The most powerful music videos, commercials, and social content all share one quality: the visuals and audio feel inseparable. Camera movements land on downbeats. Transitions snap to rhythmic accents. Scene changes breathe with the melody. This synchronization is what separates amateur content from professional production — and Seedance 2.0 makes it achievable without a video editor's timeline or hours of manual keyframing.

Seedance 2.0 is ByteDance's multimodal AI video model, and its ability to accept audio as an input — up to 3 MP3 files, 15 seconds total — means you can feed it a music track and have the generated video's visual rhythm lock to the audio's beat structure. This isn't a simple overlay where video plays alongside music. The model analyzes the audio's temporal structure — beats, accents, dynamic shifts, tempo changes — and choreographs the visual output to match. Camera movements accelerate on builds, transitions snap on beat drops, and visual energy mirrors the audio's intensity.

This capability is available inside Agent Opus, where you can combine audio files with images, reference videos, and text prompts to generate beat-synced video content.

How Audio-Visual Synchronization Works in Seedance 2.0

When you upload an MP3 file, Seedance 2.0 processes the audio track as a structural input, not just an accompaniment. The model identifies: beat positions (where the rhythmic pulse lands), dynamic contour (how the audio energy rises, falls, builds, and drops), timbral characteristics (the quality and texture of the sounds, which influence visual mood), and structural sections (verse, chorus, bridge, breakdown — each suggesting a different visual treatment).

The model then maps these audio features to visual decisions. A beat becomes a potential transition point. A dynamic build becomes accelerating camera movement. A sudden drop becomes a dramatic visual shift. A sustained melodic passage becomes smooth, flowing camera work. The result is video that feels like it was meticulously edited to the music, because the generative process itself was informed by the audio structure.

Seedance 2.0 also generates its own sound effects and music in the output. When you provide an audio reference, the generated video's built-in audio is influenced by that reference. The sound generation capability produces more accurate timbre and more authentic voice quality in version 2.0 compared to earlier iterations. This means even the ambient sound and effects in the output complement your audio input.

The @ Syntax for Audio References

Audio files are referenced in your prompt using the same @ syntax as images and videos. Upload an MP3 file and it becomes @Audio1 (or @Audio2, @Audio3 for additional tracks). In your prompt, you reference the audio and describe how it should influence the visual output:

"Use @Audio1 as the rhythmic foundation. Sync camera transitions to the beat positions. Visual energy should build with the audio crescendo and peak at the drop."

You can upload up to 3 audio files (combined 15 seconds maximum), and you can combine audio with up to 9 images and 3 videos — the total file limit is 12 assets per generation. This means you can simultaneously reference a beat track, subject images, and a camera style video, giving the model comprehensive creative direction.

Step-by-Step: Creating Beat-Synced Video Content

Step 1 — Analyze Your Audio Track

Before uploading, listen to your audio and identify its structural elements. Where are the beats? Where does the energy build? Where does it drop? Is there a clear rhythmic pulse or is it more ambient and atmospheric? Is there a specific moment — a drop, a vocal entry, a percussion hit — that should be the visual climax?

Understanding your audio's structure lets you write a prompt that guides the model toward the synchronization you want. Without this analysis, you're relying entirely on the model's interpretation. With it, you're co-directing the sync.

Step 2 — Select and Trim Your Audio

The maximum audio input is 15 seconds total across all uploaded tracks. Select the segment of your track that has the most interesting structural features — a build-to-drop, a verse-to-chorus transition, or a rhythmically complex section. These structures give the model the most opportunity to create visually dynamic synchronization.

If your ideal section is longer than 15 seconds, prioritize the portion with the most dramatic dynamic shift. A 10-second build leading to a 5-second drop is more visually interesting for sync purposes than 15 seconds of consistent energy.

Step 3 — Prepare Your Visual References

Upload images and/or reference videos that define the visual subject matter. The audio input defines the rhythm and pacing; the visual inputs define what the viewer sees. Combine both to create beat-synced content with specific visual subjects.

For example: subject images of products for a commercial, landscape photos for a travel video, fashion shots for a lookbook, or abstract textures for a purely visual music experience.

Step 4 — Write a Sync-Aware Prompt

Your prompt should describe both the visual content and how it relates to the audio. Be specific about what should happen at key audio moments.

