Audio Users tips for new users of V4

CDM wrote on 2/7/2003, 5:53 PM
Every once in a while I feel compelled to post a few tips here knowing that I've used this program a lot longer than many users here, and thus have discovered some goodies that have come to me along the way.

If you an audio only user:
1) Turn OFF Quantize to Frames. You don't need this and it's ON by default. It'll confuse the hell out of you.

2) Try to use ASIO drivers. I have the Delta 1010 and found that the Wave Classic Drivers require too much tweaking to have optimal performance. The ASIO drivers are only one setting: DMA Buffer in the hardware's control panel.

3) Check out the new ripple edit model. Very different from the last one but once you get used to it, it'll make a lot of sense to you. But, beware - I found a bug in the release version (kicking myself for not having found it during beta testing) where if you don't have the Bus Tracks visible, the ripple edit does not affect those envelopes. Be sure to expose them if you have envelopes you need to ripple on those tracks (press B to expose them). I've alerted SF to this bug.

4) Add to the Toolbar: Auto-Hide docking area, view/hide Event Markers (you can now see markers and regions that exist within the file you've added to the timeline without going to the trimmer). Also, add the Bypass All Audio Effects toolbar button. Now Vegas bypasses FX COMPLETELY instead of just muting them. This means you get back CPU power when you bypass some or all FX in Vegas. Increases render time as well. Just make sure the pref is turned off in the General Prefernces page (it's the last one, I think). I find these very helpful.

5) There are two little new enhancements tucked away. If you right-click on an event in the timeline, you can choose "Select in Media Pool", which, for big projects, is very handy. Vice Versa - you can right-click on a file in the media pool and tell it to select timeline events that correspond to that file.

6)You can disable by default Input Monitoring on tracks by deselecting it and right-clicking on the track header and Saving Track Defaults.

7) Automation: you can chnage automation envelope parameters with the UI of some Plugins, Sonic Foundry's for instance. Enable automation, open the plugin and select a preset. Voila - it creates all necessary points for that preset at the edit cursor. Then move the edit cursor and change presets for the plugin and it will "morph" the settings from the first location to the next.

8)and scripts... someday, this will be the coolest thing about Vegas. I just need to learn to be a JavaScript programmer first!

9) I'm sure I'll think of some more.

cheers!

CDM

Comments

Bjorn_Lynne wrote on 2/7/2003, 6:22 PM
Thank you so much for posting this. It is very valuable reading. I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate you sharing your time and experience to enlight the rest of us. Thanks!

--
Bjorn Lynne - Composer, Sound Designer
http://www.lynnemusic.com
stusy wrote on 2/7/2003, 8:07 PM
YES...! I second that emotion...I don't use video at all, and have utilized some of your suggestions...it would be great if there was an "audio only" setup, particularly as deals with not only vv3, but sf6, acid4, and cda 5..I always have a feeling that even tho I try to streamline my sofo apps, I'm still using resources I don't need and will likely never use, i.e., video stuffs...
pwppch wrote on 2/8/2003, 9:47 AM
We are looking at writing a few scripts for the audio centric users of Vegas. We hope that these will put Vegas into an audio mode at the flip of a switch. No, not everything in Vegas can be scripted yet, but there a somethings we can do.

So, what are some of the defaults that you guys want to see for an Audio centric point of view.

Peter
Jacose wrote on 2/8/2003, 3:04 PM
well this is simple, but take out all of the video-related views (video preview and video fx for instance)

cause they always get in my way

I cant think of anyothers but im sure there are...

stusy wrote on 2/8/2003, 5:42 PM
Yeah, like previously mentioned with "quantize to frames"...I've had vv3 for awhile, but in the back of my head it always seems like "defaults" incl video stuff, and I don't need any of my other apps "concentrating" on video also...still...you know what...? (it's kinda nice to know that the video stuff is handy, so call me a damn fool)...
Weevil wrote on 2/9/2003, 2:45 AM
Just a few other smaller things:

Mute all video. Get rid of all the video stuff in the media pool’s detailed view. Set the ruler format to measures and beats. Put the metronome icon in the toolbar.

Would it be possible to write a script that saved/loaded your toolbar settings?
stusy wrote on 2/9/2003, 7:31 AM
"Get rid of all the video stuff in the media pool's detailed view..."...how do you do that...?
stusy wrote on 2/9/2003, 10:55 AM
THanks Weevil...sometimes the distinctions are not so clear between video and what you need "video-wise" for audio apps, either...I've included your stuff with sf6 and other stuff as well...be nice to get a step by step approach with all the things to do from SOFO; prolly should give them a call..
stusy wrote on 2/9/2003, 10:59 AM
The toggle should be audio only, audio/video only and video only...just because I'm audio all the way (and midi) doesn't mean I might like to goof around with that capability in the future...right..? but the option to streamline "my accounts" means I can simply keep capability, but can be flexible with my uses...
wazer wrote on 2/12/2003, 5:51 PM
Simple shortcut keys to do the MUTE, NORMALIZE, LOCK on the takes.
Please... Save my creativity. I don!t wanna waste any time to get this from the take properties menu...

Display the ratio/semitones-cents of every take in the lower corner or anywhere in the graphic owerwiev. (on/off)

Function/key to do standard pitch changes like 1,2,3 blabla semitones up/down take by take. (familiar to ACID) - wery helpful to create reworked instrument tracks.

Is this a real chance to ADD this to VEGAS? Should i believe that?

I hope again.

w!
Ben  wrote on 2/12/2003, 6:10 PM
Ditto to Wazer's request for those shortcuts; I'd fine mute particulary useful. I've also requested a play-preview button in the event properties box. This would be great for choosing the stretching/pitch algorithm you want, rather than having to switch back and forth between the dialog and the timeline.

Ben