New media
Digital storytelling part 3: Creating the piece
By Denise Atchley
 |
Hardware
Hardware refers to the actual computer you will use to create the work. It also encompasses other important items, including scanners and printers. As mentioned in Chapter 3, it is essential to use a computer with enough processing power and hard-drive storage space so you do not become frustrated by slow processing time or run out of space to contain all your materials.
When it comes to computer hardware, "the bigger the better" is generally true. The larger the processor, the faster work can be done; the larger the hard-drive storage space, the more data can be stored and accessed. Luckily, many formats of digital storytelling, including short movies, do not require the biggest, fastest machine.
We recommend and use Apple Computer products in our lab. Apple released its first personal computer in 1984 with the expectation of it being a personal computer for all of us. Its operating system was intuitive, and emphasis was placed less on the computer as a business machine and more on its capabilities as a desktop publishing machine. Apple began focusing on its computers' multimedia capabilities shortly after they were introduced. Early pioneers and creators of digital stories preferred using Apple computers over Windows PCs for this reason—for the first time, nonprofessional producers had access to machines capable of multimedia and video production. Through the years, Apple Computer has continued to place a priority on the multimedia and video production functionality of its machines. Today, the ease of use direct from the box allows even first-time users to achieve remarkable results right from the start.
The KQED/DSI lab is equipped with Apple G4 iBooks, Apple's entry-level laptop, which is capable of handling the digital storytelling method taught in our workshops. Even the smallest version of the iBook with the minimum system specifications is sufficient for digital storytelling. Minimum suggested specifications for the iBook are:
Apple Computer 12" iBook notebook computer
- 1.2 GHz power PC (processor)
- 256 MB SDRAM
- 30 GB hard drive
Hardware and software: Getting your gear together
Windows PC specifications
Windows PC machines can also be used for digital storytelling. If you or your institution prefers Windows PCs, the following minimum specifications are suggested:
- Pentium 4, 2+ GHz processor
- 256 MB SDRAM
- Firewire PCI card
- 30 GB hard drive
Software suggestions
As interest in digital storytelling expands, so do the software application options available to help you tell your story. We use a set of software tools that have become the standard for digital storytelling, but other applications exist that you may wish to consider.
Recommendations for Macintosh and Windows — Image editing
The image editing software of our choice is the Adobe Photoshop series, created by Adobe Systems. Fortunately, Adobe creates identical software for both PC and Macintosh users. Photoshop Elements is recommended for beginners and photography enthusiasts. It offers easy-to-follow "recipes" and quick-fix options. The cost for Photoshop Elements for Macintosh is approximately $90. Moving up the scale in capability, power and price is Photoshop CS, the professional standard for graphic/Web designers and professional photographers. It is an excellent investment if your usage justifies its $650 cost.
Recommendaitons for Macintosh — Video editing
For Apple computer users, our video editing software of choice for the KQED/DSI workshops is iMovie. As mentioned in Chapter 3, iMovie was developed for Macintosh as part of its iLife Suite, a set of integrated software tools for your multimedia lifestyle. iLife is included free with any new Apple computer purchase. The suite may be purchased through Apple Computer retail stores or online at www.Apple.com.
In addition to iMovie, Apple has also created Final Cut Pro Express and Final Cut Pro HD for digital video editing production. Final Cut Pro Express is designed for use by a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced video editors. Its price of approximately $300 makes it an investment for the user who is serious about learning to edit digital video.
Final Cut Pro HD is for advanced or professional-level video editors. It is the standard for many professional nonlinear DV editors; however, it is complex and has a significant learning curve. Final Cut Pro HD retails for about $1,000. Be sure to check your computer's compatibility with the Final Cut Pro Express or Final Cut Pro HD system requirements before you purchase them.
Recommendaitons for Windows — Video editing
Similar to Macintosh's Final Cut Pro Express and Final Cut Pro are software options created by Adobe Systems for nonlinear editing, suitable for beginners and enthusiasts as well as professionals using Windows computers.
