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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Set In and Out points on your clips
Before automating anything, tell Premiere Pro which part of each clip you want to use. In the Project panel, double-click your first video to open it in the Source Monitor. Move to the moment you want the clip to start and press I to set an In point. Move forward to where it should end and press O to set an Out point.
Repeat this for every clip you plan to use. Automate to Sequence will use only the marked range of each clip.
Step 2: Add a marker on every beat
Put your music on the timeline. Click an empty gray area of the timeline to deselect everything, since markers are added to the selected clip if there is one. Now play the song and press M on every beat. Each press drops a marker at the playhead. You can also tap along while it plays, then nudge any marker that landed a little off.
When you are finished, move the playhead to the first marker. If the marker icon in the Program Monitor lights up, you are aligned with it.
Step 3: Select your clips in the right order
Go to the Project panel and select the clips in the exact order you want them to appear. Click the first video, hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click the second, then the third, and so on for all your footage. The order you click is the order they will land on the markers.
Step 4: Run Automate to Sequence
With the clips still selected, click the Automate to Sequence button at the bottom of the Project panel. In the window that opens, check these settings:
- Ordering: Selection Order
- Placement: At Unnumbered Markers
- Method: Overwrite Edit
If you do not want the sound of the video clips, tick Ignore Audio. Then click OK.
Step 5: Close the gaps
The cuts appear instantly, one clip per marker. You may notice small gaps between some clips. Drag the edge of each layer a little to extend it and remove the gap. Play the sequence back and you have a video that cuts on the music.
Tips
- Use fewer markers for a calmer edit. Marking every second or fourth beat gives longer clips and a slower feel.
- Add motion on the beat. Combine the cuts with a punch-in. See our zoom cut tutorial for ideas.
- Check clip length. If a clip is shorter than the gap between two markers, pick a longer In to Out range in step 1.
FAQ
How do I add markers to music in Premiere Pro?
Play the sequence and press M on every beat. Make sure nothing is selected so the markers go on the sequence and not on a clip.
Why does Automate to Sequence not use markers?
Set Placement to At Unnumbered Markers and make sure the playhead sits on the first marker before you run it.
Can I include the audio of my clips?
Yes. Leave Ignore Audio unticked and the clips bring their own sound along with them.
Make your beat cuts hit even harder with the Sound Effects Pack Mini.
