Aliging audio to measures

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LindyK
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2012/08/28 23:12:34 (permalink)

Aliging audio to measures

  I've been trying to figure this one out for over a month. So far I've been just guessing. I have a couple of audio files that played together are 128 bpm. But when I import them into Sonar the beats aren't aligned exactly to the measures. I need to cut a bit from the beginning of the audio. What is the best way to do that? Any tools, etc? I've been doing it "by eye" but that's not very accurate. Thanks for your help. Lindy
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    SToons
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    Re:Aliging audio to measures 2012/08/29 01:14:43 (permalink)
    LindyK


      I've been trying to figure this one out for over a month. So far I've been just guessing. I have a couple of audio files that played together are 128 bpm. But when I import them into Sonar the beats aren't aligned exactly to the measures. I need to cut a bit from the beginning of the audio. What is the best way to do that? Any tools, etc? I've been doing it "by eye" but that's not very accurate. Thanks for your help. Lindy
    "Accurate" is a vague term here, the important thing here is likely that there is less that a ms (millisecond) or two of space at the start of the loops, anything above 8ms or so might become audible.
     
    In the Track View, turn Snap off. Make sure the track you are going to edit is maximized. Position the cursor at the beginning of the clip. Start zooming in on the wave - if the beginning of the actual audio in the waveform display disappears off the right side of the screen, zoom back a click. Reposition the cursor as close to the beginning of the audio as you can and continue zooming (this is often easier if Snap is off). Repeat the process till you can't zoom anymore or the waveform starts looking too flat to see the start of the audio. Then Left click immediately to the left side of the waveform display where the decibel markings are, between the waveform display and the track meter, and, while holding the leftt mouse button, drag the mouse upwards which now zooms the amplitude of the wave. It will be fairly obvious to you where the actual audio begins. If neccessary go back and zoom lengthwise on the timeline again. Place the cursor immediately to the left of where the waveform begins and then click the S key to split. Zoom back out, select and delete the extra bit at the start and then (with Snap re-enabled) drag the clip back to the start of the measure.
     
    Sounds a little tough but it's extremely simple when you get use to the zooming. Make back-up copies of the loops before mangling, just in case.
     
    Is there a problem when looping - do you hear audible gaps or is the sound delayed when played alongside tracks with other instruments? Have you any idea roughly how much you have to cut from the beginning (in ms)?
    post edited by SToons - 2012/08/29 01:28:17
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    LindyK
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    Re:Aliging audio to measures 2012/08/29 02:47:59 (permalink)
    Thank you very much. I am just going to try your suggestions. But I thought I could answer your other questions. I'm learning SONAR and all that by starting what I think is an easy project. I got a mix kit from iTunes and I want to do a remix of it. It is exactly 128 bpm and lines up (relatively) to the measure lines perfectly. However there is a long enough gap at the beginning of the clip that it, for example, doesn't line up with a straight midi track drum kick. I know I have to trim some off, and I have been doing it, but I'm not sure the proper way. I went down the path of turning on audio transits and trying to cut it there, but that doesn't seem right. And I thought there may be some tools that I've not discovered yet. I have 6 tracks, so I guess I will pick the one that has the first starting audio wave, cut it there, and then the the other tracks at the same space. That's my plan. I'll write back what I did. Lindy
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    LindyK
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    Re:Aliging audio to measures 2012/08/29 03:41:38 (permalink)
    I think I got it now. It was a combination of things I didn't do correctly, and mostly that I wasn't sure how to find out how much to cut. I think I mostly have to learn that myself by trial and error. Regards Lindy
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