How do I add music to my Android pictures?
Adding music to photos on your Android device can breathe life into your images and videos, turning them into fun slideshows or mini movies to share with friends and family. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know to add background music tracks to pictures in the Google Photos app or third-party editing tools.
Whether you want to liven up a vacation recap, make a creative birthday greeting, or just put together something entertaining to post online, music can take your photo and video projects to the next level. Read on to learn how quick and easy it is to enhance your Android media with custom audio.
Prerequisites
Before you can add music to your Android pictures, there are a few prerequisites you will need:
Android Phone
First, you will need an Android smartphone. The top Android phones in 2024 according to The New York Times include the Google Pixel 8, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and the Google Pixel 6a.
Latest OS Version
Make sure your Android phone is updated to the latest operating system version. This will ensure you have all the newest features for editing photos and video. As of 2024, the latest version is Android 13.
Music Files
You will need music files to add to your photos. Compatible formats include MP3, M4A, and WAV. Make sure the files are saved on your Android phone or uploaded to a cloud storage service that you can access on your device.
Finding Music
There are several sources for finding royalty-free or licensed music to add to your Android video projects:
Artlist – Artlist offers a subscription service with unlimited access to their library of royalty-free music for $199/year. They have a variety of genres and moods to choose from.
PremiumBeat – PremiumBeat provides royalty-free music and sound effects available for individual purchase or subscription. Their library includes over 50,000 tracks across a range of genres.
YouTube Audio Library – YouTube provides an audio library of free music and sound effects that you can use in your YouTube videos without copyright concerns. The selection includes over 150,000 tracks.
Your Own Music Library – You can use your own created or licensed music if you have the rights to do so. This allows for full customization and control over the audio.
There are many other sites that offer royalty-free or creative commons licensed music as well, such as Pond5, Storyblocks, and Envato. Do research to find one that fits your budget and has the style of music you need.
Editing Tools
There are many great video editing apps available for Android that allow you to add music and customize videos. Some of the top options to consider include:
KineMaster – This full-featured editor has timeline editing, effects, transitions, and audio controls like volume envelope and ducking. It’s free to use with a watermark or paid subscriptions start at $4.99/month. KineMaster is highly rated for its powerful tools and ease of use (Source).
Adobe Premiere Rush – From the makers of Premiere Pro, this app provides professional-level editing with music, effects, trimming and more. It’s free with device limitations or paid plans from $9.99/month. Premiere Rush is considered one of the top Android choices for serious video editing (Source).
PowerDirector – A great option for adding music with beat detection and audio ducking. The app includes overlays, effects, transitions and more. There’s a free version with watermark or paid subscriptions from $6.99/month. PowerDirector is highly-rated for its balance of power and usability.
When evaluating video editors, consider factors like price, complexity, music tools, effects, output quality and ease of use. Testing different apps can help determine the best fit for your needs and style.
Adding Music
Adding music to your Android photos is easy with the right video editing app. Here are step-by-step instructions for importing music and combining it with photos using InShot or other similar apps:
Step 1: Open the InShot app on your Android device and tap on the “Video” icon to create a new project.
Step 2: Select the photos you want to include in your video by tapping on the “+” icon and choosing “Gallery”. Add the photos in the order you want them to appear.
Step 3: Tap on the “Music” icon to browse InShot’s built-in music library, or tap on “Import” to add your own music files from storage.
Step 4: Pick the song you want and tap “Add”. Trim the song length if needed so it matches the duration of your photo video.
Step 5: Tap on “Audio Mixer” to adjust the volume levels of the music and photos if needed.
Step 6: When done, tap the checkmark in the top right to go back to the main editing screen. Rearrange photos or apply any other edits.
Step 7: Finally, tap “Export” and select a quality and format to save your photo video with music.
Following these steps makes it quick and easy to add background music to picture slideshows on any Android device. Just make sure to use an app like InShot that supports audio importing and mixing.
Trimming Music
One common task when adding music to videos is trimming the audio clip to match the length of the video. Here are some tips for trimming music on Android:
Use an audio editing app like MP3 Cutter to precisely trim your audio file. Open the app and select the music file you want to trim. Use the trim handles to set the start and end points for the audio. Listen to the preview to make sure you have trimmed it to the desired length.
