Find out how to get the perfect, professional sound in our free course, The Art of Voice Recording.

What You’ll Learn

Producing a good voice-over isn’t difficult, and the equipment you need is inexpensive. The quality of your voice-overs, however, will only be as good as your ability to control the sound and your techniques for capturing the audio.

In this course, you will learn about basic audio recording techniques, equipment options, acoustic treatment, and how to properly use the gear.

You’ll get over an hour of video, in which audio and video expert Dave Bode takes you through the whole process for recording the best possible audio, whether you have a simple setup or a well-equipped studio.

You’ll learn how to control the sound so that you get the exact results you need, without too much noise or distractions.

In addition to the technical aspect of this course, you will also learn about how to prepare for the read and how to work with clients to make sure expectations are met.

Learn the Art of Voice Recording Today!

This free course really does give you everything you need to know to make a professional voice recording for a video, interview, podcast, or any other purpose.

So get started right now, either by watching the video above or by clicking through to watch The Art of Voice Recording over on YouTube.

Create Your Own Podcast

Podcasting is taking the world by storm, so if you’re planning on creating your very own podcast, we’ve got the perfect music to give it the professional edge. Check out the top 10 tracks to accompany your podcast!

The post Try a Free Course on the Art of Voice Recording appeared first on Envato.

Out with the old, in with the new. 

Well, not quite yet—there’s still a week or two left before the fireworks go off and we all start making those beautiful, optimistic resolutions that shine as bright as a Roman candle before fizzling in the February gloom. But still, it’s a good time to look back on 2018 and peer forward into 2019 to spot some trends coming our way. So we asked our experts across the company what trends they expect to see in the coming year

Here’s what to watch out for in 2019:

Design & Illustration

Pantone recently set some new design trends in motion with its selection of Living Coral as the Pantone Color of the Year 2019. But design, of course, is about much more than colour. Over on Envato Tuts+, designer Grace Fussell took us through some other trends to watch out for in 2019, from nautical stripes to chiselled serif typefaces. Here are a couple more design trends you can expect to see next year.

#1: Brand Customisation

"A strong trend I expect to see more of over the next year is brand customisation and personalisation. Think custom cut fonts and illustration styles all to yourself that set brands apart and elevate them above the norm."

Steven Scott

Envato Designer

For example, why not use one of these unique fonts, or take them as inspiration for designing your own?

#2: Abstract, Colourful Patterns

"Perhaps influenced by the resurgence of 80s style, abstract and colourful patterns will be popping up in design. Think Memphis Group patterns and colour schemes."

Sharon Milne

Tuts+ Design & Illustration Editor

Learn more about the Memphis style and how to use abstract colour in your designs:

• What Is the Memphis Style?
• How to Create a Memphis Style Text Effect in Adobe InDesign
• How to Create an Abstract Pastel 3D Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

#3: Depth and Layers

"I see that people are playing with dimension and layering again. Different to the super flat style a while back."

Kate McInnes

Quality Media Specialist

Web Design

WordPress just shook up the web design world with its launch of Gutenberg, a completely new way for people to create posts and pages on WordPress sites. Here are some of the broader changes that our experts expect as a result of that change, along with some other exciting new trends and technologies now coming to the fore.

#4: The Rise of the Page Builders

"I think we’ll see even more minimal/clean SVG types and performance-focused themes which utilise Gutenberg. Modern development techniques like WP Rig and Mythic will definitely help in theme development, which is getting more and more complicated nowadays."

Kailoon Chan

Senior Reviewer, ThemeForest

Kailoon also thinks themes could now provide a fully fledged page builder based on Gutenberg, including header/footer customisation. It’s going to be a year for content-creation tools as well, he says, with users flocking to plugins like Elementor and WP Page Builder, which provide pre-designed templates, elements, add-ons, etc.

#5: New Features, New Layout Boundaries

"Competition in the design application space has never been fiercer! Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma, Invision Studio and others are all upping their game and smashing out features to make UI and UX design better."

Ian Yates

Tuts+ Web Design Editor

Why not start off 2019 by getting up to speed with those new and improved apps?

• Sketch vs Adobe XD: Which One Should You Use?
• Figma Tutorials and Courses

In terms of actual design for the web, expect layout boundaries to be pushed further. It’s taking time to shake off old habits, but CSS Grid and Flexbox now enjoy enough browser support for designers to use them with confidence.

• Create a Broken Grid Layout Using CSS Grid
• A Comprehensive Guide to Flexbox Alignment

#6: Voice Assistants

"The use of voice assistants will continue to increase in 2019. They will remain a predominantly non-visual medium, so finding the right balance between visual cues and providing context and direction with words in the user interface will be crucial."

Lauren Macnab

Digital Content Strategist

Video

In the video world, too, a big player made a major move in 2018. This time it was Adobe, with its launch of a brand new editing app called Adobe Rush. See what our experts see on the horizon in 2019.

#7: Rush, Particle Animation, and More

"Adobe has a new NLE on the scene, Rush, which works with Premiere templates: a boon for video makers who don’t need a full-fledged production suite. Particle animation, enabled by ever-more-powerful graphics cards, will trickle down to all kinds of video projects and programs. Instagram-esque presets and quick-changing picture styles will remain popular, too."

Jackson Couse

Tuts+ Video Editor

#8: A Plethora of New Templates

"Adobe’s development of the Essential Graphics panel and Motion Graphics Template format has forever altered the video industry. Users of the once graphics-stunted Premiere Pro have been given a brand new arsenal, allowing Premiere editors to add robust, professional animated graphics into their video projects with just a few clicks."

Tyson Frantz

Senior VideoHive Reviewer

What that means is that  After Effects template authors now have an entirely new audience in which to create content, and Premiere editors have a burgeoning ecosystem of gorgeous graphics to choose from.

