How to Add Audio in After Effects 2024 [Step-by-Step Guide] 🔢

Learn how to seamlessly integrate audio into your Adobe After Effects projects with our step-by-step guide. Discover importing techniques, create compositions, adjust settings, and add audio to timelines. Enhance your video projects by syncing audio with visuals effectively.

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Dawn Tang

Updated on Mar 29, 2024

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When it comes to creating captivating videos, the marriage of visual and auditory elements is essential. Adding audio to your Adobe After Effects projects to enhance audio in video, and combining with Adobe Audio Enhancer to make your storytelling more engaging and immersive.

Whether you're a seasoned video editor or just starting, mastering the art of incorporating audio is a skill that can truly set your projects apart. Let's delve into the seamless process of bringing audio to life within your After Effects compositions.

Fix Can't Hear Audio in After Effects

But first, if you cannot hear sounds on After Effects, here's how to fix it:🛠️

  • Check Audio Settings: In After Effects, confirm audio settings in two steps. First, manage audio and visual components individually on the Timeline's start. Then, in the expanded Audio Preview window, ensure the audio icon is active.
  • Confirm External Sound: Don't overlook this basic step. Verify sound from other apps to pinpoint whether the issue lies within After Effects or is more widespread.
  • Validate Computer Output: For PCs, access "Edit" > "Templates" > "Output Module." Enable output audio via "Edit" > "Option" > "Turn On Output Audio." On Mac, pick hardware in "System Preferences" > "Sound icon" > "Audio Settings" > "Output."
  • Check After Effects Audio: Correct internal audio settings in After Effects Preferences ("After Effects" > "Preferences"). Align Left and Right settings in "Audio Output Mapping" and ensure the Device Class is MME in the "Audio Hardware" tab. Match Default Output with Hardware. Save changes.

Add Audio in After Effect

With a solid grasp of how to integrate audio into your After Effects projects, let's now focus on refining your audio experience even further. This involves not just adding audio but also adding fade-in and out effects, displaying audio waves, etc.

Let's delve into the finer details of managing audio within After Effects to create captivating multimedia presentations.

1. Add audio to videos📺

Step 1. Download and install the latest After Effects.

Step 2. Open Adobe After Effects and choose open an old project or create a new one.

 create a new project

Step 3. If you create a new project, then you can select the video and audio files and hit "Import" directly.

If not, click the "File" media panel and "Import" > "File…" or drag and drop the audio and video for file import.

file import

Step 4. Drag them to the timeline. Click the volume button of the video to mute it.

Click the volume button of the video to mute it

Step 5. Expand the "Preview" panel on the right and play it.

Step 6. Expand the audio and find "Waveform" to check the "Waveform." That's how you add audio waves.

make Waveform

After that, you can cut audio in After Effects to refine your audio-visual synchronization.

Feel free to spread the word and share the article with your friends!

 

2. Add audio fade in/out🔊

Step 1. Import the video and audio files and toggle them to the timeline.

Step 2. Click the little stopwatch icon under the audio to add a keyframe on audio levels.

 add a keyframe

Step 3. And go about 2 seconds on the timeline. Drag the keyframe and go back to the first frame. Change the audio levels to -50.

Drag the keyframe

Step 4. Preview the clip. Then, drag your cursor to the desired fade-out place. Click the button to add a keyframe.

Step 5. Go to 2 seconds forward and change the audio levels to -50.

change the audio levels

Step 6. Play and check the final result.

Removing audio from a video in After Effects is straightforward under this instruction.

You can check the YouTube video guide here📸

3. Add audio spectrum🎬

Step 1. In After Effects, create a composition and import the audio clip.

create a composition

Step 2. Drag the audio file onto the composition.

Step 3. Go up to "Layer" > "New" > "Solid…" to create a new solid layer.

 create a new solid layer

Step 4. Search "audio spectrum" under the "Effects & Presets" tab and drag it onto the solid layer.

audio spectrum

Step 5. In the "Effect Controls" panel, go to "Reset" > "Dark Grey" to choose and connect to your audio. Adjust other measurements like thickness, color, or frequency bands as needed.

connect to your audio

Step 6. Search solar coordinates from the "Effects & Presets" and drag it to the left panel. Increate the "Interpolation" to 100% and change the "Type of Conversion" to "Rect to Polar." And toggle the circle to change its size.

drag it to the left panel

See also:

Add, Edit, and Replace Audio from Video

Beyond merely adding audio to your videos, the ability to edit and replace audio seamlessly brings an added layer of sophistication to your projects.

EaseUS VideoKit offers a versatile toolkit for enhancing your video projects through its comprehensive features, including the seamless integration of audio elements. With this video editor, you can effortlessly add, edit, and replace audio within your videos, all within a user-friendly environment.

If you just need to separate music and vocals from songs, it is recommended to use the free online vocal remover without a usage limit.

You can separate vocals from background noise using AI in seconds and download music and accompaniment independently. Or disable background noise in the video in one click. The noise remover is also used as a video compressor, converter, and merger. Other features like audio-to-video conversion can also be enabled in this tool.

This tool features:

Customize audio in video with EaseUS VideoKit

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS VideoKit.

easeus videokit

Step 2. Go to "Video Editor" > "Add Files" and browse your videos.

add files

Step 3. Enter the editing interface, and in the "Audio" section, enable "Remove background noise".

enable remove background noise

Step 4. Click "Save" > "Export".

export

Wrapping up

In the realm of video creation, adding audio to Adobe After Effects projects enhances your storytelling by infusing emotion and depth. The steps covered earlier offer a clear path to achieving this integration seamlessly.

For those seeking an all-encompassing solution, consider EaseUS VideoKit. This robust toolkit not only facilitates audio addition but extends to advanced audio editing and replacement. With EaseUS VideoKit, you can amplify your videos' impact, creating a harmonious blend of visuals and audio that captivates your audience and elevates your content to new heights.

How to Put Audio in After Effects FAQs

1. How to add audio to video?

To add audio to a video, you'll typically need video editing software. The exact steps might vary depending on the software you're using, but here's a general guide on how to do it:

  • Choose video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, EaseUS VideoKit).
  • Select editing software. Import video and audio files.
  • Start a new project. Add video to the timeline.
  • Rag audio to a separate track.
  • Adjust audio-video timing. Fine-tune alignment.
  • Balance audio-video volume levels.
  • Preview for sync, then export. Save the project for edits.

2. How do I open an audio layer in After Effects?

To open an audio layer in Adobe After Effects, follow these steps:

  • Import audio via "File" > "Import" or drag it to the Project panel.
  • Create a composition in the Project panel, or use Ctrl+N/Command+N.
  • Adjust settings, such as duration, frame rate, and resolution, to match audio length.
  • Locate the audio layer in the Project panel, then drag and drop it onto the Timeline panel.
  • Zoom in Timeline to see the audio waveform.

3. How do I import audio into Adobe?

To import audio into Adobe After Effects, follow these steps:

  • Open Project: Launch Adobe After Effects and open the project you're working on or create a new project.
  • Import Audio: There are a couple of ways to import audio:
  • Method 1: Go to "File" > "Import" > "File..." Navigate to the location of your audio file, select it, and click "Open."
  • Method 2: Simply drag and drop the audio file from your computer's file explorer directly into the Project panel in After Effects.

EaseUS VideoKit

All-in-one Video and Auido Tool

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