Glossary
What is an audiogram (podcast)?
By the KeyMo team · Updated
A podcast audiogram is a short video made from audio alone: a still image or cover art, an animated waveform, and usually captions, playing over a clip of an episode. It is not the medical audiogram, which is a chart of a hearing test. An audiogram suits audio-only shows; a real video clip adds a face.
Two meanings of the same word
Search for the word and you will meet two things. In medicine, an audiogram is a graph of what someone can hear at different pitches. In podcasting, it is a social video built because audio cannot be posted to most video feeds on its own. This page covers the podcast meaning.
The reason the second one exists is simple. YouTube Help says audio files such as MP3, WAV and PCM cannot be uploaded to create a video; they must be converted to video first. An audiogram is that conversion, dressed up to look intentional.
What goes into one
- A square or vertical background: cover art, a host photo or a quote card.
- A waveform or bar graphic that moves with the sound, so the viewer can see audio is playing.
- Captions, which carry the message for people watching with the sound off.
- A short audio excerpt, with a name and a line saying where to hear the full episode.
Audiogram versus a real video clip
| Audiogram | Video clip | |
|---|---|---|
| Source needed | Audio file plus artwork | A video recording of the conversation |
| What the viewer sees | A static image and a moving waveform | People talking, reframed to vertical |
| Face and expression | None | Yes |
| Best fit | Audio-only shows | Shows already filmed on camera |
If you already record video for your podcast, a clip of the real recording shows more than a waveform can. If you record audio only, an audiogram is the straightforward route. A related format is the quote card, which sets a single line on a designed background.
Mistakes
- Posting the waveform with no captions. Many viewers will scroll past a silent-looking tile.
- Choosing a stretch that needs the lead-in to make sense. Pick a self-contained answer, as you would for any podcast clip.
- Skipping the safe zone, so the interface covers your caption. See safe zone.
Where KeyMo touches it
KeyMo does not make audiograms and cannot make a clip from an MP3. It needs video: an MP4 or MOV upload, or a YouTube link on paid plans, between 5 minutes and 3 hours. From that video it cuts vertical 9:16 clips with captions. If your show is audio only, use an audiogram tool first, or record the next episode on camera.
Sources: YouTube Help: Supported YouTube file formats (checked 11 October 2026).