Adobe Premiere Pro terms

Bars and Tone

Reference signals for calibrating audio and video.

What is bars and tone in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Bars and Tone in Adobe Premiere Pro is a tool used primarily in the broadcasting industry. The "bars" refer to a color bars test pattern which is an artificial electronic signal that allows for the calibration of colors and brightness in video playback equipment. This ensures that the colors in the video are being displayed correctly.

The "tone" refers to a specific audio tone, typically a 1kHz sine wave at a certain level of loudness. This is used to calibrate audio levels on the playback equipment, ensuring that the sound is being played back at the correct volume. Together, bars and tone are used to set up and check the technical standards of broadcast equipment before the actual video content is played.

How to use Bars and Tone in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Bars and Tone is a utility within Adobe Premiere Pro used primarily to check the audio and video quality of your project. To use it, first, go to the "File" menu, then select "New," and choose "Bars and Tone." This will create a new item in your project bin. You can then drag this item onto your timeline where you want it to appear in your video sequence.

The bars refer to the color bars you might see at the beginning of a video, which are used to calibrate color accuracy. The tone refers to a specific audio tone (usually 1kHz) used to calibrate audio levels. You can adjust the settings for both the bars and tone by double-clicking on the item in your project bin. Once you've made your adjustments, you can export your video as you normally would. The Bars and Tone will be included in your final video output.

Why is Bars and Tone important in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Bars and Tone is important in Adobe Premiere Pro for several reasons. Firstly, it is used to calibrate video and audio settings for broadcast standards. The bars (also known as color bars) are used to calibrate the color accuracy on video displays. It helps in maintaining the correct color balance and luminance levels. If the colors on the color bars are not displayed correctly on a monitor, it indicates that the monitor's color settings are not accurate and need adjustment.

The tone, on the other hand, is a reference for audio levels. It is typically set at -12dB, which is a standard audio level for most broadcasters. This helps in ensuring that the audio levels are consistent and within acceptable limits. If the tone is too loud or too soft on the audio monitors, it indicates that the audio settings need to be adjusted. Therefore, Bars and Tone play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and standards of video and audio output in Adobe Premiere Pro.

How to add Bars and Tone in Adobe Premiere Pro?

To add Bars and Tone in Adobe Premiere Pro, you first need to navigate to the project panel or the timeline. Click on the "File" menu located at the top of the screen, then select "New" from the drop-down menu. From the new options that appear, select "Bars and Tone". This will create a new item in your project panel or timeline that you can drag and drop onto your sequence.

The Bars and Tone file is typically used for calibrating audio and video equipment. Once you've added it to your sequence, you can adjust its duration by dragging its ends. To adjust the properties of the Bars and Tone, such as the frequency of the tone or the type of bars, double click on the Bars and Tone file in the project panel. This will open a new window where you can adjust these settings. Remember to delete or mute the Bars and Tone before exporting your final video, as it's not meant to be part of the final product.

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