Adobe Premiere Express is a relatively new application offering ease of use for home video editing. It sells for about $99. Adobe Premiere Pro is the real-time nonlinear video editing solution for professionals and sells for approximately $699. Remember to verify your system requirements to run these applications. XP, Window's newest operating system, also includes a moviemaking application, appropriately called MovieMaker. Another software editing option is Pinnacle's Studio 9. Both of these applications are entry level, but they contain enough features to cover the basics.
By this point in the DSI workshop, you should have completed digitizing all of the still photographs, artwork and video you plan to use in your piece. You should also have completed all image enhancements on your photographs and artwork, the final draft of your story as well as recorded your script in Sound Studio. All of these assets, still images, video clips and voiceover narration should be imported into iMovie. We will now move to the next phase of production—creating the final story—by editing the video and audio together in iMovie.
If you have never edited video before, the concept is relatively simple. Even if you have never consciously thought about it, you have been exposed to editing just by watching television or a feature film. Editing video on a computer is the process of combining the material or assets you have available as digital files into a cohesive piece that plays from beginning to end.
Using a digital (nonlinear) editing program allows you to access your material instantly, and repeatedly if desired. The video editing process calls for a number of decision-making factors that are aesthetic, including clip length and timing, transitions from one clip to another, special effects, titles, and audio and voiceover balance. The next time you watch a movie, commercial or TV program, pay attention to the length of a clip or scene before a change is made. Watch how the transition from one image to the next was made — was it a straight "cut" or a dissolve from one clip into the next? By observing how various transitions are utilized, you will become aware how different aesthetics contribute to a particular mood or feel. Also pay attention to the effect that music has on the piece, and how a change of music can often elicit an emotion as you watch the accompanying video.
Editing in iMovie
Whenever you begin to work with a new piece of software, it is good practice to review all of the pull-down menus to see what functions are available as well as review the layout or interface. iMovie has a simple interface structure comprised of three elements: the Shelf, the Timeline and the Monitor. You will work with these three areas to create your digital story.
Tip: Working in iMovie will require as much available space on your computer screen as possible. Move the operating system dock to the left-hand side of your screen for maximum working space.
Editing video
The Clips Pane is the location where all of your images (photos, artwork and video clips) are stored for use in your movie. Each image you import into iMovie drops into a square, and you can scroll up and down through the clips to locate a desired image. Think of this area like you would a shelf in your kitchen cabinet; each time you need an ingredient, you return to the shelf to access the material.
The Timeline is the location where you arrange your material in a desired order, add the music and narration as well as transitions and special effects to create your movie. The Timeline has three tracks available in which to work. The top track is where the visual clips are assembled; the lower two are for audio. For our needs, we will use one audio track for the voiceover and a second for soundtrack and sound effects.
The Timeline has two "views" available in which to work. The Clip view (represented by a film clip located just above the Timeline) allows you to see your movie as it is arranged clip by clip; the Timeline view (located next to the film clip, represented by a small clock image) allows you to see the duration times for each of your placed media and transitions. You can adjust the Zoom setting in the Timeline view to visualize your work in more or less detail. Both the Clip and Timeline views are useful; once you begin working in iMovie, you will find it is necessary to toggle back and forth between them to build your piece.
The Monitor is where you view the playback of the movie. It operates with the same controls as a video tape player and television set. Click the Play button (forward arrow) to view the material assembled in the Timeline. Click the double-left arrow to return to the beginning of the Timeline. Click the arrow within a box to view your movie full-screen on your computer screen. You will notice that as your movie plays, a vertical line will progress from left to right through the Timeline. Called a Playhead, its position correlates with the video and audio located in the Timeline.
iMovie also contains a Submenu area where buttons allow you to access other functions essential to creating your movie. The Submenu buttons moving left to right are: Clips, Photos, Audio, Titles, Trans (Transitions), Effects and iDVD. Take a moment to click on each button to see what the interface for each function looks like. As mentioned previously, Apple has taken great strides to integrate its multimedia suite of products. You will be able to access other parts of the iLife Suite through these Submenu choices, including iPhoto (from the Photos button), iTunes (from the Audio button) and iDVD (from the iDVD button).
