Why background music is essential
A voice alone on silence sounds clinical and cold. Background music dresses the message, creates atmosphere and guides the listener's emotion. In radio, a spot without sound design sounds immediately amateur.
Golden rules of mixing
Voice is king: background music must never overpower the voice. Generally, music should be 10-15 dB below voice level.
Automatic ducking: on SpeakRadio, background music automatically dips when the voice speaks. This intelligent ducking ensures clarity without manual intervention.
Intro and outro: leave 1-2 seconds of music alone at the start and end. It gives the message breathing room.
Choosing the right background
Match the mood: corporate for business spots, festive for events, modern beat for young audiences. Music should amplify the message, not contradict it.
Avoid cliches: generic acoustic guitar and happy ukulele are overused. Stay coherent with your sonic identity.
Common mistakes
Music too loud: mistake number 1. If listeners strain to hear the voice, it's failed.
Wrong tempo: fast music over a slow message creates dissonance. Match the music rhythm to voice pace.
Too many variations: backgrounds with lots of breaks and buildups distract from the voice.
The ideal workflow
Choose voice and intonation first, then select complementary background music. Generate and listen on different devices. In 2 minutes, it's ready.
