How to add music to a video
You have your video and want music under it. On a phone or a PC that takes a few minutes, with free apps. Here is how it works on your device, how loud the music should be and where to find music you are allowed to use.
Step 1: Find music you are allowed to use
You can’t simply put songs from Spotify, YouTube or the charts under your video. At the latest when you upload it, the video is muted or blocked. At audiofire you download every song except the premium songs for free as an MP3, with no sign-up, and may use them in your own videos.
Download the song to the device you edit on. On a phone it ends up in the “Downloads” folder or in the Files app.
iPhone and iPad
- 1
Open the video
Open iMovie, tap “Start New Project”, then “Movie”. Pick your video and tap “Create Movie”.
- 2
Add the song
Tap the plus (“Add Media”), then “Files”, and pick the song from the “Downloads” folder.
- 3
Trim it and turn it down
The song now sits under your video. Tap it to trim it. Under “Audio” you turn it down.
- 4
Save the video
Tap “Done”, then the share icon and “Save Video”.
Android
- 1
Open the video
Open CapCut, tap “New project” and pick your video.
- 2
Add the song
Tap “Audio” at the bottom, then “Sounds” and the folder icon, and pick the song from your device.
- 3
Trim it and turn it down
Drag the song’s ends to the right length. Under “Volume” you turn it down.
- 4
Export the video
Tap “Export” at the top right.
Windows
- 1
New video
Open Clipchamp and click “Create a new video”.
- 2
Import the video and the song
Under “Your media”, click “Import media” and pick your video and the song.
- 3
Drag them onto the timeline
Drag the video onto the timeline and the song into the track below it.
- 4
Trim and export
Trim the end of the song to the length of the video and click “Export” at the top right.
Mac
- 1
Start a new movie
Open iMovie, click “Create New”, then “Movie”, and import your video.
- 2
Video into the timeline
Drag the video into the timeline.
- 3
Song underneath
Drag the song from the Finder into the timeline, under the video.
- 4
Trim and export
Trim the end of the song and export with “File”, “Share” and “File”.
Step 3: Make it sound good
Quieter under speech
If you speak in the video, start with the music 15 to 20 dB below your voice. In most apps that means a music volume of about 10 to 20%.
Fade out at the end
Let the music get slowly quieter over the last two seconds instead of cutting it off. Almost every app calls this “Fade out”.
Make the length fit
If the song is longer than your video, trim its end. If it is shorter, take a second song or a longer version instead of putting the same song twice in a row.
Original sound down
If your video has its own noise, such as wind or traffic, turn the original sound down or off. Otherwise music and noise fight each other.
Step 4: Publish the video
Before you upload, write in the video description or the end credits: “Music: https://audiofire.io”. That is the only condition for free use.
Music: https://audiofire.io
Free for your own videos
For your own videos the music is free: on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitch, X and on your own website. Videos for a presentation at school or university are free too. The only condition is the credit “Music: https://audiofire.io” in the video description or the end credits.
Lifetime license for companies and clients
For videos of your company, your club or your institution with up to 15 employees and for videos you make for clients of that size, you need the Lifetime license for a one-time €119. It covers all songs for good, including the premium songs, and no credit is needed.
Tips for your platform
Questions about adding music to videos
Which app is best for adding music to a video?
The free ones are enough to start with: iMovie on iPhone and Mac, CapCut on Android, Clipchamp on Windows. All of them can add, trim, turn down and fade out music. For more control there is DaVinci Resolve, also free but more involved.
May I put music from Spotify or YouTube under my video?
No. You have no permission for songs from Spotify, YouTube or the radio, not even for short clips. Such videos are often muted or blocked when you upload them. Use music that says clearly what you may use it for.
How do I turn the music down in a video?
Tap or click the music in the timeline and look for “Volume”. Under speech, about 10 to 20% is a good start.
Can I put several songs in one video?
Yes. Put the songs one after another in the music track and fade the first out while the second comes in. For the credit one line “Music: https://audiofire.io” is enough.
Is the music from audiofire really free?
Yes. For your own videos you can download and use every song except the premium songs for free as an MP3, with no sign-up. You pay nothing, not later either. For ads, company and client videos there is the Lifetime license for a one-time €119.
Why can’t you hear the music after the upload?
Usually it is the platform’s music: if you also pick a sound in Instagram or TikTok while uploading, it replaces your music. Don’t pick a sound there. On YouTube, check that the video really was exported with sound.