The basic steps work the same way across most programs

To add a song to a video, you import both files into your editing software, place the audio track below the video on the timeline, and adjust the volume so the music doesn't drown out any dialogue or sound you want to keep. The exact clicks differ between programs — iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, Adobe Premiere — but the sequence is always: open your project, import the audio file, drag it to the timeline, trim or fade it as needed, then export.

The hardest part is usually not the technical step but finding a song you have the right to use. A song from Spotify or Apple Music is licensed only for listening, not for videos you share online. Using it anyway can get your video muted, demonetized, or removed. Free and legal options exist — royalty-free music libraries, Creative Commons tracks, or songs you own outright — and most editing software now includes built-in collections you can use without hunting elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Import your video and audio file into the same project, then drag the audio track onto the timeline below your video clip.
  • Trim the song to match your video length, fade the volume at the start and end, and lower it if you need to hear dialogue or other sounds.
  • Music from streaming services like Spotify is not licensed for videos you share; use royalty-free libraries, Creative Commons tracks, or music you own instead.
  • Most editing software includes a built-in music library with songs cleared for video use, which is the fastest legal option if your project fits the available styles.

Where to find a song you can legally use in your video

Royalty-free music libraries are the standard choice. Sites like Pixabay Music, Pexels Music, and YouTube Audio Library (free to anyone with a Google account) let you read tracks with no copyright risk. Creative Commons sites like Free Music Archive and ccMixter offer songs under licenses that allow video use as long as you credit the artist — check the specific license on each track, because terms vary.

If you own the song — you bought it on iTunes, Bandcamp, or as a physical CD — you can use it in your video without asking permission. The same goes for songs you created yourself or have explicit written permission to use. Many editing programs now bundle a small music library directly into the software: iMovie includes Apple Music selections, CapCut has a built-in collection, and DaVinci Resolve offers Epidemic Sound integration. These are all cleared for video use and require no hunting.

Avoid Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other streaming services. The license you get when you subscribe covers listening only. Using a song from these services in a video you post online violates the terms of service and can result in the video being muted, removed, or your account being flagged. The risk is real even if the video is private or for personal use only — the detection is automated and does not distinguish between commercial and non-commercial projects.

How to import audio and place it on the timeline

Open your editing software and load your video project. In iMovie, go to File > Import Media and select your audio file; it will appear in the media library on the left. Drag it down onto the timeline below your video clip. In CapCut, tap the plus icon, select Audio, choose your file, and it will land on the timeline automatically. In DaVinci Resolve, go to File > Import Media or drag the file directly into the media pool, then drag it to the audio track below your video on the timeline.

The audio track sits below the video track. If your software shows multiple audio lanes, place music on a separate lane from dialogue or ambient sound so you can control each one independently. Most programs let you click and drag the audio clip left or right to sync it with a specific moment in the video — for example, starting the music when a title card appears. If the song is longer than your video, it will play past the end; trim it by clicking and dragging the right edge of the audio clip inward until it matches your video length.

Adjusting volume so music and dialogue work together

A common mistake is leaving the music at full volume when there is dialogue or other important sound in the video. The music will overpower everything else and make the video hard to watch. Lower the music volume so it sits underneath the dialogue — typically around 30 to 50 percent of full volume, depending on how loud the dialogue is and how prominent you want the music to feel.

Most editing software shows a volume slider or keyframe controls for each audio track. In iMovie, click the audio clip and use the volume slider that appears above the timeline. In CapCut, select the audio clip and adjust the volume slider in the panel on the right. In DaVinci Resolve, right-click the audio clip, select Edit, and use the volume controls in the inspector panel. If you want the music to fade in at the start or fade out at the end, use keyframes or fade handles: click the audio clip and look for small handles at the corners or edges that you can drag to create a fade.

Test by playing the video and listening to how the music and dialogue balance. If you cannot hear the dialogue clearly, lower the music more. If the music feels too quiet, raise it — but always prioritize clarity of speech over musical prominence.

Syncing the music to the beat or a specific moment

If you want the music to start at a particular moment — a title card, a cut, a person's action — drag the audio clip left or right on the timeline until the beat or the start of the song aligns with that moment. Most software shows a playhead (a vertical line) that marks where you are in the timeline; use it as a reference point. Play the video and pause at the exact frame where you want the music to begin, then drag the audio clip until its start point lines up with the playhead.

For beat-syncing — matching cuts or transitions to the rhythm of the song — you need to hear the music clearly. Zoom in on the timeline so you can see the audio waveform (the visual representation of the sound). The peaks in the waveform show where the beats are loudest. Drag your video clips or transitions to align with those peaks. This takes practice and a good ear, but even rough alignment makes a video feel more intentional.

If the song is too long, trim it by dragging the right edge of the audio clip inward. If it is too short, you can loop it (repeat it) by duplicating the clip and placing the copy right after the first one, but this only works if the song ends on a natural break and the loop does not sound jarring.

Exporting your video with the audio included

Once your audio is placed and balanced, export the video. Go to File > Export (or Share in iMovie) and choose a format. For most purposes, MP4 with H.264 video codec is standard and works on all devices. Make sure the export settings include both video and audio — this is the default in most software, but check the export dialog to confirm.

The export process can take several minutes depending on your video length and your computer's speed. Do not close the program or unplug your computer while it is exporting. Once the file is ready, play it back on your phone or computer to confirm the audio is present, synced correctly, and at the right volume before you share it anywhere.

Common problems and how to fix them

The audio file will not import. Check that the file format is supported by your software. Most programs accept MP3, WAV, AAC, and M4A. If you have a file in an unusual format, convert it using a free tool like Audacity or an online converter before importing. Also check that the file is not corrupted by trying to play it in your computer's default media player first.

The audio is out of sync with the video. This usually happens if you move the video clip after placing the audio, or if the audio file has a delay built in. Drag the audio clip to realign it with the video. If it stays out of sync no matter what you do, the audio file itself may have a delay; open it in Audacity, trim the silence at the beginning, and re-export it.

The music is too loud and drowns out dialogue. Select the audio clip and lower its volume using the volume slider or keyframe controls. Aim for 30 to 50 percent of full volume as a starting point, then adjust by ear. If you have dialogue on a separate audio track, you can also raise the dialogue volume instead of lowering the music.

The exported video has no sound at all. Check that the audio track is not muted. In most software, each track has a mute button (usually an icon that looks like a speaker with a line through it). If it is muted, click it to unmute. Also confirm in the export settings that audio is included in the output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from YouTube in my video?

Only if the video you are downloading from explicitly allows it, which is rare. Most songs on YouTube are protected by copyright. Even if you can read the audio, using it in your own video is copyright infringement. Stick to royalty-free libraries or songs you own.

What if the song is shorter than my video?

You can loop it by duplicating the audio clip and placing the copy right after the first one. This works best if the song ends on a natural break. For longer videos, consider finding a longer song or using multiple different songs and transitioning between them.

Do I need to credit the artist if I use royalty-free music?

It depends on the license. Songs from Pixabay Music and Pexels Music do not require credit. Creative Commons tracks usually do — check the license on each track. Even when credit is not required, including it in your video description is good practice and helps the artist.

Why does my video sound different after I export it?

Export settings can compress audio and reduce quality. In your export dialog, look for audio bitrate or quality settings and choose the highest option available. Also make sure you are exporting to a format that preserves audio quality, like MP4 with AAC audio at 128 kbps or higher.

Can I add multiple songs to the same video?

Yes. Import both songs, place them on separate audio tracks or one after the other on the same track, and adjust the volume and timing of each. Use fade-outs and fade-ins to make transitions between songs smooth instead of abrupt.