Editing Audio In Premiere: A Beginner's Guide

how to edit sound in premiere

Adobe Premiere Pro is a user-friendly and straightforward audio and video editing software used by first-timers, students, and professionals alike. It offers a range of audio editing features, including the ability to unlink video and audio clips, adjust volume levels, apply audio effects, and repair and improve audio using the Essential Sound panel. Premiere Pro also allows for advanced audio editing, such as submixes, downmixing, and routing, as well as working with audio transitions. This software enables content creators to enhance the viewer's experience by carefully editing the soundtrack, dialogue, background music, and sound effects.

Characteristics Values
Editing functions Acts on both parts of a linked clip; can unlink clips to work with audio and video individually
Linking clips Shift-click series of clips to select, then right-click and select "Link" from the pop-up list
Unlinking clips Right-click and select "Unlink" from the pop-up list
Split edits Trim clips in the Source Monitor before adding to sequence; open a clip in the Source Monitor and move the playhead to set In and Out points
Pop sounds Fade the audio out at the end to remove "pop" sounds
Cutting audio on a beat Right-click on the Time Ruler, select "Show Audio Time Units" and zoom in to make more precise cuts
Noise reduction Send the audio clip to Adobe Audition via Dynamic Link
Volume Adjust using the vertical line in the middle of the audio clip; select Audio Gain to adjust input gain
Audio effects EQ, delays, echo effects, crossfade transitions
Panning Use keyframes to adjust the audio balance over the course of a clip
Audio output Adjust using the Equalizer panel
Audio tools Essential Sound panel
Audio workspace Includes Audio Track Mixer and Essential Sound panels

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Importing and organising audio and video clips

Importing Clips

To import your media files, start by opening Premiere Pro and creating a new project. Go to the ""Project" tab, then select "File" > "Import" to import your clips. Alternatively, you can right-click in the Project Panel and select "Import," or simply drag and drop your files directly into the project. If your media files are stored on an external hard drive, navigate to their location via the Media Browser and import them into Premiere. The Media Browser is particularly useful for large projects as it maintains metadata and prevents file errors.

Organising Clips

Once your clips are imported, it's essential to organise them for easy retrieval. Create folders, known as "Bins" in Premiere, to categorise your media by type, scene, character, shoot date, quality, or any other relevant parameters. For instance, you can have separate bins for footage, audio, graphics, colour grading, and sequences.

File Naming

Use clear and descriptive filenames for your clips. Instead of generic names like "Clip001.mp4," opt for specific names such as "Brand_Commercial_Scene1_CamA_4K.mp4." This helps you stay organised and makes locating the right clips much easier.

Markers and Labels

Utilise markers and labels to further organise and tag important clips. Markers can be added to clips in the Source Viewer or Timeline, allowing you to attach notes or highlight sections that need attention. Labels, on the other hand, can be used to differentiate camera angles (e.g., Cam A, Cam B) and apply colour codes to different takes.

Merging Clips

If you want to merge audio and video clips, select the desired clips, right-click, and choose "Merge Clips" or "Nest." This process combines the selected clips, allowing for easier editing and improved audio quality. You can also remove unwanted audio from a clip and replace it with merged audio.

By following these steps, you'll be able to efficiently import and organise your audio and video clips in Premiere Pro, setting a solid foundation for your editing workflow.

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Linking and unlinking audio and video clips

Adobe Premiere Pro is a user-friendly and straightforward software ideal for beginners and professionals alike. It offers a range of audio editing features, including the ability to link and unlink audio and video clips.

Linking audio and video clips

By default, video and audio clips are linked when imported into Adobe Premiere Pro, appearing as a single clip with separate audio and video parts in the timeline. Linking video and audio clips locks them together, allowing them to act as one. This means that when you move or trim one clip, the other will be affected as well.

To link video and audio clips manually, you can follow these steps:

  • Shift-click on a video and audio clip to select both.
  • Choose "Clip" from the menu bar and select "Link Audio and Video" from the drop-down menu.

Unlinking audio and video clips

Unlinking audio and video clips separates the audio and video tracks, allowing you to edit them independently. Once unlinked, you can move, edit, or delete the audio and video portions separately.

  • Select the linked clip in the timeline.
  • Right-click on the clip and choose "Unlink" from the context menu, or go to the "Clip" menu at the top of the screen and select "Unlink."
  • After unlinking, you can reselect either the audio or video clip to manipulate it separately.

It is important to note that even after unlinking, Adobe Premiere Pro keeps track of the synchronization between the clips. If you relink them, it will indicate whether they have been moved out of sync and by how much. You can choose to have Premiere Pro automatically resynchronize the clips.

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Trimming and splitting audio clips

Splitting Audio Clips

To split an audio clip, first, open your project in Premiere Pro and select the video clip containing the audio you want to separate. By default, Premiere Pro links video and audio tracks, shown by a small "V" icon on the clip. Right-click on the clip and select "New sequence from clip" to create a new sequence and add the video clip. If you were already working on a sequence, simply drag the video to the Timeline panel.

