Audio post production pricing is one of the most opaque corners of the production world. Different studios quote different day rates. Scope can balloon. Music licensing costs live in a separate universe from the mix costs.

This guide breaks it down – what you’re actually buying, what the ranges look like, and how to scope a project without getting surprised.

What audio post production actually includes

“Audio post” is an umbrella term. A full audio post pass on a 30-second commercial might include:

Dialogue editing and cleanup – cutting, smoothing, and noise-reducing all spoken word
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) – re-recording dialogue lines that were unusable from set
Sound design – creating or sourcing ambient sounds, effects, and textures
Foley – recording custom, frame-accurate physical sounds
Music supervision or licensing – finding and securing the right track
Music composition – if custom music is needed
Final mix – balancing and polishing all elements for delivery
Deliverables – final files in required broadcast specs (stereo, 5.1, Dolby Atmos, loudness-normalized)

Not every project needs all of these. A simple testimonial-style digital ad might just need a music license, a light dialogue pass, and a mix.

Audio post production cost ranges (2026)

These are real-world ranges, not theoretical ones:

Service	Price range
Dialogue edit + final mix, 30-second digital spot	$800–$2,500
Full audio post (dialogue, sound design, music, mix), 30-second broadcast spot	$3,500–$10,000+
Custom music composition (per track, 30–60 seconds)	$2,500–$15,000+
ADR session (half day, talent not included)	$1,500–$3,500
Foley session (half day)	$1,500–$4,000
Music licensing: library track, national broadcast	$5,000–$75,000+
Music licensing: major label sync	Highly variable; can reach six figures for national campaigns
Engineering and facility rate	$400-650/hr

What drives costs up

Broadcast vs. digital (broadcast deliverables require more spec management)
Union vs. non-union voice talent
Number of revisions
Rush turnaround
Complexity of sound design
Whether you need custom composition

What drives costs down

A clean, well-organized OMF/AAF from editorial (a messy session costs more to untangle)
Clear, decisive feedback cycles
Narrower scope defined upfront

Different projects, different scopes

Hasbro’s Grogu Comes Home involved voiceover, original music, and mix. Vuori’s Jack Draper Wimbledon and the SF Giants’ Mike Krukow Tribute are sound design and mix examples. Use these examples to identify which services your project needs before requesting a quote.

We Are Royale / Hasbro — Grogu Comes Home: voiceover, original music, and mix.
Vuori — Jack Draper Wimbledon: sound design and mix.
SF Giants — Mike Krukow Tribute: sound design and mix.

How to get an accurate quote

A good audio post studio should be able to quote from: a locked cut or rough cut of the video, a clear description of deliverables (formats, versions, specs), and a realistic revision expectation. If you’re getting quoted without any of this, the number you’re getting is a guess.

At Swell, our rate card is available on request. We scope your project accurately and deliver audio that elevates the work – not pad a number and hope you don’t notice.

The cost of getting it wrong

The cheapest audio post option is rarely the best value. A poorly mixed broadcast spot will cost you more in re-delivery fees, client frustration, and brand perception damage than the difference between two bids. Budget for audio post the way you’d budget for color grading: it’s the finishing pass that makes everything else sound like it’s worth what you spent on it.

How Much Does Audio Post Production Cost? (2026 Guide)