A cue at the right moment
Start a sound effect when an object appears or place your recorded explanation after an introduction. Timing uses the finished timeline after your cuts.
Add audio to a YouTube video
Place a music cue or recorded voiceover exactly where a short video needs it. Set the insertion second, adjust the sound level and download a new version ready for review.
- Up to 3 minutes
- 100 MB per video
- MP4 with timed MP3 audio
0 s3 s6 s9 s12 s
Video
Selected footage
MP3
Audio at 3 s
Example timing. Add your own audio or text in the editor.
Self-made sample with synthetic audio and hand-written captions. Use a video with speech to try automatic transcription.
How to add music or MP3 audio to a YouTube video
Load the footage and your MP3
Import a public short YouTube video or upload your own file. Open Timed inserts and upload the MP3 you want to add, up to 20 MB and 180 seconds.
Time the new sound
Set its start second on the finished video, an offset within the MP3 and the section length. Mix with the original recording or replace its sound during that window.
Review a newly exported video
Export the MP4 and listen to the inserted section. Download the result, then upload it to YouTube yourself when you are ready.
Control what plays and when
Keep narration while adding music
Mix adds an MP3 over the source audio. Replace mutes the source only during the insert. Adjust the inserted track volume and listen to the exported result.
Pair a recording with an on-screen note
Use Timed inserts to add caption text alongside the audio. Up to five MP3 inserts can fit within one video, without extending its duration.
Before you start
The current editor accepts videos up to 180 seconds and 100 MB. Cloud imports, AI processing and exports require sign-in. Portrait video exports use a 720 × 1280 canvas. Only upload material that can be public: the editor uses a public asset bucket.
Frequently asked questions
Can this add audio to a video already on my channel?
It can create a new edited file from accessible footage. It does not modify the existing YouTube upload in place. Upload the exported MP4 yourself.
Is there a music library or text-to-speech?
No music library or generated voice is included. Bring an MP3 recording that you have permission to use. An extracted audio track can also be used as an insert.
Can I replace only a few seconds of sound?
Yes. Choose Replace for that audio insert. The original sound remains outside its selected time window. The inserted section must fit inside both the MP3 and the finished video.
What limits apply?
The video source must fit within 180 seconds and 100 MB. MP3 uploads can be up to 20 MB and 180 seconds. Cloud processing requires sign-in; upload a local video if YouTube blocks the link import.
