Fast cuts and montages
Ask for "driving", "upbeat" or "fast" with punchy drums. Electronic, pop and hip hop beats suit quick edits, travel reels and product highlights.
Guide
How to create background music for video with AI.
A practical guide to creating background music for video with AI: matching the music to your pacing, leaving room for voice-over, handling length and loops, and checking licensing before you publish.
- Step-by-step
- Voice-over friendly tips
- Honest licensing notes
How to create background music for a video in six steps
Background music works when viewers feel it more than they notice it. This workflow starts from the video, not from the music.
Watch your edit and take notes
Before writing a prompt, watch the rough cut once. Note the overall pace, any big moments (a reveal, a punchline, a call to action) and whether someone speaks over most of it.
Describe the music around the video
Write a prompt that names a genre, a mood, two or three instruments, a tempo feel and the kind of video, for example "calm acoustic instrumental, soft guitar and light piano, mid-tempo, steady energy, for a cooking tutorial with voice-over".
Turn on the instrumental switch
Lyrics compete with narration and on-screen text. For almost all background music, generate without vocals.
Generate and test both versions against the picture
Each creation uses 2 credits and returns two versions, usually in a minute or two. Play each one under the video, not on its own, since the right track is the one that fits the edit.
Adjust energy or density
If the music fights the voice, ask for "minimal" or "sparse" and fewer instruments. If the video feels flat, raise the energy word or add "gradual build".
Download, trim and mix
With a paid plan, download the audio and place it in your editor. Trim to length, fade in and out, and lower the music under speech so every word is clear.
Pacing
Matching music to your video's pacing
The music should move at the same speed as the edit. Use the cut rhythm of your video as the main clue for tempo and energy.
Talking-head and tutorials
Ask for "mid-tempo", "steady energy" and "light percussion". The music should feel present but never pull focus from the speaker.
Slow, reflective footage
Ask for "slow", "spacious" and "gentle swell". Piano, strings, ambient pads and fingerpicked guitar suit landscapes, stories and memorial videos.
Videos with a big moment
Ask for "builds gradually to a strong final section". You can then line up the peak of the music with your reveal or call to action in the editor.
Voice-over
Leaving room for voice-over and dialogue
Most problems with background music are really mix problems: the music occupies the same space as the voice.
- Always use the instrumental switch when anyone speaks over the track.
- Ask for "minimal", "sparse" or "understated" arrangements with two or three instruments.
- Prefer instruments that sit below or above the voice, such as soft pads, low bass, light plucks and gentle percussion, over busy lead melodies.
- Avoid words like "powerful", "epic" and "soaring lead" for narration-heavy videos.
- In your editor, lower the music under speech and bring it back up in gaps between lines.
- If you still hear a clash, regenerate with a lower energy word rather than only turning the volume down.
Length and loops
Handling length and looping
Track length varies by generation, and you get a finished track rather than a seamless loop. These techniques cover most videos.
Shorter videos
Pick the most fitting section of the track and trim to it. Add a short fade at each end so the music does not start or stop abruptly.
Longer videos
Ask for "steady groove, no dramatic ending" so sections repeat smoothly, then loop them in your editor with a short crossfade at the join.
Changing scenes
Use two or three different tracks for distinct parts of the video and crossfade between them, rather than forcing one track to fit everything.
Continuing a track
On Pro and Studio plans, Extend Audio continues one of your tracks from a second you choose, which helps when you need more of the same music.
Platforms
Platform considerations
Short vertical video
The first moments decide whether people keep watching, so ask for music that is "catchy from the first bar" and skip long intros.
Long-form video
Viewers hear the music for a long time. Keep it subtle, avoid repetitive hooks and consider switching tracks between chapters.
Presentations and demos
Clean, neutral styles like light corporate pop, ambient electronic or soft acoustic keep attention on the product.
Ads and paid campaigns
Ads are commercial use. Check the licensing section below and the plan you are on before running music in paid promotion.
Licensing
Licensing AI music for your videos
Read the licensing terms before you publish commercially. Here is how it works on Music AI Generator.
- Pro and Studio subscribers can generate a song-specific, non-exclusive Content Usage License from the Library for eligible commercial projects, subject to its terms and any third-party rights.
- Starter, Basic and free-credit use do not include that commercial license.
- The license is non-exclusive, and similar music may be generated for other users.
- There is no guarantee about automated content-matching systems such as Content ID, so keep a copy of the license you generated for each track you publish.
- Downloading audio requires a paid plan; free users can listen in the app.
- See the Music Usage & Licensing page for the full terms before you publish.
Avoid these
Common background music mistakes
Picking music before the edit
Music chosen in isolation rarely fits. Create it after you have a rough cut so the pacing is clear.
Music too loud under speech
If viewers have to strain to hear words, the music is too loud or too busy. Lower it and simplify the arrangement.
Vocals under narration
Two sets of words at once confuse viewers. Keep vocal tracks for sections with no speech, or skip them.
One mood for every scene
A single upbeat track across a video with serious and light moments can feel off. Match tracks to sections.
Background music prompts for common video types
Use these with the instrumental switch on, then adjust the energy word to match your edit.
Friendly how-to
Light acoustic pop instrumental, friendly and focused, soft guitar, gentle piano and light shaker, mid-tempo, steady energy under a voice-over.
- Voice-over
- Steady
- Acoustic
Sunny travel montage
Upbeat tropical house instrumental, carefree and bright, marimba plucks, warm bass and crisp drums, fast, energetic from the first bar.
- Montage
- Upbeat
- Electronic
Clean product demo
Minimal corporate electronic instrumental, modern and confident, soft synth plucks, subtle bass and light beat, mid-tempo, understated and steady.
- Demo
- Minimal
- Modern
Documentary reflection
Ambient cinematic instrumental, reflective and hopeful, sustained strings, soft piano and warm pads, slow, gentle swell toward the end.
- Documentary
- Slow
- Cinematic
Everyday vlog groove
Chill lo-fi hip hop instrumental, relaxed and warm, dusty drums, mellow electric piano and soft bass, laid-back groove, no dramatic ending.
- Lo-fi
- Loop-friendly
- Vlog
Frequently asked questions
How do I create background music for a video with AI?
Watch your edit first, then write a prompt with a genre, mood, two or three instruments, a tempo feel and the type of video. Turn on the instrumental switch, generate, and test both versions under the picture before choosing.
How do I stop background music from drowning out my voice-over?
Ask for a minimal, sparse arrangement with few instruments and steady energy, avoid busy lead melodies, and lower the music under speech in your editor.
Can I make the music exactly as long as my video?
Track length varies by generation, so plan to trim, fade or loop the music in your editor. On Pro and Studio plans, Extend Audio can continue a track from a point you choose.
Can I use AI background music in monetized or client videos?
Pro and Studio subscribers can generate a song-specific, non-exclusive Content Usage License for eligible commercial projects, subject to its terms. Starter, Basic and free-credit use do not include it. See the licensing page before publishing.
Will my video get a content claim?
There is no guarantee either way. The license is non-exclusive and similar music may be generated for other users, so keep a copy of your license for each track you use.
Music AI Generator
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Describe your video's pace and mood, turn on the instrumental switch, and test two versions under your edit.
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