Effects

[Anoel]

So I have a source that fits the song I want and I hear all these cool things in the music that I want to visually represent. Problem is, I'm not sure exactly how to show that using the various effects there are (I'm using Adobe Premiere 6.5). I'm wondering how do people here decide what they will use in terms of effects and other techniques that match the source with the music. All input would be great.

[silver_moon]

It's not such a good idea to use an effect just because Premiere has it. So don't base your effects ideas just on what's listed in the filters.

What I like doing is first imagining what I want the video to look like. Then I figure out how to make it look that way in Premiere. It's possible to do anything if you're willing to do frame-by-frame editing and/or spend a long time to make your vid look a certain way. Try combining multiple filters or transparencies to get it to look the way you want.

So yeah, let your imagination decide what effects to do, and not the editing program.

[requiett]

It's not such a good idea to use an effect just because Premiere has it.

You probably speak from experience. :p

The way I come to decide on FX (Yeah, I'm a total fucking FX whore) is by hours upon hours of just fucking around with gazillions of random settings. By sheer process of elimination and combining things, you're sure to come across something you like... if you have the time for it.

If you really want to focus on FX, you should consider just getting Adobe After Effects. Regardless of the people here who seem intent upon bashing it and saying they can do shit just as well in stuff like Vegas, it's a very professional quality tool. Personally, I think a lot of these guys just can't get it to work, and gave up on it.

[Niotex]

lol@requiett

asfor my methode well i always have an idea in my head for what i want it to look like then i just think how am i gonna do that and what scenes am i gonna use for that. asfor stand alone FX i dont do very much besides enhancing the image to match the sound =) i always try to let the video have sound of its own so to say. I usaly just stick with lighting and colouring stuff and when i use "real fx" i most of the time just grab photoshop. asfor AE its a composing program if i were you i would use it to enhance your video after you did it in premiere cause AE tents to be a little to hard to actualy edite and montage with =/ and if you want to go realy pro you could use Avid wich owns =) its just to fucking hard to learn...

a good FX methode you might wanna learn is masking and scalling =) just look it up in the guides or something cause i dont realy feel like xplaining it all and next to that i dont do it very often

[godix]

Just copy Euphoria and toss in lots of lens flares and flashes. Oh yeah, and starwipes. If you look at the top 10% list you'll find this is obviously the path to fame, assuming you use Naruto of FMA of course.

[genestarwind21122]

Just copy Euphoria and toss in lots of lens flares and flashes. Oh yeah, and starwipes. If you look at the top 10% list you'll find this is obviously the path to fame, assuming you use Naruto of FMA of course.

Can't forget about the dancing Vash lol.

Serious though effects aren't everything in a video. Use effects that you think that will help your video to tell a story. For example have a video black and white during dramatic parts, where the music is slow then the music kicks up and change it over to color. Basically you'll find effects that you'll like when you experiment with them. There are no set ways to use special effects. Use what effects seem approirate and help your video, not eye candy.

Gene Starwind 21122

[Mr Pilkington]

Here's an idea:

Make a REALLY bad ass video sans tricks. Time it to the last beat and don't bother with "effects" until the very end. Focus on a specific plot or point of the anime and/or the song used and exploit that to its fullest. Next watch it 3 times and pay close attention jotting down all of the minor quirks you saw in the video. Next show it to 5 friends or have established .org members (not noobs) beta test the video for you with detailed opinions and suggestions. If at that point you are not 100% satisfied that you video will beat all, start over from square one. Effects don't mean shit if you can't time and edit first.

[bum]

Ok how about this. I show you some realy fancy effects that look totoaly awsome. Then you ask me to teach you how to do them. Then I tell you to go to hell because if you cant figure out how to do them yourself your going to waste them on on some hopelessly edited vid.

[Mr Pilkington]

.....Then I tell you to go to hell because if you cant figure out how to do them yourself your going to waste them on on some hopelessly edited vid.

That's a bit harsh. Especially after watching your 7LR track again
I like a softer touch. Master the basics, then learn to koop. Besides, it's not all about canned fx; matting and keyframing are imperative for truly great videos.
After all you wouldn't jump feet first behind the driver's wheel and expect to master drifting and accelerator/clutch control. It takes time and practice to effectively master all things worth while. Otherwise you become a NASCAR driver: only able to make right turns and listen to country music.

[Scintilla]

I'm wondering how do people here decide what they will use in terms of effects and other techniques that match the source with the music. All input would be great.

I find something that looks cool and fits the music, then I use it.

Sometimes this involves poking around my NLE to see what cool stuff it can do that I haven't tried playing with yet.
You would be surprised how well this can work.