Learn how to work with audio in Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro isn’t just a top-tier video editing software; it also excels in audio production. With powerful audio tools and seamless integration with Adobe Audition, Premiere Pro brings professional-level sound design directly into your editing suite.
Unlike other NLEs where audio features might feel secondary, editing audio in Premiere Pro using it's built-in tools, like the Essential Sound Panel and Auto Ducking, allow you to mix, edit, and enhance audio right inside the software. Let’s explore some of Premiere Pro's standout audio features and see how they can elevate your projects!
Adding Audio Tracks in Adobe Premiere Pro
To start, import your media by going to the Project panel, and selecting "Import media". You can also press file > import or the shortcut Ctrl+I. Choose the files you want and drag them onto your timeline.
To add a new audio track, right-click on an existing track in the timeline and select “Add Track.” For ambient sounds, sound effects, or music, use a stereo or 5.1 surround track. For dialogue, a mono track is usually ideal as it keeps vocals centered and clear, reducing unwanted noise across the stereo field.
Adjusting Audio Levels in Premiere Pro
To change the volume of an audio track in Adobe Premiere Pro, use the volume slider in the Audio Track Mixer panel. Each mixer channel is labeled with its corresponding track from the timeline. For adjusting the volume of a single clip, select the clip on the timeline and modify its volume in the "Effect Controls" panel. Open this panel by selecting the clip and navigating to the top of the screen.
Accessing the Audio Mixer in Premiere Pro
To access more advanced audio editing capabilities, open the Audio Track Mixer by going to the "Window" menu and selecting "Audio Track Mixer." This will allow you to adjust levels, add effects, and manage multiple audio tracks more effectively.
Separating Audio from Video in Premiere Pro
When you import a video with attached audio into Adobe Premiere Pro, the audio and video are linked by default. To unlink them, right-click on the clip in the timeline and select “Unlink.” Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl+L to link or unlink audio and video on a selected clip.
Recording Audio in Premiere Pro
To record audio from a microphone in Adobe Premiere Pro, start by creating a new mono audio track in your timeline. Then, open the Audio Track Mixer panel, find the track you want to record to, Choose Input, and then select your microphone from the input options. You can also record directly to an audio track by clicking the microphone button
Once your input is set, click the Arm for Record (R) button on the track to enable recording. Begin recording by pressing the Play button in the timeline, and your audio will be captured directly onto the selected track.
Zooming In and Out in Premiere Pro
To get a closer look at your audio waveforms in Adobe Premiere Pro, use the Zoom tools. You can zoom in and out on the timeline by holding the Alt key (Option on Mac) and scrolling with your mouse wheel.
To further control your audio, enable the Gain Line by clicking the wrench icon in the timeline panel and selecting “Show Audio Keyframes.” This will display a changeable gain line on each audio clip, allowing you to adjust the volume by clicking and dragging the line up or down directly on the waveform.
Fading audio files In and Out in Premiere Pro
To fade audio in or out, hover over the top corner of the audio clip in the timeline until you see a fade handle, then click and drag it to set the desired fade length. Alternatively, select the clip and use the Effect Controls panel to adjust the fade duration directly.
Crossfading two audio files in Adobe Premiere Pro
To create a crossfade between two audio clips in Adobe Premiere Pro, make sure the clips are aligned next to each other on the timeline. Then, open the Effects panel and locate the Audio Transitions folder.
Drag either the Constant Power or Exponential Fade transition to the point where the two clips meet to create a smooth crossfade effect.
Once the crossfade is applied, you can adjust its duration by clicking on the transition in the timeline and dragging its edges to extend or shorten it. To set a new default duration for all future transitions, navigate to Edit > Preferences > Timeline, and change the Audio Transition Default Duration to your desired length. This allows you to customize how transitions are applied across your project, ensuring they fit the specific needs of your audio design.
This process makes it easy to blend two audio clips seamlessly, enhancing the overall flow and cohesiveness of your audio track.
Premiere Pro audio effects - EQ
To add eq to an audio track in Adobe Premiere Pro, select the audio clip in the timeline and navigate to the Effect Controls panel. From there, find the Audio Effects section and apply the Parametric Equalizer effect.
Open the Edit button next to the effect to access the equalizer settings and adjust the frequency bands as needed.
To add a low-cut filter and remove unwanted bass frequencies, enable the low-cut option by checking the appropriate box and adjust the frequency slider to set the cut-off point to your desired level. There are a number of eq audio effects in premiere pro to explore, each with different results, but the Parametric EQ is a flexible and easy to use starting point
Audio compression in Adobe Premiere
To apply compression to an audio track in Adobe Premiere Pro, select your clip in the timeline and go to the Effect Controls panel. Add the Dynamics effect from the Audio Effects section. Click the Edit button next to the effect to open the dynamics controls, where you can enable and adjust the compressor settings.
To apply basic compression, enable the Compressor toggle, set the Threshold to around -20dB, adjust the Ratio to 3.0:1, and use the Make-Up Gain slider to boost the output level by 3.0dB. Use the visual meter to see how the compression affects your audio.
Spatial Audio in Adobe Premiere Pro
To adjust the stereo field of your audio in Adobe Premiere Pro, select the audio clip and go to the Effect Controls panel. Look for the Panner controls within the audio track settings.
Use the Pan slider to move your audio from left to right across the stereo field. You can also adjust the Balance controls to bring audio closer or farther away. Additionally, modify the Spread parameter to widen or narrow your audio placement within the stereo field, creating a more immersive listening experience.
Adding external effects in Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro allows you to use third-party plugins in your audio effects chain. To set this up, go to Edit > Preferences > Audio and navigate to the Audio Plugin Manager. From there, you can add directories for Premiere Pro to scan for any installed third-party plugins and enable them from the list of available plugins.
Once scanned and enabled, you can add these plugins to any audio track by opening the Audio Track Mixer, clicking the Effects dropdown menu, and selecting your desired plugin.
Get Stuck in with audio in Premiere Pro
In Adobe Premiere Pro, you have a wide range of tools to enhance and refine your audio. From adjusting volume and panning to using external plugins, Premiere Pro offers a comprehensive set of audio features that can rival standalone DAWs. Easily apply EQ, compression, and spatial effects directly within your timeline, and take advantage of third-party plugins to expand your creative possibilities. Whether you're fine-tuning dialogue or creating an immersive soundscape, Premiere Pro’s audio capabilities provide flexibility and control to achieve professional results right within your video editing workflow.