AUDIO VISUALby Gail Stent APSNZ

WHAT IS AN AUDIO

VISUAL (AV)?AV’s are a combination of Photographs, Video and Audio that tell a story.

• Video gives us a chance to see movement and to hear.

• Photos give us an opportunity to study a single moment in time.

• Audio bridges the gap and provides atmosphere.

What do you need?

• Camera

• An audio recorder (if you want to record voice or sounds)

• Music

• Editing software

Editing Software

If you have a computer you have software:

Mac

• iMovie (free)

PC’s

• Windows Movie Maker

Other software that you can use: • FotoMagico

• iPhoto (free)

• Windows Movie Maker (free)

• Proshow Gold

• Proshow Producer

• Proshow Web

• Adobe Lightroom

• Pictures ToExe

• Adobe Premier Elements • Final Cut Pro • Apple Aperture

• + many other free and paid programs

Audio software

• Garage Band (Mac)

• Audacity (free to download)

Key components for an AV:

An effective AV will have unity of the three elements - the storyline, the visuals and the audio.

1.Interesting storyline - keep the interest beginning to end.

2.Good quality photographs

3.Music/audio to suit the theme/story

4.Not too long!!!

1. Photographs

• Selection - select those to go into the AV - don't select too many!! - Use Lightroom Collections

• Post production - needs to be done before the AV is startedSame processing on all images.

• Sorting - the order they are presented

• First image - sets the theme/ story - choose carefully.

• Last image - is the conclusion - shows the end of the story

• When taking photos for an AV it’s important to get wide overview shots as well as close up detail shots

• Take a lot of photos - of everything - detail is NB. - you’ll need about 20 - 30 images for a 1 minute AV.

• Change perspective and take shots from different angles.

2. The Story - what do you need?

• Theme: An AV is all about telling a story - make it interesting.

• Why: why are you telling this story - what is the interest? You need to keep the viewer’s attention from beginning to end.

• Structure: Have a beginning/introduction to set the sceneDevelop the middle section to carry the story. Finish with a end that is conclusive to your story.

• Setting: Location sets the background for the theme/ the story.

3. Music and Audio

• You can select one or more pieces of music.

• If one piece of music, it acts as background music.

• If more than one, then you can cut and edit the music either:- before inserting into the AV- or edit while you are making the AV

• Some software allows you to build multiple tracks over one another that gets flattened in export (like Photoshop)

• Be careful of copyright!!!!

• You need a good quality microphone

• I use a “RODE SmartLav" (lapel microphone) plugged into my iPhone with a “RODE Rec" app for recording.

• You can record voiceover (don’t have distracting background noises e.g. Cicadas, traffic, etc)

• or you can record nature or city sounds.

Other Audio:

How to compile an AV

• Photographs - the order of presentation

• Transitions - between slides/photos

• Movement - panning, Ken Burns, etc

• Titles

• Credits at the end - photographer, music, AV production.

• Time: 3.5 - 4 min is a good time. Don't go over 5 min.

• Slide timing: anything from 0.1 to 10 seconds.

• You can start by importing your audio track

• Then you can import images - either all of them together or place them one at a time.

• If your audio has a rhythmic beat, then use this to switch from image to image.

• Match your detailed shots with the detail in the music.

Exporting your av

• Export to the highest quality.

• Upload to Vimeo or YouTube directly via softwareOR export to your hard drive and then upload later.

• File format for exporting to computer: mp4

How to make an AV in iMovie:

Click “File - New Movie”

Choose “No Theme” and give it a file name

Click: “File - Import Media”. Choose files - Click:“import selected”

Photos and video go into My Media: To add photo to timeline: Click and drag onto Timeline

Add video to timeline - select part of video and drag to Timeline

Click: Audio (from iTunes, or choose). Drag to below the photos/video clips on Timeline

To Split a clip: Right click the clip - choose “Split Clip”

Reposition Clip: Click and drag

Add a Title: Click and drag to place. Type your title over the highlighted part

Add Transition: Click and Drag + Double click to change duration

Settings tab: Can change theme, fade in and out with black, change clip size

Editing Photos: Movement, Colour, Rotation, etc

Add a background: Backgrounds - choose - click and drag - change timing

OverLay a Title: Click and drag to position and change duration.

Fade Music (and Video): click and drag side inwards.

Detach Audio and change volume: 3. OR Drag volume

line downwards1. Right click - “detach audio”

2. Can then DELETE

the detached Audio

Share (export) your AV: Click the Share button and choose option

Save File to Hard Drive: Choose Resolution, Quality and Compression

Select the Folder to save file, then click “Save”

Wait! - watch the progress circle

What can we do with AV’s:

• Personal use and viewing with family and friends - Use AV’s for sport events, weddings, concerts, holidays, birthday parties, ceremonies, etc

• YouTube, Vimeo, Websites, Social Media

• Competition

Competitions:

• Tauranga Audio Visual Salon - closes 15 June, 2016http://taurangaphoto.org.nz/tga-av-salon/ - General Information - Guidelines & Rules

• Jack Sprosen Memorial Trophy (run by PSNZ): http://www.photography.org.nz/jack_sprosen.html

• Adelaide AV Festival - next one in 2017:http://www.a-p-s.org.au/index.php/exhibition/adelaide-av-fest

• Port Elizabeth Camera Club (South Africa) - closes 15 March 2016 http://pssa.co.za/salons-mainmenu-81/salon-calendar/for-year-ending-june-2016/1120-2016-03-15-pe-camera-club-international-audio-visual-festival-2016

Tauranga Audio-Visual Salon 2016

Opening: 14 AprilClosing: 15 June

Presentation Evening: 6 August

Categories: 1. Theme

2. Documentary

3. Music, Poetry and Song

4. The World of Nature

Typical awards for AV Salons:

1. The Overall winner - a Trophy / Gold medal

2. Top AV in each Category - Silver or Bronze medal

3. Merit Certificate to high scoring AV’s in each category

4. At judges’ discretion - Acceptance certificate

5. Novice Award - never received acceptance or higher in any National AV competition.

Let’s watch some AV’s