Source: https://mindstamp.com/help/whats-an-audio-clip
Generated from the Help Center records: 2026-10-05

# What is an audio clip in Mindstamp?

Topic: [Videos and playback](https://mindstamp.com/help/videos) · Updated: 2026-09-25

## Short answer

An **Audio Clip** plays a sound or short narration inside your video. At the clip’s time, the main video pauses and the audio plays; when it ends, the video continues. Upload audio or record it in the browser, and it is saved in your asset library for reuse.

## Steps

1. Open the video in the editor and move the playhead to where the audio should play.
2. In the interaction bar, select **More**, then **Audio Clip**.
3. Select **Select Audio** and choose audio from your assets.
4. To add new audio, select **Upload Audio** (MP3, WAV, OGG or FLAC) or **Record Audio** to record with your microphone for up to 2 minutes.
5. Select **Preview** and listen on speakers and on headphones.

![More menu in the Mindstamp editor with Audio Clip highlighted in the Media group](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/more-menu-audio-clip.webp)

_Add an audio clip from More > Audio Clip._

## Play audio when a viewer clicks

Set the click action of a button, hotspot or image to **Play Audio Clip** to play audio only when a viewer asks for it, for example to hear a pronunciation.

## What viewers see

While the audio plays, the video is paused and a small speaker animation shows at the top of the player. To let viewers close the audio early, go to **Settings** > **Playback** and turn on **Allow skipping of video & audio clips**.

## When to use audio

Put the same information in text too, for example in a text overlay or the transcript, so viewers who cannot hear it can still follow.

- A short spoken explanation or correction, without re-recording the video.
- A pronunciation, a music sample or a sound effect.
- A voice prompt before a question.

## Audio clips and background audio

An Audio Clip pauses the video. To play music or a new soundtrack under the video while it plays, use a custom audio soundtrack instead of an Audio Clip.

## Go further

- [Voice clips](https://mindstamp.com/features/voice-clips)
- [Asset library tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/asset-library)

## Related answers

- [What is a video clip in Mindstamp?](https://mindstamp.com/help/whats-a-video-clip)
- [Why can’t I record a video or audio clip?](https://mindstamp.com/help/why-cant-i-record-video-or-audio-clips)
- [What accessibility features does Mindstamp offer?](https://mindstamp.com/help/accessibility-features)

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