How to Make a Lyric Video in Alight Motion (Step-by-Step Guide 2026)

Updated October 2026 · Tested on Android and iPhone by M Mohsin

Lyric videos are everywhere: on YouTube, in TikTok edits, and in Instagram Reels where the words pop up right on the beat. You don’t need a computer to make one. Alight Motion can do it on your phone, and once you learn a few basics it becomes one of the best lyric video makers available on mobile.

In this guide I’ll show you the exact workflow I use: setting up the project, syncing each line to the music, animating the text, and exporting for social media.

What You Need Before You Start

• The official Alight Motion app from the Google Play Store or the App Store
• The song or audio clip you want to use (make sure you have the right to use it)
• The lyrics typed out in a notes app, so you can copy line by line
• A background: a video clip, a photo, or a simple color

Tip: Keep lyric videos short when you’re starting. A 15–30 second chorus is much easier to sync than a full song.

Step 1: Create a New Project

1. Open Alight Motion and tap the + button.
2. Choose the aspect ratio. Use 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, or 16:9 for YouTube.
3. Set the frame rate to 30 fps. It’s smooth enough for text and easier on your phone.
4. Pick a background color and tap Create Project.

Step 2: Add Your Music

1. Tap + → Audio and select your song.
2. Trim the audio to the part you want by dragging the edges of the audio layer.
3. Play it through once and listen for where each line starts.

Many creators add a marker (or a tiny empty layer) at the start of every line. It makes syncing much faster in the next step.

Step 3: Add the Lyrics Line by Line

This is the most important step. Each lyric line should be its own text layer.

1. Tap + → Text and paste the first line.
2. Choose a clean, readable font. Bold sans-serif fonts work best on small screens.
3. Drag the start of the text layer to where the singer begins the line.
4. Drag the end of the layer to where the line finishes.
5. Repeat for every line.

Why one layer per line? You can move, time and animate each line separately, and fixing a mistake later takes seconds.

Step 4: Animate the Text

Static text looks flat. A little motion makes the lyrics feel alive. Here are three easy animations:

Fade and slide in

1. Select a text layer and move the playhead to its first frame.
2. Add a keyframe for Opacity at 0% and Position slightly below center.
3. Move forward about 8–10 frames and set Opacity to 100% and Position to center.
4. Open the keyframe easing and choose a smooth curve so the motion doesn’t look robotic.

Word pop on the beat

Scale the text from 80% to 105% and back to 100% over a few frames. Line it up with the drum hit for a punchy effect.

Typewriter style

Split a line into separate words (one layer each) and stagger their start times by a few frames, so the words appear one after another.

Once you like an animation, copy the keyframes and paste them onto the next layers. This saves a lot of time.

Step 5: Style the Video

• Contrast first: white text on dark backgrounds, or add a soft shadow or outline so lyrics stay readable.
• Highlight key words: change the color or size of the most important word in each line.
• Background motion: a slow zoom on the background photo adds energy without distracting.
• Effects: try a light glow or a subtle shake effect on the beat drops.
• Safe zones: keep text away from the very top and bottom, where TikTok and Reels place their buttons and captions.

Step 6: Export

1. Tap the share/export icon and choose Video.
2. Pick 1080p resolution and the same frame rate as your project.
3. Export and check the full video once before posting.

The free version of Alight Motion adds a watermark. To export without it, you need the official Alight Motion Pro membership, which also removes ads.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

• Lyrics out of sync: zoom into the timeline to adjust layer edges frame by frame.
• Text hard to read: increase font size, add a shadow, or darken the background.
• Too much animation: keep effects simple so the words stay the focus.
• App lagging: lower the preview quality in project settings while editing; it doesn’t affect the export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alight Motion good for lyric videos?

Yes. Because every line can be its own layer with keyframes, you get precise timing and smooth text animation, which simpler template apps can’t match.

Can I make lyric videos for free?

Yes. All the features in this guide work in the free version. The only difference is the watermark and ads, which are removed with Pro.

How long does it take to make a lyric video?

A 30-second chorus usually takes 20–40 minutes once you know the steps. Your first one will take longer, and that’s normal.

Can I use any song?

Be careful with copyrighted music. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have licensed music libraries, but YouTube may claim or mute videos that use songs without permission.

Final Thoughts

Making lyric videos in Alight Motion comes down to three things: one layer per line, clean timing, and simple animation. Start with a short chorus, reuse your keyframes, and you’ll be making smooth lyric edits in no time.

Want to go further? Learn how to manage many text layers in our layer control guide.