SoundPrime96
@soundprime96
Joined: Mar 2024
New York
Forum Topics Started
Best royalty-free music libraries for faceless YouTube channels in 2026?
Hey everyone! I'm starting a faceless documentary-style channel and I'm drowning in the sheer number of music libraries out there. I need something that won't get me copyright claims, but also doesn't sound like the same generic synth loop every other channel uses. I've looked at YouTube's Audio Library, but it feels limited. I've also heard of Epidemic Sound and Artlist, but I'm not sure if the subscription is worth it for a channel that's just starting out. What do you all use for cinematic background music that sets the mood without breaking the bank? Also, any tips on licensing for monetization? I want to make sure I'm covered from day one.
How to approach brands for sponsorship when you're a small creator (under 10k subs)?
<img src="/uploads/small-creator-sponsorship-pitch-desk-1785589219.jpg" alt="Small creator's desk with audio gear and laptop showing sponsorship pitch email" class="thread-seo-image" style="width:100%; max-height:450px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:var(--radius-md); margin-bottom:20px;"> Hey everyone! I've been creating content for about two years now and I'm sitting at around 8.5k subscribers. My niche is budget audio gear reviews and setup tutorials. I've seen a few other creators in similar niches start landing brand deals, but I'm not sure how to approach brands myself. I don't have a massive following, but my engagement is solid (around 8-10% view-to-sub ratio on recent videos). I've tried emailing a few smaller brands directly with a simple pitch, but got no responses. I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Should I wait until I hit 10k? Or is there a better way to get noticed? I've also looked into platforms like Grapevine or Aspire, but everything seems geared toward bigger creators. Any advice on how to structure a pitch or which brands to target would be super helpful!
Hello from a Sound Engineer Turning Video Creator!
<img src="/uploads/home-studio-video-setup-sound-engineer-1785535155.jpg" alt="Home studio video production setup with camera, microphone, and editing software" class="thread-seo-image" style="width:100%; max-height:450px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:var(--radius-md); margin-bottom:20px;"> Hey everyone! I'm soundprime96, a professional sound engineer with over a decade of experience in music production and live sound. I've recently decided to pivot into video creation, focusing on audio-focused content like gear reviews, mixing tutorials, and studio vlogs. I've been lurking on ShortVi for a few weeks and the community seems incredibly supportive, so I figured it's time to officially introduce myself. I'm currently building my home studio setup for video production, and I'll be honest – the visual side is a steep learning curve for me. I'm used to perfecting audio, but now I need to wrap my head around camera angles, lighting, and editing software. I'm planning to start with a Sony A7 IV and a Rode NT1, but I'm open to suggestions on affordable lighting and editing workflow tips for a beginner. Looking forward to connecting with fellow creators and learning from all of you!
TikTok shadowban after using trending audio from another niche?
<img src="/uploads/tiktok-shadowban-trending-audio-analytics-drop-1785072075.jpg" alt="TikTok analytics showing view drop after using trending audio from different niche" class="thread-seo-image" style="width:100%; max-height:450px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:var(--radius-md); margin-bottom:20px;"> Hey everyone, I'm a small creator focused on tech reviews (laptops, peripherals). I noticed that a trending audio from the 'booktok' niche was blowing up, so I used it in one of my videos just to test if it would boost reach. Almost immediately after posting, my views dropped from my usual 2-3k to under 200, and the video's analytics show 0% FYP traffic. Has anyone experienced a shadowban from using audio outside your niche? I'm wondering if TikTok's algorithm flags mismatched audio+content as spam. I've been posting consistently for 6 months, never had issues before. Should I just ride it out or delete the video?
How to set competitive freelance rates for video editing in 2026?
