• Adobe After Effects

  How can I make a layer more transparent on beat using sound keys?

  Posted by Martin Schmidt on September 1, 2020 at 6:37 am

  Dear Community
  I am working on a Visualizer on After Effects and I wanted to know if there is any way I can make a layer more transparent on beat…

  Example before:

  

  Example after:

  
  (well nothing, 0.)

  Hare are my Soundkeys layer and the logo layer with all of their modifications:
  

  I have to say that am german so everything is in german and also the soundkeys layer is normally in a different composition, I only put it into the same one because it was easier to screenshot.
  I hope this is not a problem for you…

  I am working with Trapcode Sound Keys and my Output Min/Max is set to 0…100, so this shouldn’t be the problem, right?

  Thanks in advance

  TRG

  Martin Schmidt replied 6 years ago 2 Members · 5 Replies
• 5 Replies

• 

  John Cuevas

  September 1, 2020 at 2:55 pm

  If you just want the layer to turn off completely at the beat(certain amplitude), then you could just create an if/else expression on the layer’s opacity.
  myBeat = PICKWHIP TO SOUNDKEYS BEAT;
  if (myBeat > SET THRESHOLD) 0 else 100

  Johnny Cuevas, Editor
  ThinkCK

  “I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
  —THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.
• 

  Martin Schmidt

  September 1, 2020 at 3:07 pm

  Hi
  Thanks for your response

  This is sadly not what I was looking for…
  My goal really is to make it go darker on beat (basically if the beat hits, its 0, if its in between it’s 50, and so on)

  Greetings

  Martin
• 

  Martin Schmidt

  September 1, 2020 at 3:10 pm

  Hi
  I also posted this question on the Adobe After Effects forum, link is here:
  https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/how-can-i-make-a-layer-more-transparent-on-beat-using-sound-keys/td-p/11400490
• 

  John Cuevas

  September 1, 2020 at 3:20 pm

  Then I would use an ease expression on the opacity of the layer you want to turn on and off.

  myBeat = PICKWHIP TO SOUNDKEYS BEAT;
  ease(myBeat, myBeatMinimum, myBeatMax, 100, 0)

  The myBeatMinimum will be the lowest amplitude(volume) where you want the opacity to be 100%. Set myBeatMax to a volume where the beat hits and you want to the layer to turn off.

  Johnny Cuevas, Editor
  ThinkCK

  “I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
  —THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.
• 

  Martin Schmidt

  September 1, 2020 at 4:45 pm

  Hi!
  That was it, thanks so much for your help!

  Greetings

  Martin

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