TikTok is a popular social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. Since launching in 2017, it has grown rapidly to over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022 (Source). TikTok’s key feature is its array of audio and visual effects that users can easily apply to their videos. From fun voices to green screen backgrounds, these creative effects help make ordinary videos into shareable content.
One of the most utilized effect categories on TikTok are voice effects. These allow users to transform and modify the sound of their voice in videos in entertaining ways. TikTok offers voice effects like helium, giant, robot, and more. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular TikTok voice effects that users love to apply for comedy and creativity.
What are voice effects?
Voice effects on TikTok allow users to alter the sound of their voice in videos recorded directly within the app. Users can choose from a selection of different voice effects before recording a video, which will apply a filter to the user’s voice in real-time as they speak or sing. This creates an audio effect that makes the creator’s voice sound different, for example higher, lower, more robotic, or more echoey. Some of the most popular voice effects on TikTok include the Chipmunk effect to make your voice high-pitched, the Giant effect to make your voice very low, and the Helium effect to give your voice a funny high-pitched squeak.
TikTok’s built-in voice effects are only available when recording videos directly in the TikTok app. They cannot be added to videos recorded externally and then uploaded. The voice effects selection appears alongside other editing tools when you open the camera within TikTok to record a new video. After selecting an effect, it will be applied to your voice as soon as you begin recording. This allows you to experiment with different vocal effects easily within the app.
Voice effects have become incredibly popular on TikTok as a way for creators to alter their voice for comedy, singing, or just for fun. The effects allow greater creativity and humor when making videos. Some TikTok creators have even gone viral purely for their skilful use of the app’s vocal effects in videos.
The Chipmunk effect
The Chipmunk effect refers to altering the pitch of audio to create a high-pitched, squeaky voice. This effect gets its name from the animated Chipmunk characters Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, who were known for their distinct high-pitched voices in their songs. The Chipmunk effect rose to popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s with the novelty records of The Chipmunks created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
Bagdasarian recorded regular vocals at a slow speed, then sped up the playback to create the signature Chipmunk sound. The technique was initially achieved by recording on analog tape and changing the tape speed. With the advent of digital editing, the Chipmunk effect became much easier to implement by digitally increasing the pitch and tempo of the audio.
According to this article, the Chipmunk effect has seen a major resurgence in recent years, especially on the social media platform TikTok. The effect is being used to create popular remixes and memes using popular songs. The high-pitched audio and increased tempo create a comical, energetic sound that lends itself well to short video clips.
The Robot effect
The Robot voice effect on TikTok electronically alters voices to sound robotic, monotonous, and computerized. This effect uses text-to-speech (TTS) technology to process voices and remove any natural inflections, tones, or emotions. The resulting robotic voice has become one of the most popular effects on the platform.
According to TikTok’s own Effect Analytics, the Robot effect is used extensively by users. It ranks as one of the top 5 most used voice effects on the platform. Users enjoy the comedic and absurdist quality of applying the robotic voiceover to lip-sync videos. The effect helps content stand out and go viral.
Some suggest the robotic voice effect became popular because the computerized voice disguises the original speaker’s voice. This allows more anonymity online. The robotic tone is also very recognizable as a TikTok audio effect, helping videos gain more views when using the familiar effect.
The Helium Effect
The helium effect is when you inhale helium from a balloon or tank and it makes your voice sound high-pitched and squeaky. This happens because of the different density and speed of sound of helium compared to air.
Helium is much less dense than air. When you inhale helium, it replaces the air in your vocal tract. Your vocal cords still vibrate at the same frequency to produce sound, but the speed of sound in helium is nearly three times faster than in air. This means the same vocal cord vibration produces a wavelength that is three times shorter in your vocal tract filled with helium. Shorter wavelengths produce higher pitched sounds, so your voice ends up high-pitched after inhaling helium.
The helium effect became popular on TikTok as users made funny videos of themselves inhaling helium and speaking or singing with the high-pitched voice effect. However, inhaling helium directly from tanks or balloons can be dangerous if done excessively, so caution should be exercised.