Let's look more closely at each of the Submenu functions:
Clips
When you click on the Clip button, you see the Shelf window. Use the Clip button when you are working in another submenu window and need to return to the items located in the Shelf. iMovie works with a single-track video editing format, so begin building your story by selecting each clip from the Shelf and placing them next to each other in your desired order in the top track of the Timeline. Repeat the process to place still photograph clips and video clips. Once placed into the Timeline, still photographs are considered video—and you can adjust the length of time (called duration) each still photograph will play.
A note about reading time in video:
When we begin editing with images and video clips, it is necessary to understand how video is measured in terms of time. Video is measured in a unit of time called a frame. There are 30 frames of video processed for each second of video; conversely, each frame is one-thirtieth of a second. Video time is read with the following structure: hours:minutes:seconds:frames. A timecode reading of 01:30:12:10 translates as one hour, 30 minutes, 12 seconds and 10 frames. Familiarize yourself with how to read time in video terms because all indicators of time in video editing, including iMovie, are read in this format.
You can change the duration of still images by double clicking on the image in the Timeline and changing the Duration setting. Remember that video editing operates using the measurement of 30 frames per second. Thus, a three- second duration would read 03:00.
Photos
Next is the Photos option. Many students choose to use only still photographs to tell their story. A few thoughtfully chosen photos can bring tremendous emotional impact to a story.
Click on the Photos button on the Submenu and the Photos window will appear. Note how the Photos window is divided into two areas. The lower area provides access to photographs stored in iPhoto; the upper area has settings that allow the effect of motion to be added to still photos. This area is called the Ken Burns Effect.
It is worth noting that Ken Burns relied heavily on the effects of pans and zooms in his inspired documentary film projects to add a sense of motion to still photographs. Much of his subject matter was created prior to the availability of motion pictures. By creating the effect of pushing in or out (zooming) or panning across a subject in a still photograph, Burns could indicate an area of focus or importance and make the photo feel as if it had motion.
To add a zoom or pan to an image, select an image from the Timeline by clicking on it. This will activate the Ken Burns area of the Photos window and your photo will appear in the small window at the top of the Ken Burns Effect area. (Be sure the box titled Ken Burns Effect is checked.) To get used to the controls available in the Ken Burns Effect, first place your cursor over the small screen and notice how it turns into a hand icon, which allows you to move the image around in the screen. Next, have a look at the Zoom slider located beneath the preview screen; this control allows you to set the amount of zoom (push in or out) to an image. Practice moving the slider and see the effect it has on the image. Do the same with the Duration slider. The Duration slider adjusts the numbers of seconds of the zoom or pan and moves from fast to slow (represented by a rabbit for fast and a turtle for slow). Once you feel comfortable using these controls, you are ready to create a Ken Burns Effect!
To create a setting in the Ken Burns Effect, click the Start button and move the Zoom slider to the position where you want the Zoom to begin. For example, if you'd like the move to start with the entire image as it is in the default view, the Zoom setting should be at 1.00 (iMovie sometimes defaults to 1.16). Next, click the Finish button and use the hand tool to locate the destination point for the zoom. You can now change the duration time it takes to complete this zoom. Adjust the Duration of the move until you are satisfied with the results. Setting the duration time of a zoom or pan is a somewhat subjective process, so experiment with various duration settings until you get a sense of what works and feels correct for the pacing of your story.
Look at the results of your setting by clicking the Preview button. If you'd like to see how the move looks in reverse—starting at the ending point—click on the Reverse button.
Click Apply when you are ready to apply the effect in your Timeline. iMovie will render the effect, which may take a little time, so be patient. You can follow the progress of the render by watching the red bar beneath the targeted clip in the Timeline.
