This article explains how to make a YouTube video that shows a still image while an audio file is playing in the background, a perfect solution for podcasts and music videos.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use Windows Movie Maker
Step 1. Download Windows Movie Maker
This program is no longer supported by Microsoft as of January 10, 2017. You can no longer download it from the company's official website, but it is still available on third-party sites. One of the most reliable archives is Filehippo, which allows you to download the original Microsoft installer free of adware.
Visit the FileHippo download page and click the button Download latest version. After a short advertising video, you will download the Windows Essentials 2012 installation files.
Step 2. Install Windows Movie Maker
Once the download is complete, double-click the file to run it:
- Click Select the programs you want to install;
- Uncheck all boxes except Photo Gallery and Movie Maker;
- Click Install;
- Click Close at the end of the installation.
Step 3. Launch Windows Movie Maker
After the installation is complete, you will find the program in the section Recently added in the Start menu. You can also type "movie maker" in the Start menu to find it quickly.
Step 4. Click Add Videos and Photos
You will see this button in the section add on the Home tab.
Step 5. Browse the folders for the image you want to use
Find the photo on your computer that you want to use for the YouTube video. Select it and press You open.
Step 6. Click the Add Music button
Click the music note part of the button to open the selection window.
Step 7. Browse the folders for the audio file you want to use
Select it, then click You open.
Step 8. Click the Options tab
You will find it below Music instruments at the top of the window.
Step 9. Select the End Point and press Ctrl + C
This is the duration of the audio file in seconds. You will use this value to change the duration of the image file.
Step 10. Click the Edit tab
You will find it below Video tools at the top of the window.
Step 11. Click the Duration field and press Ctrl + V
This will paste the duration of the song you copied earlier into the Duration field. You will need to remove the "s" at the end of the time value.
Step 12. Click the Play button to preview the video
You should see the image you have selected, while the audio file you have inserted plays from start to finish in the background.
Step 13. Click the File tab
Step 14. Select Save Movie, then click YouTube
You will need to scroll down the list to find the entry you are looking for.
Step 15. Name the file and click Save
Step 16. Wait for Movie Maker to process the video
The program will create your movie, usually taking a few minutes.
Step 17. Upload the video to YouTube
Once the save is complete, you can log into your YouTube account and upload the video.
Method 2 of 4: Using iMovie
Step 1. Open iMovie
You can find this program in the Dock or in the Applications folder. If you haven't installed it yet, you can download it from the App Store.
Step 2. Click the Projects button
You will find it in the upper left corner of the iMovie window.
Step 3. Click the + button
Step 4. Click Movie
Step 5. Select No Theme and click Create
Step 6. Enter a name for the project
Click OK once entered.
Step 7. Click the Import Media button
Step 8. Add the image you want to use
Browse your computer folders for the photo you want to use and add it to your project.
Step 9. Add the audio file
Browse the folders on your computer for the audio file you want to use. You can also add music from your iTunes library.
Step 10. Double click on the audio file you added
This way you will select its entire duration.
Step 11. Drag the selected audio file to the bottom pane
This way you add it to your workspace.
Step 12. Drag the image file to the bottom pane
This will add the photo to the workspace along with the audio file.
Step 13. Click and drag the right side of the image
Changes the duration of the image to make it the same as that of the audio file.
Step 14. Drag the edge of the image to cover the entire duration of the audio
So you can be sure that the photo stays on the screen as long as the audio plays.
Step 15. Preview the video
Click the button Play to see a movie with the image and audio file you have selected. Make sure it plays entirely smoothly.
Step 16. Click the Share button
You will see it in the upper right corner.
Step 17. Click File
This will create a video file on your computer.
Step 18. Use the Compression and Quality menus to change the file size
Changing the quality of the final product allows you to reduce the file size, making it easier to upload. Since the video consists of only a still image, you can reduce the quality without worrying too much.
Step 19. Click Next and save the file
You will be asked to choose a location and name the file. Choose a path that you can easily find when you decide to upload the video.
Step 20. Wait for the video creation to finish
The duration of the operation varies according to the length of the audio file and the speed of your computer.
Step 21. Upload the video to YouTube
Once you've created your movie, you can upload it to YouTube.
Method 3 of 4: Using TunesToTube
Step 1. Visit the TunesToTube website
This site is able to create a video from an image and audio file provided by you, then upload it directly to your YouTube profile. Free accounts are limited to 50MB, so this is a better fit for small files.
TunesToTube does not have access to your YouTube credentials
Step 2. Click Sign in with Google
Step 3. Sign in with your Google account
Make sure it's the same profile you want to use to upload the video to YouTube.
Step 4. Click Authorize
If you've linked multiple channels to your Google account, you'll be asked to select which one you want to use.
Step 5. Click the Upload File button
Step 6. Browse your computer folders for the MP3 file you want to upload
The limit is 50 MB. This should be enough for most songs, but it may not be enough for longer broadcasts, such as podcasts.
If the file you want to use is too large, you can try compressing it if audio quality isn't a priority. If you'd rather not compress it, you can use one of the other methods in the article
Step 7. Click Upload File again
Step 8. Browse your computer folders for the image file you want to upload
You can choose from almost any existing image format.
Step 9. Enter the video information
You can write the title, a description and add tags. Thanks to a detailed description and tags, it will be easier for YouTube users to find your video.
Step 10. Select the video size and category
The smaller the size, the faster the upload will be; this is usually the best solution for a video consisting of a single still image and an audio file. Choose the right category for your movie, so it's easier for YouTube users to find it.
Step 11. Check the I'm not a robot box
Step 12. Click the Create video button
This button appears when the audio and image files have finished loading. Once the movie is created, it will be uploaded to your YouTube channel.
Method 4 of 4: Using VirtualDub (Windows)
Step 1. Visit the VirtualDub website
It is a free and open-source program that you can use to create videos using an image and an audio file. It is only available for Windows.
Step 2. Click the Downloads button
You will find it in the left menu.
Step 3. Click the VirtualDub at SourceForge button
Step 4. Click the Download V1.10.4 (x86 / 32-bit) button
This will start the download of the program.
Step 5. Double click on the ZIP file you downloaded
Step 6. Click the Extract button
You will see it at the top of the window once you open the ZIP file.
Step 7. Open the new folder that was created after extracting the files
You will find it in the same location as the downloaded file, usually in the Downloads folder.
Step 8. Run the Veedub32.exe file
This will start VirtualDub.
Step 9. Click the File menu
Step 10. Click Open video file
Step 11. Select the image you want to use and click Open
Step 12. Click the Audio menu
Step 13. Click Audio from other file
Step 14. Select the audio file you want to use and click Open
Step 15. Click the Video menu
Step 16. Click Frame Rate
Step 17. Click Change so video and audio durations match
This way the image will be shown for the entire playing time of the audio file.
Step 18. Click OK
Step 19. Click the File menu
Step 20. Click Save as AVI
Step 21. Select the path where you want to save the file and give it a name
Step 22. Click Save
It may take a few minutes to process the video.
Step 23. Watch the video
Double-click on the newly created file to try it out. If you can see the image and hear the audio without any problems, you can continue.
Step 24. Upload the video to YouTube
Once you've tried the video, you can open your YouTube channel and upload the video.
