Animation With Sound

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Twentytwo

Hello.

This article presents my method for designing an animation accompanied by a soundtrack.

In reality I am about to accompany audio recordings with animated images.

See the procedure in this order there is in my opinion more correct. I explain myself in the "soundtrack" section.

This tutorial explains the procedure to follow to create a traditional style animation (frame by frame), the use of functions such as [Peeling paper], [keyframes], importing audio clips and ways to manage these.

Finally, export a file to Clip Studo Paint.

◊ WHITE PAGE

Let's start with the opening of a new animation file.

⇒ Select the menu [File] >> [New].

A window appears.

For an animation, select the red tab, as below.

An animation configuration panel is displayed.

You can change the size of the canvas or the settings for the chronology.

⁘ What are these parameters?

♦ The canvas:

In the animation, the format of your canvas is divided into two parts and more if you incorporate camera movements.

• The Size of the export frame, defines the frame taken into account when exporting your work.

• The empty space, allows you a better visual of your plans in the context of export.

♦ The Chronology:

Taking into account the retinal persistence, an animated plan is fixed on a format of 24 images per second, in order to have a fluidity of the animation.

Here in this [Chronology] tab, we configure the frame rate according to the reading time.

The higher the frame rate, the more the number of images displayed per second makes the animation smooth but you reduce your animation time.

Example: A frame rate of 24 frames creates a smooth movement lasting one second, while a frame rate of 8 frames per second, allows you to achieve approximately 3 seconds of animation but which will be more jerky for the eye.

Reducing the cadence, gives more or less rapid movement effects.

If this information was useful to you, I recommend you to deepen thanks to the official tutorial:

◊ STORY-BOARD

The realization of an animation requires organization, indeed from the chronological model of 24 frames per second.

It is necessary to plan beforehand the actions and atmospheres implemented in each of the plans.

To do so, I develop a storyboard combined with a script that determines the majority of aesthetic issues and constitutes a reference tool for the rest, since it brings together all the technical indications such as the movements, gestures and emotions of the characters , plans and movements of cameras; the composition of the decor or the special effects, sound effects ect.

◊ SOUNDTRACK

Now, before going further with graphic design, I will do my recordings and research for the soundtrack.

In my opinion, it is preferable to carry out the graphic part in relation to the audio recordings in order to know the temporal chronology of the animation.

It is also the time, depending on the technical capacities available and the research results, to review the storyboard and avoid having to redo an animated plan for which no audio recording is possible.

There are many Soundbank communities and sites for free sharing. It remains to explore the many data and find the soundtrack most suited to your animation.

◊ GRAPHICS

Once you have recovered the adequate audio recordings, return to the graphics section.

I first draw the decor and then incorporate my character into it, until then, I am not influenced by an audio track, I can achieve the frame rate and the movements at my convenience.

When inking, each element of a plan is drawn and then painted on different slaps, I get the freedom and readability to make all kinds of modifications.

◊ ANIMATION WITH SOUND

From there, I will make my animated plans in relation to the recordings, I start by adjusting the audio clips in the chronological table.

⁘ What is the chronological table?

Here is the procedure to activate it as well as some explanations of the associated functions.

⇒ Select the menu [Window] >> [Chronology]

You can display the [Timeline] in this way as well.

The tab of the [Chronological Table] opens. It is from this that you will manage your animation, it has different functions, here they are:

A - The graphic editor, this icon opens a new window of parameters exclusively reserved for audio clips, allowing optimal adjustment of variations.

B - Edit and Create a chronology. Allows you to modify the name it bears, and the operating methods that suit you best.

C - Animation Cellulos are the equivalent of your layers in your palette. An animation file brings together the cellulos of the same animated plan.

D - The [Peeling Paper] function will allow you to create the interpolation cellulos by having a transparent appearance trace of a previous and following plan.

E - The [Keyframe] function allows you to create markers on which the animated shots will adjust. Indicating the "key animations" from which the interpolation cellulos will be arranged.

♦ To [Import] an audio recording, here is the procedure:

⇒ Select the menu [File] >> [Import] >> [Audio]

On the image below, we find:

In blue: The stages of the animation divide by plan.

