To make a YouTube video with music, pick rights-safe tracks, edit to the beat, and mix levels so dialogue stays clear.
You’re here to add music that lifts your story without copyright drama or muddy sound. This guide lays out clear choices, hands-on steps, and practical settings so you can go from idea to upload with a soundtrack that fits. If you searched “how to make a youtube video with music,” you’re in the right place.
How to Make a YouTube Video with Music: Fast Setup
Start with three calls: where your music comes from, how you’ll cut to it, and how you’ll credit it. The safest source is the YouTube Audio Library inside Studio, which offers tracks and sound effects made for creators. You can filter by mood, genre, instrument, and duration, then drop the file into your editor. If you want current songs, license through Creator Music or a reputable stock library. We’ll map each route and when to pick it.
Quick Choices Before You Edit
- Source: Audio Library track, Creator Music license, public domain, Creative Commons, paid stock, or your own recording.
- Goal: Background bed, punchy intro, music-led montage, or a few accent hits.
- Copyright: License terms and any credit line you must add.
- Mix: Where the music sits under voice and sound effects.
Common Ways To Add Music
Pick the route that matches your project and risk tolerance. Scan this table, then move to the step-by-step.
| Method | Where You Get It | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Audio Library | YouTube Studio’s Audio Library | Fast, copyright-safe background beds |
| Creator Music License | Creator Music inside Studio | Popular songs with clear terms |
| Royalty-Free Library | Reputable stock sites | Wide styles with a single license |
| Creative Commons | Artists who publish under CC | Tracks you can use with proper credit |
| Public Domain | Works with expired rights | Zero-license needs; still credit source |
| Original Music | Your own recording or a hired composer | Full control and one-of-a-kind sound |
| Mobile App Tools | YouTube Create or phone editors | Quick Shorts and simple cuts |
| In-Editor Libraries | Built-in tracks in NLEs | Rapid edits with safe loops |
Make A YouTube Video With Background Music — Steps That Work
Step 1: Gather Rights-Safe Music
Open the Audio Library in YouTube Studio and download tracks that match your mood. Filter by genre, mood, and duration. Many tracks require no attribution, while some ask for a credit line. If you want well-known songs, browse Creator Music, pick a license that fits your region and usage, and keep the receipt. Avoid ripping songs from streaming apps; those files aren’t cleared for your upload and can trigger claims.
Two policy anchors shape your choices. The Audio Library help page explains that its music and sound effects are copyright-safe for creators. YouTube’s Content ID overview explains how uploads are scanned and what a match can do to your video. You’ll find those links placed naturally later in this guide.
Step 2: Set Up Your Project
Create a timeline in your editor at your delivery frame rate and resolution. Popular picks are 23.976 or 30 fps for standard videos and 60 fps for gameplay. For Shorts, set 1080 × 1920 portrait; for long-form, use 1920 × 1080 or 3840 × 2160. Drop music on its own track so you can ride levels without touching dialogue stems. Keep markers handy for beat cuts.
Step 3: Cut To The Beat
Music drives pace. Add a marker on the first downbeat, then time edits on 2-, 4-, or 8-bar phrases. Cut on kicks and snares to hide transitions. If a cue runs long, search the waveform for a clean hit and add a fast crossfade. For montage work, place the song first and cut pictures to match the rhythm. For interviews, keep a steady bed and fade during topic changes.
Step 4: Mix Clean, Then Loud
Use meters along with ears. Keep spoken voice around −16 LUFS for stereo long-form and around −14 LUFS for Shorts. Park background music roughly 10–15 dB under the voice so words stay crisp. Duck the music 3–6 dB under lines, then let it rise in gaps. Leave at least 1 dB of true-peak headroom to avoid intersample clips. If your editor supports sidechain compression, send voice to the music bus to auto-duck during speech.
Step 5: Export For YouTube
H.264 in an MP4 container is the most common, with high bitrate and AAC audio at 48 kHz. If you want extra detail, export ProRes or DNxHR and let YouTube transcode. For audio, export stereo at 320 kbps. Name files in plain language with version numbers so you can retrace changes later.
Smart Rules For Copyright And Credit
You want music that stays live after upload. Follow these ground rules to prevent claims, blocks, or lost revenue.
Use Official Sources
The Audio Library in Studio offers royalty-free tracks and sound effects made for uploads. Creator Music adds chart tracks with terms you can read before purchase. Uploading songs you don’t own or control can trigger Content ID matches that mute audio, block regions, or divert ad revenue.
