6 Steps to Make a Lyric Video

Lyric videos are a great way for artists to promote their music. They’re engaging, shareable, and can be done quickly and cheaply. 

If you want to create lyric videos, you’ll find the process to be both easy and versatile, allowing you to add stunning visuals, animate lyrics, and optimize your videos for various social media platforms. 

Follow these six easy steps to make a pro-looking video that will hook your audience.

Step 1: Plan Your Lyric Video Concept

Develop Your Idea and Theme

Before diving into the technical aspects of making a lyric video, it’s crucial to develop a clear idea and theme. Think about the message and tone of your song and how you can visually represent it. This initial planning will help you create a cohesive and engaging video that resonates with your audience. 

Brainstorm different concepts, styles, and tones that align with your song’s lyrics and message. Whether your song is melancholic or upbeat, your video should reflect that mood through its visuals.

Define Your Target Audience and Style

Understanding your target audience is key to creating a lyric video that truly connects with them. Consider their age, interests, and preferences. For instance, if your audience is younger and enjoys energetic music, your lyric video should be vibrant and dynamic. 

On the other hand, if your song is more somber, a minimalist and elegant style might be more appropriate. Defining your style and tone early on ensures that your video aligns with your audience’s expectations and enhances their viewing experience.

Research Inspiration and References

Gathering inspiration and references is a great way to spark creativity and ensure your lyric video stands out. Look at other lyric videos in your genre and note what you like and dislike about them. Explore different styles, themes, and techniques, and think about how you can incorporate them into your own video. 

Don’t limit yourself to just lyric videos; music videos, films, and other visual media can also provide valuable inspiration. By researching and analyzing what works and what doesn’t, you can make informed creative decisions that elevate your lyric video.

By planning your lyric video concept thoroughly, you set a strong foundation for the rest of the process. This preparation will help you stay focused and ensure that your video meets your creative goals. With a well-thought-out concept, you’ll be able to create a high-quality lyric video that captivates your audience and showcases your song in the best possible light.

Step 2: Prepare Your Lyrics and Audio

Before you start making visuals, make sure you have:

• Final audio track
• Correct lyrics, timed to your song
• Any images or logos you want to include

Timing is everything when you make a lyric video. Listen to your track and note down the exact time stamps for each line. This will save you time later when syncing your lyrics to the music. Don’t forget to add music to enhance your video by incorporating audio tracks that complement your visuals.

Pro tip: Create a simple text document with your lyrics and add time stamps next to each line. This will be your guide when you’re putting the video together.

Step 3: Choose Your Lyric Video Maker

You have many options to make a lyric video, from free online tools to professional video editing software. Here are a few:

• Canva: Good for beginners, lots of templates
• Adobe After Effects: Professional software for advanced users
• Filmora: User friendly with a good balance of features
• Beatwave: Specialized tool for music visualizers and lyric videos

Additionally, consider using a free lyric video maker available online, which offers cost-saving benefits by providing nearly all the features of the paid version, allowing for smooth video editing at no cost.

Choose a tool that matches your skill level and the complexity of the video you want to make. If you’re just starting out, a simpler online tool might be the best.

Step 4: Choose Your Background Footage

Now the fun part – how will your lyric video look? Consider:

Background:

• Solid color
• Gradient
• Abstract patterns
• Background footage related to your song’s theme
• A background image that represents the song or artist
• A video background to make the visuals dynamic and engaging

Font:

• Choose a clear font
• Use multiple fonts for variety
• Font matches the mood of your song

Colors:

• Use colors that match your artist branding
• Consider the emotion of the song when choosing colors

Animation:

• Simple fade-ins and fade-outs
• Words appearing letter by letter
• Bouncing words in time with the beat

Remember, when you make a lyric video, less is more. You want the lyrics to be the star of the show, so don’t overdo it with too many visuals.

Step 5: Make Your Video

Now you have your tool and style chosen, it’s time to make a lyric video using a lyric video maker:

1. Set up your project with the correct dimensions and frame rate
2. Import your audio track
3. Create your background (or import if you’re using footage)
4. Add your lyrics and sync them to the audio
5. Apply your chosen animations and effects
6. Add any extra elements like logos or images

Take your time with this step, especially when syncing the lyrics. Nothing ruins a lyric video faster than words that don’t match up with the audio.

Step 6: Review, Export, Share

Once you’ve finished making your video, it’s time for the final bits:

Review:

• Watch your video all the way through, multiple times
• Check for spelling errors or timing issues
• Make sure the lyrics are readable throughout

Export:

• Choose the right format for where you’ll be sharing (e.g. MP4 for YouTube)
• Select 1080p resolution
• Preserve the audio in the final file
• The free version of our lyric video maker includes most features found in the paid version, allowing you to create high-quality videos without any cost

Share:

• Upload to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or your preferred platform
• Write a description with relevant tags
• Share across your socials

You did it! You now know how to make a lyric video. With practice you’ll get faster and more creative with your videos.

Tips to Make High Quality Lyric Videos Pop

Now you know the basics of making a lyric video, here are some tips to take it to the next level:

1. Tell a story with your visuals Don’t just show the lyrics; use imagery that enhances the meaning of your song. This could be through subtle background animations or carefully chosen stock footage. Creating your own lyric video allows you to personalize these elements to better reflect your song.
2. Use kinetic typography Make your words move in interesting ways. Have them zoom, spin or pulse with the beat of the music. Just remember to keep them readable! Animating and transcribing song lyrics effectively can make your video more engaging and ensure optimized audio quality for social media platforms.
3. Add branding elements Include your logo or other visual elements that are unique to you as an artist. This helps build recognition and makes your video more memorable. Enhancing your music video with these elements can create a more impactful viewer experience.
4. Experiment with texture Add depth to your video by using textured backgrounds or applying texture overlays to your text.
5. Play with perspective Instead of having all your lyrics appear flat on the screen, experiment with 3D effects or parallax scrolling to create a sense of depth.
6. Highlight key phrases Make important lyrics stand out by using a different color, font or animation style. This helps to emphasize the message of your song.
7. Use visual metaphors If your song uses metaphors, try to represent these visually in your lyric video. This adds an extra layer of meaning for the viewer.

Don’t Do This When Making a Lyric Video

As you make your lyric video, watch out for these common mistakes in making lyric videos:

1. Overcrowding the screen Too many elements on the screen can be distracting. Keep it simple.
2. Poor timing Lyrics that don’t sync with the audio are jarring and unprofessional. Take your time.
3. Hard to read fonts Fancy fonts might look cool but if the viewer can’t read the lyrics your video fails its purpose.
4. Ignoring the mood of the song Make sure your visuals match the tone and emotion of the song.
5. Forgetting mobile viewers Many will watch your video on their phone. Make sure your lyrics are readable on smaller screens.

Final Thoughts

Making a lyric video is a valuable skill for any musician or content creator. It’s a cheap way to create content for your audience and get your music in front of new ears. With these six steps and tips, and the versatility of an online video maker, you’re on your way to creating professional-looking lyric videos that will grab your audience and showcase your music.

Remember, the key to great lyric videos is practice. Don’t be afraid to try different styles and techniques. The more videos you make, the better you’ll get at creating visually awesome accompaniments to your music. So grab your lyrics, fire up your software, and get creating!