How Soundtracks in Your Videos Evoke Emotions In Your Audience
Whenever I search for, and select music tracks for client work, I’m zoned in on two key elements: 1. Does the audio track complement the video? 2. Does the audio track add to the audience feeling an emotion as they watch the video?
Imagine watching a horror movie without any spine-chilling music or a romantic scene without a hint of a love ballad. It just wouldn’t be the same, right? Music sets the tone in video content, guiding our emotional journey and enhancing the overall experience. It helps to build anticipation, evoke specific emotions, and create a cohesive atmosphere throughout your video.
I get these feelings every time I watch a thru-hiking documentary about the Pacific Crest Trail and hear ambient folk music and see epic footage of hiking wilderness. That’s the magic of music.
The use of music and its impact on our brains is actually rooted in science. When we listen to music, our brain releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward. This chemical reaction can enhance our mood and create a sense of connection to what we’re watching. So, by carefully selecting the right music for your videos, you can influence how your audience feels and engage them on a deeper level.
The key to effectively using music lies in making strategic musical choices. By selecting music with a slow flowing tempo, or sudden changes in dynamics, you can create a sense of anticipation. Or using a folk ballad in a thru-hiking documentary, for example, can add to the calm and sense of wanderlust in the wilderness. Just like a skilled composer, you can manipulate your audience’s emotions, leading them through a rollercoaster of feelings that keep them hooked until the very end.
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