StreamLive ProAdd music to a video and adjust the sound
Add music to a video in the StreamLive Pro editor: put the track on its own audio track, let it duck under speech, set levels, fades and the mixer.
To add music in the StreamLive Pro editor, upload the music file to the Media library and drag it onto an audio track below the speech (A2, or a new audio track). The music is lowered automatically while someone speaks, and comes back up in the pauses. Set its overall level with the Volume slider in the Clip tab, and fade it in and out with the handles in its top corners.
Before you start
- Use music you have the right to use. Networks scan uploads for copyrighted music. YouTube explains what happens in Copyright issues with live streams and its upload rules in its own help.
- The file. The Media library accepts audio files as well as video and images. Upload once; the file stays in the project.
- Speech goes on A1. A new project has two audio tracks: A1 holds the video's own sound, A2 is free for music. Add more with + Add Audio Track.
- Audio goes on A tracks only. If you drop a music file on a video track, the editor refuses and says so.
Steps
- Open the video. In the menu choose Video editor and open the project.
- Upload the music. In the Media library press Upload new and choose the file, or drag it from your computer into the library.
- Place it. Drag the music onto A2 at the point where it should start. Drag its right edge to end it where the video ends, or split it there with S.
- Leave ducking on. Every audio track except A1 has an "Auto-duck under speech" button in its header, on by default. While the speech track has sound, the music drops by about 12 dB. Switch it off only for music that must stay at full level, such as a song with no talking over it.
- Set the level. Click the music clip and open the Clip tab in Properties. Volume runs from 0 to 100%. Background music usually sits far below the voice; start low and raise it while you listen. You can also drag the volume line drawn on the audio clip.
- Fade in and out. Drag the small handle at the top left corner of the music clip to fade it in, and the top right one to fade it out.
- Mute or solo while you work. Use the mute button in a track header, or right-click an audio clip and choose Mute clip. Solo is in the track's right-click menu and in the mixer.
- Export and listen on a phone. Press Export. Listen to the file on a phone speaker, where most people will hear it.
The audio mixer
The Audio Mixer button on the editor toolbar opens channel strips with level meters. The Master and Video strips work today and reach the exported file:
| Control | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Level | The overall loudness of the video's sound or of the whole mix |
| Pan | Moving the sound left or right |
| EQ (Low, Mid, High) | Less rumble, clearer speech |
| Comp | Evening out loud and quiet words |
| Normalize (Master) | Bringing the whole mix up to a steady level |
The Background Music and Voice strips in the mixer are placeholders and do not carry sound. Music on the timeline is set with the clip's volume, its fades and ducking, as in the steps above.
What can go wrong
- The music drowns the speech. Lower the clip's Volume and check that "Auto-duck under speech" is on for the music track.
- The music pumps up and down. Ducking follows the speech; with many short pauses the music rises in each one. Lower the music level so the change is smaller, or switch ducking off and keep the music low throughout.
- The file was refused on the track. You dropped audio on a video track. Use an A track.
- The export sounds different from the preview. Check the mixer: Master and Video settings are in the file, the Background Music and Voice strips are not.
- The video was muted on a network. The network matched copyrighted music. Replace the track with music you have a licence for.
Related pages
- Cutting the music to length: Cut and split clips in the editor
- Fades on audio and video: Fade in and fade out
- Working with several audio tracks: Work with several tracks
- Export settings: Exporting from the editor — formats and render settings
Frequently asked questions
Where do I add background music to a video?
Upload the music to the Media library and drag it onto an audio track below the speech, A2 or a new audio track. Set its level in the Clip tab.
Does the music lower itself when someone talks?
Yes. Every audio track except A1 ducks under speech by default, by about 12 dB. The button in the track header switches it off.
Can I fade the music out at the end?
Yes. Drag the handle in the top right corner of the music clip to set the fade out, and the top left one for the fade in.
Can I use any song?
Only music you have the right to use. Networks scan videos for copyrighted music and can mute, block or interrupt them.
Can I make the speech clearer?
Use the EQ and Comp on the Video strip of the Audio Mixer, and Normalize on Master. They reach the exported file.
Keep reading
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Change a video's aspect ratio in the editorSwitch a video between 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 and 4:5 in the StreamLive Pro editor, choose which part of the picture stays, lock the frame, and export at the network's size.
Fade in, fade out and dissolves in the video editorAdd a fade in, fade out, dip to black or white, or a dissolve at a cut in the StreamLive Pro editor, and fade music with the handles on audio clips.
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