Instagram announced a new feature allowing users to add multiple audio tracks to their Reels, available globally starting Tuesday, July 16. This update enables creators to incorporate up to 20 different audio tracks in a single Reel.
To add a new track, users can tap the “Add to mix” option in the Reel editor and can trim each track to include specific segments of audio.
According to Instagram, this multitrack audio feature offers creators greater flexibility, allowing them to align audio with visual elements such as text, stickers, and clips, thereby to express creativity in a manner that suits them and their audience. The platform will attribute the combined track to the creator, encouraging fans to reuse the unique mix.
This update eliminates the need for creators to use external editors for mixing multiple tracks before applying them to their clips, streamlining the content creation process on Instagram.
Focusing on Short-Form Videos
Earlier this month, Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated that the platform would not focus on long-form videos but would instead prioritize users sharing short videos. Mosseri explained that long-form videos are less compatible with Instagram’s other functions. He pointed out that viewing a 10- or 20-minute video results in seeing less content from friends, reduced interactions with friends, and a lower likelihood of sharing that content with others.
Mosseri further elaborated, “We’re not going after that business [pursuing long-form video] because it’s part of our core identity to connect people with friends, and we don’t want to undermine that by going after long-form video. We understand short-form video doesn’t always do that, but it can.”
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