Source: https://vokal.co/blog/what-is-an-audiogram Description: An audiogram turns your audio into a short video for social media. See examples, learn why they work, and make one for your podcast in minutes. Published: 2026-10-27T00:00:00.000Z Modified: 2026-10-27T12:00:00.000Z [audiogram](https://vokal.co/blog/tags/audiogram) [podcast](https://vokal.co/blog/tags/podcast) [social media](https://vokal.co/blog/tags/social-media) # What Is an Audiogram? Examples and How to Make One By [Frizky](https://twitter.com/frizurd) · October 27, 2026 · 5 min read ![Glass head wearing headphones with colorful light inside](https://vokal.co/images/blog/audiogram/audiogram-headphones-d7bcae296b63-1200.webp) You have a great podcast episode. You post a link on Instagram. And... nothing. Two likes, one of them from your mom. I've been there. The problem isn't your show. The problem is that social media loves video. Not audio. That's where audiograms come in. ## What is an audiogram? An audiogram is a short video made from a piece of audio. It usually has a still image, a moving waveform and subtitles. The waveform bounces along with the voice, so people can see that something is playing. Even with the sound off. So you take a clip from your podcast, radio show or song. Put it on top of a nice background. And you get a video you can post anywhere. [Video demonstration](https://vokal.co/assets/video/example1.mp4) [Video demonstration](https://vokal.co/assets/video/example2.mp4) [Video demonstration](https://vokal.co/assets/video/example3.mp4) Click on the examples above to play them. I made all of them with my tool, [Vokal](https://vokal.co/). ## Where do audiograms come from? Fun fact. The audiogram started out of frustration. Back in 2016, Facebook didn't let you upload audio files. It still doesn't (I wrote about [getting your MP3 on Facebook](https://vokal.co/blog/audio-on-facebook) before). So the team at the New York radio station WNYC came up with a trick. They turned their audio into a video with a still image and a waveform. They called it an audiogram. And it worked. [WNYC said](https://www.niemanlab.org/2016/03/hoping-to-make-audio-more-shareable-wnyc-introduces-audiograms-for-social-media/) posts with an audiogram got 8 times more engagement than posts without one. Since then, pretty much every podcast you follow has used them. > Side note. In the medical world, an audiogram is a chart from a hearing test. Same word, very different thing. This post is about the video kind. ## Why should you use audiograms? I'll keep this short. Here are my top reasons. - **Video gets more attention.** Feeds on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook favor video. A plain link or image just can't compete. - **People scroll with the sound off.** Most people watch videos on mute. Subtitles let them follow along anyway. And if they like what they read, they turn the sound on. - **It's a trailer for your episode.** A good 30 second clip makes people curious. Curious people click. And clicks turn into new listeners. - **You already have the content.** No need to film anything. You just reuse audio you already recorded. - **It works everywhere.** Square for your feed, portrait for Stories, Reels and TikTok, landscape for YouTube and X. Audiograms are one of my favorite ways to [promote a podcast](https://vokal.co/blog/promote-podcast). Cheap, quick and they work. ## What makes a good audiogram? Some audiograms work. Others flop. I've seen a lot of them, and the good ones have a few things in common. ### 1\. Keep it short Thirty to sixty seconds is the sweet spot. Find the moment where something happens. A strong opinion, a funny story or a surprising fact. Skip the intro music and the "welcome back to the show". ### 2\. Add subtitles This one is not optional. No subtitles? Then most people have no clue what your clip is about. So go big with the text. Your viewers are squinting at a phone. Vokal can [add subtitles to your video](https://vokal.co/features/add-subtitle-to-video) for you. ### 3\. Use your brand Use your podcast cover art, your colors and your [logo](https://vokal.co/features/add-logo-to-video). People should know it's your show at first glance. Even before they read anything. ### 4\. Make it move A [waveform](https://vokal.co/blog/audio-waveform) or a [progress bar](https://vokal.co/features/progress-bar) shows that the video is playing. It also catches the eye while people scroll. A still image with audio looks like a broken video. ### 5\. Get the size right Every platform wants something different. Portrait (9:16) for TikTok, Reels and Stories. Square (1:1) for feeds. Landscape (16:9) for YouTube. ### 6\. Tell people what to do next End with a short call to action. "Full episode on Spotify" or "link in bio" is enough. ## How to make an audiogram Sure, Premiere Pro or After Effects can do it. FFmpeg too, if you're into the command line. My [waveform animation guide](https://vokal.co/blog/audio-waveform) covers that route. But honestly, that's a lot of work for a 30 second clip. If you only need a static waveform image, the free [waveform generator](https://vokal.co/tools/audio-waveform-generator) makes one in your browser. That's why I built Vokal. Here's how it works. ### 1\. Sign up Create your free account [here](https://app.vokal.co/register). No credit card needed. ### 2\. Pick a format and template Square, portrait or landscape? Pick one. Then grab a template, or go blank if you like a clean slate. You can change everything later. ### 3\. Add your audio Drop in your MP3 or WAV. Got a podcast? Search for it by name and pick an episode. Vokal downloads it for you. Drag over the waveform to select the part you want to use. ### 4\. Add a waveform and subtitles Add an animated waveform or progress bar from the left sidebar. Change the colors to match your brand. Click "Add transcript" and Vokal writes the subtitles for you. Fix any typos and change the style if you like. ### 5\. Export and share Hit "Export Video" and grab a coffee. You'll get an email when your video is ready. Download it and post it wherever you want. That's it. Your first audiogram! Want to put full episodes on YouTube too? Read my guide on [how to upload your podcast to YouTube](https://vokal.co/blog/upload-podcast-to-youtube). Or check out how Vokal turns a [podcast into a video](https://vokal.co/features/podcast-to-video). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is an audiogram on social media? A short video you make from audio. It has a background image, an animated waveform and often subtitles. Podcasters, radio shows and musicians post them on social media. Think Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. ### How long should an audiogram be? Thirty to sixty seconds works best for a clip. People scroll fast, so get to the good part right away. You can make longer ones too, like a full episode for YouTube. ### What size should an audiogram be? Portrait (9:16) for TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories. Square (1:1) for Instagram and Facebook feeds. Landscape (16:9) for YouTube and X. ### What is the difference between an audiogram and a video podcast? You film a video podcast with cameras. You make an audiogram from audio only. You don't need a camera, lights or a studio. Just your audio file and an image. ### Can I make an audiogram for free? Yes. Vokal has a free plan, no credit card needed. You can [sign up here](https://app.vokal.co/register) and make your first audiogram in a few minutes. ## Wrapping up An audiogram is the easiest way to get your audio noticed on social media. Grab a short clip. Slap on a waveform and subtitles. Post it in the right size. Done. Want to try it? [Make your first audiogram for free](https://app.vokal.co/register). ![Picture of Frizky](https://vokal.co/profile.jpg) Frizky [@frizurd](https://twitter.com/frizurd) Creator of Vokal. Designer and developer for 15+ years, on a mission to make great design accessible to everyone. [PreviousVideo Marketing for Small Businesses: Tips and Tricks](https://vokal.co/blog/video-marketing-small-businesses)[NextHow to Upload Your Podcast to YouTube (Step by Step)](https://vokal.co/blog/upload-podcast-to-youtube) ## Ready to make your first video? [Get started — it's free](https://app.vokal.co/register) ![Vokal video templates](https://vokal.co/images/examples-min-2f8db0875081-1200.webp)