Example — Product Commercial Synced to Music:

"@Image1 is a luxury sneaker. @Audio1 is the music track. Generate a 15-second beat-synced product video. For the first 4 seconds during the build-up, the camera slowly orbits the sneaker in low, moody lighting. On the first beat drop at approximately 5 seconds, snap to a dramatic low-angle close-up with flash lighting. Between 5-10 seconds, quick cuts synced to each beat — sole detail, mesh texture, logo close-up, heel tab. At 10 seconds when the beat mellows, pull back to a wide hero shot with the sneaker centered. Slow motion for the final 5 seconds."

Example — Travel Montage Synced to Music:

"@Image1 through @Image5 are travel photographs (beach sunset, mountain temple, street market, rice terraces, underwater reef). @Audio1 is an upbeat world music track. Generate a 15-second beat-synced travel montage. Each image transitions to the next on a beat. Use the camera techniques from these transitions: slow push-in on each scene during the beats, whip pan transition to the next scene on the off-beat. Energy builds with each scene — each new location has more camera movement and visual energy than the last. Colors intensify as the track builds."

Example — Abstract Visual Music Experience:

"@Audio1 is an electronic music track with a clear 4-beat rhythm and a dramatic drop at 7 seconds. Generate a 15-second abstract visual experience. Geometric shapes pulse and morph in sync with the beat — expanding on the downbeat, contracting on the off-beat. Colors shift with the harmonic content — warm tones during melodic passages, cool neon during rhythmic sections. At the drop, everything explodes outward in a burst of particles before reforming into a new pattern. Camera pushes forward through the geometry on every fourth beat."

Example — Fashion Brand Video:

"@Image1 through @Image3 are fashion product shots (dress, heels, clutch bag). @Video1 is a camera reference with quick-cut editorial energy. @Audio1 is a deep house track with a steady pulse. Generate a 15-second fashion video synced to the beat. Each product gets approximately 5 seconds. Camera movements are smooth between beats and snap to new angles on each beat. Lighting flashes on the accented beats. Mood is sleek, confident, editorial. The tempo of the visual cuts should match the tempo of @Audio1 exactly."

Step 5 — Set Duration to Match Audio

Match your generation duration to your audio clip's length. If your audio is 12 seconds, generate a 12-second video. Mismatched durations can result in the sync drifting — the model might compress or stretch visual events to fit a different timeline than the audio's natural rhythm.

Step 6 — Generate, Review Sync Quality, and Iterate

Review the output with particular attention to: whether visual transitions land on beats, whether camera movement energy matches audio energy, whether the overall pacing feels synchronized or asynchronous. If the sync is off, adjust your prompt to be more specific about timing: "The transition must occur at exactly the 4-second mark, aligned with the snare hit in @Audio1."

Real-World Applications for Beat-Synced Video

Music Video Production

For independent artists and small labels, beat-synced AI video generation is transformative. Upload the actual track (or a 15-second segment of it), provide visual references for the aesthetic you want, and generate music video segments that are genuinely synchronized to the music. Chain multiple generations together using video extension to build a full-length music video sequence by sequence, each one locked to its corresponding section of the track.

Social Media Advertising

Beat-synced content dramatically outperforms static or randomly timed content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The rhythmic visual pulse captures attention and creates a satisfying viewing experience that encourages replays. Generate 15-second product ads synced to trending audio clips for immediate platform relevance.

Brand Anthem Videos

Create brand videos where the visual energy, transitions, and reveals are choreographed to a soundtrack that embodies the brand's personality. A fitness brand synced to high-energy EDM. A luxury brand synced to ambient, atmospheric compositions. A food brand synced to warm, acoustic rhythms. The audio-visual synchronization creates an emotional connection that text and static images cannot match.

Event Promotional Content

Generate hype videos for concerts, festivals, product launches, and conferences. Upload the event's musical identity (theme song, DJ set clip, featured artist track), reference images from the venue or previous events, and generate beat-synced promotional content that communicates the event's energy before attendees even arrive.

Podcast and Content Promotion

Transform audio content into visual social media clips. Take a 15-second highlight from a podcast, interview, or speech, pair it with relevant visual references, and generate a video that visualizes the audio content with beat-synced camera movements and transitions. This turns audio-only content into shareable visual media.

