Premiere Pro Workflow – Marketing Video

This tutorial will show you how to create your marketing video in Adobe Premiere Pro.

1. Create a new project

  • Open Premiere and select New Project.
  • Enter your project name and choose where to save it.

2. Set your video specs

  • Create a sequence using 3840 × 2160 resolution.
    • In the Project panel, click New Item (+) > Sequence (or choose File > New > Sequence).
    • Select a preset that matches your footage, such as AVCHD > 1080p > 30 fps.
    • If needed, open the Settings tab and set Frame Size to 3840 horizontal × 2160 vertical.
    • Set Timebase to match your footage (usually 29.97 or 30 fps).
    • Set Pixel Aspect Ratio to Square Pixels (1.0).
    • Name your sequence and click OK.
  • Use the required video duration and aspect ratio.

A sequence in Premiere

A sequence is like a composition in After Effects. It’s where you assemble and edit your video clips, audio, text, and graphics into a finished video.

  • Project (Premiere): The main file that holds your sequences and links to your video clips, audio, graphics, and other assets. Similar to an After Effects project.
  • Sequence (Premiere): The workspace where you arrange and edit video and audio on a timeline. Similar to a composition in After Effects.
  • Composition (After Effects): The workspace where you combine layers, graphics, effects, and animation on a timeline.

Simple example: Your Premiere project might be called Hearth & Crumb Marketing Video. Inside it, you create a sequence called Main Video – 2160p. That sequence contains all the clips, music, titles, and transitions that make up your final video.

Setting Timeline Duration

Shorten the Export Length Only

  • If you want to keep your timeline intact but only export a shorter portion, set your timeline indicator to the very beginning or zero, then press I to set an In point. Move it to your desired endpoint and press O to set an Out point.
  • In the Export settings, set your range to Sequence In/Out or Work Area.

Creating Intros and Outros

You do not need to create a separate 3840 × 2160 background or composition before creating your intro or outro in Premiere.

Once you have created your 3840 × 2160 sequence, you can build both screens directly in the timeline.

  • For the intro: Add a background (a video clip, a solid color, or a graphic), then add text and the logo on top.
  • For the outro: Add a background, then add the logo, call to action, and any website or contact information.
  • For timing: Extend or shorten the background and text clips so they stay on screen for the desired duration.
  • For layering: Put the background on a lower video track and the text and logo on tracks above it.

One important tip for beginners: If they want a simple solid-color background, they can create one directly in Premiere using Project panel > New Item (icon-lower right) > Color Matte, choose the sequence settings, select a color, and place it on the timeline.

Think of the sequence as your video canvas. They build the entire video—including the intro and outro—inside it.

3. Organize and save your project

  • Create a project folder with subfolders for Video, Audio, Graphics, and Exports.
  • Save your Premiere project file inside the main folder.
  • Save frequently with Cmd+S (Mac) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

4. Import your assets

  • Choose File > Import or drag files into the Project panel.
  • Import your video clips, audio, logos, and graphics.

5. Create your intro screen

  • Move the playhead to the beginning of the timeline.
  • Use the Text tool (T) to add a title.
  • Add your logo and graphics. Adjust font, color, size, and position in the Properties panel.

6. Create your 3-second thumb-stop hook

  • Place your strongest opening clip at the beginning.
  • Trim it to approximately 1–3 seconds.
  • Add a short headline or attention-grabbing visual.

7. Color correct and grade your first clip

  • Select the clip in the timeline.
  • In the upper-right corner of your workspace, select Color.
  • Try auto-correcting first by clicking the AI wand icon in the lower-left of the color controls
  • Auto-correct multiple clips at once:
    • You can batch-balance multiple clips at once in Color Mode by selecting related shots in the Clip Grid and creating a Custom Group. Any adjustment or Auto Color correction you apply to that group updates every shot inside it simultaneously, removing the need to copy and paste effects or stack adjustment layers.
    • Step-by-Step: Creating and Balancing a Group
    • Sort Your Clips First. In the Clip Grid panel, open the sort menu and switch from Sequence Timecode to Clip Timecode. This lines up shots by when they were recorded, making it easy to spot clips from the same camera setup or lighting environment.
    • Select Your Clips. Hold Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) to click individual shots in the Clip Grid, or hold Shift to select a continuous range of clips.
    • Create the Group. Look at the Color Controls panel on the right—a new Selection tier will appear between Clip and Sequence with a badge showing how many clips you selected. Click the Plus (+) icon next to Selection and choose Adjust.
    • Name Your Group. Double-click the new group’s title (or right-click it) to rename it something descriptive, like “A-Cam Interview” or “Outdoor B-Roll,” so you can keep track of your setups.
    • Apply Auto Color or Manual Adjustments. With your group’s Adjust operation open, click the Auto Color magic wand icon at the bottom left to set a neutral baseline across all clips in the group at once, or tweak the exposure and white balance sliders manually.
  • Managing and Refining Groups
    • Add More Clips Later. If you missed a shot, drag the group operation from the Color Controls panel directly onto another thumbnail in the Clip Grid. The clip counter badge will update automatically.
    • Fine-Tune Individual Shots. Because Premiere layers Clip, Group, and Sequence operations non-destructively, you can still select a single clip inside a group and add a clip-level Adjust layer to tweak minor differences without breaking the shared group balance.

