How to make audio effect like reverb to continue playing over short sample?

[Nykk_Deetronic]

Hi guys,

I have 2 questions in AfterEffects:

1) As you can see from the screenshot, audio layer is pink coloured (layer 6, currently selected) but when I add ANY audio effect - it plays until the end of sample, cutting down its (reverb) effect immediately? Can I override sample lenght and hear reverb effect even after few seconds after sample is non existent? It is something like "non-destructive" audio editing, like VST plugin in audio software?

2) Doubleclicking on this layer - it opens it but as a tab on the main video window and I can`t see .WAV audio "drawing", just empty box displaying sample name, in my case "BLOP.wav"... Can I "enable" sample view there? Can I EXTEND sample lenght by some tool and make REVERB audio effect to end as expected?

Thanks a lot,

N.

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

Effects are limited to the length of the media. The easiest way to extend the length of a short audio file is to remove all effects then pre-compose the layer making sure that you move all attributes to the new composition, then apply your reverb to the pre-comp.

The only other option is to edit the audio file in Audition or a similar app and render a longer version of the file with silence added to the end.

One more note. After Effects is a terrible audio editing platform and even a worse video editing platform. It is designed to create visual effects shots and motion graphics, not edit audio and video. If you are making a bunch of cuts in After Effects I suggest that you simplify your comps, render the composites and graphics, then finalize and edit your audio and video in Premiere Pro and maybe even do the final mix using Audition. I know that sounds like a lot more work but trust me, if your project is over a couple of minutes long you'll save time and have a lot fewer problems getting your story told.

[Kyle Hamrick]

+1

If you're doing anything more than the most basic audio editing (like making slight timing adjustments on a VO to allow for animation), I would 100% recommend working in Premiere or Audition.

[Nykk_Deetronic]

Thank you very much! This works great!

I can`t believe I've not tried to "group" all samples (or this, single one) to new composition and add time inside that composition

Yes, I am using AE for cartoons with music & audio effects added on the same time-line (especially with basic SFX: equalizer, modulator and reverb) and this tip helps me a lot & shorts time for audio working in other programs, especially as Time Remap video effect works on audio too (allowing slow-downs and speed-up's)!