The basic process is the same across most video editors

Adding audio to a video means importing a sound file — usually an MP3, WAV, or M4A — into your editor's timeline alongside your video track, then adjusting the volume so both play together. Most editors let you drag the audio file directly onto the timeline, position it where you want it to start, and trim or fade it if needed. The file itself stays separate from your video; the editor combines them only when you export the finished result.

The main difference between programs is where the import button lives and how many audio tracks you can layer. A straightforward editor like iMovie or Windows Photos gives you one or two audio tracks and handles the import in seconds. A more capable program like DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Elements gives you unlimited tracks and more control over how sounds overlap and fade.

Key Takeaways

  • Audio files import as separate tracks on your timeline and stay independent from your video until you export the final file.
  • Most editors let you drag audio directly onto the timeline, but some require you to use an Import or Add Audio button first.
  • You can layer multiple audio tracks — background music, voiceover, sound effects — and adjust each one's volume independently.
  • Fade-in and fade-out controls prevent jarring starts and stops, and most editors include these as a right-click option on the audio track.

Adding audio in iMovie (Mac and iPad)

Open your project and click the audio button in the toolbar — it looks like a musical note. A sidebar opens showing your music library, sound effects, and any audio files you have saved. Drag the audio file directly onto your timeline below the video track, or double-click it to add it at the playhead position.

Once the audio is on the timeline, click it to select it. A volume slider appears above the track. Drag the slider left to lower the volume or right to raise it. If you want the audio to fade in or out, right-click the audio clip, choose Fade In or Fade Out, and drag the colored handle that appears at the edge of the clip to set how long the fade lasts. Play through your project to hear how the audio and video sit together, then adjust the volume or timing as needed.

Adding audio in Windows Photos (Windows 10 and 11)

Open your video in the Photos app and click Edit & Create, then Edit with Photos. Click the Music button in the toolbar. A panel opens showing royalty-free music from Microsoft's library. You can also click the folder icon to browse your own audio files on your computer.

Select the audio file and it adds to your timeline. The audio starts at the beginning of the video by default. Click the audio track to select it, then drag it left or right to move where it starts. A volume slider appears when the track is selected — drag it to adjust how loud the audio plays. If your video already has sound and you want to keep it, lower the original audio volume so both can be heard. Export your finished video using the Save As button.

Adding audio in DaVinci Resolve (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Open your project in the Edit tab. Right-click in the empty space below your video track and choose Add Track > Audio Track. A new audio track appears. Now right-click on that audio track and choose Import Media, or drag an audio file directly from your file explorer onto the track.

Position the audio where you want it to start by dragging it left or right on the timeline. To adjust volume, right-click the audio clip and choose Clip Gain, then enter a number in decibels — negative numbers make it quieter, positive numbers make it louder. For a fade effect, right-click the clip, choose Fade In or Fade Out, and set the duration in milliseconds. You can add multiple audio tracks this way, layering music, voiceover, and sound effects independently. Each track's volume is controlled separately, so you can balance them as needed.

Adding audio in Adobe Premiere Elements (Windows and Mac)

Open your project and go to File > Import. Select your audio file and click Open. The file appears in your Project panel on the left. Drag it from the Project panel directly onto an audio track in your timeline below the video.

Click the audio clip to select it. The Properties panel on the right shows a Volume slider — drag it to adjust how loud the audio plays. To fade the audio in or out, right-click the clip and choose Fade In Audio or Fade Out Audio. A fade handle appears at the edge of the clip; drag it to control how long the fade lasts. If you need more than one audio track, you can add them by right-clicking in the timeline and choosing Add Audio Track. This is useful if you want background music and voiceover playing at the same time.

Positioning audio so it starts at the right moment

Audio doesn't always need to start when the video starts. If you have a voiceover that should begin five seconds in, or background music that should swell under a specific scene, you position the audio clip on the timeline to match that moment.

Look at the timeline ruler at the top — it shows seconds or frames depending on your zoom level. Click and drag your audio clip left or right until the beginning of the clip aligns with the moment you want the sound to start. Most editors snap the clip to the nearest frame or second as you drag, so you don't have to be pixel-perfect. Play through the section to confirm the timing, then adjust if needed. If you want the audio to end at a specific moment rather than play all the way through, trim the end of the clip by dragging the right edge of the audio track inward.

Adjusting volume so video and audio balance

When you have both video sound and added audio playing at the same time, one usually drowns out the other. The solution is to lower one or both so they sit at a comfortable level together.

Select each audio track separately and adjust its volume slider. A good starting point is to lower the original video audio to 50 to 70 percent and set your added audio (music or voiceover) to 70 to 100 percent, then play a section and listen. If dialogue is hard to hear, lower the music more. If the music feels buried, raise it. Most editors also let you create a volume keyframe — a point on the timeline where you set a specific volume level, then change it again a few seconds later. This is useful if you want music loud during an intro, then quiet during voiceover, then loud again at the end. Right-click the audio track and look for Keyframe or Automation options to set these points.

Exporting your video with the new audio included

Once your audio is positioned and balanced, you export the project as a video file. The editor combines the video track, all audio tracks, and any effects into a single file.

Go to File > Export or File > Save As, depending on your program. Choose a format — MP4 is the most common and works on almost any device or platform. The export dialog usually shows options for video quality and audio quality. For most projects, the default settings are fine. Click Export or Save, choose where to save the file, and wait for the export to finish. The time this takes depends on your video length and your computer's speed — a five-minute video usually takes one to five minutes to export. Once it's done, you can play the file in any video player to confirm the audio and video are synced and balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What audio file formats do video editors accept?

Most editors accept MP3, WAV, M4A, and AIFF files. Some also support FLAC, OGG, and WMA. If your audio file is in a format your editor doesn't recognize, you can convert it using a free tool like Audacity or an online converter, then import the converted file. Check your editor's documentation for the complete list of supported formats.

Can I add multiple audio tracks at the same time?

Yes. Most editors let you add as many audio tracks as you want — one for background music, one for voiceover, one for sound effects. Each track plays independently, and you control the volume of each one separately. This is especially useful in DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Elements, which have no limit on the number of tracks.

How do I remove audio that came with my original video?

Right-click the video clip on the timeline and look for an option like Unlink Audio or Detach Audio. This separates the sound from the video so you can delete just the audio track and keep the video. If your editor doesn't have this option, you can lower the original audio volume to zero instead, which mutes it without deleting it.

Why is my audio out of sync with the video after I export?

This usually happens if you moved the audio clip on the timeline but didn't account for where it should actually start. Check the timeline ruler and make sure the audio clip's beginning aligns with the exact moment you want the sound to start. If it's still off after export, re-import the audio, reposition it, and export again. Some older computers may also have sync issues during export — if this happens repeatedly, try exporting at a lower video quality setting.

Can I adjust the audio volume at different points in the video?

Yes, using volume keyframes. Right-click your audio track and look for Keyframe, Automation, or Envelope options. Click on the audio track at the point where you want to change the volume, set a keyframe, then move forward a few seconds, set another keyframe, and adjust the volume. The editor will smoothly transition the volume between the two points. This is how you fade music under dialogue or bring it back up afterward.