How to Add Music to Final Cut Pro (Fast and Easy)

Watching a video without music is like eating a sandwich that someone forgot to fill — something feels deeply wrong. Just so, you might be wondering how to add music to Final Cut Pro. Luckily, it isn’t complicated at all. This might come as a relief or perhaps mild disappointment if you were expecting a challenge. Either way, the following steps show several straightforward methods to get your music in place, leaving you more time to worry about more interesting things, like actually editing your videos.

Adding Music Using Drag-and-Drop

If you’re curious about how to add music to Final Cut Pro in the simplest way possible, look no further. This method needs zero complicated maneuvers or intimidating shortcuts.

First, locate your carefully chosen piece of audio in Finder, ideally something both pleasant and legal, because copyright disputes rarely make for good listening. Then, simply drag it onto your timeline. The clip obligingly jumps into place, making itself comfortable precisely where you’ve dropped it, with no drama or fuss whatsoever.

Bonus: The clip simultaneously appears in your Event Library.

How to Add Music to Final Cut Pro: Using the Import Command

If the drag-and-drop method felt suspiciously simple, using the Import command in Final Cut Pro may come across as suspiciously official. It does, however, get the job done as quickly. 

Simply tap Command + I on your keyboard, which will open up an Import window. Calmly go through your folders to find the audio file you want to include.

Select your chosen song, and click Import Selected. Same as before, your audio file will appear in your Event Library, ready for its big moment on your timeline.

One small, yet significant note here: make sure to uncheck the box labeled Create Proxy Media for audio. Proxy files might simplify life when you’re editing hefty 4K video files, but for audio, proxies can leave your perfect musical accompaniment sounding decidedly less pleasant. Nobody appreciates music that sounds as if it were played underwater.

Accessing Music Directly from Apple Music (or Whatever Apple Calls It Now)

Final Cut Pro will happily peek at the local contents of Apple’s Music app — the songs you’ve actually purchased or ripped and that now live on your drive or in your iCloud Music Library. What it can’t do is reach into the endless streaming vault of Apple Music and pull down any track you fancy.

1. Open the Photos, Videos, and Audio sidebar by pressing Shift + Command + 1 (or click the corresponding icon, if keyboard shortcuts aren’t your cup of tea).
2. Select Music from the sidebar menu. Your playlists should pop into view, ready to delight or embarrass you as necessary.
3. Look for whatever catches you eye, or use the search bar if you’re short on patience.
4. Select your ideal song, then drag it onto your timeline. 

Advanced Tip: Creating Your Own Custom Audio Folder in FCP

At some point, repeatedly importing your signature audio track into every new project feels like reinventing the wheel. How to keep frequently used audio permanently at your fingertips?

1. Go through Finder to this exact location: Library → Audio → Apple Loops → Apple → Final Cut Pro Sound Effects.
2. Within this folder, create a new folder, an easily memorable name is advised.
3. Drag your go-to audio files into your freshly minted folder.
4. Close and restart Final Cut Pro.

On reopening Final Cut Pro, your custom audio collection will appear in the audio sidebar. You’re welcome!

Troubleshooting Common Audio Import Issues

As delightfully straightforward as adding audio usually is, Final Cut Pro does occasionally enjoy throwing minor tantrums. Some of the most popular issues include:

• Protected Apple Music Files Missing:
  If your favorite song stubbornly refuses to appear in your browser, chances are it’s a protected Apple Music file. The only remedy here (besides shaking a fist at copyright law) is to use non-protected audio files, royalty-free music, or songs you genuinely own.
• Audio Files Missing in Action:
  When imported audio mysteriously vanishes, it usually hasn’t truly disappeared. It just wandered off to another part of your Event Library. Ensure you’re browsing your audio in List View, filtering by Audio Only. Also, double-check that you’ve placed it into the correct event.
• Audio Quality Issues (Accidental Proxy Problems):
  If your crisp audio suddenly sounds like it’s broadcasting from inside a tin can, double-check your import settings. Make sure “Create Proxy Media” is turned off for audio. Proxy media is fantastic for video, but when applied to audio, it tends to produce results that are… unsatisfactory.

By now, you should have a good handle on how to add music to Final Cut Pro and go through the entire audio import process without a hitch. Nothing stands between you and video editing excellence, or at least, videos that sound really good. It’s now time to get to editing the audio you’ve imported.