As more and more video editors flock to the graphics template market, 2019 could very well signal the largest period of growth for the Premiere template category.

How many templates can you handle?

This is just a tiny sample of the 50,000+ After Effects templates on VideoHive.

The newer Premiere Pro category has more than 1,500 items, with more being added all the time.

Audio

What will people be listening to in 2019? We can’t predict the chart-topping albums, the breakout acts or the celebrity feuds coming our way next year, but we do know a thing or two about stock audio. Here’s what to expect.

#9: Upbeat, Energetic Audio

"2019 is looking like another exciting year ahead, where upbeat and energetic vibes will dominate stock audio demand. Regardless of styles, from epic to inspirational, tracks that convey confidence and healthy energy will always be go-to winners, especially those with subtle but memorable leads, making room for great stories and narratives to happen."

Adrien Gardiner

Audio Content Specialist

Here are a few excellent examples that made waves throughout 2018:

• Uplifting Future Bass
• Summer Fun
• Energetic Indie Rock
• Emotional Cinematic Trailer
• Hip-Hop This

Code

The launch of WordPress Gutenberg will affect more than just web design. There’s a whole ecosystem of plugins and extensions that can now take advantage of WordPress’s new capabilities. Read on to find out how that will play out in 2019.

#10: An Explosion of Block Plugins

"In 2019, I predict we’ll see an explosion of Block Plugins for the new WordPress Editor (Gutenberg). We should see phase two of the Gutenberg project moving on from the editor to improve other areas of WordPress (like widgets and menus). I also predict that page builders like Elementor will continue to improve at an amazing pace and the eco-system around them (templates, add-ons, etc.) will continue to grow as well!"

Aaron Rutley

Product Manager

Photography

Expect 2019 to usher in a new aesthetic in photography. Some of the most popular trends have now run their course, and we could be all set for a year in which the photos we use more accurately reflect the real world around us.

#11: Ditch the Special Effects

"For 2019, the current demand for authenticity is expected to maintain its growth. The heavy vignetting, retro filtering, desaturation and added lens flares/effects will start looking old (and not in the way it was intended). This is a great opportunity to embrace diversity and inclusion, while producing natural-looking, credible images that customers can actually relate to."

Gaby Jalbert

Photo Content Specialist

Another photography trend to watch out for is drone photography, as the technology keeps evolving and becoming more accessible every year. Drone shots are now widely used in movies and advertisements, as well as on YouTube and social media. This fresh perspective on life should retain a strong presence for years to come.

A Quick Look Back at 2018

In 2018, Envato announced a new addition to the family: Placeit. If you haven’t tried it yet, you really should. The site lets you create logos, mockups, flyers, T-shirt designs and a whole lot more—all from your internet browser.

We also covered a lot of ground in other areas this year. A few highlights from the blog and elsewhere:

• Video arrived on Envato Elements, and we took you through how to make a launch video using assets from the site.
• Later in the year, audio followed suit as Envato Elements gave you access to thousands of music tracks and sound effects.
• We ran some guides for web designers, showing you how to use Elementor to speed up your project, the rules of designing UX for millennials, why voice UI is a big deal, and more.
• If you’re a graphic designer, we had you covered too. Elements continued to expand its huge library, and we discussed things like how ubiquity can be a liability for a brand, what you need to know about millennial pink, and how Comic Sans became the world’s most divisive font. 
• And we must be getting old, because we also got all nostalgic on you and started spinning yarns about the old days in a Sydney garage and reflecting on how you handle all that growth without losing your core values.

Plenty more cool stuff also happened, of course, and you can read about it all in our Year End Review.

Over to You...

As the inimitable Yogi Berra once said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”

Our experts are immersed in their respective fields every day and have drawn on a wealth of experience to tell us what to look out for in 2019, but they could be sideswiped by a major product launch or an unexpected cultural shift.

What do you think? Will these predictions will come true, or do you have your own ideas about what’s coming in 2019? Jump over to the Envato forums and have your say.

Want more? Read the Envato Year End Review:

In the course of 2018, we processed a lot of data about what people are searching for and buying. In our Year End Review, we crunch those numbers to reveal some interesting insights about what happened this year and what to expect in 2019.

The post Trend Predictions 2019: From Graphic Design to Web Design appeared first on Envato.

What You’ll Learn

This course teaches you everything you need to know about audio processing for video. You’ll learn how to edit, process, mix, and master audio for your video projects.

You’ll learn how to use essential audio plugins like EQs, compressors, gates, expanders, and de-essers.

You’ll learn how to clean up dialog tracks by fixing noise, reverb, and mouth clicks.

Finally, you will learn how to use some mastering plugins like compressors and limiters to keep your audio levels and tone in check.

By the end of this course, you will have the skills you need to be able to tackle the audio portion of your projects like a pro!

Learn Audio Processing for Video Today!

With this detailed video, you’ll be all set to go from audio novice to processing pro. Just make some time in your schedule and watch the video above—or click through to watch Advanced Audio Processing for Video on YouTube.

And as a bonus, did you know that an Envato Elements subscription now includes audio? Take a look at the selection of over 7,000 high-quality royalty-free music tracks and 75,000 useful sound effects to find one you can use in your next project. Or read more of our audio articles.

The post Learn Advanced Audio Processing for Video in Our Free YouTube Course appeared first on Envato.

More than 80,000 audio files have today been added to Envato Elements. Included in the initial offering are royalty-free music tracks covering a full range of popular genres – from hip-hop and pop, to cinematic and corporate – as well as a host of sound effect files available for everything from feature films to video games.  

Still, if this makes you wonder what the absolute top royalty-free tracks in Envato Elements are, wonder no more! This post brings together the top audio picks on Elements. The best thing about this is that you don’t have to take my word for it. Real, professional audio specialists at Envato picked their favorites; so you know you can trust their selection.

