Adding music or sound to your videos can completely transform them — it sets the mood, enhances storytelling, and keeps viewers engaged.
If you’re using Windows Live Movie Maker, you’re in luck! This free and user-friendly video editing tool from Microsoft makes it incredibly easy to add background music or audio to any video clip in just a few clicks.
Whether you’re making a slideshow, a short film, or a YouTube video, this guide will show you how to add music or audio to Windows Live Movie Maker step by step — even if you’re a complete beginner.
2. What Is Windows Live Movie Maker?
Windows Live Movie Maker (part of Windows Essentials 2012) is a free video editing program developed by Microsoft for Windows 7, 8, and 10.
It allows users to:
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Combine video clips and photos
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Add background music and sound effects
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Apply transitions and visual effects
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Export videos for web or offline use
Even though Microsoft officially discontinued Movie Maker, many users still rely on it for simple, easy-to-learn video editing tasks.
3. Why Add Music or Audio to Your Videos?
Music and audio are essential elements that make your video more professional and engaging. Here’s why adding sound matters:
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🎵 Enhances mood: Background music sets the tone — happy, dramatic, calm, or energetic.
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🎤 Tells a story: Voiceovers explain or narrate key parts of your video.
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🎧 Engages viewers: Keeps your audience emotionally connected.
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🔊 Adds polish: Even a simple video looks professional with the right soundtrack.
Think of your video as a movie — without sound, it feels incomplete.
4. Supported Audio File Formats in Movie Maker
Before adding audio, make sure your file format is supported. Windows Live Movie Maker supports these formats:
| Audio Type | Supported File Formats |
|---|---|
| Music Files | .MP3, .WMA, .WAV, .M4A, .AIF, .AIFF |
| Voice Recordings | .WAV, .WMA, .MP3 |
| Sound Effects | .WAV, .MP3 |
🎧 Pro Tip: MP3 is the most compatible and widely used format for Movie Maker projects.
5. Preparing Your Audio File Before Adding It
Before importing your song or audio clip:
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Save your audio in a supported format (preferably MP3).
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Rename the file with a clear title (e.g., “Intro_Music.mp3”).
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Trim or edit the file using an external editor if necessary.
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Store it locally on your PC (not on an external drive) to prevent missing file errors.
6. How to Add Music or Audio in Windows Live Movie Maker (Step-by-Step)
Let’s walk through the process of adding music or audio to your video.
✅ Step 1: Open Your Project
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Launch Windows Live Movie Maker.
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Click Add videos and photos on the Home tab.
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Select your video clips or pictures and click Open.
✅ Step 2: Add Music
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Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
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Click Add music (you’ll see a dropdown).
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Choose one of the following options:
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Add music → to insert from the start of the project.
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Add music at the current point → to insert music at a specific time.
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Browse for your music file (.MP3, .WAV, etc.).
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Click Open — your audio track will appear as a green bar below the video timeline.
💡 Tip: You can see exactly where your music starts and stops in the timeline area.
7. How to Adjust the Music Start and End Points
You might not always want your music to start at the beginning or play throughout the entire video. You can adjust it easily.
✅ To Change When the Music Starts:
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Click on the Music Tools → Options tab.
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In the Start time box, type the time (in seconds) where the music should begin.
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Press Enter to apply.
✅ To Change When the Music Ends:
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Use the End point box to specify when the music should stop.
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Alternatively, drag the green audio bar in the timeline to manually adjust.
🧠 Example: You can start music after your video intro or end it before the outro for a cleaner transition.
8. How to Fade Music In or Out
To make your video sound smoother and more professional, you can fade music in or out.
✅ Steps:
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Select your audio track in the timeline.
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Go to the Music Tools → Options tab.
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Under Audio, choose:
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Fade in: Slow, Medium, or Fast
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Fade out: Slow, Medium, or Fast
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🎶 Tip: A slow fade-in works great for intros, while a medium fade-out makes your ending smoother.
9. How to Adjust the Volume of the Audio Track
Balancing audio is key — you don’t want the background music overpowering your narration or dialogue.
✅ To Adjust Music Volume:
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Select the music track.
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Go to Music Tools → Options.
