Epic and Everyday - Premiere Pro

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Revision as of 12:13, 3 December 2013 by Zorns (Talk | contribs)

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

These steps apply the first time you start a project. Premiere Pro does not move or copy any files. Files need to be organized before importing.

  1. Create a folder in the Storage drive labeled with your name. Do not use special characters other than dash or underscore.
  2. It is recommended to predesignate folders to organize any source materials that will be used in the project: Video, Audio, Stills, and Premiere Files
  3. Move ALL of media into the appropriate folder, i.e., move all of your video files into the "Video" folder, audio & music files into the "Audio" folder, etc...

Create a Project

  1. Launch Premiere Pro from the dock.
  2. Select New Project.
  3. Click the Browse button.
  4. Navigate to your project folder in the Storage drive and select the Premiere_Filesfolder. This will keep all the extraneous files that Premiere creates tidy.
  5. Name the project descriptively and click OK.

Project Settings

  1. In the New Sequence dialog click cancel.
  2. Using the Media Browser, navigate to the folder containing the video clips shot with the T5i.
  3. Select that file in the Project panel. Right click and select New Sequence From Clip.
  4. A new Sequence will be added to the Project panel and it will open int the Timeline panel.
  5. Change the sequence name by clicking on the sequence title in the Project panel.

Importing Media Files

  1. In the Media Browser navigate to the files in your project folder.
  2. Add clips to the Project Panel by right clicking and select Import.



Editing

Navigating Clips

The Space Bar can be used to start and stop playback.

The J, K and L keys are shortcuts for playback.

  • Press L to play forward.
  • Press K to play stop.
  • Press J to play backwards.
  • Pressing L multiple times increases the forwards playback speed.
  • Pressing J multiple times increases the backwards playback speed.
  • The I and O keys can be used to set in and out points.

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,
    • a marker
    • 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.

In and Out Points

Using the Source Monitor

  1. Double click on a clip in the Project panel. Click on the icon and not the name. The clip will open in the Source Monitor.
  2. In the source monitor play the clip and cue it to where you want the in point.
  3. Click the Mark In button or press the I key.
  4. In the monitor play the clip and cue it to where you want the out point.
  5. Click the Mark Out button or press the O key.
  6. Drag the clip to the Program Monitor or to the Timeline.

Using the Project Panel

  1. Select a clip in the Project panel. A thin line will appear at the bottom of the clip.
  2. Drag the Playhead to where you want the in point and press the I key.
  3. Drag the Playhead to where you want the out point and press the O key.
  4. Drag the clip to the Program Monitor or to the Timeline.

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 Source Monitor or 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.



Editing Audio

Adjusting Audio Levels

The levels of audio clips can be adjusted in the Timeline.

  • Clip Keyframes adjust the level of a clip. The keyframes move with the clip if the clip is moved.
    • This what you'll normally use.
  • Track Keyframes adjust keyframes on the track. If a clip is moved the keyframe stay at their place in the track. They do not move with the clip.
    • The Audio Mixer level will follow the Track Keyframes settings.

Creating Keyframes

  1. Click the triangle next to the track name to expand the view of the track.
  2. Click the Show Keyframes button PP KeyNav N.png and select Show Clip Volume.
  3. Select the Pen Tool in the tool bar (press the P key on the keyboard.)
  4. Click on the yellow line on top off the waveform to create a Keyframe.
  5. Click and drag to create a Keyframe and change the levels.

Adjusting Keyframes

  1. To adjust Keyframes select the Selection Tool (press the V key on the keyboard.)
  2. Click on the Keyframes to adjust the levels ( up or down) or the place in time (left or right).

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.



Titles

Watch Full Screen

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



Exporting

Using Premiere

  1. Click in the Timeline of the sequence to be exported.
  2. 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.
  3. Go to File > Export > Media....
  4. 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.
  5. For Export Settings chose a Format and a Preset.
  6. Next to Output Name click on the name in orange and name the files and choose a save location.
  7. Click Export to export.

Using Adobe Media Encoder

Adobe Media Encoder allows you to export multiple versions of the same sequence and it allows you to keep working in Premiere while export is encoding.

  1. To use Adobe Media Encoder first follow the steps above.
  2. Click the Queue button and Adobe Media Encoder will open.
  3. 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
  1. Click the Start Queue button (green play button) to start exporting. A status bar will show the progression.
  2. After the video has finished exporting playback the entire piece to confirm everything exported properly before submitting work for faculty or class screening.