Looking for dramatic impact with audio on your next After Effects project? Fade sound in After Effects options stands out. They add more meaning to your audio. Rather than starting (or ending) at full volume, fades subtly adjust the audio levels.
Fade outs are also a perfect conclusion to an After Effects video project. As your screen fades to black, your audio can follow suit. It creates a dramatic effect that audiences will appreciate. Let's dive in and learn how to add fade in After Effects projects!
How to Add Fade Audio in After Effects
Knowing how to fade audio in After Effects elevates the quality of your productions in 2024 and beyond. The key idea here is really a cinematic audiovisual experience.
Let’s learn how to add fade in After Effects. We’ll fade audio in, and then fade it out. Keep in mind: you can apply either of these edits to any audio clip in After Effects. Or, you can apply both to the same clip! That’s often the best bet for seamless, consistent playback.
We’ll demonstrate with a music clip from Envato Elements. Want to follow along with our tutorial? Click here to download the music today.
1. Set Up Your Workspace
Let’s look at how to fade audio in After Effects. Begin by choosing an audio clip that you want to add a fade to. As you can see below, I’ve placed our sample audio in an After Effects composition. You’ll see it displayed, and you can also see the clip on the Timeline.
Spend a few moments setting up your workspace. On the Timeline, find the Audio dropdown on the left. Click on it. When you do, you’ll see a second dropdown. This is labeled Waveform. Click Waveform.
Clicking on Waveform gives you a handy visual preview of your audio in After Effects. Instead of the block bar for audio, you’ll see actual audio waveforms right on the Timeline! This is a key way to decide where you want to fade sound in After Effects.
2. Create a Keyframe for the Fade
Find the vertical blue line on the Timeline. This is called the Playhead. It controls the frame or point on a clip that you’re editing. Pull it all the way to the left. This places the Playhead at the beginning of your audio.
Here, we’ll add what’s called a keyframe. This tells After Effects where you want to add fade in After Effects. Find the Audio Levels label on the Timeline. Beside it, you’ll see a Stopwatch icon. Click on the Stopwatch. Then, ensure that the levels are set to 0.0 decibels.
3. Choose an Endpoint for the Fade
You’ve chosen where to add fade in After Effects. Now, it’s time to tell After Effects when to end the fade in. In other words, this is the point where your audio will reach full volume.
To choose an endpoint for your fade in, drag the Playhead to the desired location. I like to use one or two seconds as a “normal” fade interval. But the choice is yours. And it really depends on the specific audio that you’re using.
With the Playhead on the end point, keyboard in a maximum decibel level on the Audio Levels section of the Timeline. Hit Enter, and you’re done! You’ve just learned how to fade in audio in After Effects.
4. Optional: Fade Sound in After Effects Out at the End
It’s easy to build an After Effects fade out for audio as well! In essence, the process is the reverse of creating a fade in. To add After Effects fade out sounds, move the Playhead to where you want to begin fading the audio out.
On the Timeline, find the Diamond icon to the left of Audio Levels. Click it once. This adds a keyframe, telling After Effects where to begin the fade effect.
Finally, move the Playhead to where you want to conclude the fade. This may be the end of the track itself, or a different point. Adjust the Audio Levels to 0.0 decibels once again. Just like that, you’ve added an audio fade out in After Effects.
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You Just Learned After Effects Fade Out & Fade In Techniques
This tutorial showed you that audio is totally flexible in Adobe After Effects. You can use After Effects fade out techniques for smooth outros. Or, use fade in After Effects settings to build to impact.
Now, it's your turn to practice what you've learned. Add fade in After Effects audio tracks and test your results. You're sure to be wowed by the effects!
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