Advanced Beat-Sync Techniques

Multi-Track Audio Layering: Upload separate audio files for different purposes. @Audio1 might be the rhythmic beat track that drives visual timing, while @Audio2 is an ambient soundscape that influences visual mood. In your prompt, specify: "Sync camera transitions and cuts to the beat positions in @Audio1. Use the atmospheric mood of @Audio2 to influence lighting tone and color palette." This dual-purpose approach gives you rhythmic precision and atmospheric control simultaneously.

Counter-Rhythm Visuals: Not everything needs to land on the beat. Some of the most sophisticated music video techniques use counter-rhythms — visual events that land between beats, creating tension and sophistication. Try: "Camera movements land on the off-beat of @Audio1, creating a syncopated visual rhythm. Transitions occur on the half-beat between the kick and snare." This technique creates a more complex, musically-informed visual experience.

Dynamic Range Matching: Match the visual dynamic range to the audio dynamic range. Quiet, sparse sections of the music should correspond to minimal, clean visuals with slow camera movement. Dense, loud sections should correspond to complex, energetic visuals with fast movement and many elements. Describe this relationship: "Visual complexity mirrors audio density — during the sparse verse, a single product in calm lighting. During the full chorus, multiple angles with dynamic lighting and faster cuts."

Tempo-Locked Camera Speed: Specify that the camera's movement speed should match the audio's BPM. "Camera orbital speed should match the 120 BPM tempo of @Audio1 — one complete revolution every two bars." This creates a mathematically precise relationship between visual and audio rhythm that the human eye perceives as perfectly choreographed.

Beat-Drop Reveal Timing: Structure your most important visual moment to coincide with the audio's climactic moment. "The product is obscured by shadows and negative space during the 8-second build. On the beat drop at 8 seconds, dramatic lighting floods the scene and the product is fully revealed in a snap zoom." This technique creates maximum visual impact by leveraging the emotional peak of the audio.

Pro Tips for Beat-Synced Video Generation

Audio-visual synchronization is the feature that turns AI-generated video from something you watch into something you feel. When visuals breathe with music, they create an emotional response that neither medium achieves alone. Seedance 2.0's ability to process audio as a structural input — not just background accompaniment — makes beat-synced content generation accessible to anyone with a music track and a creative concept.

Upload a track, describe your vision, and experience the result. Seedance 2.0 is available now inside Agent Opus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What audio formats does Seedance 2.0 accept, and how long can the audio clip be?

Seedance 2.0 accepts MP3 audio files. You can upload up to 3 audio files per generation, but the total combined duration across all audio inputs cannot exceed 15 seconds. This limit aligns with the maximum video generation duration of 15 seconds. If your track is longer, you will need to trim it to the most relevant 15-second segment before uploading. Choose the section with the most interesting rhythmic structure — a build leading to a drop, a transition between song sections, or a rhythmically complex passage — to give the model the most material for creating dynamic visual synchronization.

Does the generated video include the uploaded music, or do I need to add it in post-production?

Seedance 2.0 generates video with built-in audio output, including sound effects and music. When you upload a reference audio track, the model's generated audio is influenced by that reference, producing complementary sound. However, for precise music video or commercial production where you need the exact original track, you may want to mute the generated audio and overlay your original music file in post-production. This ensures the master audio quality is preserved while the visual synchronization — which was guided by your audio input during generation — remains intact. The visual sync is baked into the generation; it does not depend on the output audio.

Can I sync video transitions to specific moments in the audio, like a beat drop or vocal entry?

Yes, and being specific about these moments produces the best results. In your prompt, describe the synchronization points using approximate timestamps: "At the beat drop at approximately 6 seconds in @Audio1, snap the camera from a wide shot to an extreme close-up with flash lighting." The model interprets these temporal cues and choreographs the visual output to align with the specified audio moments. You can specify multiple sync points throughout the video. The more precise your timing descriptions, the tighter the synchronization. For critical sync moments, describe both what happens visually and when it should happen in the audio timeline.

Can I use beat-synced generation with video extension to create longer music videos?

Yes. This is the recommended workflow for longer music video production. Take your full track and divide it into 10-15 second sections. Generate the first section as a beat-synced video with the corresponding audio clip. Then use video extension to continue from that output, uploading the next section of audio as the reference for the extension. Each extension maintains visual continuity from the previous segment while syncing to its own audio section. By chaining these extensions, you can build a full-length music video that is beat-synced throughout its entire duration, with each section flowing seamlessly into the next. This approach works best when your visual prompt for each extension logically continues from where the previous section ended.