Tip: If during the editing process you find the need to import additional images into iMovie, remember to uncheck the Ken Burns box and move the Zoom slider to the far left, at a setting of 1.00 before importing a photograph. This will ensure that it imports with the correct default zoom setting in place.
Audio
As mentioned earlier, the Audio functionality built into iMovie ties directly into the iTunes portion of iLife. This feature makes it particularly easy to add music to your story from your iTunes collection. When you click on the Audio button on the iMovie submenu, the window opens and takes you directly to your iTunes Library. You can search for a specific song and when you have located it, drag the title directly into the Timeline. iMovie will then import the music track, and place it where the Playhead is located. When the music has been successfully imported, a purple audio track will be visible directly beneath the video Timeline. You can now move the audio track forward or back within the Timeline to align it with your movie. As you will soon see, having a soundtrack in place may require adjusting the duration of transitions and titles in order to synchronize them with the music.
There are other ways to import a soundtrack into iMovie if you do not have an iTunes Library. We'll cover these as well as other sound-related issues later in this chapter.
Titles
Using text in your story by creating titles and/or credits is an ideal way to add information and dimension. Text can punctuate your script or, in the absence of a spoken reference, serve as supplemental or aside information. For example, if you are telling a story about your parents' wedding and your script reads, "My parents were married in 1959 on a hot summer day in Biloxi, Mississippi," and the image we see is of a young couple in wedding attire, the addition of text reading "Mom's dress was pale pink" adds subtle information and texture to the story.
The use of credits, particularly crediting yourself as creator of the production, is also very important. You worked hard on this story—be sure to give yourself credit! Also credit any materials you used within your story that you did not create, such as photographs, video or music.
To create titles, click on Titles in the Submenu. The Titles window will appear. Note the style selector in the center of the window and take time to review samples of what each style looks like (samples will play in the small preview screen at the top of the window). There are lots of fun possibilities, but we recommend using them sparingly! Opt instead for titles that are readable and add interest to (not distract from)your story. Some Title styles have the word Multiple included in their description. This means that additional lines of type are available to be added or subtracted using the + or - buttons that are activated when this option is available. A few of the title styles we recommend are: Centered Multiple, Centered Title, Rolling Centered Credits, Rolling Credits, Scrolling Block, Stripe Subtitle, Subtitle and Music Video.
Titles tend to work best when they are added over a solid background (such as black or white) or a still photograph. You can also add titles over video, but keep in mind that while the video is moving, it may seem as if the title is competing for visual attention. Remember, you want titles to add to your story, not distract from it!
To add a title over a black background, be sure to check Over Black in the Titles window. Next, select a Title style—an elegant favorite is Centered Title. Type in your desired text in the fields provided. Change the color of your text by clicking on the color picker and selecting a color. You can also select a typeface from the pull-down menu and increase or decrease the font size by moving the slider from small to large A.
Adjust the speed at which the title moves into place by using the Speed slider. Adjust the amount of time the Title remains in place—its duration—by adjusting the Pause slider. Note that the amount of time your title will play is the sum total of the Speed plus the Pause settings, and the maximum amount of time available is based on the duration of the clip as set in the Timeline. Preview your settings by clicking the Preview button. If the total amount of time of the effect is less than the duration of the clip, the clip will be displayed in two parts in the Timeline, the part where the title effect is applied and the part where no title is in effect.
To add a title over a still image, uncheck the Over Black box and select your desired image by clicking on it in the Timeline. Your selected image will appear in the Preview screen, allowing you to visualize how the title settings will look. When you are satisfied with the title settings you have created, apply them by dragging the title of the effect onto the image in the Timeline. If you created a title over black, drag the name of the title effect into the position you want it to be on the Timeline. iMovie will then render the title into place. Once your title is situated, you may realize you need to shorten or lengthen the amount of time or the color is not quite right. Go back and make changes from the Titles window and update the change in the Timeline by first selecting the target clip to change, then clicking on Update in the Titles window.
