Video audio editing

How to add audio to a video online

Updated November 19, 2024
Written by Kieron Byatt

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Adding the right audio can completely transform your video, slideshow, or presentation. From ambient background music and fast-paced sound effects to engaging voiceovers, audio can enhance impact, capture attention, and effortlessly evoke emotion within seconds.

Learn how to add royalty-free music to videos and import your own MP3 files for free. We’ll also explore creating original voiceovers using your own voice or smart-AI technology to add to any video with Clipchamp.

How to add background music to video

Step 1. Select background music from the content library

To add music to a video, click on the content library tab on the toolbar. Next, click on the audio category, then select music.

A user accessing the royalty-free background music catalogue in the Clipchamp content library.

Find audio tracks by clicking on a specific music collection or type a keyword into the search bar. Choose from royalty-free background music like hip-hop, lo-fi, upbeat, and more.

A user searching for a song in the royalty-free music collections in the Clipchamp content library.

To preview an audio track, click on the asset’s play button inside the toolbar. The music will automatically start playing and you can listen to the full song for free before adding it to your video. Stop listening to the soundtrack by clicking on the pause button.

A user previewing a background music track in the Clipchamp royalty-free content library.

Step 2. Add background music onto the timeline

To add the music to video, click on the plus button on the audio file, or drag and drop the tune straight onto the start of the timeline. Make sure to place audio assets under video assets. Your music will now automatically play when your video starts.

A user adding royalty-free background music to the timeline in Clipchamp.

How to add AI voiceovers and voice recordings to video

Create AI voiceovers using text to speech

Turn text into a lifelike narration using the AI voice generator. Click on the record & create tab on the toolbar, then click on the text to speech option. This will make the text to speech tab appear on the property panel. Type your script into the text bar. Select a voice, language, and pace, then click on the save button when you’re finished.

A user adding an AI voiceover using the text to speech feature in Clipchamp.

Check out this tutorial for a more detailed step-by-step guide on how to create AI voiceovers.

Create a voiceover using the voice recorder

Easily narrate your slideshow video or video tutorial using the free and secure online voice recorder.

To record a voiceover using your laptop or computer microphone, click on the record & create tab on the toolbar then click on the audio option. In the following pop-up window, click on the red button to record up to 30 minutes of audio. Next, click on the stop button when you have finished or click retake the recording if you want to try again. When you have finished, your audio will automatically download to your device and be added to the timeline as a new media asset.

A user adding a voiceover using the free voice recorder online in Clipchamp.

How to import your own audio to add to video

If you don’t want to use stock background music, upload personal MP3 files or MP4 files and detach the audio, all for free.

Click on the your media tab on the toolbar, then click on the import media button. Browse your media files and click on the open button to import your audio. Once your file is uploaded, just drag and drop it onto the timeline.

For MP4 and video files, once you’ve dragged them onto the timeline, right click then click on audio then detach audio. This will extract the sound as a separate media asset below your video on the timeline.

A user adding uploaded audio to the timeline in Clipchamp.

Pro editing tips to easily trim and polish any audio

  • Trim, split, and cut audio tracks: adjust audio length using the trimmer. Separate music or sound effect sections by splitting audio. Remove unwanted audio by cutting it out of your video clips.

  • Adjust the volume and add fades: boost sound levels without distorting audio quality using the volume booster. Increase your transition impact by fading audio ins and fade outs.

  • Edit the speed and pace of audio tracks: slow down or speed up the pace and mood of your music and sound effects using the video speed controller.

  • Remove background noise using AI: improve sound quality by filtering down unwanted audio and increase clarity with AI noise suppression.

  • Eliminate silences and pauses with AI: instantly identify and clean out unwanted silences and awkward pauses without rerecording using the silence remover.

Frequently asked questions

Can I detach audio from video online?

You can detach and remove or edit audio from MP4 and video files for free using the property panel in Clipchamp.

Is all background music royalty-free for YouTube?

Not all music is free to use and share on YouTube. We recommend selecting a royalty-free music track from the content library in Clipchamp to avoid any copyright infringements. Clipchamp offers a huge range of original audio tracks so you can find a tune that fits your video editing needs.

Can I add multiple audio assets to my video in Clipchamp?

There are no limits to how many audio and video assets you can add to your video in Clipchamp. You can add multiple audio tracks to your videos, like background music and sound effects. That said, we recommend not overlapping background music and only adding one track at a time to keep your video professional.

How do I download audio from YouTube to add to my video?

You can download YouTube videos using one of these recommended methods then use the Clipchamp video editor to extract the audio. Just be sure to follow YouTube’s downloading guidelines.

Transform your video with royalty-free music and AI voiceovers. For more sound editing tips, check out these audio editing hacks. You can also create animated sound waves from your audio using the music visualizer.

Add the perfect audio tracks to your videos today with Clipchamp for free or download the Clipchamp Windows app.

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