VocalSync Tip

I've been having really, really good luck with VocalSync lately, but I discovered something that helps make that happen (although it's probably so obvious everybody already thought of it except me...). It makes a big difference to zoom in on the clip being processed so the graphics aren't all scrunched up. The optimum knob setting isn't always predictable - sometimes it's at 15%, sometimes 100% -  so you need to look closely at the graphic representation to see which setting causes the closest correlation between the two waveforms.
 
This also makes it easy to see if most of it lines up, but one section resists. If you split the clip at the dividing line between those two sections and apply VocalSync to each clip, then you can get things to line up well.
 
Anyway, the more I use VocalSync, the more I'm getting into it. It can really tighten vocals up nicely. I was working on a piece last night with four vocals lines, and VocalSync gave them a very strong focus.
 
 

Anderton
If you split the clip at the dividing line between those two sections and apply VocalSync to each clip, then you can get things to line up well. 

 
I had also noticed that the "Sync" seems to happen at different percentages.  At first I thought that 100% would be full on sync and a lesser percentage was looser.  As you have noted, the visual seems to help.  Craig, your quote above...I had not thought of this, even though now it seems VERY obvious.  I will try that on my next project.  
 

Anderton
My father once said I had "a magnificent grasp of the obvious"   I think that was supposed to be a compliment...

I really love VocalSync!  In my opinion, it is one of the best features in Sonar.  Getting double tracked vocals to line up is now easy.  I used to spend hours re-recording vocals or trying to use AudioSnap to make adjustments.  With VocalSync I can tighten things up in a snap.

Ditto...  I probably used VocalSync a dozen times in my last project, and in all but one case the results were good and easy.   That one case just required a little more finesse.  
 
So yeah, I agree it's one of Platinum's star features, at least if you need this type of thing.  
 

I've just tried VocalSync for the first time, and I must say the feature is AMAZING! I wasn't very interested when I first read about the feature, but I was TOTALLY wrong. (Also, I'm glad the Zoom Tool issue was fixed in Dorchester, and now Z-dragging on two tracks works as expected even when there's a hidden track or collapsed folder in the project.)
 
But it also made me wondering...
I haven't really used AudioSnap yet, because I prefer to record perfect takes when it comes to recording guitar myself. But I need to quantize audio when it comes to vocal recording, which I've just started for the first time after upgrading to Platinum. Now, is it possible to automatically (or using a simple knob like the one on the VocalSync editor) quantize audio using AudioSnap? I mean, if I could correct the timing of vocal waveforms (transients?) as easily as VocalSync does but without the guide track, it would be WONDERFUL. Not possible?

Anderton 
The best tool I've found for this is Melodyne Editor's timing tool. But in most cases, I've found that a split/move works best unless you have a huge amount of material to correct.

 
Thanks Craig. I haven't tried Melodyne yet, but would you say it can correct the timing of a phrase that doesn't have apparent split points like "I know why you're whining" easily and beautifully as VocalSync does? And is the resulted sound quality as good as what the Radius Solo Vocal algorithm, used as the default in VocalSync, offers? If so, I'll use Melodyne. If not, I'll look for not only good takes but also "pitch/feeling is wrong but the timing is accurate" takes when I audition takes in Take lanes and then use those takes in a guide track for VocalSync.