Today was our 4th and final class for AVID. Today's topic was using AVID to edit the audio - setting levels, balancing multiple tracks of audio, and trimming the clips to achieve the best, overall effect. I am really looking forward to applying what I have learned to the footage that I shot last week!
In addition to our class on AVID, we went back into the radio studio to learn more about NexGen. Specifically, we learned how to load things like the commercials and sweepers that we recorded using Adobe Audition into NexGen so that we can use them in our show.
While this may not sound like a very productive 4 hours, that is because there are a lot of little details that were covered during the classes. Both video editing - whether with AVID or Final Cut - and NexGen are loaded with important details that need to be addressed properly. With regards to NexGen, it is pretty simple to add spots, songs, etc. to the program. However, if the details are glossed over it will make things much harder for everyone in the future. Losing an advertising client because the wrong spot played because you failed to enter the right information while loading the spot into NexGen would not go well for your career. With AVID, proper attention to the details is important. Adding cross-fades between clips or peppering in too many effects could make or break your presentation.
Showing posts with label AVID. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AVID. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Commercial Break
Half of our class time today was spent 'building' a radio commercial and half was spent delving further into AVID editing software. My half of the class - the same group that is working on our radio final - started with the commercial while the other half worked on AVID.
Because one of our number was absent, we had 8 in our group. We were further paired off and presented with sample scripts to use for our commercial. Because we had four pairs and only two studios, we had to take turns in the studio. While we waited our turn, we searched the files for sound effects and music beds to play behind the dialog. Once in the studio, my partner and I took turns at the mic reading our parts of the script. I had the 1st and 3rd line and my partner had the 2nd and 4th. I went first at the mic and simply read both of my lines over and over until I was comfortable that we had at least one good reading of both lines to work with. My partner then did the same. When we loaded our tracks into Adobe Audition, we set to editing them down and applying effects. Our target was to end up with a 30 second spot. Our script called for part of it to be read in a 'monster truck voice' so we added an echo effect to that part. To all the dialog - including the 'monster truck' spot - we added a filter that gave kind of a tinny sound quality to our voices - Audition calls it 'Supermarket Speaker.' Once we were done adding the music bed and the effects, we had what I thought was a very professional sounding commercial - especially for our first attempt!
After a short break, we switched to the AVID class and learned quite a bit about editing effects into our video packages. It is pretty amazing what we can do with one or two clicks of a mouse! While this portion of our day was not hands-on, it was great to see AVID in action.
Because one of our number was absent, we had 8 in our group. We were further paired off and presented with sample scripts to use for our commercial. Because we had four pairs and only two studios, we had to take turns in the studio. While we waited our turn, we searched the files for sound effects and music beds to play behind the dialog. Once in the studio, my partner and I took turns at the mic reading our parts of the script. I had the 1st and 3rd line and my partner had the 2nd and 4th. I went first at the mic and simply read both of my lines over and over until I was comfortable that we had at least one good reading of both lines to work with. My partner then did the same. When we loaded our tracks into Adobe Audition, we set to editing them down and applying effects. Our target was to end up with a 30 second spot. Our script called for part of it to be read in a 'monster truck voice' so we added an echo effect to that part. To all the dialog - including the 'monster truck' spot - we added a filter that gave kind of a tinny sound quality to our voices - Audition calls it 'Supermarket Speaker.' Once we were done adding the music bed and the effects, we had what I thought was a very professional sounding commercial - especially for our first attempt!
After a short break, we switched to the AVID class and learned quite a bit about editing effects into our video packages. It is pretty amazing what we can do with one or two clicks of a mouse! While this portion of our day was not hands-on, it was great to see AVID in action.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
A Great Finale to a Great Week!
Yes, I am aware that today is only Thursday, so it might seem a bit odd that I am claiming this week to be over. However, my classes at the CT School of Broadcasting run from Monday through Thursday. So my second full week of classes is now in the books.
This week started off with us continuing our on-hands learning of Adobe Audition. Next, we moved on to working with both AVID and Final Cut Pro for editing video footage. I have done some editing of some videos that I shot with my personal camcorder, but the software I have is nothing compared to what AVID and Final Cut Pro can do! I am really looking forward to getting in and really working with these two programs.
In addition to our exploration of AVID and Final Cut Pro, we were introduced to NexGen - the software used by radio stations for programing their daily play lists.
Today was the icing on the cake! Today we spent time in one of the radio studios doing some work with NexGen and doing some talk-over work. Our instructor, Kevin Johnson (no relation) from Mix 93.1, had us head into the studio one at a time and take a turn performing a 'talk break' on mic. We can't actually broadcast over the air from this studio, but the others in the class can hear what we do. Most of us in the class (we number only 19, total) were pretty excited about getting into the studio.
Following our foray into the studio, we switched gears. Our instructor for the second half of our class was Joe Zone, the sports director for WFSB in Hartford. Joe threw a lot of great information our way - though I didn't have to take a lot of notes. The next time that we meet with Joe Zone we will be getting on camera and doing our own sports broadcast.
This week started off with us continuing our on-hands learning of Adobe Audition. Next, we moved on to working with both AVID and Final Cut Pro for editing video footage. I have done some editing of some videos that I shot with my personal camcorder, but the software I have is nothing compared to what AVID and Final Cut Pro can do! I am really looking forward to getting in and really working with these two programs.
In addition to our exploration of AVID and Final Cut Pro, we were introduced to NexGen - the software used by radio stations for programing their daily play lists.
Today was the icing on the cake! Today we spent time in one of the radio studios doing some work with NexGen and doing some talk-over work. Our instructor, Kevin Johnson (no relation) from Mix 93.1, had us head into the studio one at a time and take a turn performing a 'talk break' on mic. We can't actually broadcast over the air from this studio, but the others in the class can hear what we do. Most of us in the class (we number only 19, total) were pretty excited about getting into the studio.
Following our foray into the studio, we switched gears. Our instructor for the second half of our class was Joe Zone, the sports director for WFSB in Hartford. Joe threw a lot of great information our way - though I didn't have to take a lot of notes. The next time that we meet with Joe Zone we will be getting on camera and doing our own sports broadcast.
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