Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Create a simple music video yourself
• Method 2 of 2: Create a slideshow via Youtube
• Tips
• Warnings

On YouTube you can find almost every music ever created - most of it uploaded by fans, with simple photos as the background. Assembling such a video or slideshow is easy and requires only a few photos, the music file and basic video editing software.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Create a simple music video yourself

1. Choose a song for which you want to make a video. You must have a copy of the song on your computer to make your video. If you don't have the music file, you can buy or download it online.
2. Decide what kind of photos you want to include. Visuals that are commonly used include album art, photos of the particular band making music, at a particular location and live performances, and photos related to what the lyrics are about at a particular point in time. You can even choose to display the lyrics of the song while it is being sung. Everything is possible, but you have to think about what the song conveys and how you want to reproduce it.
   • The most popular videos have photos that blend seamlessly with the music being played. Think in advance of a theme or story you want to tell.
   • You can use photos from your own life or photos found online. However, be aware that it is illegal to take advantage of someone else's work, so you cannot charge for the music video unless the photos and song are all homemade.
3. Download all photos in a special folder. Create a folder labeled "Music Video" on your desktop. Place all the photos you find in this folder. If everything is in the same place, it will be much easier to work with. Good places to find photos are:
   • Sites with stock photos.
   • Your own collections.
   • Online searches.
   • The musician's bio or photo page.
4. Open a video editing program and import your song. You can use almost any video editing software you want, from Windows MovieMaker and iMovie to Avid and Final Cut, because these videos are simple and can be processed by most software. You can even use the most recent version of PowerPoint or Open Office, which can save presentations as movies. Click and drag your song to the timeline to determine the length of your video.
5. Click and drag all your photos to the timeline next to the song. This process differs per program, but in the end you will have all the photos in a row on the timeline. The first shot should be aligned with the start of the song.
   • Usually you can drag and click the files directly from your folder to the editing program. If this doesn't work, try "File" → "Import" and find the photos. After importing, click and drag them into the video program.
6. Divide the number of seconds in the song by the number of photos you need to determine how long each shot should be. To find the number of seconds, multiply 60 by the number of minutes in the number and add the remaining seconds. So, a 2:40 minute song is 160 seconds long (60x2 = 120, + 40 = 160). Divide this number by the number of photos to find the total length of each shot. For example, if you had 80 photos for a 160 second song, then each photo should show for two seconds to fit the entire video.
   • If you want some photos to show longer than others, just use this as a guide. Start with the correct number of seconds per photo and adjust individual photos manually.
7. Select all your photos and set the length to match your video. Click on all pictures by dragging and highlighting or Shift + Click. Right-click on the photos and choose "Set length of clips". Choose the right amount of time for your video depending on what you tested before.
   • It may not be called "Set Clip Length", but it will be similar. Some other options are: "Duration", "Clip Length" or "Clip Timing".
   • With some programs, such as iMovie, you can change the default duration of all photos in "Preferences". Simply set "Duration of the photos" to the desired length.
8. Save your final video as MP4 or MOV file. Once you are done with your video, click "Save As" or "Export" and choose MP4 or MOV (Quicktime) as the file type. These are the easiest to post on YouTube, and they usually don't take up much space on your computer.
   • Export is the process of converting the video project into a full movie. If you don't get an option for MP4 under "Save As", then you probably need to export.
9. Upload the video to YouTube. You must create an account. From there, you can click "Upload" to upload your video to the Internet. Choose an appropriate thumbnail for the song or band so viewers can find you, and make sure the song and artist are mentioned in the title.
   • YouTube has strict copyright laws, and if you don't own a song, there is a chance that your video will be removed. However, you can make a few misses before your account gets blocked by YouTube.

Method 2 of 2: Create a slideshow via Youtube

1. Note that YouTube slideshows are for personal work, not fan videos. If you want to use YouTube's pre-made software, please be aware that it is illegal to post other people's content (such as their music or photos) for your own gain. However, making a family slideshow or a private music video is completely legal.
   • You cannot use your own song in making this video clip, you can only use the one from the YouTube library.
2. Click "Create Slideshow" below the YouTube upload page. Click "Upload" in the corner of the screen and select "Create" under Slideshow.
3. Drag photos from your computer to YouTube. You have a window where you can choose as many photos as you want. Add all your photos first, without worrying about the order.
   • You can also automatically load any Google+ albums you have created.
4. Rearrange and arrange the photos as desired. You can simply drag and drop them to put them in order.
5. Choose music. Under "Audio" you have to choose the song you want in the background. However, be aware that you can only use the music available to you in the YouTube library. You cannot upload your own songs.

Tips

• Find photos that appeal to you - what photos come to mind when listening to a song?

Warnings

• Do not use copyrighted music or your video will be taken from YouTube.