Duetting is a popular feature on TikTok that allows users to create a video side-by-side with another user’s video. Duetting essentially splits the screen, with the original video on one side and the user’s new video on the other. Users duet for a variety of reasons, such as reacting to viral videos, participating in trends and challenges, or collaborating with other creators.
Prerequisites
The key prerequisite for duetting a TikTok video from your gallery is having the TikTok app installed on your device and an account set up. As of January 2023, TikTok has been downloaded over 4.1 billion times globally, making it one of the most popular apps in the world [1]. TikTok is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices. Once downloaded, you’ll need to create a TikTok account, either by signing up with your email, phone number, or linking to existing accounts like Facebook or Instagram.
With the app and an account, you’ll have everything needed to start duetting videos and joining in on the creative fun TikTok provides. The platform sees over 1 billion monthly active users, so there’s a massive community ready to view and engage with your duets [2].
Open TikTok
To start the process of duetting a TikTok video, you first need to launch the TikTok app on your mobile device and ensure you’re logged into your account. As of January 2024, TikTok has over 1.2 billion monthly active users worldwide across iOS and Android devices according to Backlinko. The app is popular among various demographics, but research shows around 32.5% of users are between the ages of 10 and 19 according to Exploding Topics.
Once the app is open, you’ll be on your For You feed which shows an algorithmically curated feed of videos. Make sure you’re logged into the account you want to post the duet from by checking your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
Select a Video
The next step is to select a video from your camera roll or gallery that you want to duet with. Here’s how to do it:
Go to your camera roll/gallery and pick the video you want to duet with. You can choose any video you have previously recorded and saved to your phone. Make sure you select a high-quality video that looks good and that you have permission to use. The video length can be up to 60 seconds.
Once you’ve selected the video you want to use for your duet, you’re ready to go back to the TikTok app and continue the duet process. Having the video already picked out ahead of time makes the duet process faster and smoother.
Go to TikTok Camera
After selecting the video you want to duet with, the next step is to open the TikTok camera to record your video. According to Wallaroo Media, TikTok has over 2.7 billion total app downloads as of December 2020, making it one of the most popular social media apps. With so many users creating content, opening the TikTok camera is an essential part of engaging on the platform.
To open the TikTok camera, simply tap on the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen. This will launch the camera viewfinder where you can record your side-by-side reaction video. Make sure to enable Duet mode so your video will be stitched together with the original video you selected. Frame your shot, and tap the record button to capture your reaction. You can record up to 60 seconds of video.
The TikTok camera offers a variety of creative tools to enhance your video. You can add visual effects, timers, filters and more. Feel free to get creative and make the video uniquely your own! The goal is to provide an entertaining reaction that complements the original video.
Tap Duet
After selecting your video, the next step is to tap the duet icon in the bottom left corner of the TikTok camera screen. This looks like two outlines of people side-by-side. Tapping this icon enters duet mode, which allows you to record a video alongside the video you selected earlier (source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/new-to-tiktok/duet-react).
When in duet mode, the selected video will appear on the left side of the screen. Your camera will be on the right side. As the selected video plays, you can record yourself reacting to it or adding commentary. Your video will be stitched together side-by-side with the original (source: https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-duet).
Tapping duet is the key to activating the side-by-side duet feature. Look for the two outline duet icon before recording your reaction video.
Pick Your Video
After you tap the Duet icon in the TikTok camera, you’ll be taken to a screen where you can select the video you want to duet with. To pick a video from your gallery to duet with, follow these steps:
1. Tap the “Upload” button at the bottom of the screen. This will open up your photo gallery.
2. Browse and select the video you want to duet with from your gallery. You can pick any video saved on your device.
3. Once you’ve selected the video, tap “Next” in the upper right corner.
This will load the selected video from your gallery into the duet screen. Now you’re ready to record your part of the duet video.
It’s important to note that the original video you pick to duet with must have the “Allow Duet” option enabled by its creator. If not, you won’t be able to select or use that video for a duet. So when picking a video from your gallery, make sure the original uploader has duets enabled.
Record Your Video
The key part of creating a duet on TikTok is to record a new video while the original video plays beside you. This allows you to interact with, react to, or build upon the original video creatively. Here are some tips for recording your part of the duet:
- Make sure you have the original video queued up and ready to play before you start recording.
- Position yourself so that your video will appear beside the original video in a split screen format. You want to make sure you are fully in frame.
- As the original video starts playing, start recording your own video reacting to it. You can lip-sync, dance, make jokes, give commentary, etc. Get creative!
- Time your reactions and motions to align with what is happening in the original video. This could mean gesturing at certain moments or mimicking dances/motions.
- Keep your video relevant to the original content. Duets work best when your video builds on the original in a meaningful, humorous, or entertaining way.
- Monitor both videos as you record so you stay on beat and in sync. This takes some practice!
- Record a few different takes if needed to get the perfect duet reaction video.
The key is to not just record a random video, but actually interact with the original content. This pushes the creativity of the duet format on TikTok. Viewers love seeing good comedic, musical, or choreographed duets. So react and respond to the original video dynamically when recording your part of the duet.
Edit & Post
Once you have finished recording your video for the duet, you have the option to edit it before posting. TikTok’s built-in editing tools allow you to trim the video length, add text captions and stickers, adjust speed and more. To access the editing screen, simply tap “Next” after recording your duet video.
On the editing screen, you can preview your video duet and use the options along the bottom to edit. Tap the scissors icon to trim video length, the T icon to add text, and the sticker icon to add visual embellishments. You can also use the “Effects” tab to add filters and alter video speed. Take time to ensure your duet video looks its best!
When ready to post, tap the “Post” button. You’ll have the option to add a descriptive caption and hashtags to help your duet get discovered. The duet will now be published on your TikTok profile for others to view!
Conclusion
In summary, duetting on TikTok allows you to engage with other creators’ content in a fun and collaborative way. By recording your reaction video side-by-side with the original, you can put your own spin on trends, participate in challenges, and make entertaining duets. The process involves opening the TikTok app, selecting a video to duet with, accessing the camera to record your own video, and then posting the duet for others to see. Key benefits of duetting include boosting engagement, joining trending conversations, showing appreciation for other creators, and displaying your personality alongside others. With the right strategy, duetting can help you creatively express yourself on TikTok and connect with the community.