Royalty Free Music

First, let’s start with what makes the world go round: music. These tracks will have you grooving, feeling good, and getting emotional. Take a listen to find out the best one for your project.

Pickin’ on the Porch

To start off this list, here’s a music track that’s easygoing and cheerful. Its carefree guitar and lively piano will make you feel as if you really were sitting on the porch on a Sunday afternoon.

Ukulele Blues

For a tune that mixes jazz elements with a fun ukulele, try the ‘Ukulele Blues’. It’s sure to inject a bunch of energy and feel-good vibes for its listeners.

Late Summer Dancing

And if you feel like enjoying a late summer dancing session, this royalty-free music track will get you on your feet. It combines the rhythm of a guitar with the ease of the ukulele.

Last Chance

If you want to convey the passage of time, this dramatic tune can help you out. With a dark piano, strings, and a relentless beat, this music track will help you achieve just that.

Rise of the Dragon

As you would expect from a song called ‘Rise of the Dragon’, this song is powerful, emotional, and very dramatic, which would work great for a cinematic masterpiece.

Action Trailer

The trailer for an action movie would benefit greatly from this music track, as it has a distorted bass line, an energetic beat, and electronic elements to it.

Hybrid Cinematic Inspiration

To motivate and inspire your audience, use this ‘Hybrid Cinematic Inspiration’ music track. It will fit in nicely in an ad, a corporate video, or a cinematic trailer.

Go Go Go

‘Go Go Go’ is the perfect name for this song. It’s upbeat, joyful, and has an electrifying rhythm that will have you tapping your foot to it.

Exciting Funky Inspiration

You can never have too much funk in your life. This funky song is catchy, exciting, and has a feel-good vibe that you can definitely dance to.

Uplifting Indie Rock

If alternative indie rock is more your thing, give this royalty-free music track a listen. It has a recognizable guitar riff and dynamic drums to keep your energy up.

Purple Autumn Soft Documentary Atmosphere

To bring it back down again, this is an atmospheric, calm, beautiful tune. It’ll be the perfect background music for a stunning audiovisual project.

Cinematic Orchestra Studio Opener

Now, if you’re on a quest for an ident that is epic and has a big impact, hit ‘play’ on this ‘Cinematic Orchestra Studio Opener’.

Crystal Glitch Pretty Ident

‘Serenity’, ‘tranquility’ and ‘charm’ are some of the words that will come to mind when you hear this ident. It’s clear, crisp, and has a beautiful, soothing sound to it.

Corporate Technology Logo

If you want your audiovisual branding project to portray brighter, more upbeat and modern sensations, opt for this corporate ident track.

Soul Logo

Few things are as soulful as 70s funk. Use this music ident to introduce a happy, positive sentiment to your corporate video.

For even more royalty free music tracks, check out this video:

Sound Effects

Sound effects can make or break your audiovisual projects. Continue listening so you can discover royalty-free sound effects picked out by our specialists.

Epic Swish Pack

Is your multimedia project in need of aggressive air swishes and strong gusts of wind? If that’s the case, this royalty-free sound effect has you covered.

Inspirational Success

This next sound effect is ideal for any app or game. Its bright bells are also elegant and charming, which adds extra oomph to your projects.

Comical Mix

Anytime a character slips on a banana, falls or does something clumsy and silly, you’ll hear this comical royalty-free sound effect going off in the background.

Cartoon Character Voice Expressions Pack

Have a need for high-pitched cartoon voices saying things like ‘eww’, ‘hey’, and ‘great’? Look no further than this packed expressions pack that’s fun and cute.

For even more sound effects, check out this video:

Conclusion

Envato’s specialists put together this list that goes over music, idents, sound effects, and more. If you don’t find the right option here, browse through our audio library on Envato Elements or our marketplace, Envato Market.

The post Top Audio on Elements Picks: Curated by Specialists appeared first on Envato.

The post Royalty Free Music for Fashion Vloggers | AudioJungle appeared first on Envato.

Electro

Music can be the difference between an amazing video, and an average one. So, picking the right music is very important. In this series we’re calling, Now Playing, we’ll be taking a look at the best, and freshest tracks across a number of genres that are the best options to pair with your next video.

This week we’re taking you through stand out tracks in the Electro genre.

Rave Generation by LoopsLab

Looking to start a party with your video? Rave Generation has the pace, and excitement to get your audience on their feet. LoopsLab succeeds at perfecting the electro vibe often heard in clubs. This is great music for a Roman Atwood style vlog.

Get it now

Extreme by IMGsound

If your video is a fast moving, intense experience, extreme will be what you’re looking for. Its aggressive drumbeat drives the energy of the arrangement. And, the electronic lines that play on top take you on a real journey, coming in and out at different levels of intensity. It also offers you a few different cuts of the track to make looping easier, and suit various lengths of video.

Get it now

Summer Party by IntelligentMusic

Summer Party is an easy to listen to electro track. It’s bright, but never loud, and altogether a smooth sounding composition. The synth waves that flow through it resemble the sound of actual waves, creating that summery feel. And, the lead synth part is fun, and playful.

Get it now

Uplifting Tropical House by ParallelSounds

This smooth sounding track will conjure images of waves rolling onto the sand. Picture orange and pink skies as the sun sets, and cocktails being consumed by a crowd of people. It’s a great choice for a channel focused at young people.

Get it now

Energy Dubstep by AudioRocket

An exciting track, Energy Dubstep is an exercise in pacing, and layering. It begins in a muted fashion, raising the tension, as you feel it holding back, knowing it’s about to let loose. Then as the other synth layers, and samples come in, it hits a satisfying peak, before a well crafted ending. It’s crisp, and fun.

Get it now

Future Bass by Pavetraxx

This smooth, bouncy track will suit a variety of videos. Its chord progression is unique, helping it stand out from the pack. The little clicks, and sounds that are layered into it make it feel fresh. As do the powerful synth chords that drive it. The drums are crisp, and the lead synth has a sound that’s gooey and inviting.

