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title: Adobe Premiere Resource
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# Getting Started with Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro: A Guide for Students

![alt text](https://files.slack.com/files-pri/T0HTW3H0V-F03UCTX7XUK/man-with-a-movie-camera-scissors.jpeg?pub_secret=3b3cd388b5)

This resource introduces some **basic video and audio editing moves** in Adobe Premiere Pro, provides links to **helpful tutorials**, and highlights **considerations to keep in mind early in your project** so editing is smoother later.

If you have not already done so, [download the Adobe Creative Cloud and install Adobe Premiere.](https://hackmd.io/gwYg4xWdT6yLcSBF0eXBKg) 

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## 0. Setting Up Your Workspace & Panels

Premiere Pro is highly customizable. You don’t need to use the default layout — you can open, close, and rearrange panels depending on the task at hand. Knowing how to do this early will make editing smoother.

### Workspaces
- Go to the top menu: *Window → Workspaces*.
- Common presets:
  - **Editing** (default, balanced for most tasks)
  - **Color** (focuses on Lumetri Color panel for grading)
  - **Audio** (shows mixing and effects tools)
  - **Graphics** (highlights Essential Graphics for text and motion design)
- To reset if things look different: *Window → Workspaces → Reset to Saved Layout*.
- To keep your setup: *Window → Workspaces → Save as New Workspace*.

> **Tip:** Start in **Editing** while you’re learning, then switch as you take on specialized tasks.

### Opening Essential Panels
Sometimes, important tools aren’t visible until you open their panels. You can access any panel from the *Window* menu. A few you’ll likely need:

- **Effects** (Window → Effects)  
  Use this to apply transitions and video/audio effects.
  
- **Essential Graphics** (Window → Essential Graphics)  
  For creating and customizing text and titles.
  
- **Lumetri Color** (Window → Lumetri Color)  
  For adjusting brightness, contrast, and color.
  
- **Audio Track Mixer** (Window → Audio Track Mixer)  
  Useful for balancing levels across an entire track.
  
- **Media Browser** (Window → Media Browser)  
  A reliable way to import media and avoid broken links.

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## 1. Basic Video Editing Moves

- **Importing Media**
  - Use the **Media Browser** panel to import clips.
  - Keep all media organized in one folder on your computer before importing. **This is very important!** Premiere will be unable to open your project file if the media you import moves locations on your computer. 

- **Creating a Sequence**
  - Right-click a clip → *New Sequence from Clip*.
  - Or: manually set resolution (1080p, 4K) and frame rate (24, 30, 60 fps).

- **Basic Cuts**
  - **Razor Tool (C)**: Split clips at the playhead.
  - **Trim Tool**: Hover over the edge of a clip to shorten/extend.

- **Moving and Rearranging**
  - **Selection Tool (V)**: Drag and drop clips on the timeline.
  - Use snapping (toggle with **S**) to align edits quickly.

- **Titles & Text**
  - Use the **Type Tool (T)** in the Program Monitor.
  - Customize with the *Essential Graphics* panel.

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## 1.5 Working with Effects

Effects let you change how your clips look or sound. You’ll mainly use the **Effects panel** and **Effect Controls panel** together.

### Adding Effects
- Open the *Effects* panel (*Window → Effects*).
- Browse **Video Effects**, **Audio Effects**, or **Video Transitions**.
- Drag the desired effect onto a clip in the Timeline.

### Adjusting Effects
- Select the clip → open the *Effect Controls* panel (*Window → Effect Controls*).
- Every applied effect will appear here with adjustable settings.
- Examples:
  - **Cross Dissolve**: drag between two clips → duration can be adjusted in *Effect Controls*.
  - **Gaussian Blur**: adjust blurriness level with a slider.
  - **Lumetri Color**: tweak exposure, contrast, or saturation.

### Keyframing Effects
- Many effect properties have a stopwatch icon.
- Click the stopwatch to create a **keyframe** (marks a value at a specific point in time).
- Move the playhead and change the value → Premiere will animate the change.
- Example: zooming into an image by increasing *Scale* over time.

> **Tip:** Think of the *Effects* panel as your “toolbox” and *Effect Controls* as your “control room.”

