Unlock Pro-Level Audio Editing in iMovie!

You can’t have great video without great audio! A key aspect of professional-sounding audio for video is how well you blend, or mix together the different components of your soundtrack: on-camera dialogue, voiceover, sound effects, and music. Here are 3 techniques for mixing professional-level soundtracks in iMovie.
This video is NOT sponsored.
❤️ If you're finding value in my content, show your support by giving me a Super Thanks!
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Optimize Dialogue
05:03 - Adding Music
06:06 - Crude Adjustment
06:58 - Dynamic Soundtracks
07:42 - Manual Keyframing
10:00 - Range Selection Tool
11:55 - Automatic Ducking
***********************************************
Tools I use to make my videos (Affiliate links):
==========✳️ CAMERA GEAR ✳️==========
Sony Alpha 6400 | APS-C Mirrorless Camera amzn.to/32NP7JR
Sony SEL20F28 E Mount - APS-C 20mm F2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens amzn.to/2TfKAx3
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens amzn.to/36Lhgp2
Elgato Cam Link 4K Compact HDMI Capture Device, USB 3.0 amzn.to/3v5NxgU
==========✳️ AUDIO GEAR ✳️==========
Rode VideoMic NTG On-Camera Shotgun Microphone amzn.to/3zhqLWm
Elgato Wave: 3 USB Condenser Microphone and Digital Mixer for Streaming, Recording, Podcasting amzn.to/3fnsQaJ
Rode VideoMic GO II amzn.to/3uQekzu
RODE NT-USB Mini Condenser Microphone amzn.to/3NMdTh7
==========✳️ LIGHTING GEAR ✳️==========
Elgato Key Light, Professional Studio LED Panel amzn.to/2OSbNjW
Corsair Elgato Light Strip RGB LEDs amzn.to/3zZaGW4
==========✳️ PRODUCTION SOFTWARE ✳️==========
Screenflow 10 bit.ly/screenflowEditing
Final Cut Pro
iMovie
Apple Keynote
Ecamm Live Free Trial: bit.ly/myecamm
***********************************************
INSTAGRAM: / michaelkinney
TWITTER: / michaelkinney
#imovie #imovietutorial #audiomixing
DISCLOSURE: I often link to products & services I regularly use and think you might find helpful. To support this channel, I use affiliate links wherever possible, which means if you click one of the links in this video or description and make a purchase I may receive a small commission or other compensation.

[@ubauba1378]

Your tutorials are incredible. You've saved my life so often. Every time I search for a topic, I choose your tutorials over every other one on the same topic.

[@suzfindsnyapts]

I agree 100 percent

[@juandivelasco]

You are simply the best at explaining this kind of things. I think I have told you before, but you are a great communicator. Thank you so much. Muchísimas gracias!

[@PAWSongPinoy]

NEW MACBOOK USER HERE WITH M2 CHIP! I FOUND YOUR CHANNEL SO HELPFUL.

[@WendyDewarHughes]

I use iMovie for editing my videos and basically taught myself, which means there are holes in my knowledge. This video of yours just filled some of those holes. Thanks for the concise and easy to follow instructions.

[@botabob]

Well said.

[@MacVideoMagic]

Glad I could help!

[@garymason7]

These iMovie tutorials are really good, thank you 👏🏼 I didn’t know what the lower volume of other clips did but it’ll make life much easier.

[@timsellsted521]

Another super helpful video! Thanks Michael!

[@BobPetrone]

Michael, it is so easy to follow your instructions. You do not rush through the instructions. Thank you for helping me make my videos look and sound better. You are simply the best!

[@sidzhottake]

you have become my go-to guy for iMovie tips!

[@swagatmali3634]

As usual awesome video man.....Bless you ✌️

[@Feeble_me]

You’re killing it buddy. Great content non-stop.

[@vineyardchickshomestead]

Fantastic as always! Thank you for teach these shortcuts to better sound! Valuable Tips and tricks! 🏆🥇

[@rupaliembry]

Good teacher. Very well-paced, clear, concise. 🙏🏼 Thank you.

[@frumitup]

I absolutely LOVE your iMovie videos and you have taught me so so much! Thank you

[@mas3974]

Brilliant video!

[@brendangaffney96]

Thank you, sir. This was exactly what I was looking for 🤝🏼

[@JottyHB]

Thanks a lot, very helpful!

[@cisvolk]

Wow and more new things learned that I really needed but just did not knew. Thank you so much.

[@elwirastadnik]

Genius with R key :) Thanks!

[@josephjasonsantiagolacour]

Thank you, fam. You just added another solid year of value to my Early 2013 Mac ☺

[@joehopper2274]

Thank you Michael you are the most brilliant person on YT. I look forward to viewing and saving clips that are applicable to my interest/needs. I’ll save this one to my iMovie File. I really look forward to using it.