Next, ensure the Razor Tool is active by selecting it from your Tools panel. Now, click on the clip where you want to create a split. To split only the audio or video portion of linked clips, use Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) while working with the Razor Tool.

Trimming Audio Clips

Trimming can be done using a split tool. You can split the audio and then delete the unwanted portion. This will trim your audio. However, trimming tools cannot help you split the audio. To trim, you must first split the audio clip, and then delete the unwanted portion.

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Adjusting volume and audio balance

Adjusting Volume:

To adjust the volume of an audio clip in Premiere Pro, start by selecting the desired audio clip in your timeline. You can then adjust the volume by dragging the horizontal line in the middle of the clip up or down. Dragging the line up will increase the volume, while dragging it down will decrease it.

If you need to adjust the volume for only a specific section of the audio clip, you can use the keyframes feature. Right-click on the clip and select "Show Keyframes" or press the "UU" key on your keyboard. This will allow you to adjust the volume over time, creating a more dynamic sound.

Additionally, if you need to adjust the overall input gain for the entire clip, right-click on the clip and choose "Audio Gain." This will open a dialogue box where you can set the gain in dB values.

Audio Balancing:

Audio balancing is particularly important when working with multiple audio tracks or channels. Premiere Pro offers several methods to achieve this:

  • Using the Mixer Panel: The Mixer Panel is located at the top of your Premiere Pro window. You can adjust the knob left or right to push the audio accordingly. This method is useful if you want to change the balance for the entire production.
  • Keyframes and Track Panner: Using keyframes in combination with the Track Panner effect can give you precise control over the audio balance. Click on the keyframe icon, select "Track Panner," and then "Balance." Now, you can use the keyframes on your clip to control and change the balance throughout its duration. This allows for dynamic adjustments, creating an oscillating effect if desired.
  • Audio Clip Mixer: The Audio Clip Mixer allows you to monitor clip volume and pan for individual clips. This can be useful for fine-tuning the balance between multiple audio sources within a clip.

Additional Tips:

  • If you encounter a strange "pop" sound at the end of an audio clip, a quick fix is to fade the audio out at the end instead of trimming it back.
  • When you need to make precise cuts on a beat, right-click on the Time Ruler and select "Show Audio Time Units." This will allow you to zoom in and make more accurate edits.
  • For noise reduction, you can send your audio clip to Adobe Audition via Dynamic Link. This will render and replace your audio clip, allowing you to work with a clean version.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to effectively adjust volume and audio balance in your Premiere Pro projects.

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Applying audio effects and transitions

Adobe Premiere Pro is a user-friendly and straightforward audio and video editing software ideal for first-timers, students, and professionals. It offers a range of audio editing features, from basic functions to advanced sound editing capabilities.

To apply audio effects and transitions in Premiere Pro, you can start by importing your audio and video clips into the software. Go to the "Project" tab, then "File" > "Import" to locate and import your desired clips. All imported files will be displayed in the "Project" tab, where you can edit them or drag them to the timeline.

Once your clips are in the timeline, you can adjust the volume levels of individual audio clips or the entire track. To adjust the volume of a specific clip, select it and use the vertical line in the middle to drag the horizontal line up or down to increase or decrease the volume. If you need to adjust the input gain, right-click on the clip and choose "Audio Gain." You can then set the desired gain level in the Audio Gain dialogue box by typing the values in dB.

Premiere Pro offers various audio effects, including EQ, delays, echo effects, and crossfade transitions. To apply these effects, you can either add them to individual clips or the entire track. Additionally, you can use panning for sound effects, create submixes, and monitor audio levels with the Audio Clip Mixer.

If you encounter unwanted "pop" sounds at the end of an audio clip, a simple fix is to quickly fade the audio out instead of trimming it back. This is because the "pop" sound may be due to how Premiere Pro reads the end of the clip, and fading it out ensures a smoother transition.

For more precise audio editing, you can enable "Show Audio Time Units" by right-clicking on the Time Ruler section of your sequence. This allows you to zoom in on your audio clips and make more accurate cuts, especially when trying to cut on a specific beat. Remember to turn off "Show Audio Time Units" after making your edits, as you typically want to edit by video frames.

Additionally, Premiere Pro allows you to apply noise reduction to your audio by sending the clip to Adobe Audition via Dynamic Link. This process helps improve the audio quality, especially for narrations. Right-click on the audio clip in your sequence and select "Edit Clip in Adobe Audition." After rendering, Adobe Audition will open, and you can zoom in to find an area with no sound, just the room tone. Place an in-point at the beginning of this blank audio section using the "i" shortcut.

Frequently asked questions

First, open Premiere Pro and start a new project. Go to "File" > "Import" to import your clips. Once you've imported your clips, you can edit them or drag them to the timeline to begin audio editing.

To adjust the volume of a specific audio clip, select the clip, then drag the horizontal line in the middle up or down to increase or decrease the volume. To adjust the volume of the entire production, use the Mixer panel at the top, adjusting the knob left or right to push the audio accordingly.

To remove a "pop" sound at the end of an audio clip, simply fade the audio out at the end quickly.

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