I’ve broken these tutorials down into several videos and two product categories: After Effects CS5 and Premiere Pro CS5. I’ve used real-world examples of how I work using SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5 with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro CS5 projects, creating short production videos and motion graphics for broadcast. Whether I’m creating/editing a short video with layers of motion graphics or building a motion graphics animated opener/bumper, I can use the soundtrack creation and editing capabilities in Sonicfire Pro 5 to produce a quick, interactive workflows with Adobe CS5 Production Premium.

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Sonicfire Pro 5 – Soundtrack Workflow Turtorials with After Effects CS5

In this series of tutorials, I show how quick and easy it is to select a soundtrack library in Sonicfire Pro 5 and adapt it to my short project I’ve created in After Effects CS5. By rendering out a low-res version of my project Comp from After Effects, I can import it into Sonicfire Pro 5 and do all of my soundtrack editing to match the video ques without having to go back and forth between the two apps or wait for long RAM previews to test the edits. Sonicfire Pro 5 also uses smart “Mood Mapping” technology that adjusts not only the volume of tracks along the timeline, but also drops out instrumentation as needed for sections of dialog or voice over. Any updates to an AIF file that is created by Sonicfire Pro 5 that you import into your After Effects project, can be re-edited again in Sonicfire Pro 5 with all the track editing data retained. This is truly a smart and efficient workflow!

Click the link below to go to the Free Tutorials:

Sonicfire Pro 5 with After Effects CS5 Workflow Video Tutorials

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Sonicfire Pro 5 – Roundtrip Soundtrack Editing with After Effects CS5

I first give an overview of a complete project adding a customized soundtrack to my Premiere Pro CS5 project and show you the finished rendered result. I then cover editing the soundtrack in this video, by using the “Edit Original” option in Premiere Pro, which launches Sonicfire Pro 5 and a new project file is created with all of the original track data still intact from the AIF file. Inside Soncifire Pro 5, I can now split the soundtrack into two sections and it will automatically recreate the end point of the first track while I add a new track that will give the second half of the video a different feel. Since it also recalled the low-res video I used to create the original soundtrack with, it’s easy to see the edit points. All of the editing is done in Sonicfire Pro 5 and the finished AIF is then saved-over the original file so it’s automatically linked back into the Premiere Pro project.

Click the link below to go to the Free Tutorials:

Sonicfire Pro 5 with Premiere Pro CS5 Workflow Video Tutorials

I hope these tutorials help you understand the different workflows between these programs and encourage you to experiment with what works best for you.

Cheers, Jeff

KUVET345R2CP

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Michael Ray Dresser for his online radio program “Dresser After Dark” to discuss my book, “The Green Screen Handbook”. Mr. Dresser is known to interview experts and authors over a range of topics and took interest in my book for the technology.

The interview airs tonight at 7:00pm PDT on BlogRadio at his site Dresser After Dark, along with several other authors and topical experts.

You can also hear my interview directly here: Jeff_Foster-Dresser-Radio_8-4-10.mp3

KUVET345R2CP

Joe first came to me after viewing another client’s “Documercial” I produced for Ojai artists and authors Alice & Richard Matzkin, for their book The Art of Aging. He wanted a piece that worked for both showing the content of his book and shared his passion for the topic of him life’s work: “Photographing Democracy”.

I solicited help with shooting the video interviews from colleague Michael Anderson (Extra Mile Films) and used the Panasonic P2 HD cameras on loan from Panasonic for the production and testing of my book The Green Screen Handbook. We also used the Reflecmedia system for a shot used toward the end of the video that needed green screen compositing, but needed to be ultra portable and compact. The project was edited in Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects. Music was provided by Roger Kellaway and Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

You can view the video online by clicking this link:
Visions Of America: Photographing Democracy

This video segment is from the “Photoshop CS4 Video & Animation” DVD and shows you how to convert a video layer in Photoshop CS4 to a Smart Object so you can apply effects and transformations to your videos. The example shown can be found in its entirety along with all the source footage and project files so you can follow along with the DVD.

Click the image below to view the video hosted on Adobe TV:

Check out the other Adobe TV videos from these DVD titles by clicking here and be sure to check out the DVDs in our online store and save 50%!

“The Green Screen Handbook” (Sybex/Wiley, pub) is finally shipping from the warehouse and hitting the bookshelves. *Note that we are NOW accepting online orders from the PixelPainter Online Store at a 30% discount off retail!

A sneak preview of the book was presented in a live Users Conference session I gave at Macworld 2010 in San Francisco in Feb, 2010. A live green screen shoot is scheduled for the Post-Production Conference at NAB 2010 in April, where I will be sharing some of the material and techniques from the book.

Product Description

Make movies and videos with green screen composting technology with The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques. This unique guide is a comprehensive how-to of professional production techniques, step-by-step instruction, and tips that can save you time and money. Learn when to use green screens instead of blue, find out how the pros operate in professional studios, and get amazing results—even on a shoestring budget.

Topics include matting and keying basics; setups using fabric, portable background panels, or paint; lighting and digital camera essentials; broadcast TV hardware switchers; professional HD and major motion picture compositing; multiple-colored screen composites (background, foregrounds, and objects); directing storyboards and talent; working with virtual sets; motion tracking; and much more.

• See how to plan, set up, and execute your shots to reduce fixes in post
• Choose the right keying process for your project
• Master basic shooting setups and live broadcast keying
• Understand proper lighting and how to match subjects to the background
• Create a working storyboard and learn how to select and direct talent
• Composite your footage and fix problem shots
• Work creatively with virtual sets, motion tracking, and match moving
• Master techniques that apply to all compositing software and plug-ins

The DVD includes sample footage and all project files to accompany the chapters in the book.

(click on book cover thumbnails to see larger images)

Order your signed copy NOW from the Online Store and Save 30% Off Retail!

**UPDATE: Check out THIS NEW PAGE for more info about the book and to see the new 1-minute promo video!

Click this link to read the article…

Here’s a sample of one such “Documercial” that’s outlined in this article:

Photoshop CS4 Video & Animation covers a lot of material that can all be done INSIDE Photoshop CS4 Extended. Techniques covered range from basic video editing and animation techniques, to rotoscoping, frame animation, video clean-up/retouching, masking, smart filters & FX, green screen compositing, 3D modeling and animation, and my favorite: 3D stereoscopic FX! (3D Glasses included in disk) – also includes all sample projects and source footage/image files on the DVD.

Sample movies will soon be up on the PhotoshopCAFE channel on Adobe TV.

Don’t forget the best companion DVD to this title is also at PhotoshopCAFE.com!

Learning After Effects CS4 is available by clicking the image above or in the “Published” panel to your right.

Some of the 3D stereoscopic materials I’ve been sharing with you in the recent weeks are included on these DVDs. Look for more info and samples to follow here in my Blog after NAB!

Cheers!
Jeff