How to sync ANIMATION to MUSIC! | Stop-motion using dopesheets aka exposure sheets. 

Steady Craftin videos are made with the help of DIRECT SUPPORT: www.patreon.com/steadycraftin (You'll also get access to the printable 3D scans of my original sculpted figures, MP3s, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, shop discounts, and more.) My family and I are so grateful that I get to do this.

CrafsMan! Now we need a new character called Boom Kat!

the amount of effort that this guy puts to his viedos is amazing and he should be more recognized for his job

Speaking as someone with an animation degree (but never went into character animation professionally), your work is absolute proof that all you need to get into this art form is passion, patience and a good worth ethic. Inspirational as always, Crafsman!

This is simply amazing! Thank you for this rundown and all the effort put into your Patreon.

I think you deserve to know this: this video really opened up my eyes about how I should go to planning my first animation studies. I always get so anxious before doing anything, and I end up planning forever without any sign of finishing it. Now with this lesson, I can focus a little better next time. Thank you, Crafsman!

I’m still blown away by this animation. It’s so well done and so distinctly Crafsman 😄

I'll never do it myself but I have long wondered what the process was that animators used to sync dialog to their characters' mouths. And now I know!

One recommendation i can add is using BPM (beats per minute) as a structure for dance references too. Sometimes dances can look like they match the beat, but feel slightly off. If your song is 150 BPM, you should look at people dancing to songs with the same BPM.

animation is a huge passion hobby of mine, so seeing these new types of videos is very very welcome!

Your skills are tremendous, but your patience is legendary! Thanks for another great and educational video!

FINALLY. A proper video on syncing animation to music! 😭

This is exactly the content 8y.o. me would have devoured when my biggest dream was to be an animator-and it’s helpful now, too, because I feel like it’s even more accessible to get into animation these days!

One advantage to 24 FPS (or 12 FPS if you're shooting on twos) over 30 (or 15 on twos) is that 24 (and 12) divides into half and thirds and quarters very well. So if you know your next beat is 1 second away, you know at frame 12 of that second you need to be half way, and at frame 6 you need to be 1/4 of the way, and that's super easy to eye ball. Where as if you're working at 15 (on the twos) half way falls between the 7th and 8th frame. Of course not all motion happens in nice neat little 1 second intervals. But I heard a story one time where one of Chuck Jones' animators would watch reference video and tap his pencil every 2/3s of a second, which broke down to a nicely dividable 8 frames of animation. He just had that metronome programmed in his head where he could tap his pencil 3 times every 2 seconds evenly. Because breaking a motion down into 8s means he could decide where it wanted it halfway through the motion, then half way again, and halfway again, and the motion was all planned out. But if you wanted to do that with 15 FPS, you'd end up needing to tap your pencil every 8/15th of a second, and that fraction just doesn't reduce down to anything the human brain can wrap itself around. One tap every 0.53333333 seconds? Heck no.

As one who grew up Analog, I find Crafsman videos heartening and accessible!

So nice to see a dope sheet! We used them all the time for 2d animation back in the day! Only way to see what multiple characters were doing in each frame.

I can’t be the only one, but most of this I will never do but I cannot wait until the next video to watch him do it. The entertainment level and the instruction level is through the roof. Thank you

Crafsman I’m so happy you uploaded, I sprained my ankle today and I know this is gonna make me feel better. Much love.

I could fall asleep to this man's voice. Smooth and soothing.

5:18 I love how now we're using layers in photoshop to describe this concept that was called "layers" in photoshop because of this! I'd say it's come full circle, but that's a really tight circle.

Idk why, but this is my favorite Crafsman video. Steady Craftin'.

Hey crafsman :) remember me? I used to be Lucien Hicks :) Glad you're still steady craftin!

I’m here for the vibes bc this is not my skillset at all but I’m so happy to see more and more people discovering the Crafsman. Much deserved!

Thank you so much for showing how you crafted that stop animation so steadily (especially liked the comparisons between the different frame rates and the reference videos) thoroughly enjoy knowing that stopwatch exists. Be well.

Wow. So, I just came across your RU-vid today while looking up how to make stamps myself. HOLY COW. I am so grateful for your wealth of knowledge and willingness to share with all of us! Not to mention your comedic timing is beyond. 💖 I appreciate you!

That ‘stop watch’ - I love it! Rusty ‘ol’ power meter 😂

Due to my life long interest in animation , I know most of what you're revealing already but , I love hearing you describe things and your sense of humor so I'll stick around for this leg of your creative journey .

I work full time as an editor. Watching someone else do the work is so soothing.

