TikTok was launched in 2016 and quickly grew to become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022 (https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/tiktok-statistics.html). The app allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music. One of the standout features that sets TikTok apart is its array of built-in voice effects that users can apply to their videos.
Some of the most popular TikTok voice effects include the robot voice, the helium voice, the deep voice, the reverb voice, and the rotate voice. These effects allow users to alter the pitch and tone of their voice in creative and funny ways. The robot voice makes the user sound robotic and automated, while the helium effect gives them a hilarious high-pitched voice.
Voice effects have become incredibly popular on TikTok because they allow users to put a unique spin on their content. The effects help videos stand out, inject humor, and enhance creativity. Altering one’s voice also allows TikTokers to create characters and personas. Overall, the voice effects contribute to the fun, lively culture of TikTok that has made it such a global phenomenon.
The Robot Voice
The robot voice effect gained popularity in 2020 and has since become one of the most widely used effects on TikTok. This effect makes the user’s voice sound robotic, monotone, and distorted as if a robot were speaking. Some examples of popular videos using the robot voice effect include prank call videos, comedy skits, POV videos, and people acting out funny scenarios.
The appeal of the robot voice effect lies in its comedic value and ability to make ordinary situations seem absurd. By removing the natural inflections of the human voice, the robot effect creates an amusing contrast between the content of the video and the emotionless delivery. It allows creators to tell stories from a new perspective. Additionally, the robotic modulation can disguise the user’s real voice, allowing more anonymity. Overall, the exaggerated comedic nature of the robot voice catalyzed its viral spread across TikTok.
Some examples of popular robot voice videos are: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/tiktok-robot-voice-over
The Helium Voice
The helium voice effect on TikTok makes your voice sound high-pitched and squeaky, like you’ve just inhaled helium. This effect uses a filter that shifts your voice frequency upwards. It’s one of the most popular voice effects on the app.
TikTok creators often use the helium voice effect for comedic purposes. For example, this video by @todayatthepark has over 4 million views and uses the helium voice for a funny lip sync: https://www.tiktok.com/@todayatthepark/video/7221568240957263146.
The helium effect is appealing because it transforms voices in an amusing and unexpected way. Hearing someone with a naturally deep voice use the helium effect can be especially funny and entertaining. It allows creators to put a humorous spin on lip syncs, sketches, and other videos.
Overall, the helium voice effect is popular on TikTok because it’s an easy-to-use and creative way for creators to add comedy to their content.
The Deep Voice
The deep voice effect on TikTok uses pitch shifting technology to lower the tone of a user’s voice significantly, making them sound much deeper and more masculine. This exaggerated bass tone can completely transform the sound of the original voice. According to TikTok, the deep voice effect allows users to “sound buff” and is often used for comedic purposes or making dramatic videos.
Some of the most popular TikTok videos using the deep voice effect include duets and sketches where users create funny dubbed conversations. The effect adds hilarity when users lip sync dialog in an absurdly low baritone. For example, this video by @augustbust has over 3 million likes, where he uses the deep voice effect in a skit playing an unrealistically macho character: https://www.tiktok.com/@augustbust/video/7103868180721442061
The exaggerated deep voice allows creators to amplify comedic scenes and characters. It is popular both for impersonations and absurdist humor. Audiences find the disconnect between the user’s real voice and their artificially lowered tone to be inherently amusing. The effect also adds drama and intensity for more serious videos. Overall, the deep voice continues to trend because it expands the creative possibilities on the platform in a simple but entertaining way.
The Reverb Voice
The reverb voice effect on TikTok adds an echo to your voice, making it sound like you’re speaking in a large cavern or cave. It’s one of the most popular voice filters on the platform and is frequently used for comedy videos.
To use the reverb effect, you simply select it from the list of voice filters when recording a video. Some popular videos using the reverb voice include duets where users have a “conversation” with themselves, videos where users pretend to be announcers with booming echoing voices, and comedy sketches.
The appeal of the reverb effect is that it’s dramatic, silly, and exaggerates the voice in a funny way. The echo makes even mundane sentences sound epic and important. Creators use it to make short comedy sketches and jokes funnier through the absurd delivery. It also allows them to essentially create two-person videos by themselves. Overall, the reverb effect opens up creative possibilities for humor and content formats.
One particularly viral TikTok by @noeyyy2 uses the reverb filter in a sketch where she pretends to be a meditation coach, with the echoing voice adding to the humor.
