Alex Ruben
How To Incorporate Music into Your YouTube Videos
Enhancing your YouTube videos with background music not only makes them more engaging but also elevates the overall viewing experience. In this guide, you’ll learn how to seamlessly add copyright-free music to your YouTube videos using YouTube Studio’s built-in video editor. Whether you have a public, private, or unlisted video, you’ll discover the steps to find suitable tracks from the YouTube Audio Library, adjust their timing, set the volume, and save your edits—all while ensuring your content remains safe for monetization. Just a heads up, sometimes these edits can be a bit finicky, and YouTube’s interface isn’t super intuitive, so don’t be surprised if you spend a few minutes fumbling around.
Step 1: Access YouTube Studio
First, you need to get into YouTube Studio, because that’s where all the magic happens. Log into the account that manages your video content, then click on the Create button (the camera icon with a plus, usually top right). Select Go to YouTube Studio. If you haven’t uploaded your video yet, do that first — click Create > Upload Videos and follow the prompts. Yeah, it’s simple, but steps are kinda hidden in plain sight.
Step 2: Locate Your Video
Now, once you’re in YouTube Studio, head over to Content from the left side menu. This is the list of all your vids. Find the one you want to edit, then click on its thumbnail or title to open the details page—because of course, YouTube makes us click around a bit to find the right spot.
Step 3: Open the Video Editor
On the left sidebar of this page, look for the Editor tab and click it. This thing is kinda hidden, but it’s where you get to mess with your video after the upload. On some setups, this editor takes a second to load, so don’t freak out if it’s slow.
Step 4: Add Music from YouTube Audio Library
In the editor interface, top of the screen you’ll see tabs — click on Audio. Then, hit the + Add Audio button. Boom. This opens the YouTube Audio Library, which is actually pretty decent for copyright-free tracks. Keep in mind, not all tracks sound great, so maybe scroll through for a bit or filter by genre or mood. Because, honestly, some of the free tracks are kinda generic, but they do the job.
Step 5: Preview and Select Your Music Track
Browse the library; clicking the play icon lets you preview any track. Weirdly, on some setups, the preview just doesn’t work right away, so you might have to try a couple of times or refresh. When you find a tune that feels like a good fit, click Add. Sometimes You need to manually drag the track into your timeline – that’s why the UI can be a bit clunky here.
Step 6: Adjust Audio Timing and Length
Once added, there’s a timeline below. Drag the edges of the audio clip to match the length of your video or to cut parts you don’t want. Moving the clip left or right adjusts where the music starts—kind of weird, but it works. Expect some trial and error here. Sometimes the clip jumps around; just keep fiddling until it lines up better.
Step 7: Modify Audio Volume
If the music feels too overwhelming or too quiet, click the three dots on the clip or the clip menu to open volume controls. Adjust the volume slider — I’ve noticed that on some videos, the volume gets reset if you’re not careful, so it’s good to double-check after saving. No rocket science involved, but still easy to forget.
Step 8: Save Your Edits
Happy with how it sounds? Hit the Save button in the top right. This is when YouTube starts processing all your changes. On some videos, this takes a few hours, and on others, the changes go live faster—‘cause YouTube’s backend is kind of chaos. Expect some waiting, but that’s normal.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here’s the thing to keep in mind: preview, preview, preview. Because of course, YouTube’s editor can be unpredictable. Also, keep an eye on the volume levels to avoid weird loud jumps. And, obviously, double-check that the music you select isn’t copyrighted — even if it’s in the library, sometimes other issues crop up if you mess around with the wrong tracks.
Conclusion
Adding soundtrack magic can seriously boost your videos, and now it’s easier than ever with the built-in tools. Just remember, sometimes the UI is a pain, and a track might not behave the way you want it to. Persistence is key. Happy editing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any music in my YouTube videos?
Nope, gotta stick with copyright-free or licensed music — otherwise, you’ll risk getting a copyright strike. The YouTube Audio Library is the safest bet if you’re not sure.
How long does it take for changes to show up?
Usually a few hours, but honestly, it can stretch to a whole day. Just wait it out — YouTube’s processing is slow, no matter how much you wish it wasn’t.
Can I add music to unlisted or private videos?
Yep. Same process works for any privacy setting. Just don’t expect to get monetization benefits if it’s private, obviously.
Summary
- Access YouTube Studio through Create menu
- Find and open your video’s details
- Use the Video Editor’s audio tab
- Add music from the YouTube Audio Library
- Fiddle with timing, length, and volume
- Save and wait for it to process
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Keep in mind, YouTube’s interface isn’t perfect, but the tools are there if you’re patient enough to figure them out.