How to make a lyric video
From song and lyrics to a finished MP4 in six steps — no download, no editing experience.
This is the complete workflow for making a lyric video in Motion Text. It takes about fifteen minutes the first time, most of which you will spend on the fun part: watching your words move.
Everything below is free. Pro only enters the picture if you want word-timed AI transcription, unwatermarked exports, or 4K server renders.
Open the editor and add your song
Open the Motion Text editor — no account needed — and click Add audio. Your track is analyzed locally into a waveform with beat markers, and one click matches the project length to the song.
Paste your lyrics
Open Auto-sync lyrics and paste the lyrics, one line per row. Set the start and end of the sung section, and Sync distributes every line across that range.
Fix the timing on the timeline
Play it back. Drag any line left or right, or trim its edges with 0.1-second snapping. The waveform and beat markers show where each phrase actually lands.
Choose the look
Apply a visual preset (Neon pulse suits most lyric videos), then set the text effect — karaoke highlights each word, typewriter reveals them, rise keeps it classic.
Add backgrounds
Import images as scenes, or generate atmospheric procedural artwork from a text prompt. Give each scene a slow Ken Burns move so the frame never sits still.
Export
Click Export MP4 for a browser render, or queue a 1080p/4K server render with Pro. One more click creates portrait and square variants for Shorts, Reels, and TikTok.
Questions
How long does a lyric video take to make?
About fifteen minutes for a first pass with auto-sync, plus however long you spend polishing timing — the part the timeline makes genuinely quick.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Editing and MP4 export happen in your browser; current Chrome or Edge gives the best export support.
Can I make word-level karaoke highlights?
Yes — import an LRC file with word timings for free, or let Pro transcription time every word automatically.