How to Add Background Music in iMovie Like a Pro

First things first, let’s open up iMovie. Here’s my project — a thirty-second clip featuring some nature footage. To add music, you’ll find an audio tab right at the top of the screen. You can choose from a limited selection of songs and sound effects that come with iMovie.

However, this built-in library is quite limited. In a moment, I’ll introduce you to a platform that provides access to tens of thousands of songs, making it easier to find the perfect background music for your video.

If you’re new to content creation, it’s crucial to understand the concept of royalty-free music. If you use copyrighted music without permission, you risk getting a copyright claim on platforms like YouTube. Always opt for royalty-free music to avoid these issues.

Now, let’s choose a song from the iMovie library. I’ll select a travel-themed track for demonstration purposes. Let’s hear how it sounds.

Once you’ve added the music track to your project, you’ll notice it may be longer than your video. To fix this, simply drag the end of the music track so it snaps to the end of your video clip. You can also fade the music in and out by using the small dots that appear at the beginning and end of the audio track.

Let’s see how that fading works. By dragging the dot, you can create a smooth fade-out effect. This is essential for a polished look.

Now, let’s talk about finding more suitable music. The iMovie library is limited, but I recommend using Epidemic Sound. They have a vast collection of high-quality royalty-free music. Here’s how to find the right track for your video.

You can search for tracks by typing keywords like “travel music.” You can also sort by popularity or best match. This makes it easier to find what fits your video best.

One of my favorite features on Epidemic Sound is the ability to upload your video and get music recommendations tailored to your footage. To do this, export your video from iMovie.

After exporting, go back to Epidemic Sound, upload your video, and click on “Get Recommendations.” The platform will analyze your video and suggest suitable music tracks.

Once you find a track you like, Epidemic Sound allows you to create a custom version that matches the length of your video. For instance, if your video is thirty seconds, the platform will provide a thirty-second remix of the chosen track.

This feature saves you a lot of time and effort compared to manually editing the audio in iMovie.

After downloading your custom music track, you can easily import it back into iMovie. Just drag the file into your project timeline or use the import media option.

Once the music is in the timeline, you can adjust its length and add fades just like before.

Now that we have our background music in place, let’s talk about mixing audio levels. If you have voiceovers or dialogue in your video, you’ll want the background music to sit comfortably under those sounds.

To lower the music volume, grab the line that indicates the volume level and drag it down to around 10%. This allows the dialogue to be clear while still enjoying the background music.

Once you’re satisfied with your audio adjustments, it’s time to export your final video. Go to File, then Share, and select the file option. Make sure to choose both video and audio for your export settings.

For the best quality, select 1080p resolution. This ensures your video looks great when uploaded to any platform.

Adding background music in iMovie doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and techniques, you can create engaging videos that sound as professional as they look. Don’t forget to check out Epidemic Sound for a vast library of royalty-free music to enhance your projects. Happy editing!

If you want to explore Epidemic Sound for yourself, check out this link: Creator Who Need Music for Video | Epidemic Sound.