In this E-seminar for Adobe, learn how I used Trapcode Soundkeys to control the look and feel of a boxing promo. Other topics include a technique for using Trapcode Shine along with CC Glass to create a stylistic impact effect, and various real-world workflow techniques. Watch tutorial (34 mins, 65MB)
Learn how to bend 2D layers along paths using Cinema 4D and After Effects in this 3 part tutorial by EJ Hassenfratz (@eyedsyn).
Tinka Tinka’s Render Booster can dramatically improve After Effects render speeds.
The Pixel Lab’s Backyard Pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 backyard themed models.
The Pixel Lab’s Garage Pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 garage and mechanic themed models.
It was my honour to be included as part of this talented group of After Effects creators and teachers at the 2013 Media Motion Ball in Las Vegas. Photo by Steve Oakley.
Maxon and Adobe have announced a strategic alliance. Looks like it’s going to get a whole lot easier to work between After Effects and Cinema 4D.
The Pixel Lab’s new model pack for Cinema 4D includes 30 roof themed models.
Vimeo has launched a new visual enhancer powered by Vivoom – a vast library of video looks created by myself, Angie Taylor (@theangietaylor) and Andrew Embury (@aembury).
Newton 2, the powerful physics simulator for After Effects has been updated. Check it out on aescripts.
Plexus for After Effects has been receiving some attention recently on air. Check it out on aescripts.
After Effects pioneer trainer Brian Maffitt (@bmaffitt) has created some stunning imagery by pointing a projector into a blizzard and recording the result. Not surprisingly the imagery is making waves online and reminds us all of how great it is to have Brian as part of our industry.
The Pixel Lab’s latest Cinema 4D model pack includes 30 travel related models.
My latest collection of presets for GenArts Sapphire is all about colour, with a focus on the Quadtone, Gradient and Tint effects.
Greyscale Gorilla has released a big new HDRI collection for the popular HDRI Studio Pack.
Adobe After Effects has turned 20. Hard to believe it was only 4 years old when I started with version 3.1. Check out some user and employee stories here and perhaps leave your own!
51 Responses to this post
October 11, 2009 at 10:45 pm |
John, Is it possible to drive the speed of the video with Trapcode Soundkeys?
October 11, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
Hi Ethan. Yes definitely, you can change the playback, fast forward, reverse etc using soundkeys linked to Time Remapping. Best, John.
October 11, 2009 at 10:55 pm |
Thanks, John. I would love to try that. =]
October 12, 2009 at 2:03 am |
Actually there is two tutorial on Red Giant TV shows you how to do that It’s called : Controlling time with audio (Epsd. 5 & 6
& for you John I love your E-seminar because it’s motivated from real projects…Thank you very much for your great tutorials
October 12, 2009 at 2:25 pm |
Thanks Loay, that tutorial on Red Giant TV by Aharon Rabinowitz is very useful
October 12, 2009 at 6:10 am |
very cool e-seminar !!!!!
thanks John!!!
October 16, 2009 at 3:32 pm |
You’re welcome Guilherme. Regards, John.
October 12, 2009 at 8:15 am |
Hi John,
I noticed that when you first applied fast blur and linked it to soundkeys that the fast blur check box for wrap edges wasn’t checked. Was this something you meant to do or was it that you already knew the various vingettes would hide the edge? Great real world example of using soundkeys. You gotta love Peter Norby!
October 12, 2009 at 2:27 pm |
Hi Brett, generally I do activate Wrap Edge Pixels. I probably forgot in this case but given the grungy look it probably didn’t matter. Best wishes, John.
October 12, 2009 at 10:56 am |
Thank you so much. Real world projects for me are always the best learning tutorials.
October 12, 2009 at 2:27 pm |
Thank Dan, I’m glad you appreciate them. Best, John.
October 12, 2009 at 1:40 pm |
great
October 13, 2009 at 1:33 am |
this is amazing work with Shine!
so I like your screencast tutorials because, you save time and avoid repetition and basics in your tutorials.
