Bring your travel videos to life with music

Discover the best ways to add a soundtrack to your film in Premiere.

Published January 6, 2026

00:01

Introduction

So, we've built out our select sequences, we've started our draft, and now it's time to build the story.

00:05

Setting mood and selecting music for the edit

And the first question I ask myself with every film is, what is the overall mood?

And the best way to establish that mood is through music.

I've included a lot of different music tracks free to use in your travel videos.

But this is the option I will go with because I think the pacing and the mood really match the film and create that energy for a travel film that I'm going for.

You can also access more music inside of the Audio tab here in Premiere Pro, which is a great resource right at your fingertips.

If you want to choose one of these tracks, you would simply drag and drop the audio onto the Timeline or pull from the tracks that I've provided for you.

Now that my music is laid in, I start to think about what shots I want to start with.

Click Next to move on to begin this process.

Music really is one of the most important aspects of any film that I make.

00:45

Using markers to sync clips with music pacing

It creates a motion, pace, and here's where we have control as the editor to decide which clips will work in various points of the track.

Here I use the Marker tools to set points on the Waveform of the music track, where I want specific clips to go, or I want the mood to change.

In all of these clips, I'm bringing both the video and audio into my Timeline.

I like to keep the audio of the actual shots, as I think it adds another layer of life to the overall film.

Again, this part of the edit typically takes me the longest as I'm looking for the best pace, the flow, and just really the overall mood to fit the film.

If you feel ready to move on, click Next for a few quick shortcuts on audio and video editing.

Visually, I think it's always nice to go from a tight shot into a wide shot

01:30

Choosing shots and building visual flow

or a wide shot into a tight, as I think they cut together a little bit more seamlessly.

Another thing to keep in mind is try to find clips that feel similar to each other and have alike-action.

I believe that the more layers you add and the more ingredients you can add to your meal, so to speak, the stronger that your film and that final dish will become.

In the next chapter, we will continue to build out our sound design even more

01:53

Enhancing storytelling through layering and shot selection

to elevate our film.

Click Next to move on.

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What you'll learn

Add music to set the tone

Music adds emotion and energy to your film. Check the "03_Audio" bin for included tracks or explore more options in the Essential Sound panel by selecting the Music category and using filters. Drag your selected track into an audio track on the Timeline.

Trim clips to the beat

Scrub through your music’s waveform and add markers where the beat hits. Use those markers to trim your visuals to match the rhythm of the music. Adjust your edit until it flows well with the soundtrack.

Pro tips for editing

To make your edit feel more cinematic, mix wide and tight shots, pair clips with similar motion, and use J-cuts by extending the audio before the video. These techniques help your film feel more polished and natural.

Instruction by: James Bonanno

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