How to Add Voice in a Video using Movie Maker

(The above video shows the end product after completing the instructions). If you don't have an audio file already prepared for the video, then create one. You can use Windows' Sound Recorder Program that is already installed with the Windows Operating System. (To find it, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, and select Sound Recorder with the mouse).

(Optional) In this example, a free software called Audacity was used to record the audio. You can find it through any search engine or go to downloads.com and enter "audacity" in the search field.

Plan what sound you are going to record for the video. For this example, a script was used for the Lego character. It was reheased to determine if the dialogue was adequate to match the scene and the length of the clip.

Record your audio. In this example, the video is 34 seconds. Using the Sound Recorder or any sound capturing software like Audacity for the computer, record audio that matches the video. Make sure that the microphone is connected and record test sounds to check the audio level.

If you have a video file in your computer already, launch Windows Movie Maker. (Version 2.1 in Windows XP Professional SP2 was used in this example).

In Windows Movie Maker (WMM), import the video file in the program. (Go to File, in the WMM main menu and select "Import Into Collections".

WMM Video Selection And Drag

Select the video and drag it to the grey video editing track on the bottom of the WMM window.

Muting Old Audio

Highlight the audio track in the editing track and do a right click. You will see an option to mute. Select "Mute" to turn off the old sound.

(Optional: If you want to add or mix new audio with the old audio, don't mute the old audio track).

In WMM, import the audio file you've created for the video. Once you've completed this, select the audio object in the WMM workspace and drag it below the old audio track. (In other words, the audio object is dragged in the audio/music track of the grey editing track, at the bottom of WMM window).

Click on the play button in the editing track or on the controls on the right of the WMM workspace to see if the audio matches the video sequence. In this example, there is dialogue (a march cadence) when the Lego character walks but another set of dialogue (trash talking) occurs when the Lego character is standing.

If the audio doesn't sync with the video, use the editing features in WMM to stretch or shorten the audio. You can even cut out sound with the editor. In the worst case, just re-record your audio with corrections.

When you are satisfied with the sound over the video, go to "File" in the WMM menu, and select "Save Movie". Determine the location where you want to save the file in the computer and select the quality of the video.

Share your masterpiece with friends and family.