Audio editing: how to add audio to a video and apply effects

Audio is the central and most crucial element in video editing, as it forms the backbone of the content being created or modified through which stories are told, messages are conveyed, and artistic visions are realized. In VSDC Audio files are supported in various formats: MP3/ MP2, WMA, M4A, AAC, FLAC, OGG, RA, RAM, VOC, WAV, AC3, AIFF, MPA, AU, APE, CUE and CDA.

Adding an Audio File

  1. There are several ways of adding an audio file to your project:
    • From the Add object drop down menu on the Editor tab;
    • From the vertical toolbar on the left from the scene;
    • By using hotkey shortcut Shift + A;
    • By simply dragging an audio file from the file explorer on your PC to the scene area.
  2. Define the location within the Object position settings window or leave the default settings by clicking the OK button. You can change them any time later directly on the Timeline area.

Audio Object Settings

If you want to adjust the parameters of an audio file, select it on the timeline and navigate to the Properties window which is located on the right from the scene. The following options are available:

  • Audio: here you can select audio files available in the project's resources and upload new ones. Also there you can select the Sync audio option to restore or improve a distorted audio file.
    • >Audio duration: here you can set the duration of your audio file and cut out the beginning of the end of it using the options Start/End trim.
  • Cutting and splitting: here you can cut unnecessary fragments out of your audio or split it into parts.
  • Loop mode: this feature allows you to select the way your audio track will be played. In order to use this mode, you need to set the duration of how long you want the audio to be looped.There’ll be a red marker right in the place where the original audiotrack should end.The following options are available:
    • Mute audio: the sound is removed from your audio after original audiotrack ends;
    • Loop audio: the video playback is looped so the audio restarts automatically;
    • Play entire audio: the audio is played once up to the end notwithstanding the length, so it may significantly slow down.
  • Playing backwards: you can enable this option and make your audiotrack play backwards by setting Yes.
  • Speed: you can speed up or slow down the audio file by adjusting this option. The default setting is 100% (normal speed).
  • Audio stretching mode: you can also adjust the way the speed of the audio file is going to be changed - Tempo change (to change the tempo keeping the pitch the same throughout the audio file) or Rate change (to change the speed and tone of the sound), select the mode (Music or Voice) and use Antialiasing to make the sound smooth.
  • Audio volume: here you can make the audio track sound louder or quieter.
  • Audio track: here you can select the audio track that is used or mute it. This option is for multichannel audio files.

There’s also a number of buttons located on the timeline that can help you play your audio track, adjust the volume, etc. Here’s a detailed article about how to work with the timeline.

Audio Effects

How to Apply Audio Effects

  1. First, you need to select your audio file on the timeline. Then go to the Editor tab and click the Audio effects button on the Ribbon command bar to select a desired effect within the appropriate category from the drop-down list. Another option is to right-click the file on the timeline and select Audio effects from the drop-down menu.
  2. After that, you will be able to set the effect position respectively to the media file in the Object position settings window. You can leave the default settings clicking the Ok button and change them any time later.
  3. The selected effect will appear on the Timeline area as an object inside the audio file. It represents a colored block that occupies a single line and is located on a separate tab on the Timeline. To go back to your audio file, you need to proceed to Scene 0. And if you want to access the effect again, just double-click on the file on the Timeline. The effect processes audio in real time.
  4. Each effect has a few common and several individual settings that you can change within the Properties window. You can also select one of the available Presets or create a custom one in the Template window.

List of Available Effects

Group

Effect

Description

Amplitude

Amplify

Use it to increase or decrease the sound volume by means of increasing or decreasing its amplitude.

Fade In

Use it to increase the sound volume gradually.

Fade Out

Use it to decrease the sound volume gradually.

Silence

Use it to mute the sound of an audio track.

Invert wave

Use it to invert the sound around the horizontal axis.

Normalize audio

Use it to increase or decrease the sound to the selected volume level.

Delay

Flanger

Use it to add an echo to the audio by means of changing the frequency of the repeated sound.

Chorus

Use it to make the audio sound fuller.

Delay

Use it to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.

Phaser

Use it to add an echo to the audio by means of changing the phase of the repeated sound.

Vibrato

Use it to create an effect of pulsating sound

Reverb

Use it to simulate the acoustical effect of rooms and enclosed buildings.

Filters

LowPass

Use it to correct various imperfections in the original audio. It attenuates frequencies above the cutoff frequency.

HighPass

Use it to correct various imperfections in the original audio. It attenuates frequencies below the cutoff frequency.

Notch

Use it to correct various imperfections in the original audio. It weakens the selected frequency and its harmonics.

BandPass

Use it to correct various defects in the original audio. It skips frequencies within a selected range and attenuates frequencies outside that range.

LowShelf

Use it for amplifying or suppressing low frequencies of sound.

HighShelf

Use it for boosting or suppressing high frequencies of sound.

Peaking EQ

Use it to provide a boost or cut in the vicinity of some center frequency.

Equalize

Use it to adjust sound settings more accurately.

Median

Use it to eliminate impulse noise such as unwanted frequent sharp sounds.

Gate

Use it to recognize steady noise sources and remove them from the audio track.

Wah Wah

Use it to extend expressiveness, sounding much like a human voice saying the syllable wah. It modifies the vowel quality of a tone.

Time stretch / Pitch shift

Tempo change

Use it to change the tempo keeping the pitch the same throughout the audio file.

Rate change

Use it to change the speed and tone of the sound.

Pitch shift

Use it to change the sound pitch (tone) without changing its tempo.

Special

Reverse

Use it to produce an effect similar to backward playback.

Creative Ideas for Working With Audio Files in VSDC

This software can be downloaded from Free Video Editor description page.