The fundamentals of working with sound in After Effects and Flash
Sometimes we just don’t “get” audio, and, to a great extent, our clients don’t either. Why is it that audio is regarded as either an afterthought or a line item on the budget for the project? Yet when you really think about it, we are surrounded by sound, and people do tend to become a bit anxious when they encounter profound silence. Think back to your reaction when watching TV and suddenly the audio disappears. Your immediate reaction was probably, “What the . . . ?” Though we aren’t psychiatrists or psychologists, we suspect that reaction came about because you were suddenly deprived of access to information.
Sound, whether in the form of a voice, music, or sound effect, is an important aspect of video and Flash work. It enriches the user experience because it adds an aural dimension to the piece and, if done properly, has a profound effect upon how the audience both reacts to and perceives the work. The film industry understands this so deeply, it is ingrained into their DNA. When the music in a sound track suddenly takes on a sinister edge, you just know someone is about to have a really bad day.
This tutorial is not designed to turn you into an audio master. Our intention is to show you the fundamentals of working with audio in both Adobe® After Effects® and Flash®. There are some fascinating things you can do with audio in both applications.
What you need to understand, though, is how they each handle audio in their own unique manner. To start that process, we are going to look at each application as a separate entity. We will start with importing, previewing, and generally manipulating audio in After Effects. Then we will head over to Flash and explore the fundamentals of audio in that application.
Download the sample files, crank up your speakers or put on some “cans,” and let’s get busy.
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