Alternatively, you can trim audio directly in some video editor apps. Load the video clip and audio file into the video editor. Extend the audio clip to match the video length. Then use the trim tool to trim off any extra audio beyond the video end point.
When trimming audio, listen closely to find a good start and end point. Avoid cutting in the middle of a word or musical phrase. Try to trim between verses or musical sections for the best transition.
Save your trimmed audio clip, then add it back to the video in place of the original long audio file. The music length should now precisely match the video length.
Mixing Audio
When adding background music to a video, it’s important to properly balance the audio levels so the music enhances but does not overwhelm the other sounds in your video. The music should complement the visuals without drawing too much attention away from the main subject.
Most Android video editing apps like KineMaster, PowerDirector, and Adobe Premiere Rush provide audio mixing controls to adjust the levels of your background music track and other audio clips. Look for options like volume sliders, equalizers, and audio meters to visually monitor the sound levels.
A good starting point is to set the background music around -20 to -10 dB lower than the main audio track. You can then tweak the levels while previewing the video to find the right balance. The music should be loud enough to hear but not overpower the vocals, dialogue, or other important sounds.
Some tips for mixing music levels in Android video editors:
- Use volume ducking to automatically lower the music when voices are speaking.
- Apply fade in/outs on the music to smoothly transition it.
- Add keyframes to adjust music volumes at specific points.
- Use compression to control sudden volume spikes.
- Apply equalization to filter frequencies and fine-tune the sound.
Taking the time to properly balance your audio will make for a much more professional sounding video. The music should feel like it belongs instead of just being laid on top. With the right mix, the music can truly enhance the overall mood and storytelling of your video.
Exporting File
Once you are happy with your video, it’s time to export and save the final file. CapCut on Android provides several options for resolution, file formats, and sharing when exporting your video.
To access the export settings in CapCut, tap the export button in the top right corner. This will open the export menu with several options:
- Resolution – You can choose from a range of resolutions up to 1080p HD.
- Aspect Ratio – Select the appropriate ratio for your video footage.
- Bitrate – Higher bitrates produce better quality but larger file sizes.
- Frame Rate – Match the frame rate of your original footage.
For file format, CapCut lets you export as MP4 or MOV. MP4 is recommended for sharing online and compatibility across devices. You can also toggle on Optimized for YouTube to tailor the settings for that platform.
Finally, CapCut provides direct exporting options to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Just toggle on the destination you want and add your log in credentials to share the video instantly.
Choosing the right export settings ensures your video looks great while also keeping files sizes manageable for sharing. Refer to platform specs or do short tests to optimize the resolution, bitrate, and other factors.
Sharing Video
Once you have finished editing your video and adding music, you’ll likely want to share it with friends and family. Here are some of the easiest ways to share your completed Android video:
To share via social media, open the platform you want to share on (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) from your Android device. Upload the video from your camera roll or storage. You can add a caption and tags before posting.
For sharing via messaging apps, open your messaging app and attach the video file to a new message. Popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram allow you to easily send video files.
To email your video, open your email app and attach the video file to a new email as you would any other attachment. Make sure the video file size is not too large for email attachments limits.
You can also upload your edited video with music directly to YouTube or other video sharing sites. From your Android device, open the YouTube or other app and follow the steps to upload a new video from your files.
Sharing your finished videos with music is easy on Android. Just open the app you want to share on, locate the video file in your folders, and upload or attach as you normally would any photo or video.
Conclusion
In summary, adding music to videos taken on your Android device can enhance and bring them to life. Start by choosing high quality instrumental music that matches the mood and pace of your video. Use video editing apps like InShot, PowerDirector or KineMaster to easily add background music tracks. Trim the music duration to fit your video length or mix multiple tracks for variation. Adjust audio levels so the music complements the visuals without overpowering them. Finally, export your video in a shareable format and add it to social media or YouTube to showcase your creativity. With the right audio, you can turn basic videos into compelling watchable content.
Following best practices of choosing fitting instrumental tracks, editing audio length, adjusting levels, and exporting properly will result in engaging, polished videos that people will love watching and listening to. Music can make the difference between Android videos that are ignored, and ones that captivate attention and go viral. Take your mobile content to the next level by incorporating complementary audio that brings out the emotions, story and essence of your visuals.
