Today’s Plan:
- Download Files
- Edit Our Audio in Adobe Audition
- Begin Stabilization
- Discuss Opening Shots
- Complete Stabilization
- Begin Synching
Downloading Files
To get started we need to .zip and download our test files from last week.
I am fairly certain that any files you download today should still be on the computer Friday.
Edit Our Audio in Adobe Audition
Here’s a video on reducing echo in Premiere if anyone needs it later. First we will edit the volume (what is technically called the “gain”), then we will remove the echo.
- You can right click on the file in Premiere and choose the Edit in Adobe Audition option.
- Press CTRL+A to select the entire waveform.
- From the top program menu, go to Effects > Amplitude and Compression > Amplify. Increase the audio gain by +10.64db. This should put our level between -6 and -9, which is generally where you want to be to avoid “pops”
- Now let’s remove the echo. Select the entire waveform again, and select Effects > Noise Reduction/Restoration > DeReverb. This will auto filter. This video has a tremendous amount of natural reverb, so we will have to adjust the effect strength.
Stabilization
I used Orange83’s tutorial for this.
Stabilizing video clips in Premiere is a really easy process–however it does take some time. Stabilizing the alison-molly file took me about 13 minutes this morning (and it is only a 2:37 clip!). I also want to stress that the Premiere stabilizer cannot replace a tripod–while it can certainly improve the viewer experience, it cannot eliminate all movement (without some potentially weird side effects–we can play with these in the stabilizer options).
To stabilize a clip:
- select it from the project timeline and go to the Effects workspace
- In the search, type stabilizer. You should see the Warp Stabilizer. Drag that onto your clip
- This process can take quite awhile, so, while we wait, let’s talk Opening Shots
Opening Shot
Note: check the time, this might wait until later. Studiobinder on opening shots. How to set the emotional tone and suggest an entire them in a single frame/short sequence.
Synching Video Files
Finally, I want to go over how to sync video files. There’s a video here if anyone needs a tutorial later. The steps below come from the video.
- For this trick to work, we need all the various video and audio clips in our project to be on their own tracks. So, to begin, let’s add tracks to the timeline. Drag our master audio file (the one we worked on in Audition) down to the bottom track
- Now drag each file so that it sits on its own timeline
- Select all the files in the timeline (CTRL + A)
- Right-click and you should see the option to synchronize. BE SURE TO SELECT AUDIO
Homework
I’ve decided to have Work List #6 take the place of the midterm exam. This prevents us from having to arrange and record another interview–we can use the materials you have already collected. I will ask that you record some additional video as b-roll and develop an opening shot/montage sequence.
Originally, our midterm was going to be a promotional project for the English department’s 4+1 MA Project. We are still likely going to do this work–but we will do it in class together as you work on the Kalman project outside of class. This should lighten your workload a bit in the next few weeks.
Here are the requirements for Work List #6:
- Length: Your video should be 90 seconds long
- Intro: Opening shot
- Intro: B-roll montage
- Intro: Title (Bonus: does it move?)
- Audio: Music that fades out?
- Audio: Proper volume levels (gain) and noise/echo reduction?
- Video: Is there text identifying participants?
- Video: Are shots stable and free of camera shake?
- Video: Does the video cut to different shots?
- Video: Consistent color and brightness?, color match
- Are shots composed in line with the rule of thirds? Do subjects have sufficient headroom?
- Does the interview angle feel right?
Work list #6 will be due Sunday, October 25th at midnight. This will be a hard deadline so we can move into our next project on Monday. You will have today in class to sequence your video and work on titles and audio levels.
In Monday’s class, we’ll watch another quick Youtube video on opening shots. Then I will cover how to adjust brightness and color levels in Premiere. You will have the rest of class on Monday to work on your projects.
You will also have next Wednesday’s class to work on your projects. I will conduct progress check-ins–looking for evidence that you are working on the project and seeing if there’s any ways I can provide feedback and help.
