Epic and Everyday - Premiere Pro

What is Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is a non-destructive, non-linear video editing application.

The interface is comprised of a series of windows called "panels" that can be modified to create different "work spaces".

It follows the basic design of most editing software:

Media Browser window: browse all available files on the computer, and preview content before adding to your project.
Project panel: view all of the audio/video/still/title assets that are included in a project.
Source Monitor: preview assets, set in and out points for fine tuning.
Program Monitor: view the edited materials as part of the Sequence which is open in the Timeline.
Sequence: audio and video clips are edited together on separate tracks.
Timeline panel: edit audio/video/still images content into a Sequence.
You can have multiple Sequences in one Project and Timeline windows.

Media files audio/video/still content. Please save and work locally on the Storage drive in the Multimedia Lab.
Clips are assets that point to the original file on the hard drive.
- Changes made to clips in the Premiere project will not affect the original media files - this is the meaning of a non-destructive program.
- This also means that changing the location of the source files may result in Premiere losing track of where to find the contents of the project with a "Media Offline' notice. When moving files from the server, or different computer stations, please keep all materials in a single folder. Reconnect media, or ask a lab aide for help.
Project file: a recipe, or list of instructions for how to put the project together.
In-Points and Out-Points: Designates the beginning and end sections of a clip.
Playhead: Shows the time location of the current frame in any window. Sometimes it is also called the Current-Time Indicator (CTI).

Getting Started

Collect Source Files

Premiere Pro does not move or copy any files. Files need to be pre-organized before importing.

Create a folder in the Storage drive labeled with your name. Do not use special characters other than a dash or underscore. Inside this folder create a folder for Video, Images, and Premiere Files.
Connect to the Nimrod file server and download your group's folder of video clips from the CCAM production to the video folder File Space Overview Nimrod > CCAM Transfers > Epic and the Everyday
Copy all three of the still images that you prepared into the Images folder.

Create a Project

Launch Premiere Pro from the dock.
Select New Project.
Click the Browse button.
Navigate to your project folder in the Storage drive and select the Premiere Files folder. This will keep all the extraneous files that Premiere creates tidy.
Name the project descriptively and click OK.
In the New Sequence window that appears press cancel.

Import Media Files

In the Media Browser navigate to your project folder on the Storage drive.
Add all video clips and still images to the Project Panel by right clicking on the folder and select Import.
After importing all media close the Media Browser panel by pressing the x on the top right of the tab.

Synchronize Clips

The video clips from the CCAM production are labeled with each group's name, take, and camera angle. Create a combined (multi-camera) clip from both camera angle 1 and 2.

In the Project panel select both camera 1 and 2 video clips for take 1, example: (Epic Grp A1 Cam 1 Tk 1.mov) + (Epic Grp A1 Cam 2 Tk 1.mov)
Right click and select Create Multi-Camera Source Sequence.
In the dialogue that appears adjust the name to say Tk1.mov - Multicam, and select Synchronize Point: timecode.
A new multicam video clip appears in the Project panel.
Repeat this for the remainder of the corresponding clips.

Editing

Multi-Camera Editing

Timeline Editing

Insert vs Overwrite

The two main editing modes are called Insert and Overwrite.

Insert edits will move the clips that are to the right of the Playhead to the right.
Overwrite will overwrite the clips to the right of the Playhead.
- When Overwrite is used on a track with clips it will replace any existing clips.
- When Overwrite is used on an empty track above a clip it will not affect the other tracks.

To make a edit drag a clip from the Project panel to the Timeline.
Place the clip where the edit should start.
- Overwrite is the default editing mode.
- Hold down the Command key while dragging to switch to Insert mode.

Snapping

The Snap function makes it easier to align clips in the Timeline.

When a clip is moved it snaps to:
- the edge of another clip,
- the start or end of the time ruler
- the playhead

To turn Snap on or off go to Sequence > Snap, press the S key or click the magnet icon in the Timeline.

The Playhead ignores the Snap setting. To enable Snap while dragging the Playhead hold down the Shift key.

Separating Audio and Video

Separate embedded audio and video by right clicking on a clip and choose unlink.
Re-link the same way.
Group clips by clicking and dragging a selection, right click and select group. They will now move together as one clip.

Chroma Key Effects

Working with Still Images

Titles

Watch Full Screen

Click on the Program panel to make it active.
Press control and ~ (tilde), this will make the window full screen.
To exit press escape.

Exporting

Click in the Timeline of the sequence to be exported.
Press the | key to view the entire contents of the timeline, if applicable and use the work area bar to select the portion of the timeline to be exported.
Go to File > Export > Media....
In the bottom left choose what part of the sequence to export:
1. Entire Sequence: exports the entire sequence.
2. Sequence In/Out: Exports the are between any in and out points set in the sequence.
3. Work Area: Exports the Work Area set in the Timeline.
4. Custom: Exports the area set by the triangles above this setting.
Click the Queue button and Adobe Media Encoder will open.
Drag a preset onto the name of your sequence to add the preset to the Queue. *For this assignment we recommend using the Quicktime H.264 preset under User Presets and Groups > Quicktime H.264 / 1920x1080 / 29.97fps / 10Mbps
Click the Start Queue button (green play button) to start exporting. A status bar will show the progression.
After the video has finished exporting playback the entire piece to confirm everything exported properly before submitting work for faculty or class screening.