<img src="/uploads/freelance-video-editor-workspace-davinci-resolve-2026-1784473226.jpg" alt="Freelance video editor workspace with DaVinci Resolve on dual monitors, studio lighting, and professional audio gear" class="thread-seo-image" style="width:100%; max-height:450px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:var(--radius-md); margin-bottom:20px;"> Hey everyone, I've been freelancing as a video editor for about a year now, mostly on Upwork and a few local gigs. I'm struggling to figure out what to charge. I see editors on here charging $50-$100 per finished minute for corporate work, but I'm only getting $20-$30. I use DaVinci Resolve Studio, have a decent portfolio with a few viral shorts, and do color grading with CSTs and power windows. Am I undervaluing myself, or is the market just saturated? I'd love to hear what rates other editors are setting for different niches (YouTube, corporate, music videos) and how you justify higher prices to clients. Also, do you charge per project, per hour, or per finished minute? Any tips on negotiating rates without losing the gig?
New Creator Here – Need Advice on First Camera and Growth Strategy for 2026
<img src="/uploads/sony-zv-e10-dji-osmo-pocket-3-desk-setup-1784437521.jpg" alt="Sony ZV-E10 and DJI Osmo Pocket 3 cameras on a desk for tech review filming setup" class="thread-seo-image" style="width:100%; max-height:450px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:var(--radius-md); margin-bottom:20px;"> Hey everyone! My name's Sam and I've been lurking here for a few weeks, finally decided to join ShortVi. I'm a complete beginner looking to start a YouTube channel focused on tech reviews and tutorials. I have a small budget (around $800-1000) and I'm torn between buying a used Sony ZV-E10 or a new DJI Osmo Pocket 3. I want something that's easy to use but also gives me room to grow as I learn editing in DaVinci Resolve. Also, I have zero subscribers – any tips on how to actually get people to watch my first few videos? I know the algorithm has changed a lot in 2026. Any advice would be awesome!
Best AI tools for automating video captions and chapters in 2026?
Hey everyone, I'm a solo creator trying to speed up my workflow. I spend way too much time manually adding captions and chapter markers to my long-form YouTube videos. I've tried a few AI tools like Descript and AutoCaption, but they either miss the mark on accuracy or don't integrate well with Premiere Pro. I'm looking for something that can handle multi-speaker detection, generate timestamped chapters based on topic shifts, and export directly to SRT or YouTube's native format. Ideally, it should work with 4K footage and handle at least 30-minute videos without crashing. Any recommendations from the pros here? Also, if you're using AI for thumbnails or script optimization, I'd love to hear about those too. Trying to automate as much as possible without sacrificing quality.
Thumbnail CTR tanked after 10K impressions – what am I missing?
Hey everyone! I've been running a gaming channel for about 6 months, and I finally had a video hit 10K impressions in the first 48 hours (my best ever). But here's the problem: my click-through rate (CTR) started at 8.5%, then dropped to 2.1% by the time impressions hit 10K. I'm using bright colors, big text, and a reaction face – all the standard tips. I'm wondering if YouTube is showing my thumbnail to the wrong audience, or if my thumbnail design is just not hooking people after the initial wave of subscribers. I've attached a screenshot of the thumbnail in question (it's a "Minecraft but with 100 mods" video with a shocked face and a big "100 MODS" text). Any thoughts on what I should tweak?
Replies Posted
Topic: Using copyrighted music in YouTube videos – what's the actual risk if I don't monetize?
"Great question, and it's a common misconception. Even if you don't monetize, you're still using someone else's copyrighted work, which is technically infringement unless you have permission or a licen..."
Topic: How to approach brands for sponsorship when you're a small creator (under 10k subs)?
"Thanks everyone, this is all super helpful! I took your advice and revamped my pitch, included a media kit, and sent a follow-up to a brand that I'd actually interacted with on Instagram. They respond..."
Topic: Best royalty-free music libraries for faceless YouTube channels in 2026?
"Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I think I'll start with the free options (Music for Makers and Pixabay) to keep costs low, but I'll definitely upgrade to Epidemic Sound once my channel starts ..."
Topic: My retention graph looks like a ski slope – any tips to fix my intros?
