Becoming a freelance sound editor might sound like a dream come true for a lot of people.
However, you might be surprised at how achievable this is—even if you don’t have any sound editing experience. Here’s the thing.
With audio media on the rise, there’s a bigger demand for sound editors than ever before.
Sound Editors are needed for podcast editing, video production, music production, beat production, and all kinds of other stuff.
And thankfully, nowadays, the tools required to get into this business are minimally expensive.
In fact, if you’re really willing to work hard and apply yourself, you can get started with tools that you probably already have access to.
So in this post, you’re going to learn a quick start guide to making it happen for real.
Here are the steps you can take to start your own freelance audio business.
- Get Started By Learning Some Skills
If you don’t have any experience with sound editing, you may think to yourself:
“Well, I don’t have the skills—so, that’s not an option for me.”
But here’s the good thing about the world we live in today.
You have access to all kinds of free resources to help you achieve your goals.
All you really need to do is log on to YouTube, and start researching how to become a professional sound editor.
You’d be amazed at how much high quality content there is out there to help you get started.
So spend some time researching and educating yourself. You could even buy a course to help you learn.
- Download Some Sound Editing Software And Gear
Once you start learning about sound editing, it’ll be time to choose a software and to start focusing specifically on using that particular set of tools.
You could get started for free using a tool like Audacity.
However, there are also all kinds of other tools—PreSonus Studio One, ProTools, and Logic are just a few examples of professional sound editor programs that you can purchase to get started with.
Of course, you’ll also need a computer capable of running the software—plus a few hardware extras as well.
You’ll need some speakers, a good set of headphones, etc.
Once you’re set up with the gear, it’ll be time to move on to the next step.
- Start Practicing And Develop Your Skillset
Once you get loaded up with some sound editor equipment, it’ll be time to put your skills to the test to start practicing.
Start editing anything you can get your hands on.
You could record local artists, help your friends with their podcasts, join some amateur video teams, etc.
You could download free clips online, record your own audio, and/or volunteer to edit projects for free until you get the hang of it.
Whatever it takes to gain that valuable experience and build your portfolio.
Just get some experience and start honing those skills.
- Start Advertising Your Services
This can be a tricky part of the process.
But the best way to advertise your services as a sound editor locally is to attend in-person business meetups in your local town.
You can also advertise your services on websites like Upwork or Fiverr.
You can also build your own Spotify or YouTube channels, and advertise your audio tracks organically to a potential audience of clients on those platforms.
- Stick With It And Be Consistent
As with all things, consistency is the key.
At first, you’ll probably reach a point with sound editing where you’ll think to yourself:
“Wow, this is discouraging. I’m not getting any business. Maybe I should give up.”
But here’s the thing.
Practice makes perfect.
And eventually, if you stick with it and you keep adapting, you’ll solve the problems and move on to create a viable freelance business for yourself.
And that’s truly the way to go.
Conclusion
There you have it.
All the steps you need to take to become a professional freelance sound editor and get paid for doing it.
All that’s left now is to put these steps into action, and make it happen.
You’ve got this.
Now get out there and get it done.