Musical.ly is a free app for iOS and Android that allows you to record videos on your smartphone and assign music to them to create music videos. The Android version of this app is very similar to its iOS version. You can select a song first, then record a video for the song, or record a video first and choose the perfect song to accompany the video. Learn how to use Musical.ly's settings buttons and features to start recording your own work and share it with friends or the Musical.ly community.
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Part 1 of 4: Choosing Music for Videos
Step 1. Find and open the Musical.ly app
First, download it for free and install the Musical.ly app on your iOS, Android, or Amazon device. After that, touch the app icon to open it. This app is marked by a red circle icon with a sound wave logo.
- If you're using an iOS device, Musical.ly requires the iOS operating system version 7.0 or later on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. You can download this application via iTunes.
- If you are using an Android device, Musical.ly requires the Android operating system version 4.1 or later on a phone or tablet that supports Google Play. For Amazon Fire phones or tablets, you can download the app from the Amazon Marketplace.
Step 2. Touch the yellow “+” button
After logging into your account, you will be taken to the main page of the application. Touch the yellow button at the bottom center of the screen to add music.
- Tap the “pick music” option in the lower left corner of the screen to select a song from the Musical.ly music library or the music collection on your device.
- Tap the “shoot first” or “from library” option at the bottom center or right side of the screen to take or add videos first, instead of selecting music.
Step 3. Select music from online library
Tap the “pick music” option. After that, the music library from will be displayed on the screen, including the categories you can browse. You can also search for specific music using the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Touch a category in the online library, such as “popular”, “lip-sync classic”, “rock”, “sound effects”, and others. Browse the song selections and tap the triangle icon on the photo album on the left side of the screen to listen to a snippet of the song.
- Use the search bar at the top of your online library to search for a specific song.
- Select the desired song. After that, you will be taken to the video capture window. Allow the app to access the device's camera and microphone if prompted.
Step 4. Choose a song from your own music collection
Tap the “pick music” option, then select the “my songs” tab in the upper right corner of the screen to access your own music collection, not Musical.ly's online library.
- Browse songs that are already stored on the device via the device's built-in music app. Tap the triangle icon above the photo album on the left to listen to the song in full.
- To search for a specific song that is already stored on your device, you can use the search bar displayed at the top of the screen.
- Keep in mind that only some music is licensed to be uploaded to Musical.ly. This means that not all of the music you have on your device can be used in the videos that will be uploaded to Musical.ly.
- Select the desired song and proceed to the video capture window. Allow the app to access the device's camera and microphone when prompted.
Step 5. Cut the song clip to play it from a certain point
In the video capture window, tap the scissor button, which is in the row of buttons on the right side of the screen (top button). This button can be used to adjust the starting point of the song for the recorded video.
- When you touch the scissor icon, the song clip will play and you will be asked to slide the music bar to cut it. Swipe the music bar at the bottom of the screen to the left to adjust the starting point of the music. Touch the yellow check button when you're done.
- Keep in mind that you can only record videos that are 15 seconds long so you can't insert and play the full music on the video.
- You cannot change the speed of the music. The speed control button shown at the bottom of the video capture window is used to adjust the video speed. When you're recording a video, the button will indeed speed up or slow down the music playing. However, in the final video, the music will still be played at normal speed.
Part 2 of 4: Recording Videos
Step 1. Adjust the video speed
Select a speed level in the horizontal bar above the record button in the video capture window. The “norm” option allows you to record video at normal/standard speed.
- The “slow” option will slow down the video, while the “epic” option makes the video play at a much slower speed. Keep in mind that if you specify a song in advance, it will play faster when you record a video. However, once the video is finished capturing, the song will resume playing at normal speed.
- The “fast” option will speed up the video, while the “epic” option makes the video play at a much faster speed. If you set a song in advance, it will play slower when you are recording a video. However, once the video is finished recording, the song will resume playing at normal speed.