As explained on TikTok by user @imaginationstation419, “This gas has the OPPOSITE effect of helium” (Source). Inhaling heavier gases like sulfur hexafluoride can make your voice sound deeper instead of higher pitched.
The Giant effect
The Giant effect on TikTok deepens a user’s voice significantly, making them sound gigantic. This popular effect has seen widespread use, with over 3.7 billion views on videos utilizing it as of January 2023 according to Effect creators making waves on TikTok. The Giant effect leverages pitch shifting technology to lower the pitch of a user’s voice drastically, resulting in a booming vocal tone. Users often pair comedic lipsync videos with the Giant effect for humorous contrast between visuals and audio. Additionally, the effect is sometimes used in POV style videos where a giant or large fictional character is speaking. The dramatic change in vocal pitch makes nearly any video more memorable and impactful. The Giant effect’s viral popularity demonstrates TikTok users’ appetite for dramatic, transformative voice effects that enable creative videos.
The Vibrato Effect
The Vibrato effect is another popular voice changing filter on TikTok. As the name suggests, it gives your voice a vibrato or wavy quality, almost as if your voice is vibrating. When applied, the Vibrato effect makes your voice waver and flutter in an exaggerated way on each syllable. This can make your voice sound more musical, emotional, or comical depending on how you use it.
The Vibrato effect is often used in singing to add expression. On TikTok, it is commonly used for comedic purposes or to make lip-syncing videos more dynamic and amusing. Some people add the Vibrato effect when they want to dramatize a line or inject some silliness into their video. It works well when parodying or poking fun at certain singing styles. Overall, the Vibrato effect is fun way to make your voice stand out and add some character to your TikTok videos.
The Reverb Effect
The Reverb effect adds an echoing, spacious quality to the voice. It makes the voice sound like it’s resonating in a large hall or cavern. On TikTok, the Reverb effect became popular from users singing with an ethereal, faraway vocal sound.
To use the Reverb effect, simply select it from the list of voice effects in the TikTok app. When recording a video, tap the effect icon and choose “Reverb.” Your voice will instantly take on a lush, reverberating tone.
According to TikTok’s discovery page, the Reverb effect is commonly paired with singing videos, especially for emotional ballads and gospel songs (reverb effect|TikTok Search). The echo makes voices sound fuller and more dramatic.
While Reverb became a hugely popular vocal effect on TikTok, some critics argue it is overused. However, when applied judiciously, the Reverb effect can greatly enhance the atmosphere and mood for singing videos.
Most popular effects
The most commonly used voice effects on TikTok are the Chipmunk, Helium, and Robot effects [1]. According to TikTok, the Chipmunk effect increases pitch and speed to create a high-pitched, squeaky voice. The Helium effect only increases pitch, for a funny and cute voice. The Robot effect adds a robotic filter for a futuristic sound. These three effects alone account for over 60% of all voice effects used in TikTok videos [2].
Some stats on the popularity of these main effects:
– The Chipmunk effect is used in over 30% of TikToks with voice effects. It’s often used for comedic purposes or meme videos [3].
– The Helium effect is used in 20% of voice effect TikToks. It’s popular for singing videos and cute animal videos.
– The Robot effect is used in 15% of voice effect videos. It excels when paired with dance trends or sci-fi related content.
Other less common but still popular effects are Giant, Vibrato, and Reverb. Each of these effects have their own unique uses for altering singing voices or adding an echo effect. But the top 3 voice effects reign supreme in the world of TikTok vocal trends.
Conclusion
TikTok’s voice effects allow users to alter their voices in fun and creative ways. Some of the most popular effects include the Chipmunk effect that makes your voice high-pitched and squeaky, the Robot effect that makes your voice sound robotic and distorted, and the Helium effect that gives your voice a funny high-pitched tone. The Giant and Vibrato effects are also commonly used to deepen voices and add a wavering quality.
While people use these effects for humor and entertainment, they have also sparked some viral trends on TikTok. Videos using the popular Chipmunk and Helium effects, in particular, have gone viral thanks to their funny and shareable nature. Overall, TikTok’s voice effects open up unique opportunities for creators to experiment with altering their voice and developing entertaining content.
