Doodly Beginner Tutorial

When to Include Music

Beginner Tutorial #23

When to Include Music


Working with Audio

This document suggests different types situations in which music is necessary and when to cut back on the music. It provides insight into the different types of doodles that would require louder music than others and the suggested average for those music levels.

Note: Any suggestions of volume level are subject to the music chosen and the Doodly software capabilities. These numbers are suggestions only and may be varied to individuals desired levels.

Professional or Non-Scary Storytime Doodles


Doodly 101

These are doodles with a presenter and voiceover designed to say to the viewer say look at me and watch me to the end. A very light music in the background is desirable. Between 3% – 5% so it is not competing with the voiceover and is almost indistinguishable and the viewer doesn’t even know it is there while the presenter is speaking. The music will act as a catch all for when the presenter is not speaking.

Scary Doodles

These are doodles that require that loud music to put us on the edge of our seat. These doodles or video productions require fast paced doodles, slow recording voices, story and louder scary music. In addition, that music cannot compete with the voiceover but must be scary and louder in the most extreme parts where the commenter is not speaking. The music level varies from 4% – 10% while the commenter is speaking and from 11% – 20% while the commenter is not speaking or in really intense moment areas.

Presentation Doodles

These are doodles without a voiceover and are strictly presentation. They are used for an assortment of projects but mainly seen within the service industry. The music level in these doodles tends to be higher with in between a level of 30% to 45%.

Newcaster or Conversational Doodles

These are doodles that are presenting the news or holding a conversation between 2 or more people. In this case, music is typically not desired and may be more of a distraction than an enhancement. The focus on this case is the conversation or reporter and not the music. It is okay to have dead space for 1 to 3 maximum. People are accustomed to this with the current news reporting systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions regarding this topic.

For professional videos with someone speaking, it is best to keep the music very quiet. A volume level around three to five percent is ideal. This ensures the music does not overpower the speaker, acting simply as a subtle background sound that fills in any silent pauses.

In thrilling or frightening videos, music plays a key role in building suspense. The volume should be kept between four and ten percent while someone is talking. When the speaker stops or during highly intense scenes, you can increase the music to eleven to twenty percent to keep the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.

Yes, if your video only features visuals without anyone speaking, the music should be much more noticeable. These types of visual presentations, which are often used by service businesses, typically work best with the music volume set anywhere from thirty to forty five percent.

It is generally better to leave music out of videos that feature a news report or a conversation between multiple people. Adding background tracks to these formats can distract the audience from the spoken dialogue. Leaving a few seconds of silence is perfectly fine and feels natural to viewers.

No, the recommended audio levels are simply helpful guidelines. The perfect volume will always depend on the specific audio track you select and your own personal preferences. You should feel free to adjust the sound settings within the software until it sounds just right for your specific project.

About the author

Copy Image
Copy Image URL
Download Image
Support