Transitions
The next function available on the Submenu bar is Transitions. We touched on the role of transitions briefly at the beginning of this chapter. They are the visual effects that occur as one clip or image ends and another begins. In television programming, transitions go mostly unnoticed, with a straight "cut" being the standard. Feature films use transitions more artfully, often with fade-ins (transitioning from black to image or video) and fade-outs (moving from image or video to black). Feature films use transitions to establish feel and emotion. Some action films use the radial or clock wipe effect to indicate action occurring at a secondary location. We lightheartedly refer to this as the "meanwhile...back at the ranch" transition.
A cross-dissolve is a transition where one image slowly fades away as the next image fades in over a set duration of time. The cross-dissolve, when used in television, primarily indicates a passage of time. The cross-dissolve is visually a very pretty transition and particularly elegant when dissolving between still photographs. In digital storytelling, the cross-dissolve is likely the most frequently used transition.
The process of adding transitions to your digital story is a satisfying and enjoyable part of the production process. Finally, the emotional attitude of your story begins to reveal itself and you can see how the arrangement of music, narration, images and transitions all come together with powerful results.
Click on the Trans button on the Submenu and examine the contents of the transitions window. iMovie has again provided a nice selection of transitions you can use in your story. Spend time previewing the options. We recommend the use of Fade In, Fade Out, Cross-Dissolve, Overlap, Wash In and Wash Out. Also note the slider for adjusting the duration of time a transition takes to complete. Once again, the time duration of a transition is a subjective topic. If you are using a straight-cut transition, there is no time duration; it is instant. If you use cross-dissolve or fade-in and fade-out transitions, you will want to time the duration in accordance with the overall tone or pacing of your story. When you have chosen a transition effect and set the time duration, you are ready to add the transition into place.
Working in the Clip view, drag your desired transition from the Trans window to your desired location between clips on the Timeline. Note that when the transition takes its place and is successfully rendered, it acquires its time duration from the clip before or after, depending on where it is placed. Yes, the transition actually steals time from the clip. This can be a very frustrating aspect of editing in iMovie. You will likely spend time not only placing the transition, but resetting the time duration of the clip. (Reset the time duration by double clicking on the clip and adjusting the time duration field.)
Effects
You've created the order of your story, built the transitions and added motion to still photographs using the Ken Burns Effect. The titles, narration and soundtrack are all in place—your story is almost finished! Now, add a little more visual interest by inserting some special effects.
Upon hearing the words "special effect," what often comes to mind are explosions or high-tech animation. This may not be what you want in your story. Once again, iMovie has created some interesting and useful effects that can add texture and ambience to your story.
Click on the Effects button to open the Effects window. You should begin to recognize the interface by now, as it is similar to all of the other Submenu windows. A preview screen is located at the top along with two duration control sliders, one for Effect In and one for Effect Out. The Preview and Apply buttons are also located in this area. In the middle of the window are the Effects; even some of the names sound enticing!
Click once to select a clip from the Timeline, then click through each of them to see what the effect looks like in the preview screen. Note that each effect may have additional controls and settings available. These extra settings are located in the lower part of the Effects window. When you find an effect you'd like to add to your story, set the duration settings of Effect In and Effect Out to indicate where during the time duration of the clip the effect begins and ends. When ready, add the Effect to your movie by clicking Apply. The Special Effect will render (and may take a minute or so); watch its development on the red progress bar.
Don't be afraid to experiment with special video effects. Sometimes even the most unlikely looking effect can have a surprisingly effective result!
Now that you've learned about the concept and the tools of editing video using iMovie, let's consider the role audio plays in your digital story. Audio, of course, is a primary component of any digital story. Being able to hear the words clearly—without static, distortion or interference—is key to others engaging in your story. Adding a soundtrack to a digital story is one of the really fun and easy-to-do parts of creating your piece. Thoughtfully chosen music can add so much texture and emotion. Knowing how to adjust the volume for best sounding levels is also essential. If your soundtrack is too loud, the narration may be drowned out; if it's too low, little is added but distraction.
