Studio 21.1.1
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AUDIO & DIALOGUE

How to add background music to a video

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Music belongs on its own track so you can control its level, timing, and fades without disturbing dialogue. Use music you are licensed to include in the finished work.

Before you begin

Use headphones and a short section containing speech, silence, and any music.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Audio Mixer: track faders, meters, and output bus
Audio Mixer: track faders, meters, and output bus Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 1125. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Import the music file and preview it in the source viewer. Find a useful start and a musical ending before placing it.
  2. Drag the chosen range onto a stereo audio track below the dialogue and rename the track Music.
  3. Trim and move the music to support the scene. Lower its clip level or track fader until speech is easy to understand.
  4. Add fades at the opening and end, then listen on headphones and a small speaker. Check the bus meters for clipping.

Check your result

Music supports the edit and never obscures an important word or ends with an accidental abrupt cut.

If it doesn’t work as expected

A quiet waveform does not guarantee a quiet perceived mix. Listen at a consistent monitoring level and compare music against dialogue in context.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Fairlight: clear, intentional sound

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

Open module 11 →
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Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.