How to Add Music to Final Cut Pro

Music can help set the tone and atmosphere of your video. For example, you might use a slower, more emotional song to accompany a sentimental montage, or an upbeat and energetic track to match a fast-paced action scene

Adding music to your video in Final Cut Pro is a simple process that can greatly improve the overall impact of your project. In this quick tutorial, I will show you how to add music to your video in Final Cut Pro.

How to Add Music to Final Cut Pro

Here’s how to add music to your Final Cut Pro Videos:

Step 1:

First, Open Final cut pro. Then navigate to the File menu, select New > Library Click to save after entering the library’s name.

Library

Next, navigate to the file menu again, select New > Project and click ok after entering the project’s name.

New project

After this, go to File > Import and choose Media. Browse your file manager for the video file you want to work on.

Media

Once you have done the process, your video will appear in the Final cut pro Library. Now you can drag and drop to your timeline to edit it.

Edit Video in Final Cut Pro

Step 2:

To add music, go to the upper bar, click New, and then Import > Media now select your music to your file manager. And it will import into the project panel.

Project panel

Now click and drag it into your timeline and it will add your timeline. You can do some edits on your added audio such as audio fade and adding LUTs.

Drag Music to Video in Final Cut Pro
Add Music in Final Cut Pro

How To Add Sound Effects in Final Cut Pro 

Sound effects are where Final Cut Pro truly shines. Thanks to the developers of Final Cut Pro, there are simple to search effects libraries that are provided for users to easily add sound effects to their projects. Follow the steps below to add your sound effects easily. 

Step 1 

By pressing the  Music/Camera icon you used to open the Music options, you may navigate to the Music/Photos menu in the Sidebar. Instead, select Sound Effects.

Sound effect

Step 2 

By clicking Effects, you may filter an enormous array of effects.

Effects

Step 3 

You can filter the effects using a drop-down menu by selecting animals or explosions for example.

Explosion

Step 4

If you have a general idea of what you’re searching for, you may also just begin typing in the search box. Just click the play icon to the left of each sound effect title to hear a preview of all the sound effects.

Search box

Step 5

Click and drag the desired effect to the desired location in your timeline after finding it in the list. As with any other video or audio clip, you may now move or edit this sound effect clip.

Timeline

How To Adjust Volume of Added Sound in Final Cut Pro 

There are two methods of adjusting volume in Final Cut Pro. We’ll go over both of the available methods for changing the volume below. keyframes will also be added in order to gradually raise the loudness throughout a video clip. Keyframes can be utilized to adjust almost every audio property once you learn how to use them. 

Step 1 

Create a Project if you haven’t already. Then, add your clips to the Timeline.

Timeline

Step 2 

You will see an audio waveform beneath each clip. If you don’t see an audio waveform, click the Clip Appearance button to the right of your timeline, just above your timeline. The waveform can then be added to your clips in the Timeline by selecting a clip appearance with a white bar at the bottom.

Clip appearance

Step 3

You should notice a horizontal line above the waveform. You can drag it up to make your clips’ volume louder or down to make it quieter.

Horizontal line

Step 4

By selecting the speaker symbol on the upper right of your screen, just above the inspector, you may access the Audio Inspector.

Audio Inspector

Step 5

Next, click the black diamond to the right of the Volume control to add a keyframe.

Step 6

Create another volume keyframe after moving the Playhead up the Timeline.

Timeline

Step 7

The Audio Inspector’s volume should be increased. The volume will gradually increase between your first and second keyframes thanks to automated interpolation in Final Cut Pro.

Interpolation

Using Final Cut Pro Music and Sound Browser 

For your videos, Final Cut Pro has a vast selection of free sound effects and jingles. These effects range from the car starting up, doors closing, etc. Follow the steps below to browse sounds and jingles in Final Cut Pro. 

Step 1 

Start by clicking the camera & music symbol in the upper left corner of the screen will reveal the Photos and Audio Sidebar.

Audio sidebar

Step 2 

Select Sound Effects from the list on the left.

You can use the search bar to enter your search terms or scroll through the list. Jingles is the word to type if you want to find music.

Sounds Effect

Step 3 

By clicking the play button to the left of a sound’s name, you can hear a preview of any sound.

Sound preview

Step 4

Drag the item you’ve located to the Timeline to include it in your project once you’ve found it.

Project

We also recommend that you see our step-by-step guide on article on how to cut on Final Cut Pro.