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Click Music volume.
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Use the slider to increase or decrease volume.
🔉 You can also use project settings to emphasize music, video, or narration.
10. How to Add Multiple Songs or Audio Tracks
Want different songs for different scenes? Movie Maker allows that too!
✅ Steps:
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Position the playhead at the point where the new song should start.
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Click Add music → Add music at the current point.
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Select your next audio file.
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Repeat as needed for multiple tracks.
💡 Pro Tip: Use fade in/out for each track to transition smoothly between songs.
11. How to Add Voice Narration or Voiceover
You can easily record and add a voiceover directly in Movie Maker.
✅ Steps:
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Go to the Home tab.
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Click Record narration.
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A new window appears — click Record and start speaking.
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Click Stop when done.
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Save the file when prompted.
Your recorded narration will appear in the music/audio timeline, and you can edit it just like any other audio file.
🎙️ Tip: Use a quiet environment and a decent microphone for the best results.
12. How to Sync Music with Video Clips
Good synchronization ensures that your audio complements visual transitions perfectly.
✅ Tips for Syncing:
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Use waveforms in the timeline to align beats with scene changes.
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Trim clips or adjust start times to match rhythm.
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Preview frequently using the Play button.
🧩 Example: Add upbeat music to a photo slideshow, and match slide transitions with the beat.
13. How to Remove or Replace Audio in Movie Maker
If you change your mind about a track or want to replace it, it’s simple.
✅ To Remove Audio:
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Click the audio track in the timeline.
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Press the Delete key or right-click → Remove.
✅ To Replace Audio:
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Delete the existing track.
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Add a new music file following the steps in section 6.
💬 Pro Tip: Always save your project before making major edits.
14. Common Audio Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No sound after adding music | Volume muted or low | Increase volume from Music Tools → Options |
| Audio not syncing with video | Lag due to system performance | Preview in smaller resolution or trim clips |
| Unsupported file format | Using .AAC or .FLAC | Convert file to .MP3 or .WAV |
| Music stops playing mid-video | Track shorter than video | Add another track or loop existing one |
| Audio cuts off abruptly | No fade-out | Add fade-out effect for smooth ending |
15. Tips for Choosing the Right Music for Your Video
Choosing the right background music makes your project stand out.
🎵 Here’s how:
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Match the mood — upbeat for travel, calm for tutorials.
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Use royalty-free or copyright-free tracks (avoid copyright claims).
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Keep the volume balanced — music should support, not overpower.
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Trim long songs to fit the video length.
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Use instrumental versions for clarity in narration videos.
💡 Sites like YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive, and Bensound offer free tracks for use.
16. FAQs
1. Can I add more than one music track in Windows Live Movie Maker?
Yes, simply use Add music at the current point to add multiple tracks throughout your timeline.
2. What audio formats does Movie Maker support?
Supported formats include .MP3, .WAV, .WMA, .M4A, .AIF, and .AIFF.
3. Can I record my own voiceover in Movie Maker?
Absolutely! Use the Record narration feature to capture voice directly in the app.
4. Why is my audio not playing in Movie Maker?
Check that your file format is supported and the volume is turned up in Music Tools → Options.
5. How do I fade out music at the end of my video?
Select the music track → go to Music Tools → Options → choose a fade out speed (Slow, Medium, or Fast).
17. Key Takeaways
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🎵 You can add music, voiceovers, or sound effects easily in Windows Live Movie Maker.
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⚙️ Supported formats include MP3, WMA, WAV, and M4A.
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🎚️ Use fade-in/out and volume control for professional sound.
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🎙️ Record narration directly using the Record narration feature.
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🧩 Sync your audio carefully with video transitions for best results.
18. Conclusion
Adding music or audio to Windows Live Movie Maker is one of the simplest ways to bring your videos to life. Whether it’s background music for a family slideshow, narration for a tutorial, or sound effects for a short film — the process is straightforward and highly customizable.
From adjusting start times to syncing beats with visuals, Movie Maker gives you complete control over your project’s audio experience.
Follow the steps in this guide, experiment with different soundtracks, and watch your videos transform from simple clips into engaging stories that truly connect with your audience.