Now we'll address the various software available for recording audio plus how to add a soundtrack and sound effects to your piece. We'll also offer direction on how to adjust the levels of soundtrack, effects and narration.
Software options and recommendations
Adding and/or creating audio sounds for your digital story may influence what choice of software you use.
GarageBand
GarageBand is part of the iLife suite of tools and has particular appeal to people with an interest in creating their own compositions from scratch. Using an original piece of music that you have created is desirable because it adds even more or your own creativity and personality to the story and avoids any possible copyright issues. However, we generally do not recommend using GarageBand during the DSI workshops unless you have some previous experience generating original music. GarageBand is not as intuitive as the other tools available in the iLife Suite, so teaching it and creating music in it during the short amount of workshop time available is not practical. If you have access to iLife and prefer to create original music for your story, we recommend working with GarageBand outside of class and bringing in your completed music piece.
Editing audio
iMovie
A second option for recording an audio narration for your digital story is to record directly into iMovie, which has a simple interface for this task. Click on the Audio button of the Submenu and note an area with the word Microphone located in the bottom section of the window. A green levels indicator flickers from ambient sound and shows the microphone is working. Test the microphone further by speaking a few words and watching the green levels rise and fall with your voice.
To record a narration, click the red button to the right of the microphone indicator and speak the desired portion of your script. Record small sections at a time per your script sections. Click the red button again to stop recording. See how iMovie automatically numbers the voice clip and drops it into available space in an audio track. Place the Playhead at the start of the clip and listen to the track. If you like the way it sounds, move it to another area of the track. If you don't like the take, select the clip and press the Delete key. Repeat this process for the remaining audio segments; iMovie will number each clip consecutively.
The ability to record narration in iMovie is adequate for some uses, but it generally does not provide the control necessary for achieving consistent recording results. iMovie allows you to view the audio waveform (a graphical representation of sound) by checking this option under iMovie preferences. iMovie will not allow you to view the waveform and the name of the clip at the same time. We stress the importance of having a consistent-looking waveform throughout the duration of the narration. For this reason, we recommend a third option for audio software: Sound Studio.
Sound Studio
Sound Studio is a shareware application that interfaces well with iMovie. The controls are easy to use and the software offers a viable waveform graphic for you to visualize volume of your narration. Allowing for volume variations that are story driven (the sound of another voice), we recommend keeping the waveform of your narration consistent throughout. Sound Studio allows you to create a new file and record all of your narration in segments consecutively. It lets you build your entire narration in one file, which can then be easily imported by iMovie. We recommend using Sound Studio for its ability to easily edit your audio narration, its waveform feature and integrate seamlessly with iMovie. For detailed instructions on how to record your script using Sound Studio, please refer to "Recording the Script Using Sound Studio" in Chapter 3.
Adding a soundtrack to iMovie
Earlier in this chapter, we discussed how to add a music track to your movie using the Audio submenu button and selecting a track from your iTunes Library. That is one way to add a music track, but what if you don't have an iTunes Library? Like many applications, iMovie offers multiple ways to achieve the same result. In this case, we'll talk about how to add a music track to your story from a CD.
First, insert the CD into the CD drive of the computer. You will see the CD appear on your desktop and iTunes will automatically launch. If you don't know exactly which cut of music to select, use iTunes to listen to the tracks and make your decision. When you have determined which cut to use in your story, import it into iMovie.
To import a track into iMovie, first activate iMovie and choose File > Import. Navigate to the CD located on the desktop. Choose the desired track by double clicking on its name. iMovie will import the track. (Follow the progress by watching the progress bar.) By default, iMovie will place the beginning of the music track at the location where the Playhead is positioned. You can easily move the track forward or back once it has been imported to align with the beginning of your movie.
Adding sound effects
Sound effects can enhance a digital story in much the same way that special video effects do. When sound effects are added in a well-integrated manner, they can be very subtle and natural sounding. By now, your digital story should have an audio track with narration and an audio track with a soundtrack. Try adding some special effects to enhance the audio portion of your piece even further.
