Is there a way to increase YouTube volume?

Improving Your YouTube Volume

Having your YouTube videos play at the right volume level is crucial for engaging viewers and enhancing the overall experience. If the volume is too low, people may struggle to hear the audio. But if it’s too loud, it can be jarring and drive viewers away.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key factors that impact perceived volume on YouTube and provide tips to help optimize and boost your audio levels. You’ll learn about YouTube’s normalization, how to adjust volume in Studio, utilizing compression, editing techniques, and third-party volume boosters. With the right approach, you can dial in the perfect volume for your YouTube content.

By the end, you’ll have actionable strategies to make your videos sound full, balanced, and professional no matter what speakers or devices they’re played on.

Current Default Volume

The current default volume on YouTube is set to 100%, which means videos will play at full volume when first opened (Source). This default setting applies across platforms and devices when watching YouTube videos. Many users have reported frustration with videos automatically playing loudly at 100% volume, especially when watching YouTube videos in public places or at night when volumes need to be lower.

According to a poll on Reddit, over 80% of respondents said YouTube videos play too loudly by default (Source). The poll indicates a majority of YouTube viewers feel the website should implement a lower default volume. Currently, there is no option within YouTube settings to set a default volume level lower than 100% for videos.

Why Volume Matters

Proper volume is crucial for an optimal viewer experience on YouTube. As this video explains, audio that is too loud or too quiet can negatively impact engagement. Viewers may click away from videos where they have to strain to hear the content. On the other hand, audio that blasts too loudly can be jarring and disruptive.

Getting volume right ensures your audience can comfortably hear the narration, music, and sound effects without having to adjust their device volume repeatedly. Balanced audio levels allow viewers to focus on your content rather than technical issues. Maintaining consistency in perceived loudness also helps in case YouTube inserts ads, which may have different volume normalization.

In short, dialing in proper volume keeps your audience engaged and creates a more professional, polished viewing experience. It’s an important optimization that directly impacts how your message is received.

Factors Influencing Perceived Volume

There are several key factors that can influence the perceived volume of a YouTube video, even if the actual volume level remains constant:

Internet Connection Speed – With a slower internet connection, YouTube may struggle to buffer and play the audio smoothly, which can make the volume sound lower or inconsistent. Faster internet speeds allow for better audio streaming and a more consistent perceived volume.

Device Speakers/Headphones – The size and quality of built-in speakers or headphones affects how loud and clear the audio sounds. Small smartphone speakers may struggle with bass frequencies, while large over-ear headphones can make audio much fuller. The equipment used impacts perceived volume.

Ambient Noise – Background noises like traffic or chatter can mask quieter sounds from a YouTube video, lowering the perceived volume. A noisy environment means the video volume needs to be higher to overcome it. Minimizing ambient noise improves perceived volume.

YouTube Volume Normalization

YouTube utilizes audio normalization technology to standardize the volume across videos on the platform. This means that YouTube scans uploaded videos and makes some adjustments to help prevent sudden volume spikes or drops when viewers click from one video to another.

For example, let’s say you’re watching a music video with a volume level of -12 LUFS (loudness units relative to full scale). The next video auto-plays and has a volume of -3 LUFS, which is significantly louder. YouTube’s normalization will turn down the volume on that second video so the loudness more closely matches the first video you were watching.

The goal is to maintain a relatively consistent perceived volume so viewers don’t have to keep adjusting their device volume as they go from video to video. This creates a smoother watching experience.

YouTube targets around -14 LUFS for their normalized audio level across the platform. So videos originally mastered at -14 LUFS won’t require much adjustment, while videos mastered at -3 LUFS or -20 LUFS will be turned up or down to hit that normalized target.

Adjusting Volume in YouTube Studio

One of the easiest ways to increase volume is directly through YouTube Studio. Here are the steps:

Access YouTube Studio and open the video you want to adjust.

Click on the “Edit” button.
Select the “Audio” tab in the video editor.
Adjust the “Volume” slider to boost the decibel level.

