Creating a high-quality music video isn’t just about the shoot; it’s about transforming raw footage into a polished, story-driven visual experience.

In its latest two-part tutorial series, BorisFX Design Director John Dickinson demonstrates how to combine Mocha Pro, Sapphire, Continuum, and Silhouette inside Adobe After Effects to achieve that high-end, broadcast-ready look.

Whether you’re a motion graphics designer, VFX artist, or video editor, this guide walks you through practical, AI-assisted workflows that you can apply to music videos, commercials, or branded content.

Part One: Building the Cinematic Foundation

In the first episode, John lays the groundwork for the music video’s visual style by:

• Performing a 3D Camera Solve in Mocha Pro with Matte Assist ML to create a rock-solid environment for effects.
• Designing and lighting 3D titles in After Effects so they blend naturally with the scene.
• Building an LED video screen background using Sapphire and Continuum.
• Adding atmosphere with falling petals generated in Particle Illusion.
• Speeding up object separation with AI-assisted rotoscoping in Silhouette.
• Creating realism with auto-track lens flares, grain matching, and subtle glow enhancements.

The result? A visually engaging scene with depth, texture, and mood.

Part Two: Enhancing and Elevating the Scene

The second episode focuses on creative refinements and environmental storytelling:

• Running a 3D Camera Solve in Mocha Pro for precise effect placement.
• Lighting and integrating a 3D title enhanced with Sapphire effects.
• Executing a 3D sky replacement to shift the scene’s tone.
• Using AI-assisted rotoscoping in Silhouette for performers and stage elements.
• Applying scene-wide lighting effects with Continuum’s Color Link and Depth Map ML.
• Adding cinematic final touches with Sapphire UltraGlow and ColorFuse color grading.

By the end, the footage has the vibrancy, drama, and polish of a professionally produced music video.

Why This Tutorial Series Matters

This is more than a step-by-step tutorial; it’s a creative decision-making process. You see not just how effects are built, but why they’re chosen, giving you insight into professional music video production workflows.

The integration of AI-powered tools like Silhouette’s rotoscoping and Mocha Pro’s Matte Assist ML shows how technology can dramatically speed up post-production without sacrificing quality.

And because the techniques are platform-agnostic, they can be adapted for:

• Music videos
• Commercials and brand videos
• Event coverage
• Social media campaigns

Watch the Tutorials

FAQs: Music Video Makeover by BorisFX

Q: Do I need all four BorisFX tools to follow the tutorial?
A: While the tutorial uses Mocha Pro, Sapphire, Continuum, and Silhouette together, you can still adapt many techniques if you own only some of them.

Q: Is this series suitable for beginners?
A: The series is approachable for intermediate users, but beginners can still follow along by pausing and practicing each step.

Q: Can I use these workflows for non-music video projects?
A: Yes, the techniques are equally useful for corporate videos, ads, and creative storytelling projects.

Q: How much time do AI-assisted tools save?
A: AI rotoscoping and Matte Assist ML can cut hours of manual masking work, especially in complex shots.

Bring Your Next Video Project to Life

If you want your videos to stand out with professional-grade effects, cinematic polish, and AI-boosted workflows, we can help you make it happen.

Contact us today to learn how to apply these techniques to your own projects.