How to add background music to a talking video
Short answer
Open the short in Vireeli, go to the Audio tab and upload a track under My music (MP3, M4A or WAV, up to 20 MB). Set the music Volume, turn on Lower music when I talk so your voice stays clear, choose where the song Starts at, and keep Fade in and out on for a smooth start and finish.
On this page
Add music, step by step
- 1Open the short and go to the Audio tab.
- 2Under My music, click Upload and choose an MP3, M4A or WAV file of up to 20 MB. It's saved to your account, so you can reuse it on other videos.
- 3Click the track to add it to the video.
- 4Set Volume low enough that your words are easy to follow; background music should sit well under your voice.
- 5Set Lower music when I talk to Light, Medium or Strong. The music dips while you speak and comes back up in the gaps.
- 6Use Start at to skip a slow intro and begin on the part of the song you want.
- 7Leave Fade in and out on so the music doesn't start or stop abruptly.
Keep your voice clear over the music
"Ducking" means turning music down automatically whenever someone speaks. It's how professional videos keep both music and speech audible. In Vireeli it's Lower music when I talk:
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Off | The music stays at the same volume all the time. |
| Light | A small dip under your voice, for quiet, mellow tracks. |
| Medium | A clear dip; a good default for most videos. |
| Strong | A deep dip, for loud or busy tracks. |
If your recording has its own background noise, clean it first; see how to remove background noise.
How loud should background music be?
Quieter than you think. Music that sounds right on headphones often drowns the voice on a phone speaker, which is how most people will hear it. A few checks:
- Start with the Volume low and raise it until you can just feel the beat under your voice, then stop.
- Play it on your phone's speaker, not only on headphones or a laptop.
- Read the captions with your eyes closed: if you can't follow the words by ear, the music is too loud.
- Let the music come up between sentences; that's what Lower music when I talk does for you.
Choosing music for a talking video
- Instrumental beats vocals. Lyrics compete with your words and make captions harder to follow.
- Match the energy: upbeat for tips and hype, soft piano or lo-fi for stories and calm explainers.
- Mind the rights. Only upload music you're allowed to use. Instagram, YouTube and TikTok can mute or block videos with music you don't have the rights to.
- Want trending audio? Add it inside Instagram or TikTok when you post, and export from Vireeli without music.
Remove or change the music
To try another track, click it under My music. To have no music at all, choose No music or Remove music. Your voice track isn't affected; set its level with the Original audio slider in the same tab.
Questions and answers
Does adding music cost credits?
No. Music, volume changes and exporting again are free once the video is made.
Can I use a song from Instagram or TikTok in Vireeli?
Not directly. Their in-app sounds can only be added inside those apps. Export from Vireeli without music, then pick the sound when you post.
Can I delete a track I uploaded?
Yes. Delete it from My music. Videos that already use it keep the music in their past exports.
Why is my voice hard to hear?
Lower the music Volume, set Lower music when I talk to Medium or Strong, or raise Original audio.
Try it on your next video
Upload a clip and get captions, cut pauses, zooms and a hook back in one pass. Plans from $12 a month.