Coolest thing I've seen in a bajillion years exactly. Yourhost theCrafsman is the man with the solutions to all your creative endeavors.

Crafsman, this isn't about the video but I want you to know I love it when you go, "Hol' up Crafsman." You've been doing that since the early days and I'm glad that phrase is still around.

This was such a valuable video because we are never taught the keys of planning anything... if you have no plan success is hard, if you never stop planning you never succeed. thank you crafsman

Even on my darkest days, you always put a smile to my face CrafsMan! I don't know how you do it, but I'm so thankful for it.

I love learning new things. I’ll likely never do animation, but it’s nice to have topical knowledge so you can have a conversation. Thank you, Crafsman!

A small detail that I thought made this video outstanding was how the larger guy’s body language when the Lego guy was trying to dance - it was like he was encouraging the little Lego guy to give it a try. Great job 👍👍

Crafsman you make anything seem possible; you make the world a better place

I think this is one of the more practical explanations of the exposure sheets I've seen yet...

I don't care what you're talkin bout, I'm always happy to watch a CrafsMan video!

Love you crafsman!

Already lovin' the new direction with your videos

In an alternate universe Crafsman would have been on my Saturday morning TV or at least after school. Love the vibe and the knowledge, thank you!

Bro you sound wise beyond your YEARS man. Keep doin' what you do.

This is hands down the most informative video I have ever seen on RU-vid. For real, it breaks down one of the most interesting processes that I am sure everyone has wondered about before but never actually took the time to research. Crafsman is out there putting those good wrinkles in every bodies brains and is a treasure.

i discovered your channel today, it is a relieve to see you don't have to sound enthusiastic or make a clown of yourself in order to be a good youtuber and make good YT videos, thanks.

This is quickly becoming my favorite channel.

Ok but the foley is outta this world. The skiffing shoes? 😗👌 C'est magnifique, bruh.

Ok, I see a dance-off that needs to happen between those highly-articulated figures. Maybe even those other villains end up bullying little brother (two articulation guy). Dance off! Defend little brother.

YOU JUST REACHED 500k Subs!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU CRAFSMAN!!! Like Nacho says, "You're the behhhst!!!!"

The Panasonic RX5010 was my first radio when I was a kid. Super cool to see one here.

I have read books and watches videos Specifically to understand Dope Sheets, and this is the first time I actually understand.

I am blasted of my feet by this.... Thank you so much Craftsman!

The amount that I appreciate your videos is almost obscene! I'm trying to expand my capabilities as an artist and I love your down to earth explanations. I truly look forward to each one of your videos, not just for the hilarious entertainment value, but for the information you through out. Thank you! Keep them coming! You're doing amazing work!

So happy to see you following your dreams of animation! You always make any topic interesting to learn about. Great video!

The Craft Man, channel is blowing up.

Love you Crafsman! I make tunes in ableton Live and then animate stuff to it. I change the template of the ableton to black and white and print the layout view on a sheet of paper so I can draw and make notes, kind of my own dope sheet thing! This video showed me some techniques I will be sure to use! Thanks for your amazing content 🙏🙏

i was mesmerized. This is art in so many layers!

I like the foley you added, CrafsMan - their little feet hitting the table, etc.

X-Sheets + DragonFrame(and onion skin reference videos) = A Good Time! Amazing video

This is one of the smartest and more entertaining shows I watch. I am always blown away by everything you do. Just really a very nice show that I gladly recommend to others. Thanks Crafsman and thanks Crafsfamily cause I know a show like this can't keep going for long with only one person pulling all the weight, for sure Crafsman has the love and support of his family.

Learned alot about animation here Crafsman, great video

I'm in school for animation right now, and discovered this video because I'm struggling with animating to music, and this was such a breath of fresh air! I LOVE YOUR VIDEO! I'm obsessed with the production you put on. You're amazing, I hit the subscribe button so fast!

The quality of your videos has sky rocketed since I have started watching you teach people how to make pictures on transfer paper, and i'm also glad to see you making videos on different topics

Makes my week every time you upload CrafsMan. Appreciate you

you just keep getting better! love your style. these videos are so satisfying to watch

That stopwatch tho... I love you crafsman!

Awesome vid! Love seeing the huge range of skills you bring to this channel and share with us dude!

I could listen to you read the phonebook. your voice is amazing!

