How to Make an "Out Now" Video for Your Music (in Under 2 Minutes)
An "Out Now" video is the single most effective post you can make on release day: a short vertical clip with your cover art, your track playing and a clear "Out Now" call to action. It tells your audience the song is live, shows them where to stream it and gives social platforms the video content they reward.
You don't need Premiere, After Effects or a designer. With visuale you can turn a cover and an audio file into a finished, animated Out Now video in under two minutes, straight from your browser. This guide walks through every step, plus what to put on screen and when to post it.
Out Now video at a glance
- Format
- Vertical 9:16
- Resolution
- 1080 × 1920 px
- Length
- 15 seconds
- Frame rate
- 30 fps
- Best for
- Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Stories
- You need
- Cover art + audio file (MP3, WAV, M4A or AAC)
How to make an Out Now video, step by step
Total time: 2 minutes.
- 1
Open the Out Now template
Go to the template list and pick Out Now, or use the button at the bottom of this page to jump straight in. The guided editor splits the work into four short steps, so there is nothing to learn first.
- 2
Add your cover art and track info
Drop in your cover image. Use the same square artwork you sent to your distributor (at least 1000 × 1000 px, 3000 × 3000 px is ideal) so the video matches your Spotify and Apple Music listing exactly.
Then enter your artist name and track title. Keep the title short: the template shows it in large type, and long titles wrap onto a second line.
Want a different look? Pick a cover animation, add the vinyl sleeve effect or choose an overlay. The preview updates live.
- 3
Choose a background
This step is optional. If you skip it, the template uses a blurred, enlarged version of your cover as the background, which always looks on brand.
For more energy, upload a looping clip or an image that fits the mood of the track, and add an FX overlay on top for extra texture.
- 4
Upload your audio and pick the hook
Upload the track and drag the selector to the most catchy 15 seconds. That is usually the chorus or the drop, not the intro. Viewers decide in the first two seconds whether to keep watching, so start on your hook.
Use the volume control to set the level of the track before you export.
- 5
Add your streaming links and the Out Now text
Turn on the streaming platforms where the song is live: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, SoundCloud or Tidal. Their icons animate into the video so people know where to listen.
Adjust the font and size of the "Out Now" text so it matches your artwork. Uppercase text reads fastest on a phone, so it is a good choice for the track and artist names too.
- 6
Export and post your video
Hit export. The video is rendered in the cloud, so you can keep working while it processes. When it is ready, download it and upload it natively to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Post on release day, put the streaming link in your bio and pin a comment with it. The whole process, from cover to export, takes about two minutes.
Tips to get more views on release day
Lead with the hook, not the intro
Pick the 15 seconds that make people move. A strong first two seconds is the biggest factor in whether a short video gets watched.
Post the same day the song goes live
The Out Now video works because the link works. Publish it when the track is available on every platform, not before.
Make one video per platform, then reuse
Export once and upload natively to Reels, TikTok and Shorts instead of cross-posting a watermarked copy. Native uploads are distributed better.
Keep the cover readable
Use a high-contrast cover and avoid tiny text in the artwork. On a phone the cover is the first thing people see.
Re-use the video as a teaser trail
Make a second version a week before release with a different hook, then repost the Out Now video in your Stories on the day.
Common Out Now video mistakes
Starting the audio on the intro
A slow intro costs you viewers. Start the clip on the chorus or the strongest moment.
Posting before the song is live
If people tap the link and the track is not there yet, you lose the momentum of release day.
Using a low-resolution cover
A blurry cover looks unprofessional at 1080 × 1920. Upload the original artwork, not a screenshot.
Forgetting where to listen
Show the streaming platform icons and add the link in your bio. An Out Now video without a destination wastes the traffic.
Out Now video FAQ
What is an Out Now video?
An Out Now video is a short promotional clip that announces a new song, album or single is available to stream. It usually shows the cover art, the artist and track name, a snippet of the song and the words "Out Now".
How long should an Out Now video be?
Between 10 and 20 seconds works best on Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. The visuale Out Now template is 15 seconds long.
What size and format is an Out Now video for Instagram and TikTok?
Vertical 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 pixels. That is the native format for Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Stories, so the video fills the whole screen.
Do I need video editing skills to make one?
No. visuale gives you a ready-made animated template. You add your cover, your track and your streaming links, and the animation, timing and layout are handled for you.
Which audio formats can I upload?
MP3, WAV, M4A and AAC files are supported.
Can I show where people can listen to the song?
Yes. You can add Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, SoundCloud and Tidal, and their icons appear in the video.
When is the best time to post an Out Now video?
On release day, as soon as the song is live on all platforms, with the streaming link in your bio. Repost it in Stories during the day to catch more of your audience.
Can I use it before the song is released?
You can, but a pre-release teaser works better with a different call to action, such as "Coming soon". Save the Out Now video for the day the track is available to stream.
Ready to announce your release?
Drop your cover, add your track and export your Out Now video in under 2 minutes.
Create your Out Now video