In Hollywood, bad audio kills a $100M production. On YouTube, it kills retention.
Most creators nail thumbnails, hooks, and pacing. But the answer is usually invisible: audio doesn't translate across devices.
Received Audio
Re-Tuned
Here’s what I learned: a great video grabs attention, but great sound holds it.
Ever notice how a Netflix show still pulls you in on your phone? That's because the mix is built to translate—it sounds clear on a TV, laptop, in the car, or anywhere else. If one device sounds better than the others, viewers leave early on the rest.
I'll send back a re-tuned version of your clip plus notes on what I fixed. If you don't hear a real improvement, you can ignore it.
The Phone Speaker Test
Try it yourself:
Phone speakers are the most unforgiving. If your audio translates here, it translates everywhere. Pull up your latest video on your phone. Play it at 30% volume.
Do any of these sound familiar?
Have to crank up the volume to understand words
Retention dips during talking sections
Words get buried in the SFX/music
Comments ask "what did you say?" or "can't hear you"
Volume jumps between clips
Voice lacks presence and authority
If 2+ of these are true, audio is often the killer.
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
Why the obvious fixes don't work
Just make it louder
The goal: Make everything easier to hear.
What happens instead: Making everything louder turns up the problems too. The mix becomes louder, not clearer. Viewers still have to work to catch words.
AI cleanup
The goal: Remove noise and add polish automatically.
What happens instead: AI can smooth out vocals and create SFX, but it lacks authority, balance, and cohesion. This results in artificial, flat, and unnatural-sounding audio.
Let the video editor handle the sound
The goal: One person handles both.
What happens instead: Most video editors use one-click presets to save time and rarely test across devices. What sounds fine in the edit falls apart everywhere else.
Hire a general audio engineer
The goal: Get professional audio quality.
What happens instead: Most engineers optimize for clean audio and proper levels, which matters. But if the mix doesn't translate across devices and hold viewer attention, people still click away.
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
What a Re-Tune actually fixes
Dialogue stays clear at all volumes
Voice stays present, full-bodied, and easy to understand—whether someone's listening at 30% on their phone, on a laptop across the room, in the car, or at the gym with earbuds.
Why this matters: Viewers shouldn't have to strain to understand you. If they do, they're one distraction away from clicking off.
Music and SFX stay exciting without covering words
Music and SFX keep their energy, but they're shaped to not clash with dialogue. Your voice stays upfront and not buried in the mix.
Why this matters: Voice, music, and SFX are constantly fighting for the same space. This keeps the impact while protecting vocal authority.
Jump cuts feel smooth, not jarring
Levels are matched across camera cuts so viewers stay engaged instead of having to fight the volume every few seconds.
Why this matters: Visual cuts are part of modern editing. Audio jolts are not. When sound keeps jumping up and down, it breaks immersion.
Every video sounds consistent across uploads
Same loudness. Same tonal quality. Same clarity on every device. Your channel stops feeling inconsistent and starts feeling intentional.
Why this matters: Consistency builds trust. When sound quality varies, viewers notice, even if they can't explain why.
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
How this fits into your workflow
Step 1: Simple handoff
The editor sends a locked cut as an AAF or XML (preferred). If that’s not available, stems work too.
Time: About 2-5 minutes to export and send.
Step 2: Fully Re-Tuned
I level jump cuts, clean and shape the dialogue, then balance music and SFX so your mix translates.
Time: 24-48 hours, depending on complexity.
Step 3: Drop-in delivery
You get a YouTube-ready audio file that drops right into the timeline. The editor swaps it in, hits export, and uploads.
Time: About 30 seconds to swap and export.
Works with: Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut, Avid, and more.
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
Hear the difference
Received Audio
Re-Tuned
"I was recording with my iPhone mic, and the dialogue sounded flat when I played it back. The moment music and SFX came in, viewers stayed. Jordan balanced it so my voice actually has presence now, and the SFX+music reinforces story points. It's the first time my audio has felt intentional."
— Megan A, Creative Director & Founder
“I thought adding a sound engineer would slow us down, but Jordan's process is seamless. We sent him an AAF, he sent back a master in 24 hours, and it dropped right into the timeline. Our videos finally sound as polished as they look. We use him for every upload now.”
— Hayden W, Educational Creator & Lead Producer
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
Who needs this (and who doesn't)
You don't need this if:
Viewers aren't dropping off during talking sections.
You're posting for fun, not growth.
You're confident your audio works across every device.
You already have a dedicated audio engineer.
This is for you if:
Watch time still isn't where it should be.
Voice lacks presence and gets lost in the mix.
You want your channel to sound as polished as it looks.
You're serious about growth (watch time, brand deals, or both).
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
Choose Your Re-Tune option
Voice only Re-Tune
FOCUS:
Clear, consistent dialogue.
You get:
Voice leveled across all edits.
Dialogue cleaned (clicks, pops, room noise removed).
Words shaped to stay clear and full.
YouTube-ready loudness.
Two rounds of revisions.
BEST FOR:
Talking-heavy content where the message is the product—podcasts, tutorials, commentary, interviews.
$250 PER PROJECT
Full Mix Re-Tune
FOCUS:
Full mix where dialogue stays clear and music/SFX support it.
everything in Voice only Re-Tune, plus:
Music, SFX, and dialogue are balanced so nothing competes.
Mix stays cohesive as energy shifts.
SFX and Foley added to reinforce pacing where needed.
Two rounds of revisions.
BEST FOR:
High-production content with music and SFX—reviews, video essays, vlogs, documentaries.
$500 PER PROJECT (Most popular)
Sonic Re-Tune
Focus:
Signature sound for your channel.
everything in full mix Re-Tune, plus:
Custom sound design (SFX, Foley, Music).
Spatial audio and dynamic mixing.
Priority turnaround (every upload).
Quarterly audio reviews.
BEST FOR:
Established channels (300K+) that upload consistently and want signature audio across every video.
Custom Quote (Monthly Retainer)
I’ll send back a re-tuned version + quick notes.
Still have questions?
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If audio is handled inside the edit or treated as a quick final step, it usually falls apart. Even with a dedicated audio person, the gap is often translation—making sure dialogue stays clear whether someone's on a phone, laptop, or TV.
If your current setup already translates across devices and sounds consistent across uploads, you're in great shape. If not, that's what I fix.
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You're not stuck. Each package includes revisions to dial in the voice tone, music balance, and overall feel. The goal is a mix that matches your channel's style and translates across devices.
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What's the cost of losing viewers you already earned?
If people can't follow your dialogue on everyday speakers, they leave early—taking watch time, engagement, and future brand deals with them.
Not sure if audio is the killer? Send 60 seconds. I'll tell you if fixing it will move the needle before you spend a dollar.
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Yes. The principles of cross-device translation apply to any talking-head content—reviews, education, commentary, vlogs, podcasts. If your content has dialogue, it benefits from translation-focused mixing.
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No problem. I'll send a quick export checklist with Info on how to export and best practices for highest quality delivery.
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Yes. Channels uploading 4+ videos/month can move to a retainer on any re-tune package, which reduces per-video cost. The quote is based on volume and needs.
Hear the difference for yourself
Send a 60-second clip (YouTube link works). If you have project files, even better.
I'll send back a re-tuned version of your clip plus notes on what I fixed. If it's not noticeably better, ignore it.