How to Add a Pause in Revid Voiceovers: The Break Tag, Step by Step

To add a pause in a Revid voiceover, type <break time="1.0s" /> in the script exactly where the silence should fall. Change the number to set the length, up to 10 seconds per pause. The tag works with ElevenLabs and MiniMax voices; Gemini and Kling voices ignore it.

The tag fails silently, which makes it easy to waste credits. On a Gemini or Kling voice, Revid drops the tag and the narration runs straight through, with no error. A number without a unit is another trap: anything above 10 is read as milliseconds, so time="20" gives you a 20-millisecond blip, not a 20-second silence.

#The break tag syntax

The tag follows the SSML format most AI voice engines use. Write it inside the script text, between the words where you want silence.

The rule that prevents every mistake in that table: always write the s and keep each pause at 10 seconds or less.

Here is the classic example. To make the voice say "Welcome to our channel," wait a beat, then continue:

Welcome to our channel. <break time="1.0s" /> Today, we'll show you how to create engaging videos.

#Which Revid voices honor the pause tag

Revid offers 1,000+ AI voices from several providers, and they handle the tag differently.

If you are not sure which provider a voice comes from, test it on one short sentence with a 2-second pause before you voice a full script. If the gap is missing, switch to another voice. For more on choosing and adding voices, see our guide to adding AI voice to a video for free.

#Add a pause when you create a new video

The pause goes into the narration script before you generate, so the video is timed around it from the start.

1. Click Create at the top of the sidebar (or press C). The page opens on "What do you want to make?".
2. Choose From script. This opens Revid's script-to-voiceover video tool, which reads your script over matching visuals.
3. In the box titled "Your video narrator script", write your script and add <break time="1.0s" /> wherever you want silence. The placeholder text in that box shows the same syntax.
4. Pick your voice. If the script relies on pauses, avoid Gemini and Kling voices.
5. Check Estimated cost next to Generate video, then click Generate video.

Type the tag exactly as 1.0s with straight quotes here: the automatic fix for 1s and curly quotes is documented for the editor, not for this box. The same tags work in the AI voiceover video maker and other tools that take a written script.

#Add a pause to a video you already made

You do not need to rebuild the video. Regenerate only the voiceover with the pause added.

1. Open the project from Videos: click its card, or use the card menu and choose Open in editor.
2. Click Audio in the editor's left rail. The Voiceover tab lists your Project Voiceovers, each with Edit and Re-generate. Click Re-generate on the segment you want to change. You can also select the voiceover clip on the timeline and click Re-generate Voiceover.
3. In the "Re-generate existing voiceover" dialog, open Edit Input Text and type the break tag where the silence should go.
4. Under Options, keep Keep timeline in sync on, so clips, texts and music follow the new narration timing.
5. Click Generate Voice. The dialog shows the cost before you confirm.

Regenerating costs 10 credits per started 500 characters and is only available on paid plans.

You can also type the tag into a segment in the Script panel, where every caption segment has its own text box and start time. The editor then shows "Caption updated. Re-generate voice if timing changed." The new pause only plays after you regenerate the voice as above. The full workflow is in our guide to editing the transcript and regenerating voice.

#Pause tag, line breaks and brackets do different jobs

Three things in a Revid script look like formatting, and each one behaves differently.

A period or comma already gives a short, natural gap with most AI voices. Use the break tag when you want a beat of a specific length, and a new line when you want the visuals to change.

#Where pauses earn their place

A pause is a pacing tool, so put it where the viewer needs a moment:

• After the hook, so the question lands before the answer starts.
• Before a reveal or a number, to build a beat of tension.
• On a strong visual, so viewers look at the shot instead of listening.
• Before the call to action, so it does not blur into the last point.

Here is a hook written this way:

Cats almost always land on their feet. <break time="1.0s" />
The secret is a tiny organ inside their ear. <break time="1.0s" />
Here's how it works.

The bigger lesson is to say less. In Revid's analysis of 176,367 TikToks with 1,000+ likes posted between October 2025 and October 2026, videos with under 40 characters of speech had a median of 123K views, and 20.2% passed 1M. Videos that talked throughout (300+ characters of speech) had a 68K median and 11.9% past 1M. The sample only includes videos that already reached 1,000+ likes, so this shows what top performers have in common, not a cause. Still, it is a strong hint against wall-to-wall narration. The method is in the full TikTok virality study.

In practice, cut the script first, then add pauses where the visuals can carry the story. A free TikTok script generator helps you get to a tight first draft. Synced captions on your Revid video keep the message readable during the silent beats.

#FAQ

#Can I add a pause without remaking the whole video?

Yes. Open the project in the editor, click Re-generate on the voiceover in the Audio panel, add the tag under Edit Input Text, and keep "Keep timeline in sync" on. Only the voiceover is regenerated, and the clips follow the new timing.

#Can I add pauses on a free account?

Yes, when you create a new video: new accounts get free credits, and the tag works in the narration script box. Regenerating a voiceover in the editor needs a paid plan, from $39/month on the Revid pricing page.

#Do brackets add a pause in Revid?

No. Brackets mark notes that are not read aloud, and in script-to-video they guide the visuals for that scene. Use <break time="1.0s" /> for silence.

#Does Revid support other SSML tags?

The break tag is the only SSML tag Revid documents. Other tags are not documented, so test them on a short clip before you rely on them.

#What is the longest pause I can add?

10 seconds per tag. Longer values are cut down to 10 seconds.