Clipchamp works with high-quality stock media providers to offer thousands of stock videos, graphics, images, audio, and backgrounds.
This article will focus on stock audio and music.
If you're on the free Basic Plan, you'll be able to add stock audio to your projects, but unless you choose free files (click on the "free forever" collection in the library to see options), they will be watermarked with a voice saying "Clipchamp."
To remove watermarks, you can upgrade to a paid Creator plan. Plans involve a monthly or yearly subscription fee.
NOTE: you can always add your audio files to your project for free without any watermarking.
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How to add stock music or sound effects to your project
Step 1. Click the Music & SFX button
Click the Music & SFX button in the left-hand menu of your project under Add Media, shown here:
Step 2. Search Audio Library
You have two options to look for stock audio. The first is to type the keyword on the search bar or Search audio library.
For example: "jazz music", "thunder sfx", "funky drum loop" (SFX = sound effects)
Step 3. Browse the collections we've put together.
For example, scroll down, then select Free Forever library to see the collection of stock audio files that are available for free.
Step 4. Listen to the results
You can hover your cursor over an audio result to hear the audio play.
Step 5. Click on a file if you want more information
If you click on an audio file, you will be able to see more details about it and play it, as well as see and listen to similar audio clips in the bar below it:
Step 6. Add a file using the plus (+) symbol or the 'Add to library' button
When you find an audio asset you want to use, add it to your project's library. This will make it available for you to try in your project until you're ready to export.
To add audio directly from the search results page, click the plus (+) button that appears in the top left of the asset when you hover over it:
A tick will appear once the audio has been added to your library:
TIP: You can add several audio assets to your project's library while browsing, then return to your project to work with them once you're finished. You can also remove assets from your library later if you don't want them anymore.
Step 7. Close the stock library
Once you're done browsing the stock library, click the Close Library button in the top right or the Close button on the bottom left.
You will be returned to your project and can start working with the stock audio tracks you selected.
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Adding stock audio to the project timeline
The stock audio files you've added should now be visible in your project's media library in the top left. You can drag and drop them into your timeline at the bottom of the editor window to start working with them.
When the audio plays, you will still hear the watermark at this stage if you are on a Free Plan. The watermark will be removed after upgrading your account to a paid Creator plan that includes stock audio file usage.
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Exporting a project with stock audio
If you export a project that includes stock audio without upgrading to a paid plan, you will see diamond symbols next to the exporting options.
Now you can choose to:
upgrade to a Creator subscription, which includes unlimited stock audio (or to one of the higher plans that have higher quality exports and stock video), OR
export a draft watermarked video.
If you've chosen to upgrade to a plan, select your desired billing frequency (either monthly or yearly) before making a payment.
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Try it out
Ready to get started? Head straight to Clipchamp to try it out for yourself.
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