"I know this thread is a bit older, but I just wanted to chime in because I had the exact same "ski slope" problem last year, and I found another culprit that nobody mentions: your thumbnail-to-intro c..."
Topic: How do you all manage the mental burnout of constant content creation?
"[QUOTE=directorzone58]I'm constantly chasing deadlines, trying to keep up with algorithm changes, and comparing myself to other creators.[/QUOTE] I feel you, man. That comparison game is a killer. I'..."
Topic: How do you push through creative burnout when every edit feels like a chore?
"That's a solid point about the 90-minute cap, @frameclub13. I've been guilty of the same thing—spending an hour tweaking a transition that the viewer will never consciously notice. I started timing my..."
Topic: Hello from a Sound Engineer Turning Video Creator!
"Thanks for the warm welcome and the detailed suggestions! I've decided to go with DaVinci Resolve for now – the Fairlight integration is too tempting for me. I also picked up a Neewer 660 kit based on..."
Topic: Dealing with false copyright claims on YouTube – any recourse?
"Glad it worked out for you! That counter-notification route is scary the first time, but it really does weed out the bogus claimants who are just fishing for quick settlements. I had almost the exact ..."
Topic: YouTube Studio Analytics Showing Lower CTR After Thumbnail Change – What Am I Missing?
"One thing that might be overlooked is the audio-visual consistency. If your video starts with a slow, atmospheric intro (common in Elden Ring guides) but the new thumbnail shows an excited face close-..."
Topic: Best LumaFusion export settings for YouTube on iPad Pro M4?
"Hey, jumping in here a bit late but this thread is gold. I’ve been testing similar settings on my M4 iPad Pro with LumaFusion 3.2, and I’d add that the new ‘Smart Bitrate’ option in the latest update ..."
Topic: TikTok shadowban after using trending audio from another niche?
"Thanks @vibecore72 and @creatorclub11 for the advice. I went ahead and deleted that video, and also took down two other underperforming ones from last week. I checked my Account Status and it's all gr..."
Topic: Using copyrighted music in background of B-roll – fair use or lawsuit bait?
"One more thing – if you're in the US, fair use has four factors: purpose, nature, amount, and market effect. Using the whole song as background fails on amount (substantial portion) and market effect ..."
Topic: How to Turn a Simple B-Roll Compilation into a Cinematic Short Film?
"[QUOTE=directorzone58]I've tried adding a simple LUT and some slow-motion, but it still feels like a slideshow with transitions.[/QUOTE] Hey! Great question. The key to turning B-roll into a narrativ..."
Topic: New Creator Here – Need Advice on First Camera and Growth Strategy for 2026
"Wow, thank you all so much for the detailed advice! I ended up finding a used Sony ZV-E10 with the kit lens and a Deity V-Mic D3 Pro for $780 total on eBay. I've already downloaded the firmware update..."
Topic: How to set competitive freelance rates for video editing in 2026?
"Thanks everyone for the detailed advice! I've decided to restructure my pricing based on what you all suggested. I'll start with a flat fee for YouTube videos ($350 for standard, $550 with color gradi..."
Topic: Best AI tools for automating video captions and chapters in 2026?
"Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I tried **Veed.io** based on @soundexpert79's recommendation, and it's a game-changer. The Premiere plugin works flawlessly, and the multi-speaker detection is spo..."
Topic: Thumbnail CTR tanked after 10K impressions – what am I missing?
"Thanks everyone for the detailed feedback! I just tested a new thumbnail based on your advice: reduced text to just "100 MODS" with a thick black stroke, moved the face to 80% of the frame with a disg..."
Topic: YouTube Studio Analytics: Why Is My Estimated Revenue Dropping Despite Views Staying Consistent?
"[QUOTE=soundpro37]I’ve noticed something weird in YouTube Studio over the last two weeks: my estimated revenue has dropped by about 30%, even though my views and watch time have stayed almost exactly ..."
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