You've edited your audio to perfection — trimmed it, cleaned it up, maybe added some effects. Now it's time to share it on social media. But should you export as WAV or MP3? Does the bitrate matter? Will TikTok re-compress your audio and make it sound terrible?

In this guide, we break down the optimal audio export settings for every major social media platform so your content sounds as good as possible everywhere it's posted.

The Universal Rule

Here's the simplest advice: export as MP3 for social media. WAV files are unnecessarily large for social platforms — they'll be re-compressed by the platform anyway. MP3 gives you a great balance of quality and file size that works everywhere.

For the specific settings, here's what each platform prefers:

TikTok

  • Format: MP3
  • Duration: 15 seconds, 60 seconds, or up to 10 minutes (varies by account)
  • Quality tip: TikTok heavily compresses uploaded audio. Export at the highest quality available (MP3) and use Studio Enhance to maximize clarity before uploading. Louder, brighter audio tends to survive TikTok's compression better.

For voice-based TikToks, consider applying the Studio Enhance effect before exporting — the compression and brightness boost help your voice cut through on mobile speakers. For music or sound effects, check out our viral voice effects guide.

Instagram (Reels & Stories)

  • Format: MP3
  • Duration: Up to 90 seconds for Reels, 15 seconds per Story slide
  • Quality tip: Instagram also re-compresses audio. Use Studio Enhance for voice content. For music clips, make sure the audio is loud enough — Instagram tends to reduce playback volume compared to the original.

YouTube & YouTube Shorts

  • Format: WAV (if using as audio track in video) or MP3
  • Duration: Up to 60 seconds for Shorts, unlimited for regular videos
  • Quality tip: YouTube has the best audio quality of any major platform. If you're adding audio to a video editor, export as WAV for maximum quality. For standalone audio clips or voiceovers, MP3 is fine. See our guide on making music for YouTube Shorts.

Twitter / X

  • Format: MP3 (uploaded as part of a video)
  • Quality tip: Twitter doesn't support standalone audio uploads — you'll need to pair your audio with a video (even a static image works). Export as MP3 and combine with a video in any video editor. Keep audio loud and clear, as Twitter heavily compresses media.

Podcast Platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.)

  • Format: MP3
  • Duration: Any length
  • Quality tip: Most podcast hosting platforms recommend MP3 at 192 kbps for spoken content or 256 kbps for music-heavy shows. Fill in the audio metadata (title, artist, album art) before exporting — this information appears in podcast players. See our podcast cleanup checklist.

SoundCloud & Bandcamp

  • Format: WAV (preferred) or MP3
  • Quality tip: These platforms are designed for music and support high-quality uploads. Upload WAV for the best listener experience — the platforms will create their own compressed versions for streaming while keeping your original as the master.

General Tips for Social Media Audio

  • Use Studio Enhance before exporting — the compression and brightness boost help audio survive platform re-compression.
  • Make it loud: Social media audio is often played on phone speakers. Louder, clearer audio performs better. Use the Volume slider to boost if needed.
  • Clean up noise: Background noise that's barely noticeable on headphones becomes very obvious on phone speakers. Use AI Noise Reduction before exporting.
  • Trim precisely: Social media content is consumed fast. Every second counts — trim your audio to start strong and end cleanly with no dead air.
  • Test on mobile: Most social media is consumed on phones. Always preview your exported audio on a phone speaker before posting to make sure it sounds good on small speakers.

Quick Reference Table

  • TikTok: MP3, use Studio Enhance, max volume
  • Instagram: MP3, Studio Enhance for voice, loud audio
  • YouTube: WAV for video editing, MP3 for standalone
  • Twitter/X: MP3 (as part of video)
  • Podcasts: MP3, 192-256 kbps, with metadata
  • SoundCloud: WAV preferred, MP3 acceptable

Ready to export for social media? Head to the OnlineAudioEdit editor and get your audio sounding its best before you post.