Step 2. Record a video
To record a video, press and hold the red button with the video camera icon displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- Press and hold the video for as long as you want. You can pause the recording process by lifting your finger from the button, whenever you want. Continue the recording process by pressing and holding the button again. In the final video, the video segments you created from the break will be neatly combined.
- Record as many separate segments as you want in 15 seconds. You can view the recorded segments (including their duration) in the bar displayed at the top of the screen. The duration and segment information helps you figure out how much time you have left to resume recording. Touch the green check button in the upper right corner of the screen if you want to end the recording process before the 15 seconds run out.
- When recording a video segment, an “X” button to delete the video will be displayed. Touch the button to delete the last segment you recorded. After that, you will be asked to confirm your selection of segment deletion.
Step 3. Switch from the front camera to the rear camera (and vice versa)
Use the arrow keys that form a circle (to the right of the screen) to switch from the front camera to the rear camera (or vice versa) when you are recording a video.
- If you're recording using one camera and want to switch to another, lift your finger from the record button, touch the camera switch button, and record the next segment using the other camera. You can switch from one camera to another as often as you want.
- Keep in mind that the flash feature is not available for the front camera on most devices.
Step 4. Set the timer to record videos freely, without having to hold down the record button
Press the third button from the top (marked with a timer icon and the number five) on the row of buttons on the right side of the screen to activate the timer. After 5 seconds, you can record a video without having to press and hold the record button.
- When this feature is enabled, you can pause the segment recording process by touching the red button shown at the bottom of the screen.
- Use any recording control buttons, such as the camera switch or flash button, before setting the timer and recording video.
Step 5. Turn the flash on or off
Use the button with the lightning icon in the lower-right corner of the screen to activate the camera flash. Touch the button again to turn it off.
Keep in mind that usually on almost all devices, the flash feature can only be used for the rear camera
Step 6. Try the “shoot first” option
Record a live video before you select music by pressing the yellow “+” button on the main page of the app, then selecting “shoot first”.
- Try the “live moment” feature (marked with a special icon in the lower right corner of the video capture window) to take five photos in quick succession. The photos will then be played over and over again in a-g.webp" />
- Select music after you've finished recording the video by tapping the music icon in the upper-right corner of the editing window.
Step 7. Try selecting a pre-recorded video
If you don't want to record a video, try selecting a video already stored on your device by touching the yellow “+” button on the main page of the app, then selecting “from library”.
- You can import videos or multiple photos to display sequentially and repeatedly by selecting “video” or “photo slideshow”.
- Allow the app to access photos on the device when prompted.
- You can adjust the video by shortening the clip bar shown at the bottom of the screen, or rotating it by 90 degrees using the buttons on the right.
- Add music after you've selected a video by tapping the music enhancer icon in the upper-right corner of the editing window.
Part 3 of 4: Editing and Sharing Videos
Step 1. Watch the video first and decide if you need to edit it
After the maximum duration of video recording is up, you can watch the automatically recorded video from the editing window. After that, some editing features will be displayed and the recorded video will be played until it runs out repeatedly.
You can go back and re-record the video or delete a segment by touching the back arrow button shown in the upper left corner of the screen. Keep in mind that the completed video will be deleted when you return to the video capture window, unless you save it first
Step 2. Choose a different song to accompany your video
After selecting music and recording videos, tap the circle button which displays the album photo of the previously selected song in the top right corner of the screen if you want to select a different song.
- If you record a video first, in the editing window you can select music to replace the original sound recorded on the video.
- Select a song from the online library menu and the same music collection as the previously selected song. This new song will play with the video already in the editing window.
- Adjust or trim the song using the buttons with the scissors icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, below the song album photo. Slide the song clip back and forth to determine the starting point of the song.
Step 3. Adjust sound with audio settings
Tap the second button from the top in the row of buttons in the upper-right corner of the screen. This button has three slider icons that you can use to adjust the sound output of videos and songs.
- Slide the slider to the left (music symbol) to make the music sound more pronounced. Instead, move the slider to the right (microphone symbol) to make the sound of the recorded video sound more pronounced.
- Touch the yellow check mark when finished to return to the editing window.