Get it now

Electro by Audio_Wave

A smooth, low profile track that still has some drive, Electro by Audio_Wave has elements reminiscent of video games. It would be well suited to tech, gaming, or even sports videos. While it’s pretty pushy, it’s not agressive.

Get it now

That Future Bass by OddVision

OddVision have a reputation for producing some of the best Future Bass tracks around, and in this one they deliver. That Future Bass is a solid entrant to the popular genre, producing those desired builds, then drops that make this trendy sound so enticing. Excite your audience with an engaging track like this.

Get it now

Future Ambient by deepersound

Deepersound is another noted creator, in the area of cinematic electronic music. This one has moments that feel epic, and married with visuals like sweeping shots of a stunning location, would produce a breathtaking result. But, it’s also a great track if you’re trying to enhance a viewer’s focus on what the narration. It wouldn’t be out of place on a Deep Focus playlist you’d find on Spotify.

Get it now

Sport Trailer by LuLu_Production

With a great driving sound, this track by LuLu_Production offers something that will add intensity to your next video. As the title suggests, if your video centers around sport, fitness, or action, this will be a great track for you to check out.

Get it now

That Future Bass by Prigida

This track by Prigida is an exercise in restraint, and release. The experience is like that of a slingshot, pulling back to build anticipation, and then releasing that built up tension like an elastic. It’s fantastic for a fun video.

Get it now

Sport Summer Fashion Pop Dubstep by Infraction

You can imagine this track being used for everything from sports to fashion videos. But its warm chords, and interesting, if at times broody chord progression make it unique. The synth voice they’ve used for the main body chords is a little bit retro. And, it’s got many elements of a normal summer electro track, used in a slightly more complicated way. It stands out.

Get it now

Epic Sport & Aggressive Electro by BrainMire

Definitely suited to action oriented videos, this track by BrainMire is intense. If you’re producing something with the mood of Fast and the Furious, bingo, you’ve found the one.

Get it now

The Future Bass by AQUALIQUID

Another future bass track, this one by AQUALIQUID is very warm, and a delight to listen to. It’s a unique track that won’t stand out too much in a video, making it perfect for underscoring. And, it ticks all the boxes of a good future bass track: fresh, crispy, and smooth. Sounds like I’m describing an M&M or something, right?

Get it now

Across The Universe by Antracto

And, finally, this track by Antracto is a happy, epic one to finish on. With its fresh electro instrumentation, oozy layers of synth, and a drum track that sounds more acoustic than electronic, it finds a balance between being futuristic, and accessible. Its chosen chords are warm, and mostly bright. And, the subtle layers, like the claps on the snare beat, all add up to something fresh.

Get it now

Thanks for watching the first episode of Now Playing. We’ll be back next time with a look at the best Hip Hop stock music tracks to pair with your next video.

Video Credits

Host & Editor: Dom Hennequin

Video Backgrounds:

Retrowave Landscape River VJ Loop

Glowing Kaleida Loop Background

Psychedelic Striped Party Planet

Fluid Firework – VJ Loop Pack (3in1)

Liquid Metal 4K 01

4K Fly into Planetary Nebula

Space Planet

Cinematic Background Pack

Summer Palms Loop Background

Summer Love

Girona Old Town Drone Footage

Aerial Drone Footage of Ocean Waves on Sunset

Aerial View on Frozen Lake at Winter Forest Drone Footage

Drone Flight Chasing Cars In The City

Coach Training Girl in Boxing

Professional Boxing

Abstract

80s Retro Space Saturn V2

Hip Hop

Happy Jazzy Hip Hop by CoffeeMusic

Happy Jazzy Hip Hop by CoffeeMusic is a lot of fun. The track’s irreverent style will surely suit a whole slew of YouTube videos, ranging from vlogs to ads for trendy brands. I’d love to see this track paired with a montage of someone skating through New York as the sun sets. It’s very that.

Get it now

The Coffee Shop by COSMONKEY

This track is great background music. Good for silent montages, or underscoring for a lifestyle video. It’s very chilled out, and won’t draw much attention. Great for supporting the main content.

Get it now

Upbeat Hip-Hop by Watermello

Upbeat Hip-Hop by Watermello, on the other hand, makes quite an impression from the very beginning. It’s bright, carries a big energy, and quintessentially YouTubey. It fits very neatly into the style of music vloggers like Casey Neistat use.

Get it now

Hip-Hop Chill by BlockBeatz

Hip-Hop Chill is a little more sparse. There’s less going on in this track. And whatever movements, and developments take place, they’re very spaced out. It’s slower, more chilled out, and a better pairing with narration.

Get it now

Turn It Up by Trendsound

This track by Trendsound is cool with a capital ‘K’. Ok, I know that was very uncool. It’s a more aggressive style of hip hop that will certainly be awesome to some, and seem a bit intimidating to others, which is actually good for some brands. You might pair this with a montage of streetwear from a brand like Supreme, or maybe even for a scene in a TV show like Atlanta.

Get it now

The Trap by ArtIss

The Trap by Artlss falls into a similar category – it’s not going to be for everybody. But it nails the style it’s going for, and would definitely suit a video that has a lot of action in it. Everything from actual cinema, to ads for a gym would find use for this track.

Get it now

Upbeat Hip-Hop by TwoMountains

Upbeat Hip-Hop is uplifting. Its chords are bright, and its beat is exciting. The whole thing would pair well with a video on tech, fashion, lifestyle, travel, or something in that vein. Hearing this music with some fast, beautiful graphics, or vibrant shots of the city and its people would fully realize the vibe this track is establishing.