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## 1. Basic Video Editing Moves

- **Importing Media**
  - Use the **Media Browser** panel to import clips (avoids path issues).
  - Keep all media organized in one folder on your computer before importing.

- **Creating a Sequence**
  - Right-click a clip → *New Sequence from Clip* (ensures correct settings).
  - Or: manually set resolution (1080p, 4K) and frame rate (24, 30, 60 fps).

- **Basic Cuts**
  - **Razor Tool (shortcut key: C)**: Split clips at the playhead.
  - **Trim Tool**: Hover over the edge of a clip, then click and drag to shorten/extend.

- **Moving and Rearranging**
  - **Selection Tool (shortcut key: V)**: Drag and drop clips on the timeline.
  - Use snapping (toggle with **S**) to align edits quickly.

- **Transitions**
  - Go to *Effects* → *Video Transitions* → drag onto the cut.
  - Cross Dissolve is the most common for video.

- **Titles & Text**
  - Use the **Type Tool (T)** directly in the Program Monitor.
  - Customize with the *Essential Graphics* panel.

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## 2. Basic Audio Editing Moves

- **Volume Adjustments**
  - Use the **audio track keyframes** (pen tool) to fade audio in/out.
  - Drag the audio line up or down to change volume quickly.

- **Audio Transitions**
  - Apply *Constant Power* from the *Audio Transitions* menu for smooth fades.

- **Balancing Sound**
  - Keep dialogue around **-6dB to -12dB**.
  - Avoid peaking above 0dB (red levels in the meter).

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### Syncing Audio & Video in Premiere

There are several ways to sync audio and video depending on how you recorded your footage:

1. **Manual Sync (Clap/Slate Method)**
   - Place video and audio tracks on the timeline.
   - Zoom in on the clap/slate spike in the waveform.
   - Drag audio until the spike aligns with the visual clap.
   - Once synced, **link** the video and audio (right-click → *Link*).

2. **Automatic Sync (Synchronize Command)**
   - Select the video and audio clips in the timeline or Project panel.
   - Right-click → *Synchronize* → choose **Audio**.
   - Premiere analyzes the waveforms and aligns them automatically.
   - Works best with clear, distinct dialogue or claps.

3. **Merge Clips (Good for Organized Projects)**
   - In the Project panel, select the video + external audio file.
   - Right-click → *Merge Clips*.
   - Choose sync by **Audio** or **Timecode**.
   - Creates a new “merged clip” with video + synced audio combined.
   - Useful if you want a single asset to edit with (instead of keeping separate audio tracks).

4. **Timecode Sync (Professional Shoots)**
   - If your camera and recorder were jam-synced to the same timecode:
     - Select video + audio in the Project panel.
     - Right-click → *Merge Clips* → sync by **Timecode**.
   - This gives frame-accurate syncing with no manual alignment needed.

5. **Transcript + Text-Based Editing (newer AI-driven workflow)**

- If your A-roll (main video source) has dialogue, **auto-transcribe it** (`Window → Text → Transcript`).  
- In the **Transcript panel**, you can align sections of speech with B-roll (smaller clips or insert shots) by **cutting sections directly**.  
- Then just **drag B-roll over those cut sections** to illustrate what’s being said.  

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**Best Practice:**  
- Always record a **slate or clap** at the start of each take.  
- If possible, keep your camera’s onboard audio recording (even if low quality) — it helps Premiere sync waveforms automatically.  
- After syncing, **link** the tracks so they stay together when you edit.

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## 4. Adobe Premiere Tutorials

- [Adobe Premiere Pro Beginner Tutorial (Adobe)](https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/tutorials.html)
- [Premiere Pro for Beginners – Full Course (FreeCodeCamp)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hls3Tp7JS8E)
- [Premiere Pro Audio Editing Basics (Adobe)](https://www.adobe.com/learn/premiere-pro?topic=audio&learnIn=1)
- [Essential Graphics & Titles in Premiere (Adobe)](https://www.adobe.com/learn/premiere-pro?topic=titles&learnIn=1)

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<h2>
    5. Related Resources
</h2>

* **Guide for Making Film Storyboards** [Storyboarding Resource](/4263I1usRp6425Sia5fssg)