In this tutorial we’re gonna show you how you can create an abstract audio reactant background with Trapcode Form and we will discover the advantages of Audio React.

Tutorial

Step 1

I create composition by clicking Menu-> Composition->New Composition. Make it 1280*720 square pixels 1:15 seconds long, name it as ‘Maint’.

Step 2

Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to Black. Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘BG’.

Step 3

Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to #EC7099 . Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘Circle’.

Step 4

Select the Ellipse tool and create a simple mask and set the layer opacity to 49%.

Step 5

Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to white . Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘Stars’.

Step 6

Add CC Star Burst (Effect->Simulation->CC Star Burst) and Glow (Effect->Stylize->Glow) and set the following properties.CC star burst is a great plugin to create a starfield for example.It’s static now because we set the speed value to 0.You can play with the properties if you want a different look.

Step 7

Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to Black . Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘Star Fade’.

Step 8

Select the Rectangle Tool and creat a simple mask.Press the "m" key twice to reveal the mask properties and set the mask feather to 310 pixel.

Step 9

Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to Black . Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘Form’.

Step 10

Go to Effect->Trapcode->Form and set the following parameters.

Step 11

Go to quick maps and select the forth template from the color map properties and set the following colors 1.(#FFFF00) 2.(#FC7303) 3.(#FF7FBF) 4.(#A000FF) and set Map opacity+Color over to X. Let’s set the Map#1 to the fifth template and set Map#1 to opacity and the Map#1 Over to radial and this wash the edges of the form so it’s not too sharp anymore and it makes our look much more natural.

Step 12

Select Audio React and select your audio file. Before you do that you have to import it into after effects and this time you can use an mp3 file or a wav file.The important thing is that you have to choose a simple not too complicated song. . Let’s set the strength to 150 and the Map to to Fractal, Delay Direction to X Outwards and set Delay Max to 1 sec.

Step 13

Select Fractal Field and set Displace to 300. Remember in Audio React we set the map to Fractal so if you now preview the video then you will see the particles are moving. So if you want to add extra details then go back to Audio React and add a new Reactor and select a different propertie and set Map To Disperse maybe.

Step 14

Our Form animation is a little bit "flat" now so let’s add a glow effect to it.Go to Effect->Stylize->Glow and set the following properties.

Step 15

It’s not necessary just optional, but if you have Trapcode Shine than you can make much more dramatic look.Just set the following properties.Change the transfer mode to add and set the colorize to none.It means shine will use our form’s original colors.

Step 16

Let’s add a new camera clicking by Layer->New->Camera.

Step 17

Let’s set the camera’s position.Just play with the settings if you want a different look.

Step 18

I create composition by clicking Menu-> Composition->New Composition. Make it 1280*720 square pixels 30 seconds long, name it as ‘Aetuts logo’.

Step 19

Import the logo and hit the "s" key on the keyboard and type in the following scale properties and also check the continuously Rasterize on because we are using a vector file.

Step 20

.Create new solid clicking by Menu->Layer->New->Solid. Change the color to Black . Make it comp size (1280*720) and name it as ‘Form’.

Step 21

Go back to the main comp and select the form layer and select the Form,Shine and the glow and press ctrl+c to copy them. Now go to the Aetuts composition and select the form layer and press ctrl+v to paste the effects.In form turn off the quick maps and add a new layer map. The layer is our aetuts logo and set the Functionality to RGBA to RGBA and the Map Over to XY.

Step 22

Don’t forget to add your audio file and turn off the aetuts logo.ai file.

Step 23

In the final video I create a simple fade in fade out effect.So I decreased the form opacity and increased the Aetuts logo opacity and convert the keyframes to easy ease(select them and press f9).

Step 24

If you don’t want to use any music or song just a simple abstract background animation then you have to change the following properties.If you wnat to create a perfect loop than check on the floow loop checkbox and in loop time set the length of the comp.

Final Image

Here is what your video should look like

Additional Aetuts+ Resources

• A Delightful Swirl Of Audio
• Lloyd Alvarez Teaches Particle Ballet – AE Premium
• Use Music To Create A Particle Splash
• A Funky Introduction To SoundKeys