How to add music to a video (and make it fit)
To add music to a video, pick a track you're licensed to use, place it on the timeline under your clips, set its volume about 20 dB below any speech, fade it in and out, and trim it so it ends on a natural beat or phrase rather than mid-bar. For videos without speech, put the cuts on the beat. Adding the track takes seconds; most of the work is making it fit and making sure you're allowed to use it.
1. Get music you're allowed to use
| Source | Cost | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Audio Library | Free | YouTube videos | Some tracks require attribution; check terms for other platforms |
| Platform libraries (Instagram, TikTok) | Free in-app | Posting inside that app | Business accounts are limited to commercially licensed tracks |
| Royalty-free subscription libraries | Monthly fee | Videos you post anywhere | Read what the license covers |
| Your editor's built-in library | Included | Quick edits | Check the license for commercial use |
| Music generated for your video | Included in some editors | A track nobody else has, sized to your edit | Check who owns the result |
| Popular songs | Licensing required | Rarely practical | Platforms often mute or block them |
2. Set the volume under speech
Keep music around 20 dB quieter than the voice (the same gap accessibility guidelines recommend for background sound). Lower it more under fast or technical speech; raise it between lines. Always check on phone speakers.
3. Fade and end cleanly
- Fade in over 0.5–1 second, fade out over 1–3 seconds.
- Better: trim the track so it ends on a natural ending of the song.
- Avoid stopping mid-phrase; it sounds like a mistake. Genre ideas by video type: sports, real estate.
4. Cut to the beat (videos without speech)
Put cuts on the downbeats and the biggest moment on the drop. That's what makes a montage feel produced. Cutting to the beat, step by step →
Doing it by describing it
21 phone clips became a youth soccer season highlight, then one message added a crest, slow motion and a stadium anthem. Sped up. Phone-size version.
The messages we used:
- "Cut to the beat of an upbeat track from the music library."
- "Swap the music for a bigger sports anthem with a build-up and a drop, and land the drop on the first big kick."
- "Use my voiceover as the main audio and add light music from the library under my voice."
- "Generate an original warm acoustic track, relaxed, no drums, and use it instead of the current music." (How generated music works)
FAQ
Where can I get free music for videos?
The YouTube Audio Library is free for YouTube videos (some tracks need attribution). Many editors, including Novacut, include a music library. Check each track's license for where you plan to post.
Can I use a popular song if I give credit?
Credit isn't a license. Without permission, platforms often mute, block or demonetize videos with copyrighted songs.
How loud should background music be?
About 20 dB below speech. If you can't easily understand every word on a phone speaker, it's too loud.
How do I add music to a video on my phone?
In iMovie (iPhone) or CapCut (iPhone and Android), add the video, then add audio from the app's library or your files, and adjust the volume of the music clip. Making a video with music →
Sources: WCAG 2.2, 1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio; Hello Thematic on music rules for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube; Soundstripe on TikTok's Commercial Music Library. Checked October 2026.
Footage: Kampus Production on Pexels (Pexels License). The team name is fictional; the players shown don't endorse Novacut.