The right music sets the entire mood of a video, and CapCut makes adding it simple. The difference between amateur and polished is not the track you pick, it is how you trim, fade and sync it. Here is the full workflow.
Step 1: Add a track
- Move the playhead to where you want the music to start.
- Tap Audio on the bottom toolbar, then Sounds.
- Browse the library or search by mood, or switch to Extracted or From device to use your own audio.
- Tap the plus icon to add it to your timeline.
Step 2: Trim it to fit
Your track is almost always longer than your video. Select the audio clip and drag its ends to trim it, or use the Split tool to cut out a section. Position the part of the song you actually want, often the chorus or the drop, under the key moment of your video.
Step 3: Fade in and out
An abrupt music cut sounds unfinished. Select the clip, tap Fade, and set:
- Fade in so the music eases in at the start.
- Fade out so it ramps down smoothly at the end.
Even a short fade makes a big difference.
Step 4: Balance the volume
If you have talking over the music, lower the music volume so the voice stays clear. As a rough guide, background music should sit well below any speech. Select the music clip, tap Volume, and bring it down until the voice is comfortable to hear.
Sync to the beat
For a professional feel, cut your clips and land your transitions on the beat of the music. Tap along to the track to find the beats, then align your edits to them.
Keep going
Sound is half of every good video. The full CapCut course covers audio, editing and pacing from beginner to advanced, and you can start free.