Get it now

Happy Jazzy Hip Hop by MusicByDuane

This track by MusicByDuana switches up the typical hip hop stock track by using a different instrument as the lead. While the beat is very much of the hip hop variety, the xylophone sounding lead part is unusual, and delightful. It makes the track a little more low profile than if the composer had used a more dominant instrument, making it perfect for a video.

Get it now

Aggressive Sport Hip-Hop by Radio_Brothers

Aggressive Sport Hip-Hop is incredibly commanding. Great for sports, and action videos, this one requires a certain level of intensity in the visuals to really work. It nails the bold cinematic style it’s going for.

Get it now

Technology Modern Uplifting and Orchestral Hip-Hop by StereoAnimals

With a hip hop beat, strings, and a popcorn sounding synth pattern, this track breaks a lot of conventions. Even the chord progression doesn’t quite go where you think it will. The result is surprisingly uplifting. It’s a fantastic track to pair with material that’s informative, and enlightening.

Get it now

Cinematic Abstract by KonstantinMart

This track feels epic, and combined with material that’s cinematic, it will produce quite an astounding result. The music feels almost emotional in its mood. It’s dramatic but uplifting.

Get it now

That Hip-Hop by 99Instrumentals

A real carefree track, That Hip-Hop by 99Instrumentals has a playful vibe that’ll make anyone smile. Put this together with some fun content, and you’ll turn whatever material you’re showing into something that feels engaging, and fresh.

Get it now

In Hip-Hop by Eleone

A low profile track, Hip-Hop by Eleone is the perfect underscore for someone wanting their video to feel fresh, while still having the music ultimately blend into the background.

Get it now

LA funk by cragkeys

LA funk sounds a little Jamaroque inspired. It’s funky, and really easy to listen to. It’s also simply orchestrated, and will work well under narration.

Get it now

Inspired Trip Hop by AlexandrFokshtein

And, finally, the trip hop genre has proven very successful on YouTube, and this one will be well suited to something cinematic. Travel vlogs, montages, things that are visually spectacular will pair well with this track by AlexandrFokshtein. And, if done right, it will lift your visuals into something special. That’s the potential of this track.

Get it now

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The post Best Stock Music Tracks of 2018 appeared first on Envato.

As a creative professional do people sometimes find it hard to comprehend what you actually do?

Giving your audience a peek behind the curtain with a behind the scenes look isn’t new. Within the film industry, DVDs have, for a long time, given fans and fellow creatives an in-depth look into the process of making movies thanks to director’s commentary and deleted scenes.

Sometimes the journey is more exciting than the destination, and the creative process is no exception.

A video Josh worked on for Bupa Australia

As a video creator and the owner of a video production company, I’ve seen the benefit of communicating what I do through documenting and sharing my behind the scenes process.

Whether your goal is to improve your work as an artist or to drum up interest from new clients, showcasing the behind the scenes of your work can elevate what you do. It also helps to create mindfulness within your creative process.

This article will give you some practical tips and tricks to build habits that promote what you do in an authentic and engaging way. This is not about self-promotion. While the benefits are undoubtedly there, these tips are about providing value through sharing your creative process.

Why don’t you share your behind the scenes process?

If you haven’t been documenting your behind the scenes process, you probably have an excuse as to why (coming up with creative excuses is fun!). Some common excuses I’ve used include:

It’s a distraction from actual work

Maybe you’ve set the bar too high to start with? Use the camera you have with you, even if that’s just your smartphone. The idea behind capturing behind the scenes content is that it’s integrated within your existing process. There are some easy techniques for generating behind the scenes content without distracting you from your work (keep reading)

I have nothing worth sharing

This might come from not understanding or defining your audience. Think about what your audience cares about. For a client getting a logo designed, that might be the initial sketches, moodboards and tests. Show them your thought process in getting to the final logo. The iterative road you’ve travelled to land on your final design makes it even more valuable.

My clients won’t let me

Some clients can be funny about sharing work on your social media accounts. They might even get you to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), preventing you from sharing the work. At my production company, Full Stack Films, we’ve built in the expectation that behind the scenes content will be captured and shared. It’s even mentioned in our Video Production Agreement which clients sign before each job.

If the work you do for clients is highly sensitive, or you don’t think you’ll be able to get the idea of sharing the process across the line with your clients, try and create side projects where you can share your process.

Side projects are also a great way to get a bit more creative and feel comfortable with greater levels of experimentation.

I forgot

Make the behind the scenes documentation part of your process and make it fun! If your work requires collaboration, encourage your partners to share their perspective on the behind the scenes process. Tag them in posts and engage with them on social media. And if all else fails, set up a calendar appointment at the start of the project so you don’t forget!

Ideas for sharing and documenting the behind the scenes of your creative process

Timelapses

If there’s a lot of time spent on each project you work on, consider setting up a time lapse. For a painter, this could be a still camera set in the corner of your studio capturing a frame every minute. For a web designer working in Sketch, this could be a screen recording which is sped-up in editing. If you’re using a camera to create your timelapse, do a quick Google search of your model to find the best option. Sometimes it can be built right into the camera, other times it can be an app download or a purchase of a hardware remote.

Here’s an example from the talented Illustrator Glenn Jones of Glennz Tees.

Live streaming

Regularly scheduled live streams can be a great way for your community to connect with you and learn about your work. Share insights, run live tutorials, even interview fellow artists in similar industries. Pick the platform that you wish to build, or already have an existing audience on. Most social media platforms have their own live streaming functionality including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Vimeo.

YouTuber Sara Dietschy provides a behind the scenes look at her process, including a live stream on how she makes money making video.

Screen Captures

Take still captures of your computer screen to showcase the process of your work. #TimelineTuesday is an initiative for video editors to share the timeline of their work and a great example of using screen captures, providing behind the scenes insight into an editor’s workflow.

Instagram and Snapchat Stories

Instagram and Snapchat stories are commonly seen as disposable content, automatically disappearing from your feed after 24 hours. Each platform, however, has a save function, allowing you to keep copies of your videos to be published on other platforms. You might already be creating content using these apps, and extending the videos through saving them will increase their value.