[@BrysonSenevira]

Very informative as always thanks much...

[@CalebandKeebs]

Didn't even realize I needed this until I discovered your video. 😂 Loved it! Thank you for the value you provided and love your voice as well! Very soothing and peaceful. Needed ya in my day! 🫶 Liked & Subscribed 💯

[@JakeBroe]

Great video!

[@angelbouclin]

Very helpful. Thank you. ❤

[@chango_monkey144]

I am new to Mac and I just want to say great job I will start supporting your KZbin channel and tell everyone to come to your channel. thanks again

[@svendura1]

I love iMovie more and more every day. Switching to Final Cut Pro could bring me more problems than it solves. The tool that I know best is the best for my work. Thanks a lot for the good work, Michael.

[@Heesjesopwielen]

Wow thank you so match for this video 👍🙋🏼‍♂️

[@Keeruvlogs]

Really amazing content !

[@roughmzin2510]

Thank you! I’ve been using iMovie for many years. I like it when you gave few options of doing the same thing but with different techniques. I realised that my technique might not be the most efficient way in most cases. By having many options, I can choose what works best and at times implement more than one technique to get the best result. It always good to know more than one way of doing things.

[@JArmandoCastaneda]

Thanks for excellent vid.

[@NickiHeartsCards]

Love your tutorials. Thank you for taking it slow and doing each step!

[@MacVideoMagic]

You're welcome!

[@inocenciotensygarcia1012]

Thank you for this video

[@carlupthegrove262]

Very helpful. And your presentation is well paced and clear. Thanks

[@MacVideoMagic]

You are welcome!

[@pushpakhanal8814]

You are amazing ! How easily you made understood. It saved my time and boost my knowledge over the peak. :)

[@MacVideoMagic]

Glad it helped!

[@kenromero9236]

Michael, you are the iMovie Master!

[@yurperfect]

Sweet thanks

[@Christophe_C]

Your video about iMovie are so great. With the trick i learn on your chanel, I understand how it can me more powerfull , than everyone think . Learn to use, before going to another editor. Love Imovie since ImovieHD with my DVcam.

[@fernandoolivera4850]

Thank you so much

[@Jdjskjxsi]

Thank you

[@MPrashant]

thanks!

[@123MATEMATICAS123]

NICE THANKS

[@Goomer]

awesome

[@TheDominoJester]

You are an iMovie master.

[@SherrisWorld]

Thanks so much! Just discovered your videos and can't wait to watch more. I had no idea about the music well. I've been thinking of upgrading to better software, but maybe with your tips, I can get iMovie to work better for me without having to learn a new program. Question about Range vs Manual key framing -- Range seems so much easier - which do you prefer to use/why?

[@MacVideoMagic]

Range is way faster. Often, I’ll start with Range, then fine tune manually.

[@FLAVMEDIA]

Great Tip:))

[@Ak.studio58]

Thx for info

[@MacVideoMagic]

No problem

[@DNF_finder]

What a splendid and helpful video this is, thanks a lot, saves me a lot of time. What I don’t understand is why iMovie in your phone automatically adapts the volume of the music and iMovie in your computer doesn’t…..

[@macjeffff]

How did I not know about the music well? How did I not know about the "auto" button? Great video -- thanks.

[@tiberiustt]

Thanks!

[@MacVideoMagic]

Wow, thank you! Glad you found value in my video. 🙂

[@tiberiustt]

​@@MacVideoMagic I consistently find your videos to be clear, concise, and thorough. Thank you for the effort you put in to them!

[@TheWild_Living_Nature]

I’ve been using iMovie for years and just learned about the music well! 😢

[@garagegeek4863]

You remain awesome.

[@MacVideoMagic]

Thank you!

[@MattTheRaces]

New to iMovie and this video was really helpful. What is the point in the upper music bit attaching to clip, are there any times that would be more beneficial or should you always use music well?

[@botabob]

Thanks Michael, a lot of your instructional iMovie videos are in my iMovie playlist to I can refer to what I forgot. I especially like your lower thirds video. I use it on most of my videos. I create my lower thirds that I reuse across most of my videos. That is until I accidentally deleted my iMovie Library. LOL - no problem because I have your lower thirds instructional video at my finger tips. I've been adding to my videos in an effort to make them more interesting. I have a very short term memory so if I am not constantly practicing something I forget it. That is why I originally started making KZbin videos. That way if I have to do something again in the future, I can refer back to my video and remember how I did it the last time. Thanks again for all the work you put into your KZbin channel. I know feedback helps keep a person going to know their work is appreciated. Enjoy the journey - cheers

[@MacVideoMagic]

Yes, feedback is very appreciated! Glad to hear my videos are helping you move forward.

