Perfect Timing in After Effects

When it comes to precision, After Effects doesn't have the clearest waveform to read. Placing keyframes on it's angular ridges doesn't inspire confidence when needing to match cuts to the music. However! I recently found the magic of markers in Adobe Audition, and this tool is going to save me so many headaches going forward and hopefully you as well!

(How am I supposed to find the drums in this 8-bit cityscape??)

Let's get started!

1. Open Audition

2. Import the desired track

3. While letting the track play, simply tap the out the beat with the marker shortcut! (M)...

   
   
   
   
   

4. And of course you don't have perfect timing yourself, so afterwards, adjust each marker using Audition's far more accurate waveform...

   
   
   
   
   

5. Here's the good part! Save out your file with markers and other metadata...

   
   
   
   
   

6. Finally in After Effects, you will have a waveform that's neatly mapped and no longer have to keep track of those crunchy 8bit peaks and valleys!

   
   

   

   Voila!

   I hope you find this as helpful as I have. If so please pass it along!