29 second version of song help needed

[VanderBoegh]

Everyone approaches cut-downs & edits differently. My method is to drag the final stereo file back into ProTools and cut up the final mix. Since I usually start every track with a lead-in (either a quick drum fill, or reverse note, or whoosh, or...), I use the opening bit of the track and then typically cut to the ending where the piece is really raging. Since I always end every track with a big sting ending, it makes for a great closer to the 30 second edit.

Some people get caught up on math and how BPM could easily translate into 30 second edits, but my advice is to not do that at all. There are too many variables, like how long the last note rings out for, and how long your little ramp-in intro is. The difference of even 2 seconds can throw those BPM calculations right out the window.

Just keep playing with where you splice the pieces together. It's not unheard of to wind up with a 6/4 bar in there somewhere. As long as it's not jarring and keeps the beat running, nobody will notice what you did. Just make sure you've hit silence by the 30 second mark (or 29.5, depending on the library's specifications).

Things get really interesting when you're asked to make a 5 second version, and you realize all it really turns out to be is a 1-beat "intro", one bar of the music, then your sting ending..... if that! It might even just be the sting ending all by itself, and that's it!

~~Matt

[JuanMacias]

Everyone approaches cut-downs & edits differently. My method is to drag the final stereo file back into ProTools and cut up the final mix. Since I usually start every track with a lead-in (either a quick drum fill, or reverse note, or whoosh, or...), I use the opening bit of the track and then typically cut to the ending where the piece is really raging. Since I always end every track with a big sting ending, it makes for a great closer to the 30 second edit.

Some people get caught up on math and how BPM could easily translate into 30 second edits, but my advice is to not do that at all. There are too many variables, like how long the last note rings out for, and how long your little ramp-in intro is. The difference of even 2 seconds can throw those BPM calculations right out the window.

Just keep playing with where you splice the pieces together. It's not unheard of to wind up with a 6/4 bar in there somewhere. As long as it's not jarring and keeps the beat running, nobody will notice what you did. Just make sure you've hit silence by the 30 second mark (or 29.5, depending on the library's specifications).

Things get really interesting when you're asked to make a 5 second version, and you realize all it really turns out to be is a 1-beat "intro", one bar of the music, then your sting ending..... if that! It might even just be the sting ending all by itself, and that's it!

~~Matt

Hey Matt

I know you are a very busy man but would it be possible for you to make a short video showing the process you just described so we can see how it is done the right way?

[Soulow]

Everyone approaches cut-downs & edits differently. My method is to drag the final stereo file back into ProTools and cut up the final mix. Since I usually start every track with a lead-in (either a quick drum fill, or reverse note, or whoosh, or...), I use the opening bit of the track and then typically cut to the ending where the piece is really raging. Since I always end every track with a big sting ending, it makes for a great closer to the 30 second edit.

Some people get caught up on math and how BPM could easily translate into 30 second edits, but my advice is to not do that at all. There are too many variables, like how long the last note rings out for, and how long your little ramp-in intro is. The difference of even 2 seconds can throw those BPM calculations right out the window.

Just keep playing with where you splice the pieces together. It's not unheard of to wind up with a 6/4 bar in there somewhere. As long as it's not jarring and keeps the beat running, nobody will notice what you did. Just make sure you've hit silence by the 30 second mark (or 29.5, depending on the library's specifications).

Things get really interesting when you're asked to make a 5 second version, and you realize all it really turns out to be is a 1-beat "intro", one bar of the music, then your sting ending..... if that! It might even just be the sting ending all by itself, and that's it!

~~Matt

Hey Matt

I know you are a very busy man but would it be possible for you to make a short video showing the process you just described so we can see how it is done the right way?

Thanks for the insightful post. Sounds like you have a lot of experience with this unique challenge in the sync world. I like the idea of taking the final stereo file back to the daw and cutting it up there. That seems like a good way to get creative to fix it up. I can't imagine doing a 5 second version though.