Hey Crafs, I don't know why I watch your videos, I don't have any interest in crafts, but I always enjoy them nonetheless. I'm a retired machinist and when you introduced the winder, my first thought was that it was a dial test indicator stand. I understand what it does now, but if you have other needs like this, a DTI stand would be ideal and presumably much less expensive. They are designed to allow you to position a gauge anywhere in 3D space and have it not move a micron when touched. I can see how the winder allows you to do vertical and horizontal movements, but maybe one day you want the character to be able to do flips or karate or something. A DTI stand would allow this, it provides fluid motion with 3 to 5 axes so it's essentially unlimited. Even the five axis models use just a single knob to tighten up every single linkage at once. There's also an adjustment screw if you wanted extremely subtle movements to be highlighted, perhaps a character brushing the hair out of their eyes. The adjustment screw allows you to move it between any two points you choose fluidly by just turning the single knurled screw. Noga is the best, and a great place to see what I'm talking about. You can get knock offs on eBay or Amazon for about 10 bucks. There are two different types though, the traditional kind will not do any of what I'm describing. The noga style ones all do. If you look at a couple pictures, the difference will be immediately obvious. Just look for the key term that one knob locks everything up

Wow! That was so interesting! I knew that it was time consuming and complicated, but I had no idea how complex it really is! I look forward to seeing more!

Great video Crafsman! This is a great breakdown of the animation process, I think loads of people will benefit from this. Nicely put together 👍😁

Thank you for doing this stop animation (that was how I found your videos) Happy you have returned to this (slow) wonderful medium...!

Such an interesting video! And, I really enjoyed the actual dance video of the two characters. Awesome moves and music.

Crafsman thank you so much for all your content. It's always fun, informative and entertaining. I'm always excited to see a new upload. Great video today. Stay strong stay safe and..... keep on craftin.

Loved every second of this video. Thanks for breaking the dopesheet process down.

Wow man that's so much planning! I knew stop motion was labor intensive but there is a lot of fore thought that has to go into it. Well done!

I cannot believe Crafsman did this in under a week!! 😱 Kinda makes me feel a little like I should start my projects that I'm afraid I'll "never finish"... Also, hearing Crafsman scatting was really fun! 🥰

Good vibes in that animations!!! Love how you explain everything

big fan from way back. still LOVIN' the endless subtle humor. you really are a master at it. especially when the humor, and its many layers, just keep reaching deeper and deeper. I hope this is appreciated in your life. you've monster talent/ skil/ whatever. aloha

Loving all this how-to stuff, Crafsman. Really getting a ton of knowledge out of these. Thanks!

Crafsman, what a fun video packed with some informative stuff. Got a chuckle out of the dances.

I did a 3D Animation study programme ages ago and we had a 2D Animation class as part of it, and I gotta say your 14 minute explanation was far clearer than my 2D Animation teacher's several days of teaching us dopesheets. Kudos. This is a seriously underrated channel.

Im sure a lot of people will benefit from this video, thanks Crafsman! Love your animation, it makes me happy :)

10/10 narration- 10/10 animation

Just received some stickers and a pin from your shop, I really love that you threw in a lil robot and some tony’s (that stuff is my favorite) Thank you crafsman and the whole crafsfam. I really want a steady craftin patch to put onto my coat or my work toolbag. I love yall and I appreciate you.

This video was just super helpful! Very glad you created this video.

Crafsman you are truly elevating your art to new heights. This video is simultaneously interesting, informative, amusing, wholesome, and amazing. As always you have brought a smile to my face and a few moments of joy to everyone who has the pleasure of viewing this video. Thank you.

Steady on, Crafsman! Much love.

Quality videos are the best! Thank you for these gems!

I don’t understand any of this except your passion and I so appreciate it. Again I want to thank you for getting me through 2020❤️

You've got SOME brain, Crafsman. I am amazed.

Thank you for this! I've always wondered how to synchronise audio with animation, and nothing on the internet explains it properly. You have, and it's how I thought it would be! Cheers mate!

Congrats on half a mill crafsman, keep on craftin'

Crafsman this video does a better job explaining dope sheets etc than the book on stop motion I bought. Thank you for your service!!

Hey Crafsman! It’s Hoof from Hoof and Huff! Just checkin in on ya. Still watching and loving your videos.

HOLY COW!! Thanks for taking the time to explain this! Dang that takes some serious time! I really love how you created your work flow around YOUR way of doing it! I learned a lot here! Very cool!

Your knowledge and style are evident and clear - very cool and massively helpful!! I'm just starting but you're an inspiration!

Crafsman, I love your channel, and plan on introducing my nephew to your wonderful world the next time I visit him.

This is fantastic on so many levels. Thanks for sharing this, Its been a while since I used an X sheet , I think ill begin using them again.

great info CrafsMan!!! loving your stop motion animation, and the how to is awesome!

Your videos have really stepped up a few notches in quality

Crafsman, your beats are so fresh! Thank you for sharing such an awesome video.