[@JoshConnectMedia]

He is pretty good at what he does !! My favorite go to place with respect to iMovie tips !!!

[@ralesandro]

Thank you for another great video. I always learn new things from you! Question… the “black clips” How do you create one? I can see how it would be useful as a “spacer.”

[@MacVideoMagic]

Exactly! You can use it as a spacer or what Final Cut Pro calls a Gap Clip. I just used a clip of Black from the Backgrounds collection.

[@bobby_c_ho]

Thank you as your video are amazing. How does we sync the music the the videos or pictures ? Is that using the precision editor ?

[@MacVideoMagic]

Yes, or you can use the Clip Trimmer. It's great for syncing video with music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYKZenaKbJWdg80

[@taraisaacs8965]

Great video. In your experience, are voice overs typically lower volume than recorded clips. I used built in mic and speakers for my recorded Zoom session but added voiceover between chapters using a 3.5 mm lapel mic.

[@MacVideoMagic]

Generally, you try to match the level (volume) of all dialogue.

[@TrogART]

Question, will the last automatic ducking technique also apply to other audio tracts that may be in place like folio sound that have been added? As I like to manually set there levels.

[@salvatoreschettino4020]

Your tutorial are a very good for who use iMovie A times ago I found on your channel a video which you created a video, with keynote, where a car running on the apple map and then all have been transferred on the iMove project. Unfortunately I did not found anymore on your channel, could you be so kind to sent to me the link? Tanks Salvatore

[@JacarandaMusic]

As always, fabulous content, clearly delivered! I’m not clear, does the audio track need to be in the Music Well (which I’d never heard of!) in order to do the automatic ducking? Btw I always prefer speech videos with no background music because I’m easily distracted by it … but can see how this technique is helpful, in fact if people used it more, maybe I wouldn’t be so distracted…

[@MacVideoMagic]

Doesn’t have to be in Music Well for automatic ducking. The ducking feature will reduce level of any audio clips around the audio clips you select to be featured.

[@JacarandaMusic]

Fab.

[@JoshConnectMedia]

🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@DNF_finder]

Thanks a lot for this very helpful video! Trying things out now and it really helps me. Although when I drag music to the music well (so not attached to video clip) it is still effected by my voiceovers and other sound in the video. How is that possible?

[@MacVideoMagic]

What do you mean affected?

[@DNF_finder]

@@MacVideoMagic the music clip is less loud where there is audio. So it looks like if it’s attached to the video, so the video makes “ducks”. Although it’s on the music well.

[@Soldmysoulfor]

Can you select noise and remove it entirely from the clip like you do in audacity?

[@mrcombiBedford]

Dear Michael, can you help, I am a subscriber, thanks for your excellent vids. In Keynote how do I stop a slide for 5 to 20 sec. before it goes to the nest on so we can read the info in auto play mode? regards, Jerzy UK👍

[@MacVideoMagic]

Beside the "Start Transition" setting you'll find the "Delay" setting.

[@mrcombiBedford]

@@MacVideoMagic Thanks I will try that

[@StephenCheeseGardenServices]

600 +1 more 👍 THUMBS UP from Mr Cheese 👍 THANK'S BUDDY

[@Global_with_Desoo]

Some of these functions are not available on ipad😢

[@newelljordan112]

How do you do this in Imovie

[@Historic_Adventures_UK]

I looked for this in final cut, and it seems its not in it

[@INSIGHT_and_WISDOM]

I still can’t get my clip trimmer to show input and output at the same time in my view window… it doesn’t do it for precision editor either??

[@MacVideoMagic]

How long is your project? How big is your iMovie library?

[@kamakirinoko]

I have a suggestion which could radically simplify your instructional video-a super easy fix almost anyone can do, that is guaranteed to improve you whole way of working . . . it's called, in keeping with its simplicity level . . . *Remove The Music!* Yes, *removing the music* entirely creates a sparse, Lose-the-Music™, timelessly classic feel to your video which is all due to the revolutionary power of Silenceº.'' It's an amazing new way to instantly set your videos apart from the pack. Try it!

[@kamakirinoko]

Just kidding, as I'm sure you deduced. But sometimes one just wishes the music could get lost and the tutorial just got on with.

[@philipprice4515]

This is why I love your channel! You should look into using 'Promo sm'!!

[@ComicalWaysFilms]

Thanks!

[@MacVideoMagic]

Thank you for the Super Thanks!

[@ComicalWaysFilms]

@@MacVideoMagic I wish I had more money. I’d give you a lot!! you’re phenomenal!!

[@ComicalWaysFilms]

@@MacVideoMagic I just wanna make sure do you get the entire $1.99 or does KZbin take some money from that?

[@ComicalWaysFilms]

@@MacVideoMagic I saw your “coffee” link, but I felt more comfortable with this KZbin link.