Manual Beat marker in PRE 14?

[John Walker]

I've not had a lot of success with the automatic beat timing in PRE14 and wonder if there's a key I can press to drop in markers 'on the fly'?

If I can't add manual markers, I would appreciate advice on the automatic option. I've tried different settings but the markers do not appear to be hitting the beat, even on a rock track with pronounced beat.

Regards
John

[Steve Grisetti]

You can manually add markers to the timeline by tapping the * key (on the number keypad) as you play your video.

This will add markers -- however, these will be Movie Menu markers rather than Beats.

I'm not aware of a way to add Beat markers with a single keystroke. You can do it by right-clicking on the Beat track and selecting the Set Beat Marker option. But this probably wouldn't work well for manually adding Beats while playing the timeline.

[John Walker]

Thanks Steve.

Tried the * option (on the keypad) but it won't place markers of any type while the audio track is playing.

However, if I stop the play then pressing the * will add a marker but this isn't workable.

I've tried various other keys but nothing found yet. Would be interested to hear if anyone else has been successful with the 'auto' beat marker.

Regards
John

[Steve Grisetti]

The Beat Detector should work just fine. It does for me. What's not happening at your end?

And yes, that asterisk should drop markers on your timeline at the position of the CTI playhead -- but only if you press the * above the 9/PG UP key on the keypad to the right of your keyboard. It won't work if you press the 8/* key along the top of your keyboard.

(Actually, I know that's true for PCs. I haven't tested it yet on a Mac. Can you please fill in your computer specs as your signature, John, so we can see what computer and operating system you're on whenever you post a question?)

[Chuck Engels]

To add additional beat markers manually, right-click/ctrl-click in the Expert view timeline time ruler where you want to add the marker, and choose Set Beat Marker.

[Bob]

I don't have Premiere Elements 14, so I can't verify that this is still possible, maybe Chuck or Steve can verify whether it still works.

There is an unassigned keyboard shortcut for adding beat markers. Go to Edit>Keyboard Customization. Twirl down the "timeline" category and assign an unused key to the "set beat marker" keyboard shortcut. This is what it looked like in PrE 7 (the last version I had), your version will undoubtedly look different.

setbeat.JPG

After the keyboard shortcut has been set, you could play and set beat markers by pressing the keyboard shortcut as it played. In PrE 7, I had to have the clip in track 1 selected -- it may have also worked if the soundtrack was selected too, but I don't remember for sure. You may need to experiment.

Chuck or Steve, could you check to see if the shortcut is still available in the keyboard customization dialog. I know Pre 14 made changes in where you could detect beats so it may have affected where the shortcut is located in the customization dialog. And, if it is present, test whether it works and has the same restriction. Thanks!

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Bob, That option does not exist in the version 14 Keyboard customization menu.

[Chuck Engels]

Personally I never used the beat markers and still changed clips to the beat quite often in my videos. It isn't necessary and I think that the time it takes to set the markers can take as long or longer than it does just to set the clips by ear.

[Bob]

Thanks for checking, Chuck. I appreciate your help.

I guess it's time to retire my copy of PrE 7. I only kept it to be able to get screenshots to help answer PrE questions. But, too many changes have occurred since that version to be of much help any more. I'm using Premiere Pro CS6 for my own work.

[John Walker]

Thanks again for the help offered.

One thing I should mention in case it makes a difference, is that all I have is the audio track in track one. I was planning to add stills between the beat markers once they are in place.

Using the * key above the 9/page up key does not put markers of any kind down while audio track is playing. I've also tried it with Shift, Alt and Ctl keys at same time as the * key.

I attach an expanded view of the auto beat markers and to me (I'm not very musical) they do not match the beat at all. The track is Robert Palmer's, Addicted to Love. Chosen for this exercise due to it's distinct beat.

I do get different results by altering the settings on 'auto beat' but they still seem to be missing the beat.

Not sure where to go from here.

Regards
John

[Steve Grisetti]

It is definitely missing some pretty obvious beats there, John! And, in all honesty, I haven't found Beat Detect to be terribly effective either. But Chuck and I come from the old school -- where you just put down the music track, add clips above it and set the changes to the beat manually.

Although that's still no excuse for the tool not doing what it's supposed to -- even if Adobe has all but hidden the tool in more recent versions of the program. (It's not even in the Audio Tools, launched from the Action Bar.)

Still, I'm kind of surprised that tapping that * key as the video is playing isn't creating markers for you, John. I guess in order to work, you have to have the Timeline selected. Which means that it won't work if you click the play button. You have to click on the Timeline so that it's selected and then use the spacebar to start playback -- then you'll drop markers every time you tap on the * button.

Like Beat Detect, I guess it's a feature Adobe has chosen to de-emphasize and perhaps even to neglect.

[John Walker]

You've cracked it Steve - I wasn't using the space bar to start track (I was clicking start button). As soon as I used the space bar the asterisk key dropped markers. Thank you - I can move on now - quite happy dropping my own markers in. I did a trial 'manual' project and dropped stills in to the markers - spot on when played back!

Since my original post I've tried various settings with the auto beat marker option and I can't find one where it's accurate - most times dropping markers between beats!

The slide show 'sort of' keeps with the music but just not on the beat all the time. It's a shame as it would have been useful as a quick option.

Thanks again to you and Chuck and Bob for taking the time to help.

John

[Steve Grisetti]

Glad we could help, John. That's what Muvipix is all about!

[Chuck Engels]