Audio editing · MYMU GUIDE
Shortening performance music: which parts should you keep?
Using a 90-second performance, learn how to choose intros, verses, and choruses and check transitions and endings.
MyMu music guide · Published October 23, 2026
Separate stage time from music time
Check whether a 90-second limit counts music alone or also entrance and exit. A 90-second file can still exceed the limit once starting positions and final poses are included. The rules determine your target music length.
If the entrance and final pose each take 5 seconds, only 80 of the 90 seconds remain for music. Clarifying rules and movement first avoids having to shorten everything again later.
Choose what the performance needs, not just your favorite parts
A short performance needs an opening, key movements, and an ending. Decide the essential chorus choreography and final pose first, then add the necessary opening, instead of retaining the song from the beginning in order.
Separate must-haves from optional parts: “Keep the first chorus, skip verse 2 if needed, and finish on the last strong beat” is clearer than “80 seconds, mostly chorus.” If you do not know the times, describe the lyrics or sounds.
Matching beats alone may still break lyrics or instruments
Matching downbeats is a starting point. Cutting a word, interrupting a drum fill, or clashing with the next chord can still make a transition jarring. Check lyrical phrases and instrumental movement together.
At 120 BPM in 4/4, a bar lasts about 2 seconds, so removing 8 bars removes about 16 seconds. Not every song has the same meter or constant tempo. Treat this as an estimate and check actual playback time at the end.
Longer crossfades are not always better
A crossfade fades out one section while overlapping the next. It helps sustained pads and reverb, but overlapping kicks or snares can sound doubled or muddy. Lyrics may overlap too.
Loop a few seconds around the transition, then listen to the entire song. Short loops reveal noise and doubled hits; full playback reveals whether the energy flows naturally.
Choose an ending for your scene
Dance or gymnastics with a clear final move often works best with a strong beat or the original final note. Background music may suit a gradual fade-out. What matters is that the sound and final scene end together.
Check the file on the actual playback device. Bluetooth can add delay and venue systems can emphasize bass. Include leading/trailing silence in the duration and check the last note's decay to avoid surprises.
Before you finish preparing
- Have you separated the total time limit from the target music length?
- Have you listed essential lyrics, choruses, movements, and parts to omit?
- Do lyrics or drums overlap at the transition?
- Does the music end with the final pose and play on the actual device?