0) Quick Fact Sheet (3-second summary)
- Best for: YouTube/Shorts/Reels/Podcast creators who need safe background music fast
- Time: 10–20 minutes end-to-end
- Tools in this Route: Mubert (generate loopable BGM), Filmora (ducking + loudness + export), ChatGPT (clean music note for description)
- What you’ll end with: one publish-ready BGM track + correctly mixed version under voice + a reusable description template
1) What “safe BGM” actually means (so you don’t fool yourself)
“Safe” doesn’t mean “zero risk forever.” It means:
- you used a reputable provider with clear licensing terms,
- you keep proof/context (track name, provider, link if needed),
- you avoid obvious triggers (artist impersonation, copyrighted samples, weird re-uploads).
This Route focuses on reducing practical headaches:
- claims, takedowns, platform disputes, and “who owns this?” confusion.
You still should:
- keep the track details you used,
- avoid copying recognizable melodies,
- and don’t claim anything you can’t prove.
2) When to use this Route
Use this Route when:
- you need background music that supports voice (not a “song” people listen to)
- you publish frequently and can’t spend 2 hours per video finding music
- you want a consistent system that works across 15s / 30s / 60s / 120s content
Typical use cases:
- YouTube Shorts / Reels / TikTok (short loop)
- narration videos (faceless, explainer, doc style)
- podcast intros/outros
- product demos and tutorials
3) When NOT to use this Route (important)
Skip this if:
- you need a famous-sounding track “like Artist X” (don’t do imitation)
- you want a fully original soundtrack with custom arrangement (hire composer / advanced DAW work)
- your channel needs a consistent brand theme that never changes (you may want 3–5 signature tracks instead)
If you’re building a brand, you can still use this Route—just save winning briefs and reuse them.
4) The Brief Template (this is the whole game)
Most “bad BGM” happens because you generate vague music. Use a tight brief.
BGM Brief
- Use-case: (YouTube Shorts / Reels / Ads / Podcast)
- Length: (15s / 30s / 60s / 120s)
- Mood: (calm / upbeat / cinematic / corporate)
- Energy: (low / medium / high)
- Vocals: none
- Instruments to prefer: (piano / synth / guitar / lo-fi drums)
- Avoid: (heavy drums / aggressive sounds / “dramatic” if you want neutral)
- Keywords: 5 keywords
Rule: Pick ONE mood + ONE energy level. Hybrids usually sound messy.
5) Step-by-step workflow (repeatable, no overthinking)
Step 1 — Generate 3 safe options (same brief, different energy) in Mubert
Why this matters:
Generating 1 track encourages endless retries. A/B/C gives you selection fast.
Do this:
- Write the BGM Brief
- Generate 3 variants from the same brief:
- A) safe/minimal (background-only)
- B) balanced (slightly more movement)
- C) energetic (for hooks or montages)
Pick the winner with this fast rule:
- Version that does NOT fight the voice
- No distracting melody
- Works when looped
- Sounds “neutral enough” for repeat viewing
If none work: change only one variable (mood OR instruments) and regenerate A/B/C once.
Step 2 — Mix under voice properly (ducking + loudness) in Filmora
Why this matters:
Most “copyright-safe” tracks still get people complaints because the mix is bad:
- music too loud
- voice unclear
- inconsistent loudness between clips
Action checklist (simple, repeatable):
- Place BGM under voice
- Turn on ducking (if available) or manually lower music during speech
- Add fade in/out (short)
- Keep voice clearly louder than music
- Target consistent loudness if Filmora has it
Practical mixing targets (good enough):
- Voice should be clearly dominant
- BGM should feel like “air,” not the main event
- Keep peaks under clipping (avoid red meters)
Export hints:
- YouTube: AAC/MP3 is fine for most; keep a WAV archive if you reuse edits
- Shorts/Reels: keep it punchy, shorter intros
Step 3 — Write a clean “music note” for your description (ChatGPT)
Why this matters:
Disputes often happen because descriptions are vague or inconsistent.
A clean note reduces confusion and gives you a consistent paper trail.
Copyable prompt:
Write a short “music note” for my video description.
Context:
- Platform: [YouTube/TikTok/Instagram]
- Music source: Mubert
- Track name (if any): [name]
- Use: background-only, no vocals
Output:
- One-line music credit (if needed)
- One-line note that music is licensed/royalty-free from the provider
- A shorter alternative under 120 chars
Rules: neutral tone, no legal claims beyond “provided by / licensed via provider”.
Keep it boring. Boring is safe.
6) Pro Tips that prevent headaches
- Match track length to edit before exporting (looping problems cause awkward cuts)
- For background use: avoid strong melodies; choose texture/ambient/lo-fi styles
- Save “winning briefs” in a note. Your briefs become your music library
- If your channel gets flagged often, stick to 3–5 signature briefs and reuse
- Don’t rename the track file in a confusing way; keep provider + date
7) Common failure patterns (and fixes)
Problem: Music distracts from voice
Fix: reduce energy; remove drums; lower volume; use ducking.
Problem: Track sounds “random”
Fix: brief is too wide. Pick ONE mood and ONE instrument set.
Problem: You keep regenerating endlessly
Fix: A/B/C once. If none win, revise brief, repeat once.
Problem: Volume is inconsistent across clips
Fix: normalize/target loudness; don’t stack multiple BGMs.
8) What you get at the end (clear outcome)
By the end of this Route, you have:
- one publish-ready BGM track you can loop safely
- a mixed version under voice that sounds professional enough
- a reusable description template that reduces disputes
- a repeatable process you can run in under 20 minutes