Jamie Oliver — yep, the chef — does some awesome behind the scenes Instagram stories, showcasing recipes that he’s working on and the crew of his TV productions. https://www.instagram.com/jamieoliver/?hl=en

Vlog

When you think of vlogging, big name daily vloggers might come to mind — for some, it’s the main content they create as artists. Vlogging is a great way to document your life. As a creator, you can share your daily inspirations and provide a different perspective.

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The post Why You Should Be Sharing the Behind the Scenes of Your Creative Process appeared first on Envato.

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In the early 2000s a subgenre of electronic music, synthwave, was born. Taking inspiration from everything from terrible explainer videos to workout videos. Here’s our list of the best synthwave tracks inspired by the 80s.

The 80s is the era that keeps giving. Characterized mainly by the word “excess”, it’s a time we reflect on with a sense of humor, but also, increasingly, a sense of fascination. Big hair, bright colors and shoulder pads were never in short order back then. Science fiction and horror films were being released at a dizzying pace. And video games on consoles like Atari were turning a generation of kids’ eyes square. Threading through it all was a revolutionary music genre at the time, electronic music.

Inspired by the era, in the early 2000s a subgenre of electronic music, synthwave, was born. Taking inspiration from everything from terrible explainer videos to workout videos, for nearly two decades artists have been emulating and building on the style of 80s electronic music, sometimes modernizing it, and sometimes trying to be as authentic to the era as possible.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at 18 of the best synthwave tracks inspired by the 80s.

Let’s go!

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Retrofuture Synthwave by SFRecords

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This one by SFRecords feels like it belongs in a retro video game. Every layer of the track from the drums, right up to the swirly synth lead and fuzzy sounding synth solo in the middle of the track feel authentic to the era its imitating.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synthwave by -MARiAN-

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With a soft snare and an ambient saxophone layered in, this dreamy track is warm and welcoming. Yet, it has a drive to it that will push the energy of whatever it’s underscoring to an exciting new level.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synthwave by PengusStudio

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Was someone looking for Daft Punk? “Synthwave” by PengusStudio starts off very much in the style of the french electronic duo, but departs as the song develops into a less rigid sound that’s all their own.

Buy now on Envato Market

The Cyberpunk by AirportMusic

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Suited to an 80s montage where all the characters are actioning some sort of secret plan to hack into the mainframe, “The Cyberpunk” by AirportMusic will seduce the listener into focusing on the action at hand. It has a persistent, driving rhythm behind it, but the synth patterns avoid being too busy.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synthpop 1982 by AbnormAudio

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“Synthpop 1982” lives up to its name by sounding very authentically 80s. It has the spacey synth voices, a woosh of ambience coming in and out, and then very real sounding drums underneath, making it seem extremely 80s synth rock band. Very cool if you’re producing a period piece.

Buy now on Envato Market

80's Workout by PengusStudio

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There really is no montage like an 80s workout montage. “Workout” by PengusStudio really delivers, living up to the legacy left by such things as these…

Buy now on Envato Market

Retrowave Synth Pop by Mountexx

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More contemporary, this retro pop track sounds like something you would expect to hear from any number of synth based bands today. It’s a smooth listen that will tuck nicely under a video explainer or review, for instance.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synth Pop Funk Groove by SongFireMusic

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Here’s a really light track that offers a balance of acoustic instruments infused with a light synth lead line. It’s got broad appeal and is sure to complement almost any video.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synthwave by lucafrancini

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If you’re on the hunt for a stock music track that’s quite dance-y, this one will be for you. It features an energetic beat, playful synth pattern, and bright lead synth line. It’s a great choice if you’re wanting to inject a youthful energy into your project.

Buy now on Envato Market

Upbeat & Uplifting Synth Pop by SunsetLover

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Right from the first beat this track steals attention. From SunsetLover, “Upbeat & Uplifting Synth Pop” lives up to its name by commanding attention, and brightening the mood. Your project is sure to draw the entire room’s attention with a song like this.

Buy now on Envato Market

Swag by CjKap

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“Swag” really draws the listener in with its scoopy sounding synth chords. It’s unashamedly modern in its use of this retro instrument, and the track will infuse whatever project it features in with a freshness many crave.

Buy now on Envato Market

Synthwave by Bransboynd

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Looking for something with a bit of intensity? This might be the one for you. It’d be perfect for, say, announcing launch of a new line of Tesla vehicles (Elon, are you reading?) or a new gaming console. It creates a coolness that’s striking, and will be sure to leave an impression on your audience.

Buy now on Envato Market

80s Synth Wave by JesussHands

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Despite its name, this track feels very new. It appears to be a little inspired by groups like Tycho in its choice of synth voices and a friendly, but, driving synth pattern. It’s warm, but crisp, and friendly.

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80s Cosmic Trip by BackToThe80s

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Here’s a track that you could convince was actually from the 80s. The voices used for the drum pattern, as well as the swelling synth make it feel authentically from the era. And the moody chord progression really matches the style that we now associate with the 80s. It’s full of angst.

Buy now on Envato Market

SynthPop 80s Retro by TheMusicUniverse

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A very Kavinsky sounding tune, this one has a driving beat with authentically 80s synth voices on top. The deep lower end synth pattern that works as the bass gives the track gravitas. While the lead synth line, with a complementary tinkling pattern on top, makes it feel very full.

Buy now on Envato Market

Retro Synthwave by Akoahi

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Feeling both retro and modern, this track by Akoahi would work perfectly in a scene that needed that extra touch of intensity. The commanding drum pattern, synth rhythm pattern and lead guitar, complemented by some light synth on top, is the perfect fit for a training montage, or car chase or pretty much anything a bit serious and intense.