Step 4. Choose a color filter to enrich the image
Touch the second button from the bottom (with the three colored circles icon) on the right side of the screen to access the color filters. You can choose a variety of color settings to apply to the video.
- Choose one of the 12 color filter options available. Once selected, the filter will be applied to the video playing as a preview. You can also select “none” to maintain the original appearance of the video.
- Keep in mind that one of the filters, “cello”, can only be accessed after you follow the Musical.ly Instagram account (or, at least, visit it only when prompted by the app).
- When you're done selecting filters, tap the yellow checkmark to apply the filter to the video and return to the editing window.
Step 5. Use the “time machine” feature to change the course of the video
Touch the bottom button (with a timer icon) in the row of buttons on the right of the screen to access the “time machine” menu. With this feature, you can edit the path and appearance of the video.
- Select the “reverse” mode to play the video from behind (in reverse). Use the “time trap” mode to play a certain segment of the video repeatedly quickly using the slider displayed at the top of the screen. Later, you can adjust the slider to specify the segment you want to repeat in the video. Also, use the “relativity” mode to change the video speed in certain parts. You can change the speed using the slider displayed at the top of the screen.
- Keep in mind that the “relativity” mode is only accessible if you have already shared a Musical.ly video to Instagram (or, at least, opened the dialog box that allows you to share the video).
Step 6. Add caption and share the video
Type whatever description you want into the field with the text “title with #tag @friend” at the bottom of the screen. After that, select “save private” to save the video to your phone, or “post” to share it on social media or the Musical.ly community.
- Use hashtags with the hashtag “#” before keywords so other users can find your video when they search with your hashtag. You can also tag friends on Musical.ly videos using the “@” symbol, followed by their username.
- Select “save private” so that the video can only be seen by yourself. Note that the video will be deleted if you delete the Musical.ly app, unless the video is already saved to the device (eg “Photos” or “Camera Roll” album). Select “post” to add the video to your profile and share it publicly with the Musical.ly community.
- After making the selection, a new page containing the command “share with friends” will be displayed. On that page, you can also see buttons for uploading videos to social media such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, Whatsapp, or Vine. Apart from that, you can also share videos via email, text messages, and more.
Part 4 of 4: Making Duet Videos
Step 1. Find the desired video
- Go to the profile of the friend you want to duet with, and select the video you want to make a duet video with.
- Tap the "…" button in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, make a duet.
Step 2. Record a duet video with your friends
You can record it just like when you shoot a regular video. After that, click the check mark in the upper right corner of the screen
Step 3. Share the created duet video
- When you view the final video, you can see the changes between your video and the video of a friend you're invited to a duet with.
- In the description column, there is the hashtag “#duet with @person”. After these hashtags and bookmarks, you can add any other hashtags you want.
- You can save the final video as a private video, or share it with the Musical.ly community.
- The button with the lightning icon serves to display all notifications, including notifications about users who follow your profile or like your videos.
- If there's a specific user you like, you can turn on notifications for that user's profile so the app will send a notification when that user uploads a post to Musical.ly.
Tips
- If you want to make a video, but don't have the right idea, hit the search bar and select “sound”. Type in the name of the song you want and look at sample videos made by other users for ideas.
- You can make duet videos and record them with other Musical.ly users even if they are in different places. Go to the profile of someone you follow (or your followers), tap the “…” icon, then select “start duet now!” to start recording a video segment with that user.
Warning
- Some Android tablets and phones are not fully supported by the latest version of Musical.ly. The developers of Musical.ly say they are working on making the app fully executable for all devices. In the meantime, you can report any issues by email to [email protected].
- Don't go back using the back arrow button shown in the top left corner of the screen or exit the app before you save the video. Otherwise, all recordings and adjustments made will be lost.
- Keep in mind that there are other people using the app. Therefore, make sure you upload good comments. Otherwise, other users can report you.
- Follow the instructions for using Musical.ly exactly. If you do not follow the instructions for use properly (eg under the age of 13), your account may be deleted by the developer.
