How to Put Music on iMovie from YouTube on Mac and iPhone

Part 1. Can You Add Music from YouTube to iMovie?

iMovie, a versatile video editing software developed by Apple, empowers users to become filmmakers by offering an array of creative tools for video production. However, iMovie operates within specific boundaries when it comes to the types of media it supports. The audio and video formats supported by iMovie include MP3, WAV, M4A, AIFF, ACC for audio, and MP3, MOV, MPEG-2, AVCHD, DV, HDV, MPEG-4, H.264 for video.

This means that not all media sources can be seamlessly integrated into iMovie projects. YouTube music tracks, in particular, present a challenge due to both the format restrictions and DRM that YouTube employs to safeguard content. Even if you've successfully downloaded YouTube music to your device, you'll find that these tracks can only be played within the music player and cannot be directly utilized in third-party applications like iMovie.

Tool Required: ViWizard YouTube Music Converter

To bridge this gap and enable the use of YouTube music in your iMovie projects, a workaround is essential. This is where third-party tools like ViWizard YouTube Music Converter come into play.

ViWizard YouTube Music Converter allows you to download and convert tracks from YouTube Music into MP3, WAV, AIFF, and M4A formats, all compatible with iMovie. You can easily download songs, soundtracks, royalty-free tracks, albums, and playlists in bulk. Plus, you have the option to customize audio quality settings such as sample rate, bit rate, and audio channel before downloading. This makes it a robust tool for converting YouTube Music for iMovie.

ViWizard YouTube Music Converter

Download music from 10 top streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, in formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B while preserving original sound quality. Get your tracks ready for your iMovie projects!

Available on:

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Part 2. How to Download Music for iMovie from YouTube

ViWizard YouTube Music Converter is designed to work seamlessly with macOS devices. Whether you're using iMovie on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can transfer the converted YouTube Music to your device easily for your iMovie projects.

How to Convert YouTube Music to iMovie with ViWizard

Step 1 Set iMovie-Compatible Audio Formats

Launch ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. Click the Menu icon and select Preferences, then switch to the Conversion tab. Since iMovie performs best with standard Apple-friendly formats, select M4A (AAC) or MP3. To ensure your video has professional sound quality, set the Bit Rate to 320kbps. Click OK to apply.

Step 2 Open YouTube Music in ViWizard

Click the YouTube Music icon in the main interface to open the built-in web player. You can sign in to your YouTube Music account to access your liked songs or saved tracks.

Step 3 Select Music for Your iMovie Project

Browse your library for the music you want to use in your iMovie project. Open the specific track, album, or playlist and click the Add (+) button. You can batch-select multiple songs if you are creating a long-form video or need various background scores. Click Add to List to confirm.

Step 4 Convert YouTube Music for iMovie

Click Convert to begin the extraction. ViWizard will transform the YouTube streams into unencrypted, DRM-free audio files. Once finished, these files are ready to be imported directly into the iMovie Media library on Mac or moved to the Files App for editing on your iPhone or iPad.

Part 3. How to Put Music on iMovie from YouTube on Mac

Once you have converted your YouTube music into a compatible file (like MP3 or M4A), follow these steps to integrate it into your project.

Step 1Import Music to the Music App

1. Launch the Music app (formerly iTunes) on your Mac.
2. Go to File > Import from the top menu bar, or simply drag and drop your downloaded YouTube files into the Music app window.
3. Ensure the songs play correctly in the Music app to verify the file is not corrupted

Read More :  How to Convert YouTube Music to Apple Music

Step 2Add YouTube Music to iMovie Projects

1. Launch the iMovie app on your Mac. Open an existing project or create a new one.
2. Place the timeline indicator where you want the YouTube Music track to begin. Click the Audio tab at the top of the browser window
3. In the sidebar on the left, select Music. Your synced YouTube tracks will appear in the list.



4. Browse the list and locate the desired YouTube Music track as background music clip.
5. Once found, drag the selected clip to the background music area located below the timeline.

Step 3 Edit the Audio

1. Trimming: Hover your mouse over the edge of the green audio bar until it becomes a resize tool, then drag to shorten the clip.
2. Fading: Use the small circular handles at the start and end of the audio track to create professional fade-ins and fade-outs.
3. Audio Ducking: If you have voiceover and background music, select the music track, click the Volume icon above the viewer, and check Lower volume of other clips to ensure the music doesn't drown out the speech.

Step 4Export iMovie Projects with YouTube Music

1. Click the Share button (box with an upward arrow) in the top-right corner.



2. Select File for the highest quality.
3. Choose your resolution (e.g., 1080p or 4K) and click Next to save the file to your Mac.

Part 4. How to Put Music on iMovie from YouTube on iPhone/iPad

If you want to use the converted YouTube audio files in the iMovie for iOS app, you'll need to sync them to your iPhone or iPad.

Step 1Sync Music Library to iPhone/iPad

1. Launch the iTunes or Music app on your Mac. From the Apple menu, select File > Import. Choose the YouTube music files.
2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable.
3. Select your device in the sidebar of the Finder.
4. Go to the Music tab.
5. Select Sync Music, and choose the music selections.
6. Click the Apply or Sync button.
7. Give it a few minutes, and once it's done, your YouTube music files will show up in your Apple Music library.

Step 2Add YouTube Music to iMovie Projects

1. Open an existing iMovie project or create a new one.
2. When within an iMovie project, tap the Add Media button.
3. Choose Audio and then My Music.



4. Browse your music library for the desired background music clip to add. You can preview the music clip by tapping on it.
5. To add it directly to the video, tap the Add button.
6. The selected music clip will appear in the timeline as a waveform.



7. Tap on the music clip to access settings. You can adjust the volume, add sound effects like fade-in and fade-out, and modify the length of the background music clip.

Step 3Export iMovie Projects on iPhone/iPad

1. From the Projects browser, choose the movie you want to share or save. Tap on the Share button.
2. You can choose to share the project through Messages, Mail, YouTube, Facebook, and more.

Part 5. Pro Tips for Using YouTube Music in iMovie

If you want your video to sound like it was made by a pro, check out these tips that everyone in the creator community is sharing!

Tip 1. The 10-Second Rule for Copyrighted Tracks

If you're using a copyrighted track, keep it under 10 seconds or play it softly in the background to avoid automatic blocking. But honestly, your best bet is to stick with "Creative Commons" or "No Copyright" music.

Tip 2. Master the Fade for Smooth Transitions

• On Mac: Look for those tiny grey dots at the beginning and end of your green audio bar. Drag them toward the center to give your music a smooth "fade in" and "fade out."
• On iPhone: Tap your audio clip, hit the Volume icon, and tap Fade. Use the yellow handles to make the transition buttery smooth.

Tip 3. The Screen Record Hack (iPhone/iPad)

Don't feel like using a converter on your computer? Record the audio directly from YouTube! Just open the song, hit Screen Record for the part you want, and in iMovie, tap the + button, find your recording, and select "Audio Only."

Tip 4. Line Up the Beat Perfectly

Trying to match a drum beat to a cool transition? Sometimes iMovie's "snap-to-grid" makes it hard to be precise.

On Mac, you can hold down the Command (⌘) key while you drag the audio clip. This lets you slide the music freely so you can line up that beat exactly where the scene changes.

Part 6. YouTube Music to iMovie FAQs

Conclusion

You've nailed it! Now you know how to import music from YouTube to iMovie projects. Don't forget, the right tunes can elevate your videos and connect with your audience.

So, jump in and put those skills to work! Explore YouTube music, grab it with tools like ViWizard YouTube Music Converter, and blend it into your iMovie projects on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Your videos are ready to impress!