Adjusting audio in Windows Movie Maker: frequently asked questions

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

Here are answers to some common questions about adjusting audio levels in Windows Movie Maker.

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How does audio appear in my project in Windows Movie Maker?

When you add a video clip to the storyboard/timeline, the audio that is associated with the video appears on the Audio track of the timeline. When you add narration or background music to your movie, this audio appears on the Audio/Music track, which is separate from the Audio track. You can play the audio on both tracks at the same time in your movie and adjust which track is louder, depending on the effect that you want for your movie. You can also fade audio in or out for individual clips and for the beginning and end of the movie, or you can completely mute audio on individual clips.

How can I adjust the audio levels of music and audio that are playing at the same time so that I can hear both?

The default audio setting in Windows Movie Maker is for the audio portion of imported video and any narration or music that you add to play at equal levels, but you can change that setting if it does not give you the balance that you want. To adjust the audio levels, do the following:

Click Tools, and then click Audio Levels.

Do one of the following:

•	To increase the level of audio on the Audio track that is part of a video clip, drag the slider toward Audio from video.
•	To increase the level of audio that is on the Audio/Music track, drag the slider toward Audio/Music.

Click Close.

How can I mute audio in a video?

To mute audio in a video clip, do the following:

1.	On the Audio or Audio/Music track of the timeline, click the audio clip that you want to mute. To select multiple clips, press and hold down the CTRL key as you click clips.
2.	Click Clip, point to Audio, and then click Mute.

How can I adjust the volume of audio in my movie?

Adjust the volume of each audio clip individually by doing the following:

On the Audio or Audio/Music track of the timeline, select the audio clip whose volume you want to adjust.

Click Clip, point to Audio, and then click Volume.

To adjust the volume, do one of the following:

•	To reduce the volume, slide the Audio volume level slider to the left.
•	To increase the volume, slide the Audio volume level slider to the right.
•	To mute the clip, select the Mute clip check box.
•	To reset the volume to the original volume, click Reset.

How can I fade audio in or out?

You can fade audio in or out by adding a Fade In or Fade Out audio effect. To fade audio in or out, do the following:

1.	On the Audio or Audio/Music track of the timeline, select the audio clip.
2.	click Clip, point to Audio, and then click Fade In or Fade Out.

What technology does Windows Movie Maker use to play audio files?

The technology that Windows Movie Maker uses to play a file depends on the technology that was used to record the original file. For example, if a file was creating using Windows Media Audio (WMA), then Windows Movie Maker uses WMA to play the files. If a file was created using Dolby Digital, Windows Movie Maker uses Dolby Digital to play the files. To learn more about the kinds of files that Windows Movie Maker can play, see Import video files, pictures, and audio into Windows Movie Maker.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 1992–1997 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.