How to Synch Music to Video

Kirk Gillock

Kirk Gillock

Rebel with a cause
When shooting a music video how do you synch everything? Do you visually synch the music to the recorded footage (ex: a person singing) in post, or do you use timecode (mathematical solution), or some other way (magic)?

I edited a short video and it took a long time to visually synch everything. Surely their must be a better way to match the music with the recorded footage. How do you suggest doing it?

I haven't fiddled with it too much. But I'm hoping someone can save me the hassle of years and years of trial & error.

"Trial & Error" that would be a great name for a "Law & Order" spin-off. ;D
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

I remember in film school alway's having to check timecode and doing paper edits and blah blah blah. I use vegas for editing and as long as i'm familiar with what's going on I don't have any problem sync sound with the image on the screen so, no I don't use any special software, and I don't think others do. you can drop a marker though a little harder with a music video ( all the different angles). that'll keep an arrow so you can match the video with audio if they get pulled away or moved.
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

I shoot music videos, but P.K. Gillock, are you talking about synching music from a concert-type live production or music to match the video of the band lip-synching?

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

If you start with a master of the song on CD and the artist(s) lipsyncs to the song.  You record the audio from the CD playing while you shoot the video footage.  Load both the footage and the audio master track into your NLE.  Then it's just a matter of matching the waveforms of the audio track from your footage with the master audio track.
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

THANKS everyone. Those were great suggestions.

Pookie, that link was helpful. Placing beat markers on your time line. Great stuff.

Nick: I am not sure if I understand the "arrow" concept. I use Premiere, not Vegas. Hmmm If these other suggestions don't work, I'll come back to ya. :)

Jchenier, I am talking about matching the lip-synching to the song. Any suggestions?

Barry_S: Matching the audio waveform. That's a good idea. Thanks!
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

Matching lip-sync to the song isn't very hard. Wave form helps, but a little trick I use, is creating a master CD of that song that we play during the video shoot that has a countdown in it (clicks) and I leave the mic on the camera up so I can match the click from the CD with the click that the mic records into the video I capture. To make this work, you really need to match your waveforms in your NLE.

When I shoot a music video, I like to do complete run-throughs of the songs. I tell the band that even if they screw-up the sync, just keep going. Complete run throughs make it really easy sync up in post.

Does that help? Check out this music video I shot in the summer. I had 2 1/2 run-throughs of the band (we're not into lip synching, man) and synched it all up to edit in about 30-seconds.

www.beyondtimemedia.com/www/video/ADR-WATF.WMV (caution: 17 MB file)

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
Re: How to Synch Music to Video

Thanks jchenier. I'll try the clicks trick. Can't download the video right now. I'm on dial-up and my connection closes every 2-3 hours (ISP limit). :'( Maybe tonight I can download it. Thanks again!
 
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