The secret to cinematic sound design with AI: How to transform any video

Pssst… wanna know the secret to great videos?

It’s not just about producing stunning visuals. The real secret sauce? Sound design.

Music, sound effects, and even the right voiceover can completely transform a plain video clip into something that feels cinematic.

Imagine this: you’ve got a simple bit of footage — maybe some nature b-roll or a city walk sequence. Nothing special, right?

Now, add an ambient soundscape, an emotional score, and a professional voiceover. Suddenly, you’ve gone from home video to a David Attenborough documentary.

And the best part? You can do it all with AI tools from Envato, right inside your browser — no sound studio, no expensive plugins, no hours lost hunting through audio libraries.

Let’s walk through two real-world workflows to show how it’s done:

Your first stop is SoundGen — the AI tool that creates realistic soundscapes and ambient layers.

Sound design is all about building atmosphere. You’re setting the emotional stage for everything else in the video.

Start with the basics — a foundation of ambient nature sounds:

“Forest ambience, gentle wind through trees, distant water lapping.”
“Mountain lake atmosphere, serene nature sounds, peaceful wilderness.”

Then layer wildlife and environmental detail:

“Bird calls, rustling leaves, distant flowing stream.”

Finish with atmospheric depth:

“Morning mist ambience, open air wilderness, tranquil dawn.”

Shift gears to an urban soundscape:

“Modern city ambience, distant traffic hum, business district atmosphere.”
“Footsteps on concrete, confident walking pace, wind through city buildings.”

Layer in realism with subtle details — high heels, briefcase movement, and that low city hum that gives texture without distraction.

Pro tip: Combine multiple SoundGen layers for depth and realism, then use looping to create seamless backgrounds for longer scenes.

Next up: MusicGen, your AI-powered composer.

Think of SoundGen as your environmental foundation — MusicGen adds the emotional heartbeat.

Use prompts like:

“Nature documentary music, orchestral, inspiring, 70 BPM, David Attenborough style.”
“Cinematic nature score, peaceful yet grand, strings and woodwinds.”

These build that sense of majesty and awe — perfect for wide landscape shots or slow-motion nature footage.

For commercial work, aim for energy and confidence:

“Cinematic corporate music, uplifting, aspirational, 110 BPM, modern style.”
“Motivational corporate crescendo, empowering finale.”

These underscore momentum, professionalism, and progress — exactly what a brand story needs.

Integration tip: Match your music tempo to the pacing of your visuals, fade in/out strategically, and keep levels balanced so the soundtrack supports — never overpowers — your narrative.

A powerful soundscape and score set the stage — now it’s time for the storyteller.

VoiceGen creates professional-quality voiceovers in seconds, letting you choose tone, pacing, and personality.

Sample script:

“Here, in the heart of an ancient wilderness, where crystal waters reflect towering pines, nature reveals one of her most breathtaking sanctuaries.”

Select a voice with warmth and reverence — a classic David Attenborough-style narrator with measured pacing and natural pauses.

Sample script:

“Success isn’t just about reaching your destination. It’s about embracing every step of the journey with confidence, purpose, and determination.”

Choose a polished, authoritative voice that sounds confident and motivational — the kind you’d hear in a high-end commercial or conference opener.

Pro tip: Experiment with tone sliders to adjust emotional intensity, and align your narration rhythm with your video’s visual beats for maximum impact.

With all your audio elements ready, it’s time to bring them together in your editing software — whether you’re using DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, or another NLE.

Now for the fun part — the before and after.

Sound is the invisible layer that changes everything. With the right mix of ambience, music, and voice, even ordinary clips become unforgettable.

What used to take hours of sound editing, asset searches, and studio fees can now be achieved in less than an hour — with three simple tools:

And that’s just the start. Envato’s AI suite also includes ImageGen, VideoGen, ImageEdit, and GraphicsGen, covering every part of your creative workflow — from visuals to voice.