One of the main tasks I perform when doing VO editing is cutting out dead space and false starts.
I typically just keep SONAR rolling while the artist works through the copy.  It helps with the flow.
 
What I'd like to do is put SONAR in a mode that when I either a) use the delete tool or b) select and Cntl/X have the selected section disappear (which it does now), but also have everything to the right scoot to the left and take it's place.
 
This same behavior is possible by selecting the section and using Edit/Special Cut, but that is clumsy.
If "how to do this" is in the online documentation, it isn't where I was looking.
 
What do you guys do?  Create a special key combination for Edit/Special cut or have you found the setting that will do this natively?
 
Thanks,
 
Steven

Select the Area... Edit->Delete Special... and make sure "Delete Hole" is checked. You can bind this to a keyboard shortcut - Preferences->Customization (Advanced Mode at the bottom checked)... search "Delete" and bind "Delete Special...". This will require 2 key strokes to execute though (shortcut+Enter). I am not sure if there is a quicker way.
 

What you're describing is called "ripple editing" and doesn't exist in that form in SONAR. You CAN get just about the same results using the EDIT menu options for deleting.
 
Vegas is a program that has a great ripple edit mode. I think Reaper does too IIRC.

Adobe products also have the "ripple delete" functionality, but most (non-SONAR) options are not free. For VO work, Adobe Audition also has nice Noise Reduction tools, and slick macros for marker insertion to remove (or shorten) silent passages in a clip. If I was working on an extensive VO track, I would most likely go this route simply because a great deal can be automated (you can set thresholds of what you consider "silence," and Audition will insert markers on the entire track). I would not recommend Adobe CC (as it is pay by month), but OEM copies of the CS5.5 and CS6 are still available in places. There is also the option to trial Adobe CC for 30 days, so you can get a feel of what it can do.

There's a sneaky way to shorten all the gaps at once, so this doesn't work if the gaps vary a lot...but if you increase the tempo, the spaces between clips will tighten up.

mettelus
Select the Area... Edit->Delete Special... and make sure "Delete Hole" is checked. You can bind this to a keyboard shortcut - Preferences->Customization (Advanced Mode at the bottom checked)... search "Delete" and bind "Delete Special...". This will require 2 key strokes to execute though (shortcut+Enter). I am not sure if there is a quicker way.
 

Thanks, but that sounds like the same number of steps as Edit-Cut Special.
I was hoping to find something faster.

...wicked
What you're describing is called "ripple editing" and doesn't exist in that form in SONAR. You CAN get just about the same results using the EDIT menu options for deleting.
 
Vegas is a program that has a great ripple edit mode. I think Reaper does too IIRC.

Yeah, I enjoy ripple editing in Vegas, which I use for video projects.

Anderton
There's a sneaky way to shorten all the gaps at once, so this doesn't work if the gaps vary a lot...but if you increase the tempo, the spaces between clips will tighten up.

This is for VO (voice over) work, so there is no tempo and the gaps most definitely vary.

Steven Bell

mettelus
Select the Area... Edit->Delete Special... and make sure "Delete Hole" is checked. You can bind this to a keyboard shortcut - Preferences->Customization (Advanced Mode at the bottom checked)... search "Delete" and bind "Delete Special...". This will require 2 key strokes to execute though (shortcut+Enter). I am not sure if there is a quicker way.
 

Thanks, but that sounds like the same number of steps as Edit-Cut Special.
I was hoping to find something faster.

You can use the free macro creator AutoHotKey to create a macro that does this with a single keystroke. Forum host scook is a master of AutoHotKey scripts, if he sees this thread he might even come up with one for you.
 
BTW I realize the tempo tip won't solve your issue, but I use it to tighten gaps so clips need to be moved less. I do a lot of narration, and I often don't want a video-style ripple edit but need to adjust the gap anyway. So making them shorter speeds up the process a bit.

For this sort of thing I prefer to use Song Vegas Movie Studio, just because of the ripple edit mode.  Just because it's a video editor doesn't mean you can't use it for audio editing.