Creating a circular audio spectrum in Premiere Pro requires using Adobe After Effects in conjunction with Premiere Pro. Here's how you can do it:
1. Set Up the Premiere Pro Sequence:
- Import your audio file and place it on a track in your Premiere Pro timeline. This will be the audio that drives the spectrum.
2. Create a New After Effects Composition via Dynamic Link:
- In Premiere Pro, select the video clip where you want the audio spectrum to appear.
- Go to
File > Adobe Dynamic Link > New After Effects Composition. This will open After Effects and create a linked composition. Any changes you make in After Effects will automatically update in Premiere Pro.
3. Create a Solid Layer in After Effects:
- In After Effects, go to
Layer > New > Solid. - Name the solid layer something descriptive, like "Audio Spectrum Layer". The color of the solid doesn't matter. Make sure the solid is the size of your composition.
4. Apply the Audio Spectrum Effect:
- In the After Effects "Effects & Presets" panel (Window > Effects & Presets), search for "Audio Spectrum."
- Drag and drop the "Audio Spectrum" effect onto the "Audio Spectrum Layer" solid.
5. Configure the Audio Spectrum Effect:
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In the "Effect Controls" panel (Window > Effect Controls), adjust the following settings:
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Audio Layer: Set this to the audio layer from your Premiere Pro sequence (brought in via Dynamic Link) to which you want the spectrum to react.
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Start Point & End Point: These determine the length and direction of the spectrum. To create a circular spectrum, you'll need to offset these points relative to the center of your composition. For example:
- Set Start Point to the center of the composition (e.g., 960, 540 for a 1920x1080 comp)
- Set End Point to be offset from the center. Experiment with values like 960, 100 for the end point to start forming a radius.
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Path: Instead of manipulating start and end points manually, you can draw a circle with the Pen tool (G) in After Effects and set the Path to the circle's mask path. This gives you finer control.
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Frequency Bands: Adjust the number of bands for a more or less detailed spectrum. Higher values use more processing power.
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Maximum Height: Control the maximum height of the spectrum bars.
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Audio Duration: This affects how quickly the spectrum reacts. Lower values react faster.
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Thickness: Adjust the thickness of the spectrum lines.
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Softness: Add softness to the lines.
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Color: Choose the colors for the spectrum. You can use a gradient for more visual interest.
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Side Options: This is key for creating a complete circle. Change it from 'Side A' or 'Side B' to 'Both Sides'.
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Display Options: Set the display options to Analog Lines or Digital Lines for visual customization.
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6. Fine-Tune and Customize:
- Experiment with the settings to achieve the desired look for your circular audio spectrum. Consider adding additional effects like glow or blur.
7. Return to Premiere Pro:
- Save your After Effects project.
- Switch back to Premiere Pro. The After Effects composition will appear as a clip in your timeline. You may need to render a portion of the timeline to preview it smoothly.
- Adjust the position and scale of the After Effects clip in Premiere Pro to fit your video.
In summary, creating a circular audio spectrum in Premiere Pro involves using the Audio Spectrum effect in After Effects, carefully adjusting its parameters, and dynamically linking the After Effects composition to your Premiere Pro project.
