---
title: 'Use This Trick to Instantly Boost Viewer Retention'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=N8oLyjzAfik'
video_id: 'N8oLyjzAfik'
date: 2026-07-29
duration_sec: 412
---

# Use This Trick to Instantly Boost Viewer Retention

> Source: [Use This Trick to Instantly Boost Viewer Retention](https://youtube.com/watch?v=N8oLyjzAfik)

## Summary

This video is a beginner's guide to using sound design in YouTube videos to boost viewer retention. The creator explains three easy places to add sound effects: b-roll, transitions, and text, and discusses common mistakes and where to find sounds.

### Key Points

- **Brain Reward from Sound** [00:01] — Sound design gives the brain a little reward or 'high', motivating viewers to continue watching.
- **Three Easy Places for Sound Design** [00:40] — Creators should focus on b-roll, transitions, and text to add sound effects effectively.
- **Sound Design for B-Roll** [01:07] — Add sound effects that match the on-screen action, e.g., using a gun sound for a lens cap click.
- **Timing and Matching Sounds** [02:53] — Properly time sound effects with visuals in editing software to create a cohesive experience.
- **Using Atmos for Tension** [03:05] — Add atmospheric sounds to build tension and enhance storytelling in b-roll sequences.
- **Sound Design for Transitions** [03:43] — Use whoosh sounds to wake up the audience during scene changes, matching speed to sound duration.
- **Sound Design for Text** [04:47] — Add typing sounds for text animations or crash sounds for impact text to make them stand out.
- **Common Mistake: Same Sound** [05:15] — Avoid using the same whoosh for every transition; vary sounds to keep viewers engaged.
- **Volume Adjustment** [05:33] — Ensure sound effects don't compete with the narrative; keep volume low enough to avoid distraction.
- **Where to Get Sounds** [05:59] — Epidemic Sound and mixkit.io are recommended sources for quality sound effects; editing software also has built-in banks.

### Conclusion

Sound design is a powerful tool that, when used correctly, can significantly improve viewer retention. Start by adding sounds to b-roll, transitions, and text, and avoid using the same sound repeatedly.

## Transcript

is a clip from my previous video with sound design now this is basically i guess a high and then that motivates us to do those actions again and it turns out the rewarding social interactions and this
is basically your brain giving you a little reward or i guess a high and then again for years i was like yeah i get that adding sound effects will make videos better but i just didn't bother doing it and i think that's often
what happens with us youtube creators we focus too much on getting our content touches that can make all of the difference to your attention and those little extra tweaks played a big part in helping our channel do this
show you three easy places to use sound design it to help you take that leap which i guarantee you will make your content you definitely do not want to do as well as where to get your sounds from so
let's start with how to use sound design in your youtube videos so this is a beginner's guide sound design if i simplify it it's just using sound adding a sound effect could be something like this or
or something that's a little bit more atmospheric like this there's three you should really consider using sound design to get started b-roll transitions at using it with b-roll to start now i've shot this demo clip that you can
up the sound in it together to make it tell a story that wouldn't be possible add sound effects to your videos that are the exact same sound as the thing on screen this is a lens getting put onto a
and that's actually the sound of a gun it's strange but sometimes using sounds actually sounds more like the thing you're trying to imitate works this not what's about scientifically accurate so really this
is just a case of thinking about what needs sound adding to it and the stick out and work so here we've got a coffee machine so the obvious place to now you don't want to just use it on the clothes because when we cut to the wider
see it the sound here has to keep going with complete think about that it's not just about what's on screen now what we need about what's on screen now what we need is a noise to get my attention
[Music] sorry about that last one i'm just really juvenile now i want the noise of some floorboards and then a door worry i'm gonna be telling you how to get those later on in the video now
get those later on in the video now let's watch that back
case of finding a sound effect that matches what's on screen timing it in your editing software now we're going to keep in a lot of those more and then some atmos to it to make it
and then some atmos to it to make it feel tense
so after a bit of rummaging i came up and as the character gets closer to the mysterious sound gets more intense and then there's the climax and bam i could do this all day with all kinds of
different story but hopefully you can see the benefits of doing this using it with transitions so this is a transition and you're editing software you will probably have ones that you can use but i would go
ones that you can use but i would go so far to say as 90 of the transitions restaurant transitions are best used when we need of mood or a change of direction and unless you're
use these transitions sparingly using sound with the movements a really good way to make your audience wake up are going to apply here as the b-roll and of course i've built a demo clip so
and of course i've built a demo clip so let's check it out now without sound or change a scene simply adding like a whoosh sound
to it is effective now you need to make sure you put your whoosh to make sure the speed of the transition matches the sound because look what matches the sound because look what happens if it's slightly off
the transition faster and then make the sound shorter and that's kind of more and then the next example you can try and this is the easiest by far is to with text so let's have a look at that the text type on effect like this
doesn't really give its full impact until you add a little typing sound letters or you could go for impact text and add a crash a smash or even a punch sound to make your point really stand out and before i show you where to get
not to do with sound whatever you do don't do this with sound use a whoosh sound for transitions or versions of that sound i'll show you what i mean
of that sound i'll show you what i mean this is annoying right but if i do this you don't even want youtube viewers to register that you've put these sounds in the timing wrong it will totally put your viewers on
the volume of your sound is also really important ideally you need to make sure it doesn't compete with the narrative of your videos and distract you also washes and smashes are fun but it really kind of suits more playful
videos i might look out a place and that'll be about what works for your viewer not for you so where do you get these sounds that's a good question i'm glad you asked well sounds
pretty cool um we use that for the majority of our videos backing track i'm being totally honest i only upgraded to get sound effects for the last i've done it i'm kicking myself i didn't do it sooner the free option is this
can use the sound search select your option and then make sure you read the terms and conditions for each sound effect so you issues there's also mixkit.io which has some pretty good free options but just
may need to put a link in your description to let people know where you've gotten from and actually most good editing software will have a bank and then you need to watch this video here to make the b-roll that you're
here to make the b-roll that you're gonna use these sounds with