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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Cut around the swear word
Play the clip and find the swear word on the timeline. Move the playhead to the very start of the word and press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) to make a cut. Then move to the end of the word and cut again. Zoom into the audio waveform with the + key if you need to be precise, so you do not clip the words before or after.
Step 2: Delete the word
Select the small piece between the two cuts and press Delete. This leaves a gap of silence where the swear word was. That is the simplest way to censor, and it already works if you only need the word gone.
Step 3: Create a beep with Bars and Tone
For the classic bleep, go to the Project panel, click the New Item button and choose Bars and Tone. Click OK in the dialog. Drag the Bars and Tone clip onto your timeline and align it with the gap where the swear word was.
Step 4: Remove the video and keep the sound
Bars and Tone comes with a video part you do not need. Make sure the clip is selected and press Ctrl+L (Cmd+L on Mac) to unlink the video and audio. Then select the video part and delete it. Slide the remaining tone so it lines up with the removed word and trim it to the same length. The beep is usually quite loud, so lower its volume a little to keep it comfortable.
Step 5: Use a funny sound effect instead
You do not have to use a beep. Import any sound effect, such as a dolphin sound, drag it to the empty space and align it with the removed word. Trim off the leftovers so the sound ends together with the gap. A silly sound often works better than a harsh beep, especially for comedy and gaming videos.
Tips
- Cover the whole word. Even a tiny piece of the original sound left at the edge can be understood, so cut slightly wide.
- Check the beep volume. Match it to the loudness of the speech so it does not jump out.
- Add a short fade. A tiny audio fade on the cut edges avoids clicks.
FAQ
How do I bleep out a word in Premiere Pro?
Cut and delete the word, create a Bars and Tone clip from the New Item menu, unlink and delete its video, and align the tone with the gap.
Can I use my own sound instead of a beep?
Yes. Any audio clip works. Drop it into the gap and trim it to the length of the removed word.
Why do I need to unlink Bars and Tone?
The clip has both video and audio. Unlinking with Ctrl+L lets you delete the video and keep only the beep.
Want that dolphin sound for your own edits? Grab the free dolphin sound effect.
