The basic steps work the same way in most video editors

To add music to a video, you import an audio file into your editor, place it on the timeline below your video track, and adjust the volume so it sits at the level you want. Most editors let you drag the audio file directly onto the timeline, trim it to match your video length, and fade it in or out at the edges. The exact steps depend on which editor you use, but the workflow is nearly identical across DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, and iMovie.

The audio file itself can be an MP3, WAV, AAC, or other common format — your editor will tell you if the format is not supported. You can use music from your computer, from a royalty-free library like Pixabay or Pexels, or from a paid service like Epidemic Sound. If you use copyrighted music without permission, the video platform (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram) may mute the audio, claim the copyright, or remove the video entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Import your audio file into the editor, then drag it onto the timeline below your video track to sync it with your footage.
  • Trim the audio to match your video length by dragging the edges of the audio clip on the timeline.
  • Adjust volume by selecting the audio clip and using the volume slider or keyframes to fade in and out.
  • Use royalty-free music from sites like Pixabay, Pexels, or YouTube Audio Library to avoid copyright strikes on video platforms.
  • Test the audio level by playing back the video — music should be loud enough to hear but not so loud it drowns out dialogue or sound effects.

How to import audio into your editor

Open your video editor and look for an import or file menu. In DaVinci Resolve, click File > Import Media and select your audio file. In Adobe Premiere Pro, go to File > Import and choose the audio. In CapCut (mobile), tap the plus icon, select your video, then tap Add Sound and choose your audio file. In iMovie, click File > Import Media and select the audio file.

Once imported, the audio appears in your media library or project panel. Drag it from the library onto the timeline — place it on an audio track below your video track. If your editor does not have a separate audio track, it may place the audio automatically. You can now see the audio waveform on the timeline, which shows you the shape of the sound and makes it easier to see where loud and quiet parts occur.

Syncing audio length to your video

Your audio file may be longer or shorter than your video. To trim it, click and drag the right edge of the audio clip on the timeline to shorten it, or drag the left edge to move where it starts. Most editors show you the exact duration in milliseconds or frames as you drag, so you can match it precisely to your video end.

If your audio is much shorter than your video, you have a few options: loop the audio so it plays twice, add a second audio file to fill the gap, or let the video play silent at the end. If your audio is much longer, trim it or split it and use only the section you want. Some editors let you right-click the audio and choose "Fit to Sequence" or similar, which stretches or shrinks the audio to match your video length — though this can distort the sound if the difference is large.

Adjusting volume and adding fades

Select the audio clip on the timeline. Look for a volume slider or volume control — in most editors, this appears as a horizontal line running through the middle of the audio waveform. Click and drag this line upward to increase volume or downward to decrease it. You can also right-click the audio and look for a Volume or Levels option to enter an exact number.

To fade the audio in at the start, click near the left edge of the audio clip and drag upward to create a fade-in curve. To fade out at the end, do the same near the right edge. Fades make the audio sound more natural — music that starts at full volume can feel jarring, while a fade-in gives the viewer a moment to adjust. A fade-out at the end prevents the music from cutting off abruptly. Most editors let you adjust the fade length by dragging the curve point left or right.

Finding royalty-free music and avoiding copyright issues

YouTube Audio Library (free, requires a YouTube account) has thousands of tracks sorted by mood, genre, and length. Pixabay Music and Pexels Music both offer free downloads with no attribution required. Epidemic Sound and Artlist charge a monthly subscription but have larger libraries and higher-quality tracks. Many of these sites let you filter by duration, so you can find music that is already close to your video length.

If you use copyrighted music without permission, YouTube will likely claim the copyright and place ads on your video — the revenue goes to the copyright holder, not you. TikTok and Instagram may mute the audio entirely or remove the video. Some platforms let you dispute a claim if you have permission, but proving permission is difficult. The safest approach is to use only music labeled as royalty-free or Creative Commons, which means the creator has given permission for use.

Balancing music with dialogue and sound effects

If your video has dialogue or other sound effects, the music should sit underneath them, not compete with them. A good rule is to set music volume around 50 to 70 percent of full volume when dialogue is playing, and bring it up to 80 to 100 percent during silent moments. You can do this by creating volume keyframes — points on the timeline where you change the volume level — so the music ducks (gets quieter) when someone speaks and rises again when they stop.

To add keyframes in most editors, click the audio clip, find the volume line, and click on it at the exact frame where you want the volume to change. Drag that point up or down to set a new volume level. The editor will automatically create a smooth transition between keyframes. Test the result by playing back the video with headphones or good speakers — you should hear all the elements clearly without any one drowning out the others.

Exporting your video with audio

Once your audio is placed and adjusted, export the video. Go to File > Export or similar, choose your format (MP4 is standard for most platforms), and make sure the audio is included — most editors include all tracks by default. Check the export settings to confirm audio is set to stereo or mono (stereo is standard) and the sample rate is 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz (both are standard). If you are uploading to a specific platform like YouTube or TikTok, check their recommended export settings first.

After export, play the video file on your computer to confirm the audio is present and at the right level. If the audio is missing or too quiet, go back to the editor, check the audio track is not muted, and re-export. This takes a few minutes but saves you from uploading a video with broken audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple music tracks to one video?

Yes. Most editors let you add as many audio tracks as you want. Drag each audio file onto a separate track on the timeline, then adjust the volume of each so they blend together. This is useful if you want background music plus a separate sound effect or voiceover.

What if the music is out of sync with my video?

Click and drag the audio clip left or right on the timeline to shift when it starts. You can also right-click and look for a Sync or Offset option to move it by an exact number of frames. Play back the video to confirm the audio now matches the action on screen.

How do I know if my audio file is compatible with my editor?

Try importing it. If the editor rejects it, convert the file to MP3 or WAV using a free tool like Audacity or CloudConvert, then import again. Most editors support these formats without issue.

Can I slow down or speed up music to match my video?

Some editors have a speed or time-stretch option for audio. Right-click the audio clip and look for Speed, Tempo, or Time Stretch. Be aware that slowing audio down makes it sound lower-pitched, and speeding it up makes it sound higher-pitched — this is usually noticeable and can sound unnatural.

What volume level should music be at?

Export and test on your phone or computer speakers. Music should be loud enough to hear clearly but not so loud it distorts or drowns out other sounds. If dialogue is present, music should be quieter during speech and louder during silent moments. A good starting point is around 70 percent of full volume.