How to make ANYTHING React to Music & Audio in Adobe After Effects! (CC Tutorial)

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of making visual elements react to music and audio in Adobe After Effects. By following these steps, you'll learn how to create dynamic animations that respond to audio frequencies, enhancing your projects with captivating visuals. This technique is useful for video editing, music videos, and presentations.

Step 1: Import Your Audio and Create a Composition

1. Open Adobe After Effects.
2. Import your audio file:
   • Go to File > Import > File...
   • Select the audio file you want to use.
3. Create a new composition:
   • Click on Composition > New Composition.
   • Set the desired resolution and duration based on your project needs.

Step 2: Create a Solid Layer for Visualization

1. Add a solid layer:
   • Go to Layer > New > Solid.
   • Choose a color that will represent your audio visualization.
2. Name the solid layer something identifiable, like "Audio Visualizer".

Step 3: Apply Audio Spectrum Effect

1. With the solid layer selected, apply the Audio Spectrum effect:
   • Go to Effect > Generate > Audio Spectrum.
2. In the Effect Controls panel, link the audio to the effect:
   • Find the Audio Layer dropdown and select your imported audio file.

Step 4: Adjust Spectrum Settings

1. Customize the appearance of the audio spectrum:
   • Set Start Point and End Point to define where the spectrum will appear on the screen.
   • Adjust Maximum Height to control how high the spectrum bars rise.
2. Modify the colors:
   • Change Inside Color and Outside Color to fit your project's aesthetic.

Step 5: Animate Other Elements Using Audio

1. Create or import the elements you want to animate (e.g., text, shapes).
2. Add an expression to link the animation to the audio:
   • Alt-click (or Option-click on Mac) on the property you want to animate (e.g., Scale, Position).
   • Enter an expression like this for scaling:

     temp = thisComp.layer("Audio Visualizer").effect("Audio Spectrum")("Both Channels");
     [100 + temp * 2, 100 + temp * 2]
     

   • This expression scales the element based on the audio frequency.

Step 6: Fine-tune Your Animation

1. Preview your composition:
   • Press the spacebar to play back the animation with the audio.
2. Adjust the properties as needed to achieve the desired look and feel:
   • Experiment with different effects and settings to enhance your visuals.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned how to make visual elements react to music and audio in Adobe After Effects. By importing audio, applying the Audio Spectrum effect, and linking other elements to audio frequencies, you can create engaging and dynamic animations. Explore further by experimenting with various effects and settings to craft unique visual experiences. Happy animating!