In yellow: An [audio clip] import

In Green: An [Animation File] grouping the [Cellulos] of the animated plan.

In the examples which follow, we see the plane pass, but during these stages this one was not yet drawn, I show it to you for a better understanding between the [keyframes] and the displacement of the plane.

Now that [the Audio recording] is inserted in the [Timeline], I will split it so that it matches my playing time.

Of course, I split the part of the audio I chose to be the most suitable by having it move horizontally on the chronological table.

∴ If you move the mouse over the black strip of audio, a hand appears, hold to move the selection.

Like this :

♦ Keyframe and Graphic Editor

To make the animation correspond most closely to the audio part, I will use the [Keyframe] function. These benchmarks will allow me to visualize the animation time and the plans necessary to achieve the scene.

∴ To insert keyframes, make sure you are in the [Operation] tab

Here the plane arriving in the animated plane, I make keyframes, to which I will adjust the volume to give it the impression of coming from afar, so once in the middle of the scene the volume will be at its maximum for then lower, when the plane leaves.

In order to better adjust the variations of the audio, I will use the [Graphic editor] function.

Making the soundtrack more fluid.

∴ The axis points allow adjustment on the chronology and the dials for fluidity.

As below:

→ To know:

If you change the frame rate of a clip, you will also modify the audio associated with it, so it is preferable to have chosen this parameter beforehand.

♦ Peeling paper

At this point, as mentioned above, you normally do not draw the movements that follow the audio recording.

This is the next step. To do this I use the [keyframes] to insert on the audio, as well as the [Peeling Paper] function.

In the example below, I know that the plane arriving at the center of the scene will have its maximum volume, and that this position will be the middle of its movement time.

I then use the [Peeling Paper] as well as a trajectory line to develop the interpolations of the movement of the plane.

As below:

To carry out this displacement, I would not have had to draw all the cellulos, I successively have two plans for the plane, which give a movement for the propeller. I alternately duplicate the two layers then, thanks to the [Paper peel] marks, I advance the plane, at constant and linear speed with respect to the trajectory line.

♦ Key animation

Now let's see another way to combine Audio Clip and Animated Maps.

This time my audio recording is clearly non-modifiable, it represents the click of a radio button. If I speed up or slow down this audio it will lose its real aspect.

To perform the animation, I fix two reference points with the [Key-Image] function on the audio clip.

A> When the button mechanism engages

B> When it returns to the initial position.

Thanks to these two references, I can draw and place on the chronology my [Key Animation] which will clock the movement.

Then complete the scene with the [Interpolation Cellulos].

• First key animation:

• Second key animation:

Below, arrived at the reference point A, the character pushes the button, which is lowered at the same time.

• Third key animation:

Before the second mark, which means that the button is raised.

The character continues his movement by removing his hand and the radio button ends his action.

• Fourth Key Animation:

Finally a return to the initial position of the character as well as the radio button.

I did the same manipulations for the rest of the animation that I let you discover.

To realize the goods made of a soundtrack, I invite you to launch the video without the sound.

It is quickly obvious that audio gives presence to animated shots, it constitutes a considerable contribution to aesthetics. The sound influences the image and the image influences the sound.

One of the parameters most affected by this interaction is the time parameter. The temporality of the animation, its rhythm, depends on the soundtrack.

One can imagine that the sound helps in the identification of the action while causing a surplus of credibility.

◊ EXPORT

The plans are synchronized with the soundtrack, the finishes are finished, the simplest remains to be done, [Export] the file.

An animation including audio will be exported as [Film].

Here is the process:

⇒ Select the menu [File] >> [Export animation] >> [Movie]

I invite you to consult the official tutorial on [Exporting] to find out all the possibilities.

◊ CREDITS

From this information you can make all kinds of video montages with soundtrack.

It is generally practical to have the possibility of managing sound and image on the same support, here we see that Clip Studio Paint easily allows this alliance.

For all the techniques and functions highlighted in this article, I invite you to test them and make your own creations.

Indeed in the development of an animation, the movements want to recreate a sensitivity to the truest, by adding the soundtrack, the atmosphere of the animated shots are a real treat!