To add a special sound effect using iMovie, click on the Audio button located in the Submenu. At the top of the Audio tools window, click on the pull-down menu and choose iMovie Sound Effects.
iMovie has provided two built-in packages of Sound Effects: Skywalker Sound Effects and Standard Sound Effects. Toggle each arrow to view the sound effects associated with each package and the maximum duration time available for each one. To hear what an individual sound effect sounds like, double click on its name. To stop the effect before its maximum duration times out, click once on the name.
Add a sound effect to your Timeline by clicking on the name of the sound effect and dragging it to one of the two audio tracks. Place the sound effect close to the location you wish to hear it play in the piece. When the sound effect is placed in an audio track, it will appear with its name and the entire available time duration. Adjust the amount of time you really want to use the effect by selecting the clip, then placing your mouse either at the beginning or end of the clip. Your cursor will change to a bar with a double arrow. Shorten or expand the duration of the clip by moving the cursor inward or outward. To hear the sound effect, set the Playhead at the location of the effect and press the spacebar. Note that if you placed the sound effect into the same audio track as your soundtrack, you will hear both!
Mixing and adjusting levels
iMovie works with two audio tracks. When we suggest dragging a sound effect into a track that is already occupied by either a soundtrack or voiceover narration, the first question often asked is, "How can one track hold more than one thing?" iMovie audio tracks are capable of layering up to 99 effects or music per track. The challenge is to adjust the volume levels of each effect, music and narration so they can all be heard in correct balance.
To adjust the levels of volume, check the Edit Volume box in the lower section of the Timeline. Clicking on Edit Volume creates a purple rubber-band style volume control in each audio track that is present, including sound effects. Click on any point of the purple line to create an adjustment point. The point will turn yellow and permit you to raise (increase volume) or lower (lower volume) within the track. Working somewhat like a connect-the-dot premise, just raise and lower the point until you are satisfied with volume settings.
On the far right side of the Timeline are three audio-shy track check boxes. Check a box and the corresponding track will have muted audio. This feature can be very useful if you would like to work on the volume settings in the soundtrack and sound effect track without hearing the narration and vice-versa.
Adjust the levels so when played all together, volume is correctly balanced between narration, soundtrack and sound effects. Voice narration should have priority, and the soundtrack should be set lower with sound effects balanced according to intended impact. Editing audio is really fun and you can spend lots of time with many, many nuances. Learn to hear what is playing, and don't be afraid to experiment with different volume settings in order to detect the differences they can make in the way the story is heard.
Our recommended workflow
Now that we've reviewed the components of editing in iMovie, it's time to get to work! There is a method to the madness and a preferable order to putting your story together in iMovie. While in the workshop, we will do our best to keep you on track completing the various parts. From experience, we recommend you work in the following order:
- Place voiceover narration in an audio track.
- Begin ordering clips from the Shelf into Timeline.
- Create titles cards, scrolling text and credits; place in correct position in Timeline.
- Add transitions between clips, titles and credits.
- Add Ken Burns Effect on still photographs.
- Add a soundtrack.
- Add special effects.
- Add sound effects.
- Adjust volume levels of narration, soundtrack and sound effects.
In this package:
Part 1: Finding the experience
Part 2: Telling the story
Part 3: Creating the piece
Part 4: Publishing the work
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| audio_check.jpg | 8.45 KB |
| audio.jpg | 14.01 KB |
| clips_pane.jpg | 18.87 KB |
| effects.jpg | 18.63 KB |
| monitor.jpg | 7.14 KB |
| photos.jpg | 9.63 KB |
| sound_effects.jpg | 9.47 KB |
| submenu.jpg | 4.43 KB |
| timeline.jpg | 5.49 KB |
| titles.jpg | 11.82 KB |
| transitions_1.jpg | 11 KB |
| transitions_2.jpg | 6.55 KB |
| transitions_3.jpg | 10.54 KB |
