Overview
There are three main ways to use multicam editing in Adobe Premiere. This guide will walk you through syncing cameras with timecode, in points, and manual syncing in the timeline. It will also show you how to edit in the timeline using your new multicam sequences.
Syncing with Timecode
During production, you have the option to jam sync timecode to all of the cameras using a smart slate.
Jam Sync: The process of locking syncing timecode on the camera to the timecode on the external audio recorder.
Make sure the slate is clearly visible on every camera.
After importing your multicam clips in the Project Window, select all of your multicam clips. Right click on the selected clips and select “Create Multi-Camera Source Sequence”.
A dialog box will appear. You will have the option to name your new Multicam Sequence.
Click on the Timecode button under the Synchronize Point options and click OK.
After selecting Ok, Premiere will create a Multicam Sequence. The individual clips will be automatically placed in a bin titled “Processed Clips”.
Syncing with In Points
After importing your multicam clips into the Project Window, mark the “in point” on each clip in the Source Window. Mark the in point exactly where the clapper snaps.
After marking your in points, select all of your clips in the Project Window. Right click and select “Create Multi-Camera Source Sequence”.
A dialog box will appear. You will have the option to rename your new Multicam Sequence.
Click on the In Points option under the Synchronize Point menu. Click OK.
After selecting OK, premiere will create a new Multicam Sequence. The individual camera clips will automatically be placed in a bin titled “Processed Clips.”
Manually Syncing Multiple Cameras
After importing your multicam clips into the Project window, Create a New Sequence.
Insert or Overwrite CAMERA A onto the timeline on track V1. Overwrite CAMERA B on top of CAMERA A on track V2. Line up the WAVEFORMS in the audio tracks to sync up the two camera angles.
Repeat this step for any other cameras you have recorded (CAMERA C, CAMERA D, etc).
Once you are ready to create a multicam sequence out of your manually synced cameras, check that the LINKED SELECTION button is toggled to OFF. This will prevent the program from Nesting your audio when you create a multi camera sequence.
Select all of your camera angles in your timeline. RIGHT CLICK and select NEST.
Name this Nested Sequence “MULTICAM NEST” so you can keep track of your sequences. Premiere will automatically create a new sequence for you in your Project window, and you will notice that your camera angles have collapsed into one track (Track V1).
RIGHT CLICK and select MULTI-CAMERA > ENABLE.
Editing in the Timeline with Multicam Clips
Create a new sequence in the Project Window (Cmd + N). Overwrite or insert the multicam file into the new sequence.
In the Program Window, click the wrench icon and select Multi-Camera.
While playing the sequence in the timeline, select the various camera angles in the Program Monitor window by clicking on the thumbnails of each camera. As you click on each image, Premiere will record these angle changes as cuts in your multicam sequence.
We recommend enlarging the Program Monitor window for ease of editing.
When you stop playback, you will notice cuts on the sequence in the Timeline where you switched the camera angles. You can alter these cuts made by Premiere like any other clip; use the pointer, ripple tool (B), or rolling edit tool (N) to refine edit points in the sequence.
