How to Fade Audio In and Out in Premiere Pro (Beginner Guide

Jul 11

Fading audio in and out is one of the most essential skills in editing. Whether you're working on a YouTube video, a podcast cut, or just layering music under visuals, you need smooth transitions to avoid abrupt starts and stops. In this guide, we’ll walk through two simple ways to fade audio inside Adobe Premiere Pro.

Option 1: Apply a Default Audio Transition (Fastest Method)

This is the quickest and easiest way to fade audio, perfect for beginners or rough edits.

Step-by-step:

Right-click on the start or end of your audio clip in the timeline
Select Apply Default Transition
Zoom in using the timeline bar to fine-tune the fade length
Drag the edges of the transition to lengthen or shorten the fade

This gives you a smooth fade-in or fade-out effect in seconds.

If your timeline isn’t visible, go to Window > Timeline and make sure your current sequence is selected.

Option 2: Manual Keyframe Fade (More Control)

For those who want a more customizable fade effect, use keyframes with bezier handles to shape your audio fade exactly the way you want it.

Here’s how:

Select your clip and go to Window > Effect Controls
Drop down the Volume section
Click the stopwatch next to Level to activate keyframes
Set your starting volume to 0 dB, then add another keyframe and lower it to -∞ dB for the fade-out
Right-click the keyframes and choose Ease In or Ease Out
Use the bezier handles to create a smooth curve, mimicking a natural swell or dip in volume

You can repeat the process at the start of the clip for a fade-in.

Why Use Both Methods?

Default transitions are great for speed and simplicity
Manual keyframes give you precise control over fade timing and dynamics, especially in music edits or sound design

Whether you're doing quick YouTube edits or finessing a soundbed for a film scene, both techniques have their place in your workflow.

Now you know how to fade audio in and out like a pro, even if you're just starting out in Premiere Pro.

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