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Subject:Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Posted by: Sound Dog
Date:6/6/2005 7:33:55 AM

Howdy gurus!

I am having waaay too much trouble breaking vinyl LPs down into tracks. I am new to SF8 but have used other packages in the past.

If I'm understanding correctly, one has to "Mark" then "Convert to Regions." (Is this extra step really necessary?) Sometimes on a 2-sided LP (e.g., classical) where there's only 2 "tracks", I'll Mark 1 & 2 but SF only "sees" the first track! It's as if the 2nd side doesn't exist. If I go to Convert to Regions, the software doesn't list Track 2 (or its timings) to convert.

Your ideas please!, I'm about ready to go back to my $30 consumer-grade product to do this.

Thanks much in advance! Your feedback, as always, is appreciated. I know I'm new to SF and there's a learning curve for everything.

Sound Dog
Colorado USA

Subject:RE: Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:6/6/2005 9:40:45 AM

If I'm understanding correctly, one has to "Mark" then "Convert to Regions." (Is this extra step really necessary?) Sometimes on a 2-sided LP (e.g., classical) where there's only 2 "tracks", I'll Mark 1 & 2 but SF only "sees" the first track! It's as if the 2nd side doesn't exist. If I go to Convert to Regions, the software doesn't list Track 2 (or its timings) to convert.

Lazybones! ;o) (just kidding!)

Seriously, in order for there to be 2 regions you must make 3 marker spots. The 2 existing markers you have are for the beginning and ending of the 1 region. Sound Forge assumes that's the only region you want to create.

Also check out Tools > Scripting > Convert Markers to Regions and Extract to do the whole shebang in one fell swoop.

Iacobus
-------
RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
Buy Instant ACID by JohnnyRoy and mD!
mD at ACIDplanet

Subject:RE: Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/6/2005 9:59:44 AM

Hi there mD, thanks for the quick response!

Aha, 3 REGIONS to make 2! A simple and elegant solution!, thanks!

Lazybones? Moi? Actually, too true!

I will re-examine the script you mention. (It didn't work either for me, as I didn't have the end region specified.)

Thanks again lacobus!

Sound Dog

Subject:RE: Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:6/6/2005 12:49:08 PM

Well, actually 3 markers to make 2 regions. Think of a region as an area on the timeline while a marker is a point. Every area is bounded by two points. Markers 1 & 2 specify where region 1 starts and ends. Without a marker 3 there isn't another end point for the second region.

Subject:RE: Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/6/2005 1:33:28 PM

Aha, that's what I meant. Believe it or not, I have it working!

I have been doing as suggested; 3 markers to make 2 regions. Working like a charm!

Thanks again folks; this forum is GREAT!

Sound dog

Subject:RE: Yet Another Marker/Region Question
Reply by: garrigus
Date:6/7/2005 8:50:46 AM

Hi Sounddog,

You might also want to check out the Auto Region function. If your tracks have some silence between them, the Auto Region function should be able to easily set up automatic regions for you.

Best,
Scott

--
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Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/7/2005 1:46:16 PM

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your reply.

I have taken a look at Auto Region; so far have had limited success. I think some of my old vinyl is just too noisy.

I've been experimenting with Noise Reduction, with some success (this would probably help Auto Region's success, as well as reducing noise levels).

One problem I've had with NR2.0 is that it seems that parameters for each LP must be set manually and individually. This is somewhat of a nuisance--because I'd like to use a batch routine to do NR and normalize (and maybe Auto Region) for several at once. So my noise reduction ends up "average." Your input on NR is welcome as well--but perhaps it might be the subject of a separate post (?)

I should mention that I'm getting a little more comfortable with batch conversion than I used to be. But scripting is still proving to be a bit "advanced" for me at this point. (I'll get there! :)

Thanks again for your reply!

Regards,
Sound Dog
Colorado USA

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:6/7/2005 2:05:41 PM

I've recently gotten bit by the LP-to-digital bug too. While batch processing is nice in theory, i've come to realize that there is enough variability that each disc (often each side) needs it's own special attention. I wouldn't be happy with the results of unattended batching. I also like to take the time to manually deal with the nastiest crackles, carefully select the regions, cut out excessive blank spots, add fadeouts when necessary, and fill in extra detail in ID3 tags.

Then again, i have 40 to 50 minutes to work on this while the next LP is digitizing, so there is plenty of time to do all this. Even if i could batch the processes, i'd still have to wait for the next record to finish playing in real-time anyway.

Sit back and enjoy the music. :)

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/7/2005 10:00:38 PM

Hi again Chienworks,

You're correct; I am probably trying to do too much automation--and (mostly) frustrating myself in the process.

I am still trying to get used to NR2.0 and all its settings. I've had some luck playing around with them. I, too, do quite a bit of manual waveform editing--but it gets old if there's a lot of record damage.

I also have been a bit spoiled by a (gasp!) cheap consumer-grade program, which automatically calculates noise reduction settings--then applies them--remarkably well, I might add. It can even be batched to some extent. Ultimately, I might find that it can't compete with NR2.0's sophistication--but really, it's easy and rather impressive competition.

I've also hesitated to do much simultaneous editing and recording--for fear of messing up one (or both) sessions (due to hard disk contention, etc.) As I get more comfortable with SF8 I might learn what I can get away with.

Thanks for the response. I'll try'n relax some more & enjoy the music; most of us tend to do too much multi-tasking anyway :) Please keep the suggestions coming!

Regards,
Sound Dog
Colorado

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:6/8/2005 5:02:04 AM

I wouldn't worry about simultaneous recording and editing. I used to do this very successfully back on an old 350MHz box with ATA33 drives and had no trouble. Of course, you'll need separate programs running for editing and recording since Sound Forge only allows one instance at a time. You could use Vegas for the recording while editing in Sound Forge, or what i often do is edit in the newest version of Sound Forge while recording in the previous version.

These days though i've got my old PC doing the recording using it's own drive as the temp space, then saving the finished recording through the LAN to my new PC. Very nice setup.

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/8/2005 6:38:51 AM

Hi again Chienworks,

Thanks, good to know about simultaneous recording/editing. I figured it could be done without problems; I've just been a little skittish about doing it.

The setup you describe is what I'll eventually get to (using 2 or more PCs). And as for recording--no prob, as I have other programs that'll record (e.g., Cool Edit and a couple of others) while SF is in 'edit' mode.

Thanks again!
Sound Dog

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: kbruff
Date:6/8/2005 11:52:26 AM

I have now implemented Alesis Masterlink as my standalone recorder, since high sample rates DSP features can be acheived for the same price as a dedicated DAW just for audio recording.

Then of course I import the CD24 file into sound forge and begin to edit the resulting files.

I now have increased reliability, existing backups and a very portable recording solution.

-
KAB

Subject:RE: Markers/Regions/Noise Reduction/etc...
Reply by: Sound Dog
Date:6/8/2005 9:19:30 PM

Hi kbruff,

I'm not familiar with the Alesis Masterlink. But most of what I'm doing involves old lo-fi recordings--mostly monophonic at that. One of these days I might get past 44,100/16 bit recording, but it probably wouldn't buy me much given what I've got going in.

Or am I missing something here? (I should mention that $$$ is an issue...but isn't it for most people :)

Regards,
Sound Dog

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