Creative Commons Basics
Some artists publish under Creative Commons. CC BY 4.0 lets you reuse and adapt a track, even in monetized videos, if you give credit. A handy format is TASL: Title, Author, Source, License. If the license is Non-Commercial, skip it for monetized uploads. If it’s No-Derivatives, don’t edit or remix the track.
Content ID And Claims
When you upload, YouTube scans the audio against a rightsholder database. If it finds a match, you may see a claim. Claims aren’t strikes, but they can block regions or redirect revenue. If you licensed a track and still get a claim, follow the library’s release steps or dispute with proof of license. For small background segments that trigger a claim, consider trimming or replacing that section and re-exporting.
Hands-On Editing: Desktop And Mobile
Desktop Editors
Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and CapCut Desktop support timeline markers, keyframes, and sidechain. Set a beat marker at bar one, ripple edit to it, and use short audio crossfades on cut points. For montage edits, lock the music first and place clips to hits. For dialogue pieces, keep music steady at a lower bed and raise between lines to keep energy without masking words.
Mobile And Shorts
On phones, YouTube Create offers trims, filters, and a catalog of safe music. Pick a track inside the app, nudge cut points to the beat, and post to Shorts or a standard upload. Keep levels clean; phone speakers clip quickly. If you plan a desktop version later, save a copy without burned-in text so you can re-cut freely.
Credit Lines You Can Copy
Use these templates to credit music under different terms. Replace placeholders with real titles, links, and license names.
| Scenario | What To Include | Example Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CC BY 4.0 music | Title, Author, Source link, License link | “Track Title” by Artist — CC BY 4.0; link to track and license |
| Audio Library track with attribution | Track title and the creator’s name | “Sunrise Walk” — Kevin MacLeod; used under library terms |
| Paid stock license | Library name, license ID or order number | Licensed via StockMusicSite, Order #12345 |
| Public domain | Work and source archive link | “Etude Op. 10 No. 3” — Public domain; source at IMSLP |
| Creator Music | Song title and license terms | “Summer Drive” — Licensed through Creator Music |
| Original score | Composer/performer | Original music by Jamal Perez |
Troubleshooting Claims And Mute Issues
Common Triggers
- Using a song ripped from a streaming app.
- Reposting a social-media sound that was cleared there but not on YouTube.
- Buying a personal-use license rather than a YouTube license.
- Skipping attribution on a CC track that requires credit.
Fixes That Work
Swap the track for an Audio Library file, or license a replacement and keep the receipt. If a valid license exists, open the claim details and follow the library’s release process. When a claim comes from a short segment under voice, trim or replace that part and re-export. If you posted first and want quick background after the fact, add a track inside Studio’s Editor.
Upload Workflow With Checks
Prepare Your Assets
Keep a folder with licenses, CC links, and text files for credits. Save a mix preset that drops music under voice by 12 dB and ducks 3 dB during lines. Store a title and description template with a slot for credits. That makes repeat uploads faster and more consistent.
Studio Steps
- Upload your file and set title, description, and thumbnail.
- Paste credits near the bottom of the description.
- Run YouTube’s checks and review any claims.
- Pick monetization settings that match your license.
- Publish, then spot-check playback on phone, laptop, and TV.
Where The Rules Live
Read the official sources that govern music use on the platform. The Audio Library help page explains what’s covered and how to access it. The Content ID overview shows how matches are detected and what actions can follow.
When You Should Use The YouTube Editor
If you posted a video without music, you can add a background bed inside Studio. Open the Editor, pick Audio, search for a track, and apply it. This works well when you’re away from your NLE and need quick mood or a cleaner intro and outro.
Why This Process Works
This flow lines up with how Content ID checks uploads and how licenses are framed. You pick cleared music, keep proof, and mix in a way that stays clear on phones, TVs, and laptops. You also format credits so they travel with your video across embeds and mirrors. If you searched how to make a youtube video with music, the steps above cover every point from sourcing to credits.
How To Make A YouTube Video With Music: Final Checklist
- Pick a safe source: Audio Library, Creator Music, public domain, CC BY, or a paid stock license.
- Cut to the beat: edit on bar lines; add short crossfades at cuts.
- Balance levels: voice near −16 LUFS; music 10–15 dB lower; leave 1 dB headroom.
- Export clean: H.264 MP4, AAC 48 kHz at high bitrate; label versions clearly.
- Credit right: use TASL for CC; paste license IDs or order numbers for stock.
- Keep receipts, links, and credit text with the project files.
- Run Studio checks, clear any claims, and test playback on multiple devices.
That’s the complete path to make a YouTube video with music—rights-safe, neatly edited, and ready to publish.