Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat

Author
MJ Slaughter
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 23
  • Joined: 2007/01/26 13:46:40
  • Status: offline
2011/03/14 13:22:44 (permalink)

Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat

A drummer sent me his track recorded at 80 bpm, 24 bit depth and a 44100 sample rate.  After importing into a new project, no other tracks, I find that it is off by 16th beat consistently from start to end.  I can fix this though I'm not certain it's off by exactly a 16th beat.  My project is set to 80 bpm, 24 bit depth and 44100 sample rate.  Any ideas of why his track doesn't line up?
#1

13 Replies Related Threads

    brundlefly
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 14250
    • Joined: 2007/09/14 14:57:59
    • Location: Manitou Spgs, Colorado
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 14:01:41 (permalink)
    Is it WAV or MP3? Some MP3 encoders/converters will add some dead air to beginning of  track, though 1/16 (approx. 150ms) seems like a lot. I take you've already checked that the clip actually imported to SMPTE 00:00:00:00...?
    #2
    MJ Slaughter
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 23
    • Joined: 2007/01/26 13:46:40
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 15:00:51 (permalink)
    Thanks for the reply brundlefly.  The file sent was a WAV and I did import to 00:00:00:00.  The first measure is total silence, measure 2 and 3 has a click that starts approximately 16th beat after it should.
    #3
    curb
    Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 78
    • Joined: 2010/11/23 15:56:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 16:28:25 (permalink)
    Was the drum track recorded in Sonar, or another DAW, might have some relevance?

    Acer Aspire Windows XP, Tascam 1800, Cakewalk A-500 Pro, Yamaha DGX-650, Roland TD3 V-drums, Sonar 8, Reason 3
    http://www.myspace.com/voidmusicuk
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Void/255227371794
    #4
    MJ Slaughter
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 23
    • Joined: 2007/01/26 13:46:40
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 16:48:24 (permalink)
    curb


    Was the drum track recorded in Sonar, or another DAW, might have some relevance?


    I suspect it is different because this was a test track for the purpose of seeing if it imported correctly into Sonar.  I've asked but haven't got an answer back yet as to which DAW he's using.
    #5
    MJ Slaughter
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 23
    • Joined: 2007/01/26 13:46:40
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 16:57:53 (permalink)
    I just found out that the drummer is using Cubase if that makes any difference.
    #6
    johnnyV
    Max Output Level: -48.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2677
    • Joined: 2010/02/22 11:46:33
    • Location: Here, in my chair
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 17:07:33 (permalink)
    A standard wave file like that should not be a problem.
    There is a option in Global/audio data for import that should be  " original" make sure it's not set to something else.

    You can also drag and drop a wave file into a blank track. Then drag it around. Make sure your snap to grid properties is set properly. If it's set to WHOLE and the file starts on beat 2 it will move it off the measures. Try 16th.

    Sonar X3e Studio - Waiting for Professional
     Scarlett 6i6
    Yamaha Gear= 01v - NSM 10 - DTX 400 - MG82cx
    Roland Gear= A 49- GR 50 - TR 505 - Boss pedals
    Tascam Gear=  DR 40 - US1641 -
    Mackie Gear= Mix 8 - SRM 350's 
    i5 Z97 3.2GHZ quad 16 Gig RAM W 8.1  home build
    Taylor mini GS - G& L Tribute Tele - 72 Fender Princeton - TC BH 250 - Mooer and Outlaw Pedals  Korg 05/RW
     
    #7
    brundlefly
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 14250
    • Joined: 2007/09/14 14:57:59
    • Location: Manitou Spgs, Colorado
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 20:38:37 (permalink)
    Thanks for the reply brundlefly. The file sent was a WAV and I did import to 00:00:00:00. The first measure is total silence, measure 2 and 3 has a click that starts approximately 16th beat after it should.

     
    That's pretty weird. Does it maintain that fixed timing offset for the length of the clip, or is it continuing to drift further out? Being a 16th late at the beginning of the second measure is roughly comparable to what you'd see running a 48kHz audio file at 44.1kHz. But then it would continue to get further out from there. 
    #8
    Kev999
    Max Output Level: -36 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3922
    • Joined: 2007/05/01 14:22:54
    • Location: Victoria, Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/14 23:18:05 (permalink)
    MJ Slaughter

    A drummer sent me his track recorded at 80 bpm, 24 bit depth and a 44100 sample rate.  After importing into a new project, no other tracks, I find that it is off by 16th beat consistently from start to end.
    It's very common for exchanged audio files not to line up initially and needing to be adjusted manually, i.e. by dragging the clip left or right until until it lines up correctly.  First you will need to zoom in sufficiently and try to identify visually either the start of a bar or a particular prominent beat within the song.  Clicks are ideal.  Turn off "snap" before dragging.

