Lighting Bolt effect for Avid Media Composer

It's easy to create a lightning strike effect within Avid Media Composer.

First, edit a single clip of to the timeline.

Then add a new video track using they keyboard shortcut command Y.

Turn off the V1 track  and also move this monitor icon to V2.

Move the position indicator to the middle of the sequence.

Then press the add edit button.

Move the position indicator forward 15 frames.

Then push the add edit button again.

Then navigate to the project window.

Click on the effects palette, and look for the illusion effects category.

Find the lightning effect and drag it in between the edit points that you've created on V2.

Press the effect mode button in the upper left corner of the timeline.

Move over to the composer window and create keyframes for last and first part of the effect.

With the first keyframe activated, move over to the effect editor window and adjust the generation amount for the lightning bolt to 0.

You might also want to adjust the core width and glow parameters.

And finally  I'm going to render the effect.

Check it out!

Okay, as a last step I'll add this lighting bolt sound effect to the A1 track.

This it!

For other great tips like this, or to enroll in a Media Composer training course, visit GeniusDV.com