Subject:Event/track grouping?

Posted by: drbam

Date:7/7/2007 8:48:35 AM

I hope I'm wrong but it appears that there is no way to create groups in Acid (like I've been able to do in Vegas for years). If this is the case, I've begun yet another project in Acid and have ended up stuck in the mix stage to the point that I'll have to move the project to Vegas in order to finish it properly. Needless to say, this is an enormous PITA to put it lightly!

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:7/8/2007 4:50:46 AM

You can do it by creating a bus, assigning all the tracks to the bus, and mixing with the bus as though it's a group. It also helps to put all the tracks into a folder track so you know which ones belong in the group. Not as good as a real group, but Ok as a workaround.

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: drbam

Date:7/8/2007 6:45:50 AM

Thanks jumbuk. I obviously wasn't clear enough in my post. I know how to create and mix with busses, folder tracks, etc. What I'm referring to is this: In Vegas, you can select any number of tracks/events and create a "group" which can then be moved along the timeline together with everything locked into place. With the type of music I work with (long form tribal-ambient), this is one of the most important features that I use and without it, Acid feels like something out of the dark ages. Given that Vegas has pretty much abandoned its audio only users, I've been trying to make the switch to Acid but it still lacks some bottom line BASIC features that Vegas users have been working with for years. Its extremely frustrating to say the least but I've pretty much come to expect this scenario from SCS at this point. If you look at the posts on all 4 of these forums, its clear that they seem pretty out of touch with a significant portion of their user base. Oh well . . .

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:7/9/2007 1:00:50 PM

Dark ages? Try creatively painting and drawing in samples at your discretion in Vegas. That's dark ages.* ;o)

I do agree, though, that being able to assign groups would be pretty handy as I typically end up having to re-select an entire portion of a project. (The Time Selection Tool is cool, but sometimes I want only a specific part in a specific instance of time.)

Iacobus


*I'm joking. Sort of.

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: drbam

Date:7/9/2007 3:09:06 PM

By "dark ages" I'm referring to Acid's inability to do some of the basic functions of audio recording and mixing that Vegas users have relied on for years. Yeah, painting and drawing is cool, and I love the chopper and quick manner in which I can build a foundation for a project - something I've been doing since Acid 1.0. But after that it all starts to get clunky and tedious. When its time to really start carving out a mix, I start running up against the many missing features in Acid that I've come to rely on in Vegas. I suppose its all in one's perspective though. If an Acid user hasn't used Vegas very much, then I guess my complaint wouldn't be relevant. However, as I've mentioned before, if SCS is sincerely wanting to get their disguntled Vegas audio users over to Acid, leaving out some of the most critical features that we've become dependent on seems shortsided to say the least. In terms of mixing in Vegas & Acid (not composing or constructing), the best analogy for me is comparing a Lexus to a Chevy. Both can get the job done but the Lexus is much smoother and more refined, has more features, and is a lot quicker.

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:7/9/2007 3:34:42 PM

No problem, drbam. The term "groups" normally refers to mixer subgroups, which is what I thought you meant.

You are probably right about Acid versus Vegas. I don't have Vegas, but I do use Cubase SL3 for serious multi-track recording projects. Acid is my choice for loop-based projects, even though Cubase can handle loops.

Subject:RE: Event/track grouping?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:7/10/2007 11:29:02 AM

ACID Pro 6 was a huge step-up from ACID Pro 5 in regards to features—multitracking and the enhanced MIDI editing being at the top. I'm especially (and pleasantly) surprised they were able to implement multitracking without breaking ACID's existing paradigm.

I imagine that wasn't an easy programming task. For that, I'm willing to cut them some slack for features that I myself would like to (eventually) see.

It's not that your "complaint" isn't relevant, drbam. At least it's a lot more constructive than that assjack from a few years back that claimed ACID and its company was a sinking ship. (I even forgot his name.)