How do I lower the volume on my music track when I want the video clip sound to be heard?

Hi Miriam,

If you want to adjust the volume of your music soundtrack at specific places in the timeline in iMovie, using keyframes may be the best way to do it. Take a look at the resource below. I've highlighted the key information here for you. Click on the article for complete details.

iMovie (2013): Adjust volume
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH14709?locale=en_US

Adjust audio over time with keyframes

You can use keyframes to adjust audio over time, which can be useful, for example, when you want to reduce the volume of just part of a clip. Keyframes are markers that you can add at specific points in a clip to change the volume at those points. The black horizontal line running through an audio waveform indicates the relative volume of the audio clip.

1. If waveforms don’t appear in the timeline, click the Thumbnail Appearance button in the upper-right corner of the timeline, and select the Show Waveforms checkbox.

2. In the timeline, select a clip containing audio you want to adjust over time.

3. In the waveform portion of the clip, move the pointer to the volume control (the horizontal line) at a point where you want to add a keyframe.

4. To add a keyframe, hold down the Option key and click the volume control.

   When you hold down the Option key and the pointer is near the volume control, the pointer changes to the Add Keyframe pointer. You can click to add as many keyframes as you want to the clip.

   Note: You must add at least two keyframes to your clip in order to adjust the audio over time, because any volume adjustments are made between two keyframes.

5. After you add at least two keyframes, do either or both of the following:

   • To set the volume of the clip at a keyframe: Drag the keyframe up or down.

   • To set the volume of the clip between two keyframes: Drag the volume control between the keyframes up or down.

Have a great day!

- Judy