8. Fix Camera Shake

  • Fix camera shake in Adobe Premiere Pro by applying the Warp Stabilizer effect.
    • How to Apply Warp Stabilizer
      • Open the Effects Panel: Go to Window > Effects (or select the Editing workspace).
      • Search for the Effect: Type Warp Stabilizer into the search bar. Find it under Video Effects > Distort > Warp Stabilizer.
      • Apply to Clip: Click and drag the Warp Stabilizer effect directly onto your shaky clip on the timeline.
      • Wait for Analysis: Premiere Pro will automatically start analyzing the clip in the background (you will see a blue or orange banner progress bar across the clip).
      • View Result: Once analysis finishes, the software automatically stabilizes and crops the footage.
    • Key Settings to Adjust
      • Smoothness: Found in the Effect Controls panel. The default is usually set around 50%. Lower it (e.g., to 10%–20%) if the video looks too warped or “jelly-like”; raise it if the footage is still too shaky.
      • Result (Motion Type):
        • Smooth Motion (default): Keeps natural, smooth camera movement.
        • No Motion: Locks the shot down completely so it looks like it was shot on a tripod.
      • Method: Change from Subspace Warp (default) to Position or Position, Scale, Rotation if you notice warping around the edges of the frame.
      • Detailed Analysis: Check this box in the Advanced dropdown for difficult or high-motion clips.
      • Speed Ramped / Nested Clips: If your clip has speed ramping or time remapping, right-click the clip on the timeline, select Nest, and apply the Warp Stabilizer to the nested sequence instead.

9. Arrange your story

  • Drag clips left or right to change their order.
  • Use the Selection tool (V) to select clips.
  • Use the Razor tool (C) to cut clips.
  • Drag clip edges inward to trim unwanted footage.
  • Remove gaps and unnecessary footage.

10. Add text, graphics, and animations

  • Select the Text tool (T) and click the Program Monitor to add text.
  • Use the Properties panel to adjust font, size, color, and position.
  • Import logos and graphics through File > Import.
  • To animate an element, use Effect Controls > Motion and set keyframes for properties such as Position, Scale, or Opacity.

11. Add and adjust audio

  • Drag voiceover and music files onto separate audio tracks.
  • Select an audio clip and open Window > Essential Sound or the available audio controls.
  • Tag voiceover as Dialogue and music as Music.
  • Use audio repair tools to reduce noise when needed.
    • Select the voiceover clip in the timeline.
    • Open Window > Essential Sound.
    • Under Audio Type, select Dialogue.
    • Expand Repair and enable Reduce Noise.
    • Adjust the slider gradually until background noise is reduced, but the voice still sounds natural.
    • If needed, try Reduce Rumble to reduce low-frequency noise.
    • Play the clip back and check for muffled or distorted audio.
  • Lower music so dialogue remains clear.
  • Add fades using audio transitions or volume keyframes.

12. Add captions

  • Select Window > Text.
  • In the Transcript tab, choose Transcribe sequence.
  • Review the transcript and correct errors.
  • Choose Create captions from the transcript.
  • Check spelling, timing, readability, and placement.

13. Sync music with your edits

  • Play the timeline and listen for strong beats.
  • Drag clips or trim their edges to align key moments with the music.
  • For fades, adjust audio volume keyframes or add audio transitions.
  • Keep music low enough that dialogue is easy to hear.

14. Create your outro

  • Move the playhead to the end of your timeline.
  • Add your logo, a short call to action, and any required contact or website information.
  • Keep the text readable and on screen long enough to read.
  • Add a simple fade if appropriate.

15. Review your video

  • Play the entire timeline from beginning to end.
  • Check pacing, spelling, captions, audio levels, color consistency, and transitions.
  • Confirm the video follows the brand’s colors, typography, logo, and visual style.
  • Fix any mistakes and save your project.

16. Export your MP4

  • Select File > Export > Media or click Export in the top workspace bar.
  • Set Format: H.264.
  • Choose Match Source – Adaptive High Bitrate or an appropriate preset.
  • Confirm the resolution is 1920 × 1080 and the frame rate matches your sequence (30 fps). Remember, we are creating the final MP4 for social media, which is full HD (1920 × 1080 px)
  • Choose the filename and save location in your Exports folder.
  • Click Export and play the finished MP4 to check it.