How to Choose the Right Music for Your Video Productions
If you are a professional YouTuber or you work in the entertainment industry, you will know how essential the music choices are. The right soundtrack will add the right atmosphere and mood to any kind of video production, from documentaries and short films to video tutorials or reviews.
How to Add Music in Your Videos
If you’ve recorded your material with a camera, you will have to import the video to a piece of software that can handle video and music on separate tracks. There are many options on the market. Some of this software is free or come with the pc’s software bundle, like Microsoft’s Video Editor for Windows 10. If you want professional results, you should look at programs like ProTools or Final Cut, which are harder to use but are up to the standards of the best productions.
If you want to include a soundtrack, you have two options. If you are a music producer, you can compose an original song. The other option is using pre-recorded material, like songs and instrumental pieces. You can visit the extensive libraries of websites such as Snapmuse to find the right inspiration. Don’t forget to include a track for sound effects, to give the right accent to specific parts of the video.
Tips and Practical Examples
A video production usually involves music, speech, sound effects and footage. You have to be prepared to undertake the editing of the footage first, taking into account that if a person is talking in the video, the speech has to be accurately synchronized, when recorded on a different type of gear (for example an external microphone).
Then you can start to add the music. If you choose to have background music, you will have to automate the volume, so that it rises whenever there is no speech, in radio-style fashion. This particular type or production effect is called a ducking effect. It can be carried out manually (which is a bit hard) or through a software’s plug-in (best choice). This effect is applied to the music and basically compresses it whenever another signal (for example, voice) is present. It is commonly used in commercials, documentaries, but also dance music.
If you are producing a short video, you can be inspired by composers of music for film. Try to listen to some great soundtracks, like the ones written by Ennio Morricone, Angelo Badalamenti or Lalo Shifrin. You are going to notice how they masterfully adapt music, tempos and arrangements depending on what happens on screen.
