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Advance Glass Audio Spectrum in After Effects - After Effects Tutorial - Audio Spectrum Tutorial

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Tutorial Summary: “Audio Spectrum” Visualizer in After Effects (Advance Glass Audio Spectrum)

Project Setup

  • Create a new composition:
    • 1920×1080
    • 30 fps
    • 1 minute duration (match to the audio file)
  • Import the music and pre-compose it as “music”.
  • Create a solid named “audio Spectrum” and apply the built-in effect Audio Spectrum:
    • Set the audio layer to the music.
    • Adjust start/end positions so the spectrum spans the frame:
      • start = 0
      • end = 1920
    • Choose display settings:
      • Display style: Analog Lines
      • Waveform side: side a
    • Tune frequency:
      • end frequency = 500 (keeps the waveform white initially)

Convert to a 3D Layered Spectrum

  • Pre-compose the spectrum layer as “audio Spectrum comp”.
    • Mute the music inside the pre-comp to avoid double audio.
  • Enable 3D on the spectrum comp and add an expression (download link mentioned in the tutorial) to control Z distance between duplicates:
    • The notes mention 15 px as a baseline meaning, and 50 is used to spread duplicates farther along the Z-axis.
  • Duplicate the spectrum comp and use a 50mm camera orbit workflow to place duplicates in depth.
  • Create approximately 35 copies to form a “wave” 3D background.
  • Pre-compose all duplicates as “wave spectrum”.

Depth of Field (Performance-Friendly “Fake Blur”)

  • Create an adjustment layer: “depth of field”
    • Add Fast Box Blur
      • Blur Radius ~10
      • Disable Repeat Edge Pixels
    • Use an ellipse mask:
      • Mask mode: Subtract (blur only applies where desired)
      • Add Feather ~300
      • Slightly scale the mask for smoother edges
  • Note: The tutorial mentions real camera depth of field is slower, so this approach is used instead.

Glow Treatment

  • Create an adjustment layer: “glow”
    • Add Glow
      • Glow Radius ~50 (base)
    • Duplicate the glow and modify:
      • Glow Threshold ~20%
      • Glow Radius ~100 (stronger highlights)
  • Use Tint to recolor the waveform before glow (e.g., map white → red).

Card / Album Art Layout with Masking

  • Create a centered shape and use it as a mask:
    • Shape name: “shape mask”
  • Import the cover image below it and pre-compose as “album art”.
  • Apply an Alpha Matte using the shape:
    • Track Matte = Alpha matte
  • Add a Linear Wipe transition:
    • Transition Completion ~45%
    • Wipe Angle -30°
    • Feather ~100
  • Duplicate/mix layers as needed so the masked wipe looks correct.

Glass Blur + Light Sweep Effect

  • Create an adjustment layer: “glass”
    • Set Track Matte = alpha matte
    • Apply blur (example blurriness ~80)
    • Apply CC Light Sweep:
      • Width ~190
      • Edge Thickness ~12
      • Adjust Center Point to position the sweep
    • Add light color (example: blue-green)
  • Set album art opacity to approximately 75%.

Final 2D Audio Spectrum Overlay Inside the Card

  • Add another solid: “audio Spectrum”
  • Apply Audio Spectrum again, placing it between the card elements.
  • Set:
    • End frequency = 500
    • Frequency band = 50
    • Maximum height = 300 (or adjust to taste)
    • Use Mirror (center mapped to 960 for full HD)
    • Blend mode: Overlay (to match background color)

Text + Animation

  • Add text for:
    • Artist name
    • Song name
  • Font/style tweaks:
    • Artist name:
      • bold, caps (example 32 px, later adjusted down—example 18 px)
    • Song title:
      • example 50 px
      • family set to Black
      • centered alignment
  • Add animation effect:
    • Fade Up Lines applied at the first frame
  • Blend mode for text: Overlay

Resource / Tools Mentioned

  • The tutorial is promoted/sponsored by Envato Elements (templates, fonts, sound effects, etc.), referenced during the tutorial.
  • The description includes downloadable resources such as:
    • The expression for controlling 3D duplicate spacing
    • A font for the text

Main Speakers / Sources

  • Primary speaker/source: The author of the After Effects tutorial (intro begins with “hey everyone welcome back…”).
  • Sponsored source: Envato Elements (mentioned for downloadable resources and templates/fonts).

Original video