How a Pro Video Editor Sound Designs a Scene (Tutorial)

When people think of video editing, they usually think picture first—cutting visuals, matching pace. But honestly, one of the best ways to level up as an editor is through sound design. In this video, I walk you through my live process of designing sound for a cinematic motorcycle scene, and I don’t cut a thing. You see everything—my searches, selections, mistakes, and adjustments—as if sitting behind a pro editor.

We start with the basics: ambient forest sounds. I show how I build up the background using subtle WAV files from Artlist (affiliate link) and talk about ideal volume ranges (aiming for around -24 dB for ambiance). From there, I hunt for specific sound effects like footsteps on leaves, motorcycle engine starts, and birds that match the setting. There’s a good lesson here on how realism and emotion sometimes clash—and why I swapped out a car engine for an authentic Ducati rev.

Throughout the edit, I demonstrate:

• How to use adjectives in sound searches to find better matches (e.g., "nature ambiance quiet")

• Layering effects like wind and wooshes to emphasize movement and perspective shifts

• Mixing levels for clarity: ambiance (-18 to -24 dB), sound effects (-12 to -18 dB), and music as the hero when there's no dialogue

• Leveraging fades and compressors to blend everything naturally

It’s messy, experimental, and that’s the point. Sound design is about trying things, failing fast, and refining. Whether you're working on your reel or just practicing, this walkthrough gives you a practical framework—and a few tricks to add more depth to your edits.

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.