How to Replace Audio in iMovie

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How To Replace Audio in iMovie

Replacing an audio track in iMovie, Step 1: Load Your Data. Joe Shambro, About.com

One of the most common questions I get from fellow audio engineers isn't about audio recording, it's about video editing: namely, how to remove and replace an audio track when editing with Apple's iMovie suite. It's a lot easier than you might think, and all it requires is a working copy of iMovie, no fancy editing suites necessary.

Let's get started.

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How to Replace Audio in iMovie - Step 2 - Remove the Master Audio

Replacing an audio track in iMovie, Step 2. Joe Shambro, About.com

First, let's remove the master audio track that's already on the video file. Right-click the video file, and it'll highlight with a drop down menu like the one you see above. Choose "Detach Audio", and you should see the audio file become a separate entity on the editing line. This will be purple, showing that it's no longer part of the video file's integrated contents.

Now that you've moved your old audio out of the way, it's time to add your new audio.

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How to Replace Audio in iMovie - Step 3 - Drag-and-Drop Your Replacement

How to Replace Audio in iMovie, Part 3 - Drop Your Audio. Joe Shambro, About.com

Now, it's time to take your replacement audio and drop it into your project window. This is the easiest part, assuming you've matched your audio clip to the proper length and matched it to sync with your program material. Don't worry if you haven't; you'll be able to click your way around and adjust your margins on both your video and audio program. This is just like mixing with a linear multitrack editor like GarageBand or Pro Tools -- you can move your program material on a timeline, and adjust everything where you like it.

Once you've put your audio where you want it, you can then click the small drop down box to the left hand side, and make any EQ or fade adjustments you see fit. Now, you'll be able to play your project -- and hear what your overdubbed audio sounds like (and looks like) against the video. Now, it's time to export.

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How to Replace Audio in iMovie - Step 4 - Export Your Movie

How to Replace Audio in iMovie - Step 4 - Export Your Movie. Joe Shambro, About.com

Now that you've lined up your new audio track and you've verified it's placement, it's time to export your overall file. This is just like the bounce function in Pro Tools or Logic, and it's very easy to use. You can simply press Command-E, and then choose your format you'd like to export to. You can also click on the "Share" drop down menu, and select from there.

Importing your own audio onto a video through iMovie is surprisingly simple, especially if you're familiar with how linear multitrack editing works in the audio world.