In this guide
Drag the fade handle at the end of an audio waveform inward to fade out; use the handle at the start to fade in. For a transition between two clips, a crossfade overlaps audio. Listen through the edit and verify the final export.
To fade audio out in Final Cut Pro for Mac, move the pointer over the audio waveform in the timeline and drag the fade handle at the end inward to the point where the fade should begin. Play through the end and adjust the handle until the volume falls as intended. Use the handle at the beginning for a fade-in. Apple's fade-audio guide documents these controls and the available fade shapes.
A fade changes the level over time; it does not isolate a voice or remove a background sound from underneath it. If the audio is attached to a video clip, make sure you are adjusting the intended audio waveform rather than applying only a visual fade.
Working in Adobe Premiere instead? Follow the Premiere audio fade guide for its timeline controls and crossfade options.
Fade out one audio clip
- Find the audio in the timeline. Play the end of the clip and decide where you want the decrease to begin. Keep enough room for a natural ending; a fade that starts too early can cut off the end of a word or musical phrase.
- Reveal the handle. Move the pointer over the audio waveform. Fade handles appear at its top-left and top-right corners.
- Drag the end handle. Move the right-hand handle inward to the desired starting point of the fade-out. Drag the beginning handle inward to create a fade-in.
- Listen and refine. Play from before the fade through the end. Check speech, reverb and music tails at a consistent playback level, then adjust the handle if the transition is abrupt or too long.
Apply or remove a default fade
For selected clips or audio components, Final Cut Pro also provides Modify → Adjust Audio Fades → Apply Fades. The default duration can be changed in the Editing settings. Apple's settings reference describes the Audio Fade duration.
To remove fades from selected clips, choose Modify → Adjust Audio Fades → Remove Fades. Apple notes that its Fade In and Fade Out menu commands toggle existing fades at the corresponding edge, so check the timeline after using them. Menu names and behavior may vary by version.
Fade out versus crossfade
| Goal | Use | Listen for |
|---|---|---|
| End one clip gradually | A fade-out at its ending. | Lost words, early music decay or a sudden stop. |
| Start one clip gradually | A fade-in at its beginning. | A softened consonant or musical attack. |
| Transition between two clips | A crossfade with overlapping audio. | Overlapping dialogue, phase changes and level buildup. |
For a manual crossfade, Apple describes expanding the audio of adjacent clips, overlapping their audio portions and adjusting each fade handle. See the Final Cut crossfade instructions for the full sequence. A visual transition can also create an audio crossfade when audio is attached; inspect the timeline rather than assuming every transition treats detached audio the same way.
Change the fade curve
Control-click a fade handle and choose an available shape such as Linear, S-curve, +3 dB or −3 dB. These curves change how quickly the level moves through the fade. Compare them in context: the best choice depends on the material and whether two clips overlap. Apple notes that fades made with handles can override crossfades made by a transition, so recheck the edit if you combine both methods.
Prepare a short audio file outside Final Cut
If you need an edge fade on a separate supported MP3 or WAV before importing it, the free audio fade tool prepares and previews a WAV or re-encoded MP3 locally. It handles mono or stereo files up to 50 MiB and five minutes. It changes the outer edges of the file; it cannot edit a Final Cut timeline or fix a click in the middle of a recording. For a click at a join, use the cut-click troubleshooting guide.
Check the finished export
Play the exported video through the fade, not only the timeline preview. Confirm the selected audio track was included, the fade ends where intended and any replacement audio stays synchronized. If you are returning processed audio to a video edit, the audio replacement guide explains how to align it and avoid doubled playback.