How do I continue playing music while recording a video?

The goal is to play background music in a video while recording. Adding music can make videos more engaging and entertaining for viewers. The music should complement the video content without overpowering it. With the right tools and techniques, it’s straightforward to play music during video recording on both mobile devices and computers.

Determine Video Recording Software

There are many options when it comes to choosing video recording software. Some popular free choices include OBS Studio, CamStudio, and the built-in recording capabilities in Windows 10 or Mac OS. For more advanced editing capabilities, paid options like Camtasia and Bandicam offer features like video effects, annotations, screen drawing tools, and more.

When researching which software to use, consider factors like:

• Recording quality and resolution options
• Ability to record system audio, microphone, and webcam
• Editing tools like trimming, transitions, effects
• Output file type and size
• Ease of use and interface
• Advanced settings and customization
• Platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc)

Choosing the right software comes down to balancing factors like price, features, system requirements, and ease of use for your particular video recording needs.

Pick Background Music

When picking background music for your video, you have two main options – royalty free or copyrighted music. Royalty free music can be used without needing to pay royalties or licensing fees. Many sites like Musicbed offer a wide selection of royalty free music that you can purchase a license for and use in your videos. Copyrighted or licensed music requires obtaining the proper synchronization licenses from the rights holders, which can get complicated. Using a service like ASCAP can help properly license copyrighted music.

The main advantage of royalty free music is the simplicity – you pay a one time fee to purchase a license, then can use the song perpetually without owing further royalties. Copyrighted music may have higher upfront licensing costs and require ongoing royalty payments based on views/plays. However, copyrighted music gives you access to more well-known songs and artists. Evaluate your budget, video goals, and personal preferences when deciding between royalty free vs copyrighted music.

Add Music to Video Editing Software

Once you have selected your background music, the next step is to import it into your video editing software. Most video editors like Camtasia and Windows 10 Video Editor allow you to easily import audio files such as MP3s and WAVs.

To import music in Windows 10 Video Editor:

1. Click “Add music” on the top menu bar
2. Navigate to and select your audio file
3. The music track will now appear in your media bin

In Camtasia:

1. Click “Import Media” on the media bin
2. Find and select your music file to import it
3. Drag and drop the music clip onto your timeline

Most video editors make adding music quick and straightforward. Consult your software’s help documentation if you need exact steps. Once imported, you can edit the music clip as needed in your project timeline.

Adjust Audio Levels

When mixing music and voice over audio for a video, it’s important to adjust the volume levels so that the voice over is louder than the background music. As a guideline, the music volume should be around 10-15dB lower than the speech volume.¹ This allows the viewer to clearly hear the voice over while the music provides background ambience.

To adjust audio levels in your video editing software:

• Solo the voice over track and raise the volume so the speech is crisp and clear.
• Then solo the music track and lower the volume so it sits underneath the voice audio.
• Play back both tracks together, listen closely and tweak the levels until the voice over remains predominant over the background music.

Getting the balance right is crucial for maximizing the impact of your video. Setting the music too high will overpower the voice, while music that is too quiet won’t have enough presence. Aim for music that complements but doesn’t compete with the speaking parts.

Cut Music to Video Length

Once you have added your background music track to the video editing timeline, you’ll likely need to trim the music so it matches the length of your video. Here are some tips for trimming music to the correct length:

Open up the timeline view in your video editor so you can see both the visuals and audio laid out. Find where your video starts and ends. Then adjust the start and end points of your music track to match this length. Most video editors like TechSmith allow you to easily drag the edges of an audio track to extend or shorten it.

Listen to make sure the trimmed music still flows well and has a logical starting and stopping point that matches the video. You may need to experiment with trimming back the music slightly earlier or later until it feels cohesive.

For precise trimming, many video editors like the Windows 10 Photos app let you trim clips down to the exact frame. Use the playhead to find the perfect start and stop for the music, then set the trim points there.

Finally, make sure to fade the music in and out (see next section) so there are no abrupt transitions between the video and background music.

Fade Music In and Out

Fading the music in and out at the beginning and end of your video is an important technique for smooth transitions. Fades help the music blend seamlessly with the start and finish of the video without sudden volume changes that could distract viewers. According to the article Fade (audio engineering), fading out can provide a solution for ending pieces of music that have no clear stopping point. Fades are valuable for enabling gradual increases and decreases in volume.

When fading music in, you’ll want to start the volume very low and gradually increase it over the first few seconds of the video. This eases the music in smoothly. Do the opposite for fading out – start decreasing the music volume gradually in the last 5-10 seconds until it reaches zero. The Get Perfect Transitions How To Fade Audio Seamlessly article recommends crossfading between music tracks for seamless transitions. Most video editing software provides fade in and out effects you can apply to background audio.

Properly fading music in and out of your video improves the production quality and viewing experience. It’s a simple but important technique for any video that incorporates background music.

Review Final Video

After adding your background music track to the video editing timeline, it is crucial to review the final video with audio before exporting. This step allows you to catch any issues with the background audio levels or timing before finalizing the video.

Be sure to watch through the entire video, listening closely to how the background music sounds. Make sure the music doesn’t overpower the voiceover or other important audio at any point. Listen for a consistent volume between music and speech.

Also check that the background music starts and stops at the appropriate times. Make sure it fades in and out smoothly during transitions. Tweak the audio levels or timing as needed until you are satisfied.

Taking the time to carefully review the final video with music will ensure your background audio enhances the video as intended. With music properly balanced and timed, your completed video will convey professionalism and high production value.

Export Final Video

Once you are satisfied with how the background music is integrated into your video project in the editing software, it’s time to export and render the final video file with the music baked in. This exports a new video file that has the background audio and video combined together into one file.

The export settings will allow you to choose the video format, quality, resolution, and other options. For sharing online, common formats are MP4 or MOV files. For the best quality, export at the highest resolution your editing software allows for (such as 1080p HD). Make sure to export the video with the “Render audio” option enabled so that the background music gets fully baked into the final video file.

The rendering process can take some time depending on the length and resolution of your video. Be patient and let the editing software fully export and process the file. Once completed, you’ll have a new video file with the background music integrated throughout!

According to Movavi’s tutorial, when exporting you should choose a high-quality AAC audio codec and match the video project settings for best results.

Share Completed Video

Once your video with background music is complete, it’s time to share it! There are many platforms available to publish your video publicly. Two popular options are Streamable and Dropbox.

Streamable is specifically designed for video sharing. You can upload videos up to 10GB in size and share them via a customizable link. Videos are encoded for optimal streaming across devices. Streamable is free for basic use with limitations on length, storage space, and features.

Dropbox is a popular file hosting service that also allows easy video sharing. You can upload videos of any length to your account and generate a shareable link to send to others. Dropbox offers more storage space with paid plans. While not a dedicated video platform, it provides a simple way to publish video files.

When sharing your completed video containing background music, be mindful of any copyrights associated with the music you used. Avoid publishing copyrighted music publicly without permission. Either use royalty-free music or only share privately if needed.