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How to Add AI Narration to TikTok & Instagram | Free Commercial Use
March 31, 2026
I want to add narration to TikTok and Instagram, but I don't want to use my own voice...
When creating videos for TikTok or Instagram, are you having trouble with how to add narration?
In such cases, AI narration is recommended.
You can create short videos for TikTok or Instagram Reels without using your own voice.
Moreover, it is free and commercial use is OK, so you can monetize with peace of mind.
In this article, we will explain how to add AI narration to short videos in an easy-to-understand way through 3 steps: scriptwriting → voice generation → video editing.
What you will learn in this article
- Benefits of using AI narration for short videos
- Differences between CapCut text-to-speech and dedicated AI text-to-speech apps
- How to make short videos with AI narration 【3 steps】
- Tips for viral short video narration
What are the benefits of using AI narration for short videos?
In fact, more and more creators are now using AI narration for short videos like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
First, let's introduce the reasons why.
Post short videos without showing your face or using your voice
The biggest benefit of AI narration is being able to create short videos without using your own voice.
Many creators on TikTok and Instagram are active without showing their faces or using their own voices.
With AI narration, you can generate natural speech just by entering text.
You can post short videos while protecting your privacy.
There are many types of voices, such as female and male voices, so you can choose a voice that matches the atmosphere of the video.
More natural and higher quality than CapCut text-to-speech
Many people probably use CapCut to edit short videos.
While CapCut also has a text-to-speech function, using a dedicated AI text-to-speech app allows you to create even higher-quality narration.
With a dedicated app, you can finely adjust the reading speed and tone, resulting in narration that perfectly fits the content of your short video.
Commercial use OK, so monetization is worry-free
If you're aiming for monetization on TikTok or Instagram, whether the narration audio can be used commercially is an important point.
CapCut's text-to-speech function has restrictions on commercial use.
On the other hand, the AI text-to-speech app 『Ondoku』 is commercial use OK.
Even with the free plan, you can use it commercially if you provide credit, so you can monetize your short videos with peace of mind and without spending money.
CapCut text-to-speech vs. dedicated AI text-to-speech apps: What's the difference?
What's the difference between CapCut's text-to-speech function and dedicated apps like Ondoku?
CapCut's text-to-speech function is convenient and easy to use, but there are several differences compared to dedicated AI text-to-speech apps.
CapCut has limitations on its text-to-speech function
The main appeal of CapCut's text-to-speech is that you can add audio directly within the app.
However, the variety of voices to choose from is limited, and it's not suitable for fine adjustments such as speed and pitch.
Supported voices for Japanese are also limited.
There are also restrictions on commercial use, so caution is needed if you are thinking about monetization.
Dedicated apps let you create natural narration for free
A feature of dedicated AI text-to-speech apps is that they can create natural narration using high-quality AI speech synthesis engines.
You can choose a voice that fits your video from many options and finely adjust the reading speed and pitch.
『Ondoku』 is commercial use OK even on the free plan, making monetization worry-free.
Furthermore, it supports over 80 languages, so it can also be used for short videos aimed at overseas audiences.
If you prioritize ease of use, CapCut is recommended; if you prioritize audio quality, customizability, and peace of mind regarding commercial use, a dedicated AI text-to-speech app is recommended.
Narration audio created with 『Ondoku』 can be downloaded as MP3 files, so you can easily import and use them in your preferred video editing apps like CapCut or InShot.
How to create short video AI narration 【3 steps】
I want to try making a short video with AI narration right away!
From here, we will introduce how to create short video narration using the AI text-to-speech app 『Ondoku』.
You can create short videos with AI narration in just 3 steps.
Step 1: Write the script for the AI narration
First, create a script for the narration.
Short videos are short videos of 15 to 90 seconds.
The target character count for the script is as follows:
- 15-second video: Approx. 60–80 characters
- 30-second video: Approx. 120–160 characters
- 60-second video: Approx. 250–320 characters
- 90-second video: Approx. 380–480 characters
In short videos, it is very important to grab the viewer's interest in the first 3 seconds.
Include a hook at the beginning of the script, such as "Did you know?" or "Actually...".
A key point is to add a period (。) at the end of the script text.
AI text-to-speech apps recognize periods as breaks, resulting in narration with natural pauses.
Step 2: Generate AI narration audio
Once the script is ready, generate the narration audio with 『Ondoku』.
It's easy to use.
First, open the 『Ondoku』 site.
This time, we will read the script text using Ondoku's new high-performance AI voice 『OndokuBeta』.
Next, paste the script into the text input field.
Choose your preferred voice (you can listen to voice samples here).
After entering the text, press the "Read" button.
The audio will be generated immediately, so wait while keeping the screen open.
Once the reading audio is complete, the screen will switch and the audio will be played.
If it sounds good after listening, download the MP3 file.
By reading the script text this time, we were able to generate audio like this!
Audio Sample
Step 3: Combine in a video editing app
Import the downloaded MP3 file into a video editing app to complete it.
Here are the main apps that can be used for editing short videos:
- CapCut: Standard app usable for free. Smooth integration with TikTok
- InShot: App for easy editing on smartphones
- Adobe Premiere Rush: Adobe app usable on both PC and smartphone
- VN: High-performance free video editing app
In any app, you can add narration just by adding the MP3 file downloaded from Ondoku to the BGM track.
We recommend adding telops (subtitles) to match the narration so that the content is conveyed even to viewers who have their sound off.
In this way, you can easily create TikTok or Instagram short video narration using Ondoku.