You can also adjust the “Enhancements” slider to add compression and normalize loud and quiet sounds.
Click “Preview” to test out your adjusted volume levels.
If satisfied, click “Save” to apply the changes to your video.

This allows you to easily turn up the volume within YouTube itself. Just be careful not to max out the slider, as too loud of a volume can cause quality issues. Find a balanced level that sufficiently increases loudness without distortion.

Using Compression

Compression is an audio effect that adjusts the dynamic range of an audio signal. It works by reducing the volume of loud sounds and amplifying quiet sounds. This has the effect of making the overall audio seem louder and more consistent in volume.

A compressor achieves this by setting a threshold level. Any sounds above the threshold get turned down in volume based on the compression ratio set. The higher the ratio, the more compression is applied. Typical ratios range from 2:1 to 10:1 or higher.

Applying moderate compression when mixing and mastering YouTube videos can help make the audio more consistent. It evens out erratic volume changes and makes quiet parts more audible. This boosts the perceived overall volume without actually increasing peak levels.

According to audio expert Warren Huart in his YouTube tutorial, the sweet spot for many compression applications is a ratio around 4:1 with a moderate threshold. This provides enough volume boost for consistency, without excessive pumping or distortion artifacts.

Optimizing in Editing

When editing your YouTube videos, it’s important to optimize the audio volume for the best viewer experience. Here are some best practices:

Aim for an average volume of -14 LUFS using loudness normalization. This aligns with YouTube’s recommendation.
Equalize the volume so there are no sudden loud or quiet parts. Use compression and limiting tools to even out the volume.
Watch your peaks, making sure the maximum volume doesn’t exceed -1 dB. Going above this risks distortion.

Listen on different devices to check the volume translates. Headphones, phone speakers, TV speakers all vary.

You’ll also want to avoid:

Letting the volume go too high or low at any point. Stay within a reasonable range throughout.

Overcompressing to the point of losing dynamics and flattening everything.
Boosting the master volume to extremely loud levels that hurt the ears.
Having the music or sound effects disproportionately loud compared to dialogue.

Optimizing the volume while editing is crucial, as you can’t change it after uploading. Putting in the effort upfront ensures your audio is balanced and pleasant for viewers.

Third-Party Volume Boosters

There are various third-party volume booster tools available that can help increase the volume on YouTube videos.

Some examples include:

Volume Booster for YouTubeTM – A Chrome extension that boosts volume on YouTube videos.
FxSound – Audio enhancement software for Windows and Mac that can boost YouTube volume.
Video Converter Factory – Provides a YouTube Volume Booster tool for PC and Mac.

The main pros of using third-party volume boosters are:

They allow you to increase the volume beyond YouTube’s built-in maximum.
Some work across multiple sites and are not limited to just YouTube.

They give you more control over the volume boost amount.

Some potential cons to be aware of include:

Extensions may not work on mobile devices.

Downloading new software can pose security risks.
Audio quality may suffer from excessive boosting.
May cause volume inconsistencies between videos.

Overall, third-party volume boosters provide a way to get louder volume if needed, but should be used with caution to avoid potential downsides.

Conclusion

In closing, there are a few key takeaways to keep in mind when optimizing your YouTube video volume.

First, be aware that YouTube normalizes audio by default to a standard loudness target, which can make some videos seem quieter. Use compression and normalization tools in your editing software to maximize loudness before uploading.

Additionally, check your levels in YouTube Studio and adjust the master volume slider if needed to boost quiet videos. However, take care not to over-compress or clip the audio, as this can degrade quality.

Third-party plugins like Booster can provide extra volume gain, but test them thoroughly first. Over-boosting volume can cause distortion.

Finally, remember that perceived volume is influenced by many factors, from device and headphone differences to your viewers’ listening environment. Optimize as much as possible, but don’t rely on volume alone to engage your audience.

By following these tips, you can deliver the best possible viewing experience for your YouTube viewers.