> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.memorystring.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.memorystring.app/build-your-movie/music.md).

# Music

Add music to a MemoryString slideshow: your own tracks or the royalty-free library, Music Follows Show, Fit Show to Music, and trimming on the Audioline.

Soundtrack lives in Inspector → **Audio** and on the **Audioline** under the **Timeline**. It is not in the **Library**.

![Audio tab: Music Follows Show, playlist, Fit Show to Music, Extend to Fill](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2c4da3925e14a6ebd4785ad34673f6f1f86a5079%2Finspector-audio-music.png?alt=media)

## Import your own

* Toolbar **+** → **Music…**, or **File → Add Music → Import Music…**
* Drop audio on the window
* **⌘V** with audio on the clipboard
* **Audio** tab → **Add Music…**

**Formats:** `.mp3`, `.m4a`, `.aac`, `.wav`, `.aiff` / `.aif`, `.flac`, `.caf`, `.ogg` / `.oga`, `.wma`, `.opus`

Only import tracks you have rights to use.

## Royalty-free library

Toolbar **+**, **File → Add Music → Royalty-Free Library…**, or **Audio** → **Royalty-Free Library…**.

![Toolbar + includes Royalty-Free Library…](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5553f2ce087b694f7be2681b7194967c02e81a29%2Ftoolbar-plus-menu.png?alt=media)

![Royalty Free - No Attribution Required sheet](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-dba3c14df5e68017fbeac0a96bda26e2649d89a6%2Froyalty-free-library.png?alt=media)

Sheet title: **Royalty Free - No Attribution Required**. Subtitle: **CC0 / public domain, free to use, no credit needed**.

Built-in tracks are CC0 / public domain from the sources listed in the app. Free to use, no credit needed. If a track looks misattributed, **Help → Send Feedback…** and we will pull it quickly.

**Sort:** Catalog · Title (A–Z) · Genre (A–Z) · Duration (shortest / longest first).

Each row: checkbox, title / artist, style or **In project**, duration, play button to audition (does not move the show playhead). Check tracks, then **Add**. **Cancel** closes. **Add** needs at least one new track selected.

## Music Follows Show

**Music Follows Show** is on by default. Empty projects start quiet. After the first photos or videos land, MemoryString adds bundled track(s) from the current **Look** mood pool, or **Quiet Village 1** when no Look is selected. You can mute or remove anytime.

Each **Look** has a mood pool. **Energy** can lean calmer or brighter within that pool. The royalty-free sheet lists the **full catalog**, not only Look pools.

**While the playlist is still the auto bed** (empty, or only auto-seeded tracks):

* Clicking a **Look** chip picks a fitting track from that Look’s pool
* Longer shows may stitch more tracks before repeat
* Your own imported audio **replaces** the auto bed

**After you change the playlist by hand** (pick, reorder, trim, remove, or import), Look clicks do **not** swap the bed. New imports **append**.

Turn **Music Follows Show** off to keep the playlist when changing Looks. Turn it back on to refill a short auto bed so the song covers the show again. **Fit Show to Music** turns it off after a successful fit, so adding photos later does not add more songs.

Audio files are never imported as photos.

## Length

Under **Tracks**, Inspector → **Audio** has a **Length** section: show clock vs song clock, then **Fit Show to Music** and **Extend to Fill**.

**Fit Show to Music** moves **Energy** (Calm through Intense) so the song covers the whole film, including the end card, and fades across the credit. Videos keep their length. Groups keep enough time when the show stretches to a longer song. The opening card follows the new **Energy** (about 7s, 6s, or 4s), unless you set its length by hand. A successful fit turns **Music Follows Show** off. If even Calm is too short or Intense is too long, Fit does nothing and the Audio tab says why. Also on **Library** Show menu → **Audio**, and **Edit → Timing**.

**Extend to Fill** keeps your tracks and adds music after them to cover the show.

## Audio tab bed actions

Under the playlist:

* **Pick New Music**: new Music Follows Show bed for this Look. Asks before replacing music you added.
* **Surprise me**: random track from the **full** catalog. Look clicks do not overwrite after Surprise.

## Audition the Audioline

Use the **Audioline** to hear a song at the playhead so you can set **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here**.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

## Select the track

Click a soundtrack clip on the **Audioline**. It highlights. Scrub is silent until a clip is selected.

When the playhead crosses to another song, highlight and sound follow the clip under the needle.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Scrub until you hear the moment

Drag the playhead or use **←** / **→**. You hear the selected song at the needle. Pictures stay paused. Video sound stays quiet while you scrub.

Hovering along the **Audioline** after selection auditions under the pointer.

Dragging a clip’s **edge grip** plays that point in the source while you trim.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Mark start or end

When the playhead is on the bar or lyric you want:

![Audioline clip menu: Set Start Here, Set End Here, Reset Length](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-36428d735f58f9a2e5cafcccbf08515c0c95457d%2Faudioline-set-start-end-menu.png?alt=media)

* Right-click the clip → **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here**
* Inspector clip footer → **Set Start** / **Set End**
* **⌘1** / **⌘2**

**Reset Length** restores auto-skipped quiet edges or the full file. Undo **⌘Z**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Royalty-free sheet play and **Audio** tab row play preview the file without moving the show playhead. Use those to pick a track. Use **Audioline** scrub to pick trim points.
{% endhint %}

## Arrange on the Timeline

Drag clips on the **Audioline**. The **Audio** tab has up / down arrows per row.

On import, MemoryString **auto-skips silent lead-in and run-out** on tracks. Trim by ear with **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here** or edge grips. **Reset Length** restores the auto window or full file.

**Mute Track** / **Unmute Track**: **Audioline** menu, **Audio** tab (click time readout), or Inspector when a soundtrack is selected.

**Remove from Project**: royalty-free tracks remove immediately. Your imports ask first. **⌘Z** either way.

**Reset Audio Settings** on the tab restores volume, mute, and Music Follows Show. Tracks and trims stay.

## Mix

Tracks crossfade with short tapers. Music **ducks** under video sound. Per-track volume and mute apply in preview and export.

Soundtrack tracks are **auto-leveled** in the show so quieter and louder songs sit near the same loudness in preview and export. The royalty-free sheet and **Audio** tab row play still preview each file as it is, so a pick can sound uneven before you add it.

The transport **speaker** (right of **Play/Pause**) mutes **all preview audio** without changing export or per-clip mute. See [Preview](/build-your-movie/preview.md#playback).

While a soundtrack decodes, the stage may show **Loading music…**. Photos stay editable. Export waits.

Only import tracks you have rights to use.

## Video sound (not the Audioline)

Clip audio is separate from the soundtrack. On import, **speech stays**; **silence, wind, hiss, or quiet room noise may mute**. Talking, music, and sharp hits stay. Same in **Essential** and **Studio**. Opening a show re-checks. Details: [Auto detection](/build-your-movie/auto-detection.md#video-sound-auto-mute).

Unmute or mute anytime: right-click **Mute Video Sound** / **Unmute Video Sound**, speaker badge, or Inspector footer. The **Library** Show menu can **Mute Noisy Videos**, **Mute All Videos**, or **Unmute All Videos**. See [Library](/build-your-movie/library.md#videos).


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