soft rooms with beds, curtains and clothes sound far better.
Where should I place a clip-on microphone?
Clip it on your chest about a hand's width below the chin. Check it works with your phone's connector, and test whether the in-app camera actually uses it.