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Trend · AI audio for video

ElevenLabs Instant Soundtracks: music and sound effects for any video

Instant Soundtracks is an ElevenLabs feature, launched October 15, 2026, that scores any video you upload with original music, then watches the footage for moments that need a sound effect and places each one on the timeline. Effects sit on separate layers, so you can adjust, swap or remove them before you export.

Last checked · Announced · By Mishal Brands Editorial

Checked Nov 10, 2026. Everything below is what the company reports in its own announcement, linked at the bottom: ElevenLabs, “Introducing Instant Soundtracks” (Oct 15, 2026 (updated Oct 28, 2026)). We have not tested it ourselves, and figures are the company’s own unless we say otherwise.

What it does and why it matters

Most short videos go out with one stock track and no effects, because sound design takes time. Instant Soundtracks does that pass for you: upload a video, and the model writes an original score, analyzes the footage for sound-effect cues and generates effects aligned to those timestamps (ElevenLabs, Oct 15, 2026).

ElevenLabs’ example is a whoosh timed to the logo at the end of an ad. The update also brought tighter timing for short-form cuts and better mood changes across scenes, for example moving from an upbeat track to acoustic guitar for a slower moment.

Who it is for

  • Creators making Reels, Shorts and TikToks who want music and effects that hit the cuts.
  • Marketers producing product and ad videos at volume.
  • Developers adding soundtracks to video pipelines through the API.

Standout features

  • Timed sound effects. Effects are generated and placed automatically at the moments the model finds in the footage.
  • Separate layers. In the Music Video Editor, effects sit on their own layers, so you can move, add or delete them without regenerating the score.
  • Your audio as a reference. The model can analyze your video’s existing audio, its genre, crescendos, tempo or instruments, and shape the new score to match.
  • API controls. New parameters add_sfx, separate_tracks and use_audio_as_reference; with separate tracks on, the API returns music and effects as separate files in a ZIP.
  • Batch limits. Up to 10 videos per API request, combined up to 200 MB and 10 minutes of video.

How to start

  1. Open the music tab in ElevenCreative and choose the Music Video Editor.
  2. Upload a short finished cut, ideally one with clear actions and transitions.
  3. Generate the soundtrack with sound effects, then review each effect layer on the timeline.
  4. Turn on “use audio as reference” if you want the new score to keep the feel of your current track.
  5. Adjust timing, swap the music or add effects, then export from ElevenCreative.

Alternatives

  • CapCut and VEED for editing with built-in music libraries.
  • Descript for editing video by its transcript.
  • ElevenLabs SFX v3 if you only need sound effects from a text description.

Frequently asked questions

What does ElevenLabs Instant Soundtracks do?

You upload a video and it generates an original music score plus sound effects timed to moments in the footage, placed on the timeline as separate layers you can edit.

Can I keep the feel of my existing music?

Yes. ElevenLabs says the model can use your video’s existing audio as a reference for genre, tempo, crescendos and instrumentation when it writes the new score.

How much does Instant Soundtracks cost?

The announcement does not list a separate price. It runs in ElevenCreative, ElevenMusic and the API on your ElevenLabs plan; see the pricing section below for the plan facts we checked.

Pricing and free plan for ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs says Instant Soundtracks is available in ElevenCreative, the ElevenMusic platform and the Video to Music API. The announcement does not state a separate price.

Plan facts from our library, worded as each vendor reports them:

Related on Mishal Brands

Sources (checked Nov 10, 2026)

Browse by category: All 48 Video tools. Every tool page lists the vendor’s own price and the date we checked it.