I think usually in screencasts much time is wasted for basics and repetitive process that previously taught.
maybe there is need some tutorials about making tutorials usefull. because I think, Working and Training are two separate things and if someone have both he is complete in the world of sharing.
October 13, 2009 at 2:20 pm |
Sounds like I’m getting it right hey Stunt! Thanks for the feedback and best wishes, John.
October 16, 2009 at 3:29 pm |
Great video john! Makes me want to experiment with audio and AE! I ´ll do that right now!
October 16, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
Hi A3, I’ve always considered linking audio to AE parameters a secret weapon and one that everyone should understand. Best, John.
October 19, 2009 at 8:11 am |
Thanks for sharing all those after effects secrets you know!
October 19, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
You’re welcome A3, sharing knowledge is a joy. Best, John.
July 30, 2010 at 1:30 am |
Hi John, check out a video I made experimenting with sound keys! -> http://vimeo.com/13218096
July 30, 2010 at 8:33 am |
Hi Andres, Cool, I immediately thought of Blue Man Group! Best wishes, John.
July 31, 2010 at 2:23 am |
hehe, glad you liked it!
October 19, 2009 at 11:54 am |
I just found the site after searching for a few days on how to achieve that “bass thumping” effect. Awesome work. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the tutorials.
October 19, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
Hi Galen, that’s good to know! Welcome to Motionworks! Best, John.
October 20, 2009 at 11:06 pm |
It wasn’t, until it was thought and it had no form til it was expressed.
It wasn’t heard til spoken and not realized til created.
It is merely a sum without an understanding of the parts and it remains a mystery til shared and that not comprehended til explained.
We are so unique, to have all these processes with which to express our uniqueness and we are all in training to become better at it because of the joy it brings.
A Line Of Thinking
Those who have understanding and know the joy that is found in sharing it are rich. Those who benefit from the sharing consummate and perpetuate the gift by sharing it again and become rich as well. The gift will always return to the giver greater than it’s original intent, multiplied by the joy of all it’s recipients.
This is a universal law with the same characterics and physics as gravity with one important exception. Gravity has bounderies but giving has none. Once set in motion and sustained by the joy that was proferred with it, giving will continually procreate itself through being given again.
John
You are a giver without measure. You and others like you that understand and operate in this manner will never lack for reward. It’s no wonder you always have a joyful countenance.
Thank you for all that you do and are.
Moshe
October 21, 2009 at 2:29 pm |
Wow Moshe, so I guess that means you like me!
Thank you for the inspiring comment. Best wishes, John.
October 21, 2009 at 3:27 pm |
Hey John,
I always love watching your tutorials, and I was very excited to watch this one, but when I clicked on watch tutorial it gave me a prompt to download an flv file, which I did. I tried opening it with my flash player and the flash application, but neither worked. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Best,
Josh
October 22, 2009 at 1:06 pm |
Hi Josh, the javascript on the site is messing with the links. Refresh the page and wait a moment until it’s fully loaded. Then click the link again. Best, John.
October 24, 2009 at 11:41 am |
Thanks for the tutorial.
Really generous to share “real-world” projects.
//Klas
October 25, 2009 at 12:47 am |
Hi Klas, good to hear you are finding these useful. Best, John.
October 28, 2009 at 2:24 am |
Excellent!! Nice to see a pro’s workflow. Usually when people say “you gotta love this” I’m cautious thinking – ‘yeah right’..
But that was damn sweet!! But how do you come to that conclusion – do you randomly apply effects until you find CC glass or …
Nice!
November 7, 2009 at 11:49 am |
Hi John,
I found out your site because of your Andrew Karmer’s wonderful interview. And i’m pretty of that because it’s a new kind of tutorial for me. I really appreciate to understand workflows, very very interesting. And how impressive to see you take time to answer all comments : so nice !
I’m not a video professionnal, in fact i’m a french doctor, but very interested into video.
