How to Add Music to Premiere Pro (3 Simple Steps)

Trying to figure out how to add music in Premiere Pro? You're not alone. Whether you're editing a vlog, a short film, or a promo video, the right background track can make all the difference.

The good news? Adding music in Premiere Pro is super straightforward once you know where everything is. Let’s walk through it together.

1. Import your music file

First things first, you need your music file ready to go. Make sure it's saved somewhere easy to find on your computer.

Here’s how to bring it into Premiere Pro:

1. Open your project.
2. Go to the Project panel
3. Right-click inside the panel and choose Import, or press Ctrl+I (Windows) or Cmd+I (Mac).
4. Find your audio file and hit Open.

You’ll now see your song sitting in the Project panel, ready for action.

2. Drag it onto the timeline

Now that the track is imported, let’s get it into your edit.

1. Just drag the audio file from the Project panel down onto an empty audio track in the Timeline panel.
2. If you don’t have an empty audio track yet, drop it below your video clips and Premiere will create one automatically.
3. You can move it around so it starts exactly where you want.

That’s it! Your music is now part of your project!

3. Adjust volume and timing

Once it's on the timeline, you might want to tweak things a bit:

1. To adjust volume: Select the audio clip, then go up to the Effect Controls panel, find Volume, and lower or raise the level.
2. To fade in/out: Use keyframes under Volume or apply a simple Constant Gain or Exponential Fade effect from the Effects panel.
3. To trim: Just grab either end of the clip and drag it shorter or longer as needed.

Take a moment here to play around with timing so everything feels synced up with your visuals.

Final Thoughts

Adding music in Premiere Pro is honestly one of those things that feels intimidating at first but becomes second nature pretty quickly. Once you've done it a couple of times, you'll be dropping tracks into place without even thinking about it.

Whether you're using royalty-free tracks or something custom-made, just make sure you’ve got permission to use whatever song you're adding. That way you won’t run into any copyright headaches later on.

Now go make something awesome!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to download YouTube music to Premiere Pro?

You can't directly download YouTube music for use in Premiere Pro unless it's royalty-free and legally available for download. Use YouTube Audio Library for free tracks. Download them as MP3s or WAVs, then import them into Premiere using Ctrl+I (Windows) or Cmd+I (Mac).

Can I add Spotify music to Premiere Pro?

Not directly. Spotify songs are encrypted and meant for streaming only. To use similar tracks legally, look for royalty-free alternatives on platforms like Epidemic Sound or Artlist. Always make sure you have proper licensing before adding any song.

How do you add audio tracks in Premiere Pro?

To add a new audio track manually:

1. Right-click on an empty space in the timeline.
2. Choose "Add Tracks."
3. Select how many audio tracks you'd like.
4. Click OK.
   You can also just drag an audio clip below existing tracks and Premiere will create one automatically.

Where can I get music for Premiere Pro?

You can find royalty-free music from sites like:

• YouTube Audio Library
• Artlist
• Epidemic Sound
• PremiumBeat
  These platforms offer high-quality tracks that are safe for commercial use if licensed properly. Always double-check usage rights before publishing anything publicly.