Why not start by creating narration for free with Ondoku yourself?
We also recommend creating SRT subtitle files with the latest AI apps
CapCut and VN also support importing "SRT file" format for subtitle creation.
With the AI app 『Mojiokoshi-san』, you can automatically create SRT subtitle files from audio, which is recommended for easy and smooth subtitling.
5 Tips for Viral Short Video Narration
From here, we will introduce tips for getting more people to watch your AI-narrated short videos.
1. Include a hook in the first 3 seconds
Short videos are won or lost in the first 3 seconds.
Viewers will swipe to the next video immediately if they find it boring.
Starting the narration with a question or a shocking fact like "Did you know?", "Actually, this is...", or "People who do ○○ should be careful" is effective.
2. Reading speed of 1.1x to 1.2x is recommended
Tempo is important for short videos.
If the narration is too slow, viewers will drop off halfway through.
Setting the speed to about 1.1x to 1.2x provides a good balance between clarity and tempo.
3. Always add subtitles
A very large number of people watch TikTok and Instagram with the sound turned off.
By adding subtitles synchronized with the narration, the content is conveyed even when the sound is off, which reduces drop-off rates.
For creating high-precision AI subtitles from audio, 『Mojiokoshi-san』 is recommended.
You can also add subtitles using CapCut's auto-caption function.
4. Adjust the balance between BGM and narration
In short videos with narration, the point is to lower the BGM volume to make the narration easier to hear.
As a guide, a volume balance of about 70 for narration and 30 for BGM is recommended.
If the BGM overlaps too much with the narration, the content will be harder to understand.
5. Choose a voice that fits the video content
It is also important to choose a narration voice that matches the atmosphere of the video.
- Explanatory/Educational videos: Calm adult voice
- Entertainment/Trend videos: Bright, upbeat voice
- Product introduction/Review videos: Clear voice with a sense of reliability
『Ondoku』 has many voices available, so you can create narration with the perfect voice for your video content.
How to read aloud in foreign languages is explained in the second half of this article.
Points for adding narration by app
TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts each have points for creating narration.
We will explain the points for adding narration for each short video app.
TikTok: Usage of trend BGM is the key
TikTok is an app where videos using trending sound sources are more likely to be displayed in recommendations.
Even for videos with narration, playing a trending sound source at a low volume as BGM will make it easier to get recommended.
The key to going viral on TikTok is to keep the narration as the main focus while skillfully incorporating trending sound sources as BGM.
Instagram Reels: Evaluation improves with channel consistency
Compared to TikTok, Instagram Reels is an app where consistency in the brand's world view and visuals is more likely to be valued.
It is recommended to consistently use a narration voice that matches the brand image of the account.
By using the same voice every time, it becomes easier for viewers to recognize, "Oh, it's this account's voice."
YouTube Shorts: Use it to drive traffic to longer videos
The key for YouTube Shorts is to use it as an entrance to regular YouTube videos (long-form videos).
By just adding a sentence at the end of the short video narration like "For more details, I'm explaining it in the main video," you can guide viewers to long-form videos on the same channel.
For YouTube Shorts, it is recommended to use narration to increase channel subscribers.
Making overseas-oriented videos with multilingual narration is also recommended!
Short videos are also characterized by their tendency to spread across borders.
If you expand Japanese short videos into English or Korean, you might be able to go viral among overseas viewers.
English and Korean to expand your audience
Short videos that introduce Japanese culture and trends are also popular overseas.
If you're making videos in foreign languages, we first recommend English, which has many viewers, and Korean, as many people are interested in Japanese culture.
By translating the Japanese script into English or Korean and generating narration audio in that language with 『Ondoku』, you can create multilingual versions of short videos using the same video material.
『Ondoku』 supports over 80 languages, so you can generate narration in various languages, not just English and Korean.
How to mass-produce multilingual short videos with translation + AI voice
The procedure for multilingual expansion is very easy.
First, translate the Japanese script (it's easy if you use ChatGPT or DeepL).
Next, generate narration audio from the translated text with 『Ondoku』 using the same method explained in this article.
Then just replace the subtitles and narration with English or Korean in your video editing app!
Since you can reuse the video material as it is, you can mass-produce short videos for overseas markets with little effort!
Summary: Creating narration for TikTok and Instagram Reels
In this article, we introduced how to add AI narration to short videos such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
By using AI narration, anyone can easily create high-quality narrated short videos without using their own voice.
With the AI text-to-speech app 『Ondoku』, you can create narration audio that is commercial use OK for free.
Since it supports over 80 languages, you can also create short videos in multiple languages.
Why don't you try creating a short video with AI narration using 『Ondoku』 right away?
■ AI voice synthesis software "Ondoku"
"Ondoku" is an online text-to-speech tool that can be used with no initial costs.
- Supports approximately 50 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German
- Available from both PC and smartphone
- Suitable for business, education, entertainment, etc.
- No installation required, can be used immediately from your browser
- Supports reading from images
To use it, simply enter text or upload a file on the site. A natural-sounding audio file will be generated within seconds. You can use voice synthesis up to 5,000 characters for free, so please give it a try.
Text-to-speech software "Ondoku" can read out 5000 characters every month with AI voice for free.
You can easily download MP3s and commercial use is also possible.
If you sign up for free, you can convert up to 5,000 characters per month for free from text to speech.
Try Ondoku now.
HP:
ondoku3.com
Email: ondoku3.com@gmail.com
Email: ondoku3.com@gmail.com
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