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fernandoo97840867
Participating Frequently
April 16, 2018
Answered

Audio Spectrum Link to Coposition (with music inside)

  • April 16, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 2817 views

Hi there!

I have learned to generate audio spectrums by placing the music track within the same composition that the solid (for the spectrum) is placed at.

By doing that, I select the Source to point to the Music Name, that will easily appear on the top of the Effects Control Panel.

The problem beggins with the fact that I create multiple (over 15) spectrums, all linked to the music and everything within the same composition.

So, everytime I create a new project and want to use the same Spectrums "template" that I have created, I need to:

1- save the project with a new name

2- open the composition with the Music and all Spectrums

3- Delete the music

4- Place the new music inside this comp

5- Manually "relink" alll spectrums, one by one, to this new track.

Is there a better way to do it? Let´s say, like having a Spectums Comp (without the music inside) placed on a FullMix Composition (with a Composition named Music) and link one composition to another?

By doing that, I would have just to replace the music inside it's proper composition and save lots of time.

Thanks a lot for your support.

Fernando

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rick Gerard

From your description, the easiest thing to do would be to pre-compose the solid and the audio track you want to use, then apply Audio Spectrum to the pre-comp. That way Audio Spectrum would be using the same layer for the reference audio. After you have the effect set up the way you want it just press E to reveal all effects on the layer, draw a selection around the effects and then go to Animate>Save Animation Preset. Put it in the default folder for custom presets and it will show up in your Effects and Presets panel. You can also save the folder to DropBox and then create an alias to that folder that you place in the default location for user presets and it will show up on every machine you work on. That is what I do.

Now anytime you want to apply that template to any comp all you have to do is add a solid, add the audio track, pre-compose and apply the animation preset you saved. If it were me every new song would at least be a separate comp. I have created over 200 of my own custom animation presets for everything to automating animation to color corrections and I use some of them on almost every comp I create. They are huge time savers.

As for saving new comps for each new project and organizing your files my best advice is to carefully develop and religiously follow a carefully thought out file structure. Mine may not work for you but it was developed way before we used computers in post-production and is based on the old movie industry standard way of keeping track of projects, scripts, scenes, shots, and clips. I can find anything I have ever done using that system in a few minutes. More than 90% of the people I work with have lousy file management skills so don't feel too bad if you have not developed one yet, but once you do it will be much easier to get home in time for dinner.

2 replies

Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 16, 2018

From your description, the easiest thing to do would be to pre-compose the solid and the audio track you want to use, then apply Audio Spectrum to the pre-comp. That way Audio Spectrum would be using the same layer for the reference audio. After you have the effect set up the way you want it just press E to reveal all effects on the layer, draw a selection around the effects and then go to Animate>Save Animation Preset. Put it in the default folder for custom presets and it will show up in your Effects and Presets panel. You can also save the folder to DropBox and then create an alias to that folder that you place in the default location for user presets and it will show up on every machine you work on. That is what I do.

Now anytime you want to apply that template to any comp all you have to do is add a solid, add the audio track, pre-compose and apply the animation preset you saved. If it were me every new song would at least be a separate comp. I have created over 200 of my own custom animation presets for everything to automating animation to color corrections and I use some of them on almost every comp I create. They are huge time savers.

As for saving new comps for each new project and organizing your files my best advice is to carefully develop and religiously follow a carefully thought out file structure. Mine may not work for you but it was developed way before we used computers in post-production and is based on the old movie industry standard way of keeping track of projects, scripts, scenes, shots, and clips. I can find anything I have ever done using that system in a few minutes. More than 90% of the people I work with have lousy file management skills so don't feel too bad if you have not developed one yet, but once you do it will be much easier to get home in time for dinner.

fernandoo97840867
Participating Frequently
April 16, 2018

Wow... Thank you very much for taking your time to provide me with such a good explanation.

I will carefully follow each step and hopefully I won't mess it up during the process.

As far as I understood, it seems that it will work out.

In regards to the file management, that's surely an issue that I've been trying to address lately.

As soon as I sit in front of my computer and implement your suggestions I'll be happy to let you know how it worked.

Thanks again.

Best

Fernando

Roland Kahlenberg
Legend
April 16, 2018

Are you using the same Music for the 15 Audio Spectrum effects?

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fernandoo97840867
Participating Frequently
April 16, 2018

Yes I am... All spectrums linked to one music.

Thanks

Roland Kahlenberg
Legend
April 16, 2018

Then all you need to do is to replace the Music file in the Project Panel. Either use the Replace Footage command (CTRL+H) or if the newer music is in the Project Panel, then drag and drop the new music over the old music. This is the preferred method to replacing footage in compositions, especially when the layer is used by an effect that references the layer.

Very Advanced After Effects Training | Adaptive & Responsive Toolkits | Intelligent Design Assets (IDAs) | MoGraph Design System DEV