Add background music or audio

I have a 4‑minute lesson video for my channel due to publish Tuesday. Add a soft instrumental bed under the whole clip so dialogue stays clear, duck the music during speech, keep the intro sting louder, and export a new upload file for Tuesday by noon — check levels on my headphones first.

Before I add background music to the lesson, make approval easy for the reviewer who hates loud mixes: put a one‑line summary at the top stating net loudness and peak level, attach a 30‑second clip of the intro with the sting, and list any sections where music might clash with key words or student prompts.

I just finished adding a track and the producer in class says the voice is muffled. The video is 4 minutes, the instructor speaks most of it, and I reduced the music but it still feels crowded. I don’t know whether to change the track, lower the music further, or re-record lines. What is the likely cause and the fastest fix that keeps the publish date?

Over several uploads I waste time redoing mixes because reviewers keep asking for clearer voice. I typically pick music first, then fit the voice into it, and approvals drag for two days. Which habit should I change so mixes land correctly the first time, and what practical rule will prevent rework?