Most homemade videos with music share the same problem: the music is too loud, starts abruptly, and stops mid-note. Here's how to fix all three in iMovie on iPhone.
Step 1: Add the track
In an iMovie Movie project, tap + > Audio, choose a source (Soundtracks is easiest), and tap + on a track. Full steps here.
Step 2: Set the music volume
Tap the music in the timeline and tap Audio. Drag the slider down. A good starting point:
- Video with speech: music around 20 to 30 percent.
- Video without speech: music at 60 to 100 percent.
Play it back on the iPhone speaker and headphones. Mixes sound different on each.
Step 3: Add fades
With the music selected, tap Audio > Fade and drag the fade handles. A one- to two-second fade-in and a two- to three-second fade-out sound far more finished than hard cuts.
Step 4: Let ducking do its job
iMovie automatically lowers background music while your video clip's sound plays. If voices still get buried, lower the music volume further.
Step 5: Line up the timing
- Trim the music to start at an interesting part. Select it and drag its edges.
- End on the music. Try to have the video end close to where the track resolves, then fade out.
- Cut on the beat. If you're making several cuts, cutting on a beat makes the edit feel deliberate.
Step 6: Mute the original audio if needed
If your video's own sound is just noise, tap the video clip, tap Audio, and mute it, so only the music plays.
Where MobileStudio fits
For app demos, MobileStudio turns raw screen recordings into polished, well-paced videos on your phone. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
How loud should background music be?
Low enough that speech is always easy to hear. Around 20 to 30 percent is a good start.
Can I fade music in iMovie on iPhone?
Yes. Select the audio, tap Audio, then Fade.
