How to Make ASMR Videos That Everyone Will Watch (And Listen to)

Do you like watching ASMR videos as much as we do? How about creating one? If you’re willing to join one of YouTube’s hottest trends, here’s our guide on how to make ASMR videos. 

What is ASMR

Even if you don’t know what ASMR is, you’ve probably already seen videos of this genre. Those calm, weird, kind of addictive videos of people whispering or touching things with their fingertips are gaining millions of views on YouTube. 

ASMR video can be anything: a story told with a gentle voice, a purring cat, someone eating ice or anything else. Okay, it’s actually easier to show: 

Here’s, for example, Salma Hayek randomly talking and eating corn tortillas:

Sounds of soap: 

And even churros recipes:

Why is It so Pleasing

ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. The term refers to the tingles or chills on the back of one’s head caused by hearing nice sounds. For many, that satisfying feeling is a great stress reliever. And a lot of people play ASMR videos just because of that – it helps them to relax or even fall asleep. 

That’s why ASMR videos can be literally about everything. As long as the sound is pleasant, you can improvise. Even if it is just licking the mic: 

We bet you’ve already thought of some new sounds that could become the next boom in the ASMR section of YouTube. Well, let us show you how to make successful ASMR videos! 

Give it a go with Movavi Video Editor Plus – we’re offering a special 10% discount for all blog readers! 

Use this promocode: SUPERBLOG

Or simply click on one of the buttons below!

How to Start Making ASMR Videos

As you can see, you don’t need a long scenario or special costumes to create a good ASMR video that people will watch and, what’s more important, listen to. Aside from the source of the sound, all you need to care about is the equipment and echo in the room you shoot in.

The room

It’s unlikely that you’re going to make your first video in a professional soundproofed studio. Fortunately, it is possible to make a good recording in your own room. However, you might need to make some modifications there.

First of all, you want to make sure that unwanted background noises won’t get to your mic. Let the dishwasher finish its cycle, switch your PC with its loud fan off, and close the windows so no street sounds could creep in.

Another important thing to do is reducing echo in your room. If there are too many reflective surfaces in it, such as naked walls or mirrors, you’ll get a strong echo which is definitely not good for an ASMR (or any other) video. When you get to a more advanced level, you can modify your room or studio with the acoustic panels. At the start, you don’t need to bother that much. You can mitigate echo and reverberation using the things you have at home.  Try covering walls and the floor with fabric – the thicker the better. Use carpets, curtains, towels. Even if you open the doors of your wardrobe or throw some pillows on the floor around you, it will still make some difference.

The spot where you place your mic also matters. Try different places in your room to find the one where it sounds best. Mark it with somehow (for example, with a colorful tape on the floor) to easily find it for the next shoot.     

The gear 

First of all, find a microphone. The quality of sound is the most important part here. However, you don’t necessarily have to buy a brand new highly sensitive mic. Before going to Amazon, try the ones you have at home. Even your headphones’ or headset’s mic will do for the simplest videos (like the one with licking the mic). 

On the other hand, recording with those can be a bit challenging. So if you’re looking to continue making ASMR videos and can afford a new microphone, here are some awesome options. 

 •  Yeti Microphone

 •  Soundman OKM II Classic Binaural Microphone 

Yes, the main thing in ASMR videos is the sound. But that doesn’t mean that the visual part doesn’t matter at all. As we mentioned probably hundreds of times before, you don’t need a new professional camera to start. Even your phone, if it’s relatively new (released after 2014-2015, like iPhone 7), will do just fine. If you have an old DSLR, mirrorless or even a compact camera, give it a try. Most likely, it will be more than enough for your first videos. 

A simple tripod will make your shoot much easier, especially if you’re going to make an ASMR recipe or shoot a close-up. In these cases, it will be quite difficult to set your camera on a pile of books or shoe boxes. 

Don’t forget to take care of the lighting. In the case with ASMR videos, you might shoot during the night to avoid background noises you can’t control. So don’t pin your hopes on the sunlight. Find two lamps with similar light and place them around your working surface. Use light diffusers to make the whole thing look nicer and softer. If you’re going to appear in the video, the easiest choice would be a ring light.

Shooting

So, how to do ASMR videos? Your goal is to avoid unwanted and disturbing noises in your video. Here are a couple of hacks that will make that easier for you: 

• As we’ve already mentioned, at nights it’s easier to record ASMR videos in terms of silence outside. So if there’s a big busy road right under your windows or construction works held nearby, wait until they’re the least noisy. 
• If you’re recording a whisper, be careful with the sound of your breathing. Inhales and exhales can seem too loud in such a quiet video. So while you’re not speaking, breathe away from your mic. 
• In general, even when you talk, don’t do it directly in the microphone with your lips almost touching it. If you turn your head a little bit to the right or left, you’ll make the hissing sounds nicer.
• Choose your outfit wisely. Yes, even if you’re not making a video of yourself. You need clothes that don’t make too much noise when you move. Unless, of course, you’re shooting a PJ’s rustling ASMR.
• Before starting the actual recording, do a couple of tests to make sure that your mic doesn’t capture unwanted noises you usually don’t pay attention to, such as the creaky floor, unconscious finger clicks or neighbor’s TV. 

Editing

Finally, your first ASMR is recorded! Now it’s time for editing. The main thing here is to perfectly synchronize the visual part and the sound. You can do that easily in Movavi Video Editor. Here, see, how easy it is: 

To facilitate the editing part even more, you need to do one simple thing at the very beginning of your recording: clap your hands. After that, while editing, use that clap moment on both video and audio tracks to synchronize them.  

Don’t forget about our 10% blog reader discount on Movavi Video Editor Plus!