How to Sync Audio in Premiere Pro? – Beginners Tutorial
Struggling to sync audio in Premiere Pro? In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we’ll show you the simplest and most effective ways to perfectly align your audio and video. Whether you’re working with external audio or fixing sync issues, this guide will help you streamline your editing process. Let’s get started!
This video is from our Videography for Beginners Course.
Video Summary:
This tutorial compares the process of syncing external audio (recorded separately) with video footage in two different editing programs: Adobe Premiere Pro and a cheaper alternative.
In Adobe Premiere Pro, syncing is automatic and effortless. The user simply selects the video clip (with its poor built-in audio) and the separate high-quality audio file, right-clicks, and selects “Synchronize.” The software automatically aligns them using the audio waveforms in just one click.
The host then demonstrates the much more manual and tedious process required in a cheaper editing software (Movie Video Suit). Without automatic syncing or visible audio waveforms, you must manually line up the clips by sight and sound, which is inefficient and prone to error.
The video concludes with a crucial tip: when choosing editing software, prioritize finding one with automatic audio/video syncing to save significant time. A helpful trick for manual syncing is to clap at the start of a take, creating a visible spike in the audio waveforms of both tracks to align them.
Timestamps:
0:31 – Introduces Adobe Premiere Pro as the industry-standard software for this task.
1:50 – Imports the video clip (with its low-quality, in-camera audio) and the separate, high-quality external audio file into the Premiere Pro timeline.
3:25 – Automatic Syncing in Premiere Pro: Selects both clips, right-clicks, chooses “Synchronize,” and the software perfectly aligns them automatically.
4:15 – Stresses that automatic syncing is a critical feature to look for in any editing software.
5:21 – Switches to a cheaper editing software (Movie Video Suit) that lacks automatic syncing.
6:01 – Begins the manual syncing process, which involves muting the camera audio and trying to align the external audio by listening and watching for visual cues.
7:35 – After a “painful” manual attempt, finally achieves sync, highlighting the inefficiency compared to Premiere Pro.
8:20 – Offers a pro tip for manual syncing: Clap your hands at the start of a recording. This creates a sharp spike in the audio waveform of both tracks, providing a clear marker to align them, similar to a filmmaker’s clapperboard.
9:18 – Reiterates the core advice: Choose editing software that offers automatic audio/video synchronization whenever possible.
