What's your approach to adding sound design and music to an animated explainer, and how do you ensure it enhances rather than distracts from the message?

My approach to sound design and music in animated explainers is rooted in complementing the visuals and reinforcing the message without overpowering it. I start by understanding the tone and purpose of the animation—whether it’s playful, professional, or emotionally engaging—and tailor the sound elements accordingly.

For instance:

Sound Effects: I use subtle, context-specific effects to accentuate actions or transitions, such as a soft "whoosh" for scene changes or a light "click" when a button is pressed. This adds depth and keeps the viewer engaged without being intrusive.

Music Selection: I choose tracks that match the pacing and mood of the animation. For an upbeat explainer about a tech product, a modern electronic track with a steady rhythm works well. For a healthcare-related video, I might opt for soothing, ambient music to create trust and reassurance.

Balancing Levels: To ensure clarity, I keep the music and sound effects at a lower volume than the voiceover. The voiceover always takes precedence, acting as the guide for the viewer.

Pauses and Silence: Strategic moments of quiet can be as impactful as sound. For example, during a pivotal question or call to action, reducing background noise draws attention to the key message.

Each element is carefully woven together to enhance storytelling while ensuring the message remains front and center.

When adding sound design and music to an animated explainer, my goal is to enhance the visuals and reinforce the message. Here's how I do it:

Understand the Message: I ensure the sounds and music align with the video's purpose, audience, and tone to match the intended mood.

Choose Wisely: I select music and effects that fit the vibe—whether upbeat, professional, or emotional—without overshadowing the voice-over or visuals.

Sync It Up: I time sound effects and transitions to key moments, emphasizing actions and ideas naturally.

Keep it Balanced: I adjust the volume so the music supports the story without competing with the narration.

Test for Impact: I test the final sound with a small audience to make sure it feels seamless and adds value.

This ensures the sound design feels purposeful and elevates the viewer's experience.

I focus on selecting music and sound effects that match the video's tone and purpose. Background music is subtle to support the narration, and sound effects are added sparingly to highlight key actions. Careful audio balancing ensures the voiceover stays clear, enhancing the message without distractions.

When adding sound design and music to an animated explainer, I focus on enhancing the message without overpowering it.

Keep it Simple: Sound effects highlight key actions or transitions—only where it matters.

Match the Mood: Choose background music that fits the tone—calm for professional, upbeat for fun.

Prioritize Voice: Voiceover always comes first. Music and effects are subtle and balanced to avoid distractions.

Dynamic Flow: Adjust volumes to keep things engaging, like softening music during explanations or building it during transitions.

Test & Tweak: Watch it back and adjust until everything feels natural and supportive of the story.

It’s all about subtlety—making the audio complement, not compete.

I believe that music in a video should always be kept at a low volume—just enough to complement the visuals without being intrusive. The longer the video, the lower the music volume should be, as loud music in a long video can become very annoying for the viewers. I prefer editing the video with the music already in place, as it allows me to synchronize scene transitions and icon appearances with the rhythm of the music.

I also love adding sound effects to each scene. I believe they give the video a professional touch, but it’s essential to choose them carefully to enhance the intended emotion of each moment. For instance, if you want to convey a sense of calm in a park scene, instead of focusing on nearby sounds (like children playing), it’s more effective to highlight elements that reinforce the feeling of serenity, such as birdsong. This helps to emphasize the emotion you want to convey to the audience.

To enhance an animated explainer with sound design and music, I:

1. Identify Key Script Moments: Place sound only where it emphasizes key points.

2. Match Tone and Genre: Select music that fits the brand and message subtly.

3. Keep It Subtle: Maintain low background music volume to keep focus on visuals and voiceover.

4. Use Sound Effects Sparingly: Add sounds for impact, not every action.

5. Sync for Smooth Pacing: Ensure audio aligns with visual flow and transitions.

6. Review and Adjust: Test for balance, ensuring sound supports the story without distracting.

Quote

The sound isn't just an afterthought —it's an essential storyteller that elevates the visuals and guides the audience's emotional journey.

When adding sound design and music to an animated explainer, my approach is all about symbiosis.

It's like an invisible narrator that speaks to the viewer’s subconscious, nudging them to feel exactly what the visuals are conveying while also bringing a whole new dimension to the experience.

The key to making sound work is ensuring it enhances, rather than competes with, the message. First, I zero in on the tone and personality of the brand, the animation's pacing, and the emotional beats the narrative needs to hit.

Suppose the animation is energetic and playful, the sound design will be bright, punchy, and filled with little rhythmic quirks — like a musical wink.

If the tone is serious or educational, the sound design must be subtle and grounding, ensuring clarity and focus.

To make sure the sound supports and never distracts, I rely on a few principles:

1. Less is more — Avoid cluttering the space with too many sounds or too complex a score. The sound should act like a secret handshake between the visuals and the viewer, not a shouting match. I choose sounds that are organic to the animation's flow — each sound has a purpose, whether it's punctuating a key point or creating seamless transitions.

2. Rhythm and timing — Just like editing, the sound needs to match the tempo of the animation. Whether it’s a quirky, syncopated rhythm for a lighthearted explainer or a subtle atmospheric hum for a more introspective message, the timing of the sound should mirror the visual beats.

3. Layering to create depth — A good sound design will have layers that build up and dissolve in harmony with the animation’s visual flow. I might introduce a soft background tone to maintain consistency, but as the animation ramps up in action or emotion, I introduce more dynamic elements — adding high-fidelity swooshes, impacts, or vocal cues that accentuate the moments.

4. Emotionally connected music — The music is the emotional pulse of the piece. Whether it’s an uplifting pop tune or a gentle ambient track, it should resonate with the core message and purpose. Music can help underscore the key emotional undertones — energizing the viewer, pulling them into the moment, or guiding them to reflect.

Ultimately, sound design and music should never steal the show; they should be the unsung heroes that make the visuals come to life. It’s about creating harmony, where every note, every swoosh, and every beat works in concert with the animation to tell a more compelling, dynamic, and memorable story.

For my projects, I always choose music that matches the concept. If the project is energetic, I go for fun or pop music,  if it's corporate, I choose something upbeat. I gradually increase the music volume and finish with a smooth fade-out.

The music and sound effects are kept at around -13 to -18 dB, depending on the voiceover. I use sound effects to highlight key elements, like whoosh sounds for camera zooms or paper turn sounds for swipes, and also include environmental sounds. To wrap up the video, I end with a gentle chime sound effect.