Most music problems in video come from a few settings. They apply whichever editor you use; menu names vary.
Project sample rate
Video projects are usually 48 kHz. Music files at 44.1 kHz will be converted automatically, which is fine, but setting your project correctly from the start avoids surprises when exporting.
Levels and ducking
- Use your editor’s audio meters, not just your ears.
- Apply automatic ducking where available, or draw volume keyframes to lower music under speech.
- Aim for speech that is easy to follow on phone speakers. See background music levels.
Fades
Add a short fade, a few frames, at every music cut to prevent clicks. Use longer fades for the start and end of a track unless it begins or ends on a deliberate hit.
Editing on the beat
Turn on snapping and add markers on beats so cuts land in time. See editing to the beat.
Export settings
- Codec: AAC is standard for video files.
- Bitrate: 256 to 320 kbps stereo is a safe choice for online video.
- Sample rate: 48 kHz.
- Loudness: if your editor has a loudness normalisation option, set it to the target of your main platform, often around -14 LUFS for online video.
Keep source files organised
Store music files in your project folder with the licence or plan noted in the file name or a text file. When you reopen a project months later, you will know where every track came from.
Written by the Sonvela editorial team with AI drafting assistance, then checked against the sources linked in the text. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.