Adding music to a Reel doesn’t have to silence your voice, narration, or ambient sound. Instagram’s built-in tools let you layer original audio and music at the same time, and choosing the right workflow makes all the difference. This guide covers the Audio Mixer method, the correct recording order, and a voiceover fallback so your original audio survives every Reel you post.
How to Keep Original Audio on Reels With Music (Step-by-Step)
What “Keeping Original Audio” Means on Reels
Original audio is anything your phone’s microphone captured during recording: your voice, ambient sound, or on-location noise. Added music is a separate track you layer on top inside the editor. A common misconception is that adding music automatically replaces original audio. It doesn’t have to.
What “Keeping Original Audio” Means on Reels
The key distinction:
-
Original audio = recorded by your camera microphone during filming
-
Added music = a track selected from Instagram’s music library after filming
-
Audio Mixer = the Instagram tool that lets you control the volume of each track independently
Method 1 — Use Instagram’s Audio Mixer (The Primary Method)
The Audio Mixer is Instagram’s built-in solution for keeping both audio tracks active at the same time. Here’s how to use it from start to finish.
How to Access the Audio Mixer in Reels
-
Open Instagram and tap the + icon, then select Reel.
-
Record your clip or upload a video from your camera roll.
-
Once you’re in the editing screen, tap the Music icon (the musical note) at the top of the editor.
-
Search for and select a track from Instagram’s music library, then tap Done.
-
Tap the Controls (slider) icon in the top toolbar, then open the Audio section.
-
In the Audio section, you'll see separate controls for Camera Audio (Original Audio) and Music.
-
Drag the Camera Audio (Original Audio) and Music sliders to set the volume balance you want, then tap Done.
-
Tap Done, continue editing your Reel if needed, tap Next, then tap Share to publish it.
Note: The exact label and icon placement can vary slightly depending on your app version or device OS. If you don’t see the Audio Mixer icon, make sure Instagram is updated to the latest version before trying again.
Setting the Right Audio Balance
How you set the sliders depends on what your original audio contains:
|
Use Case |
Original Audio Level |
Music Level |
|---|---|---|
|
Talking-head / narration / tutorial |
70–80% |
20–30% |
|
Music-forward clip (little or no speaking) |
0–20% |
80–100% |
For most creators filming a coaching video, product walkthrough, or narrated tutorial, setting original audio to around 70–80% keeps your voice clear and present while the music provides background energy without competing. For clips where you don’t speak at all, push music higher and reduce original audio or mute it entirely.
Method 2 — Add Music After Recording (Workflow Order Matters)
One of the most common reasons original audio disappears is adding music at the wrong stage. If you select a song on the pre-record screen before you hit record, Instagram treats that music as the dominant track, which often overrides what your microphone captures. To prevent this, always add music after you finish recording.
-
Record your Reel clip without selecting any music beforehand.
-
Once recording is complete, tap Next to enter the editing screen.
-
In the editing screen, tap the Music icon to add your track.
-
Open the Audio Mixer (see Method 1 above) and set the volume balance between original audio and music.
-
Tap Done, finish any remaining edits, and post.
This sequence puts you in full control of both audio tracks from the start and eliminates the override problem entirely.
Method 3 — Use Voiceover to Layer Audio (Fallback Option)
If your original audio was already lost or overwritten, or if you want to narrate over a clip that already has music applied, the Voiceover feature is a practical fallback.
Voiceover records your voice directly over the finished clip and works independently of original audio. Instagram allows you to control voiceover volume separately, so it can coexist with a music track.
-
In the Reels editor, tap the three-dot menu or look for the Voiceover option in the editing toolbar (usually a microphone icon).
-
Press and hold the record button to narrate over the part of the clip you want to cover.
-
Release to stop, adjust the voiceover volume in the Audio panel if needed, then tap Save.
Voiceover works best when original audio is unusable or was never captured in the first place. It is not a replacement for the Audio Mixer workflow when original audio is still intact.
Make Your Original Audio Worth Keeping (Capture Tips)
Even with a perfectly tuned Audio Mixer, thin or noisy original audio will still sound weak in the final mix. Capturing clean audio at the source makes a much bigger difference than adjusting sliders after the fact.
Make Your Original Audio Worth Keeping (Capture Tips)
-
Record in a quiet space. Background noise from air conditioning, traffic, or crowds competes directly with your voice. A quieter environment gives your original audio a much stronger foundation before any music is added.
-
Speak close to your phone’s microphone. Most smartphones have microphones along the bottom edge. Holding your phone 12 to 18 inches from your face and speaking toward it reduces room echo and resonance noticeably.
-
Turn off any playing audio before you film. Music or TV noise in the background will bleed into your recording and muddy the final mix no matter how carefully you set the Audio Mixer sliders.
-
Use a clip-on wireless microphone. For Reels creators who film on the go, a compact wireless mic like the Hollyland LARK M2 (9g, button-sized, up to 40-hour battery) clips onto clothing and feeds clear audio directly to your phone, giving your original audio enough clarity and presence to hold its own against background music. Beginners can start with the Hollyland LARK A1, a plug-and-play option with a direct USB-C or Lightning receiver that requires no extra apps or setup.
FAQ
Why does my original audio disappear when I add music to Reels?
Adding music on the pre-record screen sets it as the dominant track, which can mute or override what your microphone captures. To fix this, add music only after recording is complete and use the Audio Mixer in the edit screen to layer both tracks at the volumes you want.
Can I mute the music and keep only the original audio on Reels?
Yes. Open the Audio Mixer and drag the music slider all the way to zero while leaving original audio at full. This removes the music from your posted Reel. Keep in mind that viewers will only hear the final published version, regardless of what sliders you adjusted during editing.
Does the Audio Mixer option show up for everyone?
The Audio Mixer is available in most current versions of the Instagram app. If you don’t see it, update Instagram to the latest version. Also check that you didn’t disable original audio before filming, since the mixer won’t display an original audio slider if no audio track was recorded.
Can I keep original audio on Reels shared from other accounts?
Only if the original creator left their original audio enabled before posting. If the source creator muted their audio, that track is permanently gone and cannot be recovered when you reshare or remix the clip.
Final Tip
The Audio Mixer is the go-to fix for balancing both tracks at once, and adding music after recording prevents the problem from happening in the first place. Test the Audio Mixer on your next Reel and adjust the balance until your voice feels clear and present over the music. A small change in workflow makes a noticeable difference every time.