So the question. Your video boxing sequence is a suite of tga files. Did you get the video as it, or did you rendered it into this format on your own before starting the work ? If so, why ?
Kepp going on this way, I keep tuned on MW (sorry for the english anyway).
November 8, 2009 at 2:32 am |
Hi Snake (Escape from New York is my all-time favourite sci-fi flick). The client supplied the edited promo as a TGA sequence. All the best, John.
November 7, 2009 at 1:53 pm |
Hey, John!
Could you tell me, please, what is the layer “Impact”? You use it like Adjustment Layer, but it is not the same.
Thanks!
November 10, 2009 at 4:40 am |
Great tutorial John,
Nice work with using the CC glass effect, thats a great combo
Good to see us aussie After Effectings it up.
Cheers
November 10, 2009 at 2:35 pm |
Hi Nathan, always good to see a fellow Aussie joining the discussion. I love how the glass effect makes the shockwave wrap around the background! After Effects surprises me every day
Best, John.
November 12, 2009 at 2:14 pm |
John
Excellent tute, thank you!!
This will come in very handy on our next music video project. Just downloaded your roto with fields and will be checking that out soon.
Cheers buddy
Robert
November 12, 2009 at 2:42 pm |
No worries Robert, glad it’s coming in handy.
November 14, 2009 at 5:25 am |
Awesome Tuts… thanks. I learned a lot…
November 15, 2009 at 2:37 pm |
You’re welcome Nobru. Best, John.
November 14, 2009 at 1:27 pm |
Really nice one. Especially like the idea how you used shine for that force field man…cool
November 15, 2009 at 2:44 pm |
That’s what I love about After Effects, Nenad, there is always something cool to create with just a little experimentation.
November 16, 2009 at 2:55 pm |
Yep man for sure, I’m in all this stuff for around 10 years now, started on a local TV station as a linear video editor(yes with tapes and stuff). Now I’m a freelancer about for a year and after 10 years still learning stuff every day, at least how to make stuff faster and looking better.
BTW: With no school what so ever, just me and my computer and in the last few years web of course.
Keep it up man
December 2, 2009 at 11:34 am |
Hi,
I have a question please: for the video editing, you did it on After Effects or another software? If yes, how ?
Thx
December 2, 2009 at 3:31 pm |
This spot was edited in Avid. Generally one wouldn’t edit in After Effects. Personally, I use Premiere Pro. Best, John.
December 4, 2009 at 6:03 am |
ok best tutorial
December 6, 2009 at 2:21 pm |
Thanks Naveed.
January 3, 2010 at 5:32 pm |
Great tutorial!
I especially loved the use of the cc glass effect.
It reminded me of the bullet-time motion effect in “Smallville”..
Very cool!
July 25, 2010 at 1:41 pm |
hi John!!!, thanks for sharing this great tut…really an awesome work.
i just have a little problem with the scale expression, can you help me with that??? it has a little variation isn’t true?
thanks for your time
August 24, 2010 at 11:17 pm |
Hi John, I think this is the first time I’ve seen anyone share a real life business project in such detail. Your absolutely fantastic for being so informative.
I found your site and this tutorial in particular as I’m using (or attempting to use) Genarts Monsters Audio Extract, which is very similar to Soundkeys.
The problem is, I want to twitch the scale to the base, beat. But I don’t want the scale to range from 100% to 140%, in line with the amplitude.
I tried so hard to peek at your scale expressions, but couldn’t quite get my head far enough to the left.
Q. How do I change the temp,temp to effect the scale by >100% but <105% so the scale twitching is kept within a 5% range.
Many Thanks
Joe
August 27, 2010 at 1:32 am |
Found my own answer.
temp =linear( thisComp.layer(“Black Solid 1″).effect(“M_AudioExtract”)(“Amplitude 3″), 40, 50, 100, 105);
[temp, temp]
So now my scale is only reaching 105% if the amplitude is greater than 40 but < 50 and < 40 it remains at 100%
November 6, 2010 at 6:35 am |
thanks 4 tut
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