Buy now on Envato Market

80s Modern Synthwave by BattleAngel

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Sounding like something you would actually hear turning on the radio in the 80s at any given time, “80s Modern Synthwave” by BattleAngel is a great track. With all the synth voices authentically from that era, and a driving snare drum that sounds real, it’s truly lives up to its name.

Buy now on Envato Market

Cloudwalker by Mellau

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And why not end with something that sounds like it should be playing over end credits? “Cloudwalker” by Mellau is a mix of the old and the new. With synth voices that sound snatched from the 80s, but a drum pattern that’s crisp and modern, it’s the best of both worlds. And the bright sounding layers, mixed with a broody chord progression, create angst in the listener that feels very tangible and 80s.

Buy now on Envato Market

Conclusion

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Well there you go, 18 of the best synthwave tracks inspired by the 80s. You can check out more of them in this thread of suggestions from our community on the Envato Forums. And of course, there’s plenty more to discover in this genre and others on our audio marketplace.

Yay for the 80s!

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The post 18 Best Synthwave Tracks Inspired by the 80s appeared first on Envato.

As a web designer, when I ask clients about their timeline for launching their new website, the usual response is: “As soon as possible.” This makes perfect sense as every business wants to put their best foot forward when it comes to their website. But there are often challenges in taking a website from concept to finished product in short order.

For one, hurrying your way through the process can lead to mistakes. It’s often the little details in both the layout and content that suffer from your rushing around. That could show up in the form of misspellings or even a broken layout. When you’re in a major hurry, the results reflect in the overall quality of the website.

Thankfully, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by taking some steps to ensure that you can get your site launched quickly while maintaining a high standard of quality.

Don’t Start From Scratch

When time really is of the essence, there may simply not be enough of it to warrant starting from scratch. Going through the process of building an entire website from ground zero will make it difficult to get up and running on time. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a beautiful, highly-functional website.

There are tools and services you can use that will speed up the process. A site builder, for example, will enable you to start out with a pre-designed template that you can customize to suit your needs. While it means the look of your site may not be 100% original, you can change things up enough to make it uniquely your own.

If you’re looking for serious functionality, using a well-made WordPress theme is a great solution. All of the hard design and development work has been done for you. From there, you can integrate any necessary plugins to add those must-have features. This will let you take advantage of the powerful WordPress platform without all of the extra effort.

This step alone will put you miles ahead in terms of getting things done within your desired timeframe.

Narrow the Focus of Your Content

Beyond the design process, the biggest cause for delay in getting a website launched is developing content. So it stands to reason that the more content you have to prepare, the harder it will be to hit your deadline.

If getting your website launched quickly is a top priority, then it’s okay to start small when it comes to content. While it would be nice to start things off with a few dozen carefully-crafted blog posts touting your business – it’s a bit impractical. Instead, think about the basics that visitors will need to know like the services or products you offer, contact information, etc.

Once your site is up and running, you’ll be able to add content at a comfortable pace. This can actually be a good thing in that repeat visitors will have something new to check out. The other advantage of starting small is that you can truly focus on making the most important content the best it can be.

Enlist a Helping Hand (Or Two)

Building a website isn’t easy. There will likely be certain tasks during the process that eat up more time than you anticipated. Things that looked simple in the beginning can turn into a complicated mess in a hurry.

When you’re mired in such a situation, bringing in an expert to help can get things back on track. That will allow you to focus on other parts of the project while your hired hand(s) can take care of whatever pesky issues arise.

But you don’t necessarily have to wait for something like this to pop up unannounced. For instance, if you know that there’s a specific part of the process that’s outside of your comfort zone, that’s the time to think about getting some help. Planning ahead will help you avoid a derailment while on the way to the finish line.

Make the Hard Choices

To paraphrase an old saying: If you want something that’s good, fast and cheap – pick two. The point being that you’re probably not going to get all three of those things at once. However, that saying may be less relevant for those who are able to make some tough decisions early on.

When “fast” is first on your personal wishlist, that means that you’ll inevitably have to make some tradeoffs. Maybe that means holding off on that complicated functionality until later on. Or it could be that you’ll have to take your focus off of other matters in order to get your website launched.

By making those types of decisions, you may actually be placing yourself on a path to achieve all three traits – or at least get close to it. When you realize that you can’t have “everything now”, you can concentrate your efforts on what is doable within the allotted time and budget.

In that way, maybe “good, fast and cheap” isn’t so unrealistic.

You Can Do It!

Sure, having a tight timeline for launching your website is a challenge. But it’s far from impossible. So often, we try to cram all of our wants and needs into the tiniest of spaces. The better approach is in taking that timeline and adjusting our expectations around it.

With realistic expectations, we can then turn our attention into building the best website possible. We can use tools and services to get us off to a running start. Content can be narrowed down to focus on our most pressing needs. And, if there are areas where some extra help would be appreciated, we can be proactive in seeking it out.

Perhaps the hardest part of the process involves deciding what has to be included and what can wait. But it may well be the most important factor in getting things right.

Keep in mind that launching a website in itself is full of hurdles to get past. Doing so within a compressed timeline adds even more obstacles. But with the right approach, you’ll put yourself in a position to launch a top-quality site in less time than you thought possible.

The post Ways to Launch Your Website Quickly, Without Sacrificing Quality appeared first on Envato.

It’s been a big year. 

To recap, we’ve put together this list – curated by the team at Envato – of our top ten trends of the year, and predictions for what will be popular in 2018. Of course, there’s a lot more that happened in 2017 than what’s in this top ten.

