Clipchamp works with StoryBlocks to offer a library of thousands of stock music tracks and sound effects that you can add to your Create projects.
If you're on the free Basic Plan, you'll be able to add stock audio to your projects, but unless you choose files that are marked as free (click on the "free forever" collection in the library to see options), they will be watermarked with a voice saying "Clipchamp Create".
To remove watermarks, you can purchase stock assets individually at the time of exporting the project, or upgrade to a paid Create plan. Plans involve a monthly or yearly subscription fee.
NOTE: you can always add your own 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
1. Click the Stock Library button
Click the Stock Library button in the left hand menu of your project under Add Media, shown here:
2. Click on Audio
To look for stock audio, ensure AUDIO is selected in the left hand menu (If it's selected the search bar will say "Search audio...")
3. Type a keyword into the search bar OR browse the collection
Type the kind of audio or music you would like into the search bar at the top.
For example: "jazz music", "thunder sfx", "funky drum loop" (SFX = sound effects)
OR
Browse the collections we've put together. For example, click on Free Forever to see the collection of stock audio files that are available for free.
4. Listen to the results
You can hover your cursor over an audio result to hear the audio play.
5. Click on a file if you want more information
If you click on an audio file, you will be able to see more information about it and play it, as well as see and listen to similar audio clips in the bar below it:
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:
To add an asset from the information window, use the Add to library button:
Then close the window using the X in the top right to keep browsing.
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.
8. Close the stock library
Once you're done browsing the stock library, simply 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.
In the example below, we've added two stock videos (an animation of the sun rising over Planet Earth and a confetti background), two stock sound effects, and a title to create a short happy birthday greeting:
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 you purchase audio files individually or after you upgrade your account to a paid 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 a message like this:
If you click Browse all plans, you will be able to view all plans we have.
Now you can choose to:
- upgrade to a Creator subscription, which includes unlimited stock audio (or to one of the higher plans that include higher quality exports and stock video), OR
- make a one-off purchase of the stock audio in your current project by clicking the pay to export once button displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- export a draft watermarked video.
NOTE: Once you purchase a stock audio file you will be able to export it as many times as you like, as well as use it in other projects, without having to pay for it again.
Next you'll be taken to a payment screen.
If you've chosen to upgrade to a plan, be sure to select your desired billing frequency (either monthly or yearly) before making payment.
If you've chosen to make a one-off purchase, the payment screen will show the number of stock assets you're purchasing and their cost on the right hand side:
Click pay now to go ahead with payment and export your project.
If the export fails or is cancelled any one-off payments won't be charged.
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