Discuss some of the favourite edits or techniques as a group so the induction can focus on some specific areas as required.
During this session we will touch on the following.
Project set up | Source monitor Program monitor Timeline Project window Tabs for different workflows |
File management | Folder structure Keeping everything together Importing assets Offline files |
Saving your project | Save as The importance of regular saving Reopening Auto-Save files |
Setting up sequences | Naming sequences Duplicating sequences Workflow Bin structure |
Using the editing timeline | Dragging footage onto the timeline Audio and visual components Muting, soloing, eye icon Zooming in and out Time Creating slugs |
Editing tools | Drag Trim Razor |
Footage duration | Slowing Speeding Reversing |
Transitions | The cut The cross dissolve/fade to black Wipe / page tur |
Effects | Effects library Colour correction Adding and removing other effects Effect controls |
The vertical timeline | Opacity Overlay Splitscreening |
Keyframing | Size Motion Working with still images |
Text | Graphics tab Adding text |
Exporting | Checking your timeline Choosing your export location Choosing your settings |
This introduction covers the basics of Premiere Pro, including getting to know the user interface, but one of the key things before you even open the program is to be organised with your assets!
Whether working off an internal or external hard drive, start every project by creating a project folder and this folder will contain all the files related to your project. Make sure you have dedicated folders for your raw footage, audio and for the exported drafts and final video files.
This will just make things a whole lot easier as you go.
There are four main windows which make up the Premiere Pro workspace:
This image shows the layout of the Editing workspace without any imported media, you will see different tabs at the top of the screen to change to different workflows.
You can move these windows around and customize your workspace in Window > Workspaces
Starting a new Project
Open the Program and you will be prompted to open or start a project.
Name your project and save it.
Starting a new Sequence
Projects can contain multiple Sequences
2 Options;
You can import multiple media files or folders.
We have some video and audio files that we will pass around to use as assets so you can follow along with some basic composition and editing, copy the folder 'Premiere Pro Induction Assets' on to your desktop and pass the USB along to someone else to do the same.
Use what we just learned to import one of the video files.
In and Out Points
Double click on one of the video files you have imported in your project panel; this will load the clip into your Source Monitor. Use the Mark In ({) and Mark Out (}) buttons to set the desired start and end for this clip. The grey bar under the clip shows your clip selection. You will always be able to tweak the length of this selection once you place your clip on the timeline, so no need to worry about getting the perfect selection now. You can also use the I and O keys to input in and out points.
Getting a Clip Onto the Timeline
Once you’ve made your selection using in and out points, you can either drag the clip onto the timeline (from the Project or Source Monitor windows) or using the Insert/Overwrite buttons.
Editing a Clip on the Timeline
Now that you’ve got your clip on the timeline, you can move it around and adjust its length on either end using the Selection Tool (V). Your cursor will turn into a red arrow symbol when you position it at the inner or outer edge of the clip, allowing you to lengthen or shorten it. Using the Razor Tool (C), you can split your clip in two or cut out a section in the middle.
These two tools will allow you to do most of your basic editing.
This image depicts an imported video file being viewed in the Project, Source and Project Monitors and in the Timeline window.
We have one video file which includes an audio track already added to our Sequence, but let's add some more.
Find one of the backing audio tracks provided and import this into your project, find another video file and add this so you have two lots of video footage to work with.
What we want to do is have two video tracks transition and add the music soundbed to the sequence so we can still hear the interview, but have the music playing at a good volume underneath.
Transitions are what happens between each bit of footage (or audio), there are many ways you can use transitions effectively, but beware of going overboard and alienating your audience with a wrong transition choice!
You can't really go wrong with some of the basics;
Applying transitions is as easy as dragging a transition from the Effects panel and dropping it into the timeline at the beginning or end of a clip. To find the Effects panel if it isn't open already, choose Window > Effects from the main menu (or press Shift+7).
Some more info on Transitions; https://helpx.adobe.com/au/premiere-pro/how-to/apply-transitions-premiere-cc.html
Basic audio adjustments
Although Premiere Pro includes a full-featured Audio Track Mixer, there are times when many of these options are not required. For example, when creating a rough cut from video and audio captured together from DV footage, output to stereo tracks, follow these guidelines:
More info here - https://helpx.adobe.com/au/premiere-pro/using/overview-audio-audio-mixer.html
You can apply one or more Standard effects to a clip by dragging effect icons from the Effects panel to a clip in the Timeline panel. Alternatively, select the clip and double-click an effect in the Effects panel to apply it. You can apply the same effect multiple times, using different settings each time.
You can apply Standard effects to more than one clip at a time by first selecting all the clips you want to affect.
You can also temporarily disable any effect, which suppresses the effect without removing it, or you can remove the effect completely.
To view and adjust effects for a selected clip, use the Effect Controls panel. Alternatively, you can view and adjust effects for a clip in the Timeline panel by expanding its track and selecting the proper viewing options.
By default, when you apply an effect to a clip, the effect is active for the duration of the clip. However, you can make an effect start and stop at specific times or make the effect more or less intense by using keyframes.
Learn more here - https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/applying-removing-finding-organizing-effects.html
You can find the color- and luminance-adjusting effects in the Color Correction bin inside the Video Effects bin. Although other effects also adjust color and luminance, the Color Correction effects are designed for making fine color and luminance corrections.
You apply the Color Correction effects to a clip the same way you apply all Standard effects. The effect properties are adjusted in the Effect Controls panel. The Color Correction effects and other color effects are clip-based. However, you can apply them to multiple clips by nesting sequences, which is a more advanced area that we won't really have time to go over today.
A basic guide for us to try;
When correcting color, it’s useful to use the Vectorscope or waveform scopes (YC Waveform, RGB Parade, and YCbCr Parade) to help you analyze the chroma and luminance in a clip. You can view a scope in a separate Reference Monitor that’s ganged to the Program Monitor so that you can check your video levels as you make adjustments.
Learn more on colour correction here - https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/color-correction-adjustment.html
Basic Guide to a simple export;
There are many preset options for exporting, you can use the drop don menu to look through and choose the best one for where the video project may end up being hosted.
Running this workshop at The Edge?.. You should familiarise yourself and your participants with:
Great set of general tutorials and tips and tricks: https://motionarray.com/premiere-pro/adobe-premiere-pro-cc-tutorials/
Premiere Tutorials and Tips: https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/tutorials.html
Editing tips: https://vimeo.com/blog/category/video-school/tag:editing
Editing Technique: https://vimeo.com/insidetheedit
Working with and import video content from different cameras: https://www.lynda.com/Premiere-Pro-tutorials/Starting-from-scratch-Importing-media/371692/413960-4.html
Understanding Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIqV8nIjTTE
Learning the art of colour correction and grading: http://www.learncolorgrading.com/
Post haste: Is a free tool that set's up project folder stuctures: https://www.digitalrebellion.com/posthaste/
Adobe Premiere pro forum: (issues or questions about the software) https://forums.adobe.com/community/premiere
Green Screen footage to practice with: http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/green-screen-plates.html
Art of editing: when should you cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q3eITC01Fg
Types of compression and video formats: http://nofilmschool.com/2014/08/heres-what-you-need-to-know-video-compression Where to find Creative Commons licensed footage and Music:
What is Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org.au/
Public Domain/ Creative Commons Video Footage: http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/20-free-online-stock-video-sites/
Creative Commons Music: https://incompetech.com/