A few honorable mentions for trends this year:

• On WordPress and web development, we saw a focus on accessible design, simpler and more functional landing pages, an obsession with cryptocurrency, and the growth of ecommerce websites.
• In the business world, we saw the rise of more video on platforms like LinkedIn, the continued dominance of subscription services, and more remote-friendly career paths.
• In video & audio, trends included cinema-style logo reveals, Taylor Swift-inspired lyric videos, all things Cyberpunk, made-for-Youtube music, flashy Eurovision inspiration, and stock audio genres like boom-bap, tropical house, and electro swing.
• Meanwhile, designers made custom illustrations, debated the pros and cons of Figma, designed for the growing ebook market, switched to iPads, snuck 3D renders into their 2D design work, made everything into marble, and avoided Helvetica this year.
• On the Envato Blog, we analyzed the history of video game design, asked whether or not Gutenberg would change WordPress, and developed a love/hate relationship with trendy flat lay photography. Envato staff shared their expertise on everything from SEO tips for keyword research, authentic photography, and the potential legal consequences of ‘borrowing’ content.
• We also highlighted our favorite and most creative items created by Envato’s community, including music-inspired fonts, stunning landscape photography, motion graphic collaborations, and a turtle-centric design challenge.

Here’s the list of our top ten trends of 2017:

#1: Geometric shapes

"Geometric and polygon art was big in 2017. Backgrounds, textures, and more, all with regular lines and repeating patterns."

David Appleyard

Editor, Envato Tuts+

From zig-zig geo patterns to retro triangles and designs, we saw geometric patterns everywhere this year. It’s also a simple style to try some DIY design – you can learn about it in 60 seconds, or try your hand at creating your own simple geometric pattern.

#2: All tropical everything

"2017 had us dreaming of luxurious holidays, complete with lush palm trees, exotic fruit and beautiful wildlife. It was a real feast for the eyes."

Kate McInnes

Quality Media Specialist, Envato

Kate’s honorable mention in design trends: fidget spinners, which got so big this year that they made it into the stock graphics & photography scene. 

#3: Fast typography in video

"One of the biggest trends of this year is fast typography. In an era where we’re constantly overwhelmed by the amount of information being thrown at us, the popularity of templates that help deliver messages in fast, visually engaging ways has risen.

Dom Hennequin

Community & Blog Editor, Envato

Fast typography templates: 

Stomp – Typographic Intro by Mnemonick

Rhythmic Typography by blinque

Rhythmic Opener by levmotion

Urban Opener // Dynamic Open by makcinema

#4: Color fonts

"Color fonts are poised to take over the graphic design world in 2018... this unashamedly in-your-face trend promises to put the fun back into typography."

Grace Fussell

Writer, Tuts+

The Fiesta Color font (pictured below – available to download on Envato Elements or DIY with this tutorial) highlights a new trend of colorful, custom fonts. We think this trend will continue into 2018. 

#5: Future bass

"THE dominant 2017 audio trend on AudioJungle was Future Bass. While there've been a few noteworthy emergences, such as the SynthWave renaissance we're seeing, it's the contagious sub-lines, the slick sidechaining, and the catchy chopped vocals that have made Future Bass the big consistent winner this year, which is still non-stop exploding.

AudioJungle review team

Envato

Future Bass tracks: 

That Future Bass by TheQLon

Future Bass by Alexiaction

The Future Bass by OddVision

Read more: What Is Future Bass? Plus, 20 Stock Future Bass Tracks You Should Know About

What’s next in audio trends for 2018? The reviewers said that “we may expect to see a continued and rising interest in ’80s Synthwave (à la Blade Runner, Stranger Things), Hybrid HipHop tracks (sporty stuff!) and we also have the more subtle Chill-Step showing strong signs of proliferation.”

#6: Simplicity in email design

"I think email will become sharper, smarter and more simplified... there will still be GIF's, but they'll be subtle and interactive at times. Text and content will be more concise, and I think emails will be created based on that premise. I imagine we'll actually see more text-dominant emails with text links, and less overwhelming imagery."

Monica McCormick

Email Marketing Specialist, Envato

#7: Return of the 90's (and 80's)

"2017 was big on bringing back loads of 90's design, especially early 90's American pop influenced design. We're seeing more nods to the 80's creeping in. 2018 could see us rehashing more 80's & 90's pop designs, as well as grunge, earthy tones being used in creative ways."

Sharon Milne

Editor, Envato Tuts+

#8: 2D + 3D design

"We're going to see a lot more of 3D and faux 3d effects, abstract & geometrical elements flowing into the designs to help enhance the visual impact of landing pages, hero sections and newsletters. This will naturally also expand into print and out-of-home advertising platforms. With the evolution of screen technology in recent years, motion graphics will be taking advantage of this design language and have a particularly strong presence in 2018."

Calin Teodorescu

Social Media, Envato

Can you tell the difference between stock photos and 3D designs?

Check out our side-by-side comparisons: How 3D Renders Are Being Used for 2D Artwork. 

#9: More microinteractions

"These small “product-related moments” add magic to sites, delighting and surprising users, while at the same time engaging users and enhancing user experience."

Jenni McKinnon

Freelance writer, Envato

A microinteraction is a small moment that accomplishes a single task. We’ve seen them everywhere from social media sites to our WordPress themes on Themeforest, and it’s a design detail that will only grow in popularity. 

#10: Print isn't dead

"Designers feel strongly and positively about print, and print remains crucial to how professional graphic designers make a living. Print lends itself to certain audiences and offerings where communication needs to be retained, contemplated, touched or trusted."

Eric Schwartz

Content Insights Manager, Envato

According to a study done by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), 97% of graphic designers work on print design projects, compared to 36% who work on TV, film, or video projects. The top print project types include brochures, marketing materials, cards, and direct mail. 

Agree or disagree? Let us know what your favorite trends of 2017 were, and what you predict will be big in 2018. 

NOW READ: More of our wrap-ups of 2017

•  10 After Effects Templates That Blew Us Away in 2017
• WordPress 2017: The Year in Review

The post The Top Design Trends of 2017, and Envato’s 2018 Predictions appeared first on Envato.