The Rotate Voice
The Rotate Voice effect, also nicknamed the Robot Voice, manipulates audio in TikTok to make voices sound robotic and distorted (Speechify). This effect chops up the words and cycles through different distortions, almost like it’s rotating through different voice settings. Each word comes out sounding clipped, warped, and robotic in an electronic way.
This effect has been used in some very popular TikTok videos. Creators like khaby.lame, mr_justin13, and the.hollywood.hills have amassed millions of likes on videos using the Rotate Voice effect. It adds a futuristic, out-of-this-world vibe that grabs attention. The unexpected distortion makes otherwise normal videos feel more interesting and unique.
The appeal seems to come from the novelty and surprise factor. Viewers don’t expect to hear such a robotic distortion, so it catches them off guard in an intriguing way. It also fits the wacky creativity of TikTok culture. The effect has inspired trends of users roleplaying as robots or using it in unexpected contexts for humor. Overall, the Rotate Voice stands out for its distinct electronic sound that injects videos with a stylized, eye-catching twist.
Voice Effects for Songs
Using voice effects while singing or rapping songs on TikTok has become a hugely popular trend. The autotune and pitch changing effects can make anyone sound like a professional singer. Some of the most viral TikTok songs use effects to create catchy sounds and comedic value.
One of the most popular examples is “Soph Aspin Send” by Beabadoobee, which uses a high-pitched chipmunk voice effect. The sped up, autotuned vocals made the song go viral on TikTok with over 800,000 video creations. Other hit songs like “Beans” by Kurtis Conner and “M to the B” by Millie B also use a high-pitched effect.
The appeal is that the effects allow people to sing along to songs in silly voices for comedic value. Even poor singers can take part and make fun content. The autotune also helps mask off-key notes. Overall, voice effects open up creativity, fun, and viral trends based on popular songs.
Comedic Value
One of the biggest uses of popular voice effects on TikTok is for comedic purposes. Many users employ voice filters as a way to tell jokes or add humor to their videos. The unexpected nature of hearing someone’s voice distorted in silly ways elicits laughter and amusement.
Sketch videos commonly rely on goofy voice effects to exaggerate comedic scenes. For example, a TikTok user may put on the robotic filter while acting out a conversation with an Alexa device, poking fun at the automated voice (Source). Comedy duo accounts often trade off voicing different characters using distinct voice effects like helium and deep monster voices. The contrast between filters and roles amplifies the humor.
In general, the surprise factor of voice filters adds to their comedic appeal. Viewers don’t expect to hear someone talking in a ridiculous chipmunk tone or ominous villainous rumble. This element of surprise, combined with the exaggeration of vocal qualities, helps voice effects bring more laughs and silliness to TikTok videos. They allow creators to play with the unexpected, leaning into the platform’s sense of fun.
Creativity and Trends
One exciting aspect of the numerous voice effects on TikTok is how they spark new trends and challenges, encouraging creativity among users. Certain effects like the Helium and Deep voices have inspired popular memes, where users alter songs or scenes with the goofy effects. According to TikTok’s blog, the Robot voice specifically led to the creation of a viral dance challenge, with over 2 billion views of videos using that effect to perform to choreography.
As new voice effects are introduced, TikTok creators immediately start experimenting and thinking outside the box. They try using the effects in unique combinations, setting them to unexpected audio, or coming up with comedic sketches. This constant innovation leads to fresh trends catching on across the platform. Voice effects not only let users put a new spin on existing content, but they inspire fully original ideas. Overall, the accessibility and variety of voice effects on TikTok promotes creativity among its users. As TikTok’s blog says, they allow creators to “flex their creativity” and produce entertaining content.
Sources:
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/tiktok-voice-effect-trends
https://artlist.io/blog/tiktok-voice-effects/
Conclusion
TikTok’s voice effects have clearly resonated with users, as evidenced by the popularity of voices like the Robot, Helium, and Deep effects. The appeal lies in the creativity and humor that can be added to videos through modulating one’s voice. The effects also allow users to experiment with putting on different personas or creating more captivating content.
While certain effects have risen to the top and amassed a loyal following, new viral sounds and voices are constantly emerging on the platform. As TikTok continues to innovate, we’ll likely see new voice changers that warp pitches even further or apply more dramatic effects. The introduction of voice cloning or AI-powered effects could also take voice modulation to the next level. However, the classic effects will likely remain popular staples given their versatility and broad appeal.
In the end, the voice effects on TikTok give users a way to express their creativity and individuality. As long as the app keeps expanding its sound library, viral voices will come and go, but the desire to experiment with one’s voice will remain strong.