    SonarPlatinum(22.11.0.111)|Mixbus32C(4.3.19)|DigitalPerformer(9.5.1)|Reaper(5.77)
    FractalDesign:DefineR5|i7-6850k@4.1GHz|16GB@2666MHz-DDR4|MSI:GamingProCarbonX99a|Matrox:M9148(x2)|UAD2solo(6.5.2)|W7Ult-x64-SP1
    Audient:iD22+ASP800|KRK:VXT6|+various-outboard-gear|+guitars&basses, etc.
    Having fun at work lately
    #9
    brundlefly
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 14250
    • Joined: 2007/09/14 14:57:59
    • Location: Manitou Spgs, Colorado
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/16 18:27:20 (permalink)
    It's very common for exchanged audio files not to line up initially and needing to be adjusted manually



    This suggests that it's very common for people not to have their DAWs set up properly or to be making mistakes exporting. There's no good reason for the start time of an audio file to be off after transfer from one DAW to another, so long as the WAV formats are compatible and there isn't a Broadcast timestamp that makes it import to the wrong place in the timeline.

    If there's really an extra 16th-note worth of dead air at the beginning of the file, and it's not a sample-rate mismatch, something probably needs to be fixed in the sender's configuration or export procedures.


    #10
    Kev999
    Max Output Level: -36 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3922
    • Joined: 2007/05/01 14:22:54
    • Location: Victoria, Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/16 19:26:30 (permalink)
    brundlefly
    It's very common for exchanged audio files not to line up initially and needing to be adjusted manually
    This suggests that it's very common for people not to have their DAWs set up properly or to be making mistakes exporting.
    In remix contests (e.g. on Indaba), it always amazes me that the stems provided are often:
    • low level signals in 16-bit files
    • mono signals exported as stereo (waste of bandwidth)
    • arbitrary amount of dead space at the start
    And these are mainly hit songs originating from professional studios.

    SonarPlatinum(22.11.0.111)|Mixbus32C(4.3.19)|DigitalPerformer(9.5.1)|Reaper(5.77)
    FractalDesign:DefineR5|i7-6850k@4.1GHz|16GB@2666MHz-DDR4|MSI:GamingProCarbonX99a|Matrox:M9148(x2)|UAD2solo(6.5.2)|W7Ult-x64-SP1
    Audient:iD22+ASP800|KRK:VXT6|+various-outboard-gear|+guitars&basses, etc.
    Having fun at work lately
    #11
    chuckebaby
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 13146
    • Joined: 2011/01/04 14:55:28
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/16 20:37:15 (permalink)
    if its consistant through out the whole track use the nudge feature,thats why its there..highlight the track and nudge right or left by 1,2,3exc.

    Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
    Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
    Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
       
    #12
    gustabo
    Max Output Level: -49.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2591
    • Joined: 2009/01/05 17:32:38
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/16 21:02:19 (permalink)
    I have a lead guitarist that records leads for me in Cubase and it never lines up in Sonar either. I just nudge it backwards in time to sync it and I'm good to go.


    Cakewalk by Bandlab - Win10 Pro x64 - StudioCat Platinum Studio DAW - 32 GB Ram - MOTU UltraLite-mk3
    M-Audio Keystation 88ES - Akai MPD26 (hot-rodded) - Alesis DM10 - a few guitars, a few amps
    Novation Launch Control - Korg nanoKONTROL2 - PreSonus FaderPort - DAW Remote HD on iPad
    Adam A7X - Behritone C50A
    PreSonus Monitor Station v2 (controlling the mons)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonarusergroup/

    #13
    tunekicker
    Max Output Level: -65 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1261
    • Joined: 2005/10/28 14:39:50
    • Location: Grand Junction, CO
    • Status: offline
    Re:Importing WAV doesn't line up properly, off by 16th beat 2011/03/21 01:24:34 (permalink)
    Two options I would play with under Options->Global->Audio Data:

    Always Import Broadcast Waves At Their Timestamp
    Apply SMPTE Offset to Broadcast Wave Timestamps

    My guess is you want both checked but I'm not positive.

    For exporting to your friend:

    Export Broadcast Wave by Default

    Hope this helps.

    Peace,

    Tunes
    #14
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1