splitting tracks in mc4

In mc2003 if i started a project in audio only and i wanted to split the track i could only split it at pre required intervals but if i started a project as midi only and inserted an audio track i could split the audio track anywhere i wanted....i havent been able to do this in mc4......am i missing something?

Yes ...you can do that...highlight the audio track and put your cursor at the point you want to split...right click and select split.

That looks like snap-to-grid is set to a fairly high resolution, like measures.
You should be able to turn it off, or change it to real time.

hmmm....was never that complicated with 2003....i am sure it has to b easier in mc4

it's only going to jump to ahead or back if you have the snap to grid setting ON and at a resolution wider than you're trying to click on.

look at the toolbar and the little GRID icon is the snap to grid. if it's BLUE, then it's ON. typically you'll want it on especially when you're splitting clips, and you'll want the "snap to zero crossings" checked so that you won't get pops at the clip point. but you can increase your resolution down to a 128th note or even absolute time of Xmsecs and can get down to the area you want to split really easily that way.

I just check mine and it was on "whole". The snap to zero crossings was not selected. So which is better 128th or absolute time? And what do I put in for the time if that is the better option.

Thanks.

I change it constantly depending on my need. I rarely use absolute time and I never have it off completely unless I'm splitting MIDI clips and can see what I'm splitting. if you turn it OFF when splitting audio clips then you risk splitting at a non-zero crossing which will cause popping at the split part.

"Snap to" refers to the resolution, how much you can move the now time, split point, or insert an event. It will 'snap to' the nearest measure if that's what it's set to, or a 1/2 note or 1 ms.
In the staff view, you may be writing a fast passage with 9 1/16th notes. Set the snap to resolution to 1/16 and the notes will be written into the staff at points which are 1/16th of the measure, making the notation look presentable, and the MIDI device will play it correctly.
If you have an audio track which is perfect, except the dog barked while you were singing, right between two words, you can use the zoom tool and get a real close look at the wave form, see where the dog's bark is, set the snap to resolution to 10 ms (one hundredth of a second) and isolate the bark by splitting, and then delete that clip.
The 'enable zero crossings' setting will automatically set your split point where the wave form crosses the middle horizontal line, or zero decibels, so there is no abrupt pop or click at the split point, which may be audible to the bat-eared people.

Thanks Greg,

That helps a lot. It gives me a better understanding of what it's all about. So, if mine was set to whole note, why was I have such a hard time splitting the files. I had to hold the curser over the bar and be very careful not to move it or it would jump to another spot? What should I have my setting on?

Thanks Beagle,

How should the settings be changed and in what circumstances?

Thanks.

yes...that really does help....up till now i have done all my splitting on midi so i guess popping has never been an issue....i never did understand why i wouldnt want it off. Now i understand the need for it with audio. Thanks for all the info guys.

Nutty,

I like your new avatar!