* SYNC : Composers Using Sonar : Film / TV Scoring *

Hey -

Anyone out there using Sonar to score film/tv projects? I'd love to compare notes with you on system set up and configuration for writing to picture. I've just been asked to do several projects (one short and one feature). I'd love to be able to connect with other folks working with Sonar in this way.

Sonar PE 6.2.1 XP Pro
4 cores at 2ghz
4gb ram
rme 96/52 : Rosetta 800

I've been digitizing video into Sonar using a freeware app from DVD through a canopus box. I reset sync in sonar alligning audio 2pop to visual. My output from sonar is also the canopus advc110.

Is there a "frame advance" feature in Sonar? Do you experience any sync issues (sync sliding over time?).

I am currently writing to picture in sonar and then transferring stereo mixes to final cut pro where I create the playout DVD for the director. I'm getting a pro-tools LE rig for my mac so I can also do music editing on the layback/playback.

Sound about right?

-b

bunnyfluffer, there was a thread about mixing for film with Sonar a while back. There are some suggestions in that thread for composing to film with Sonar.

UnderTow

hey mr fluffer of bunnies

I have a similar-ish setup and have been doing scoring work with it - if memory serves you are already familiar with some of it... whether the system will handle the workload of course depends on how crazy you like to get - my 4 gig quad setup has done me well on some pretty full-bore orchestral work as well as some more complex synth-heavy stuff, but if I really go for it I can overload the poor beast. It's only human... err....

I haven't noticed drift really but I have had the whole system just sometimes play out of sync, like a half second, and then somehow correct itself when I stop and start again... annoying but hasn't stopped me yet. I have noticed that some video codecs will cause the system to be extremely sluggish with panning and zooming around using my Contour Shuttle and/or AlphaTrack jogstrip - kind of a drag, so to speak, but somehow i never manage to isolate exactly which codecs cause the problem and which are fine. Using the mouse is almost always fairly stable but I rather like the tactile control of the other devices, which is why I bought them after all... in fact scoring is a particularly useful context to use them in. I wish I weren't so video-challenged...

I don't know about a frame advance in Sonar per se but I've been able to use the Contour Shuttle jog wheel to do it rather nicely, if you don't have a control surface with wheel functionality I highly recommend checking it out - very simple, stable, portable, configurable, works with every application imaginable.

I have also found it useful / necessary to split longer projects up into manageable chunks for composition, then reassemble bounced mixes over the full length video.

You're way ahead of me on the technical front of video, digitizing and delivery, so I won't comment on that - as with Lavoll I have been receiving and delivering straight-up files so far, usually remotely - pan-continental collaboration is the name of the game!

have fun and remember to post in the Good News sticky when projects get released - I'd love to hear some of your work!

t

hey group -

great to meet you all. awesome.

I'm hoping there are more people using Sonar for scoring to picture. I'd love to be able to troubleshoot with others.

My biggest struggle at the moment is SYNC. I have had the exact problem as listed below by Subtlearts.

The feature long project is the problem - as there are many cues, at different tempos, that need to be recorded.

The way I'm approaching it is that I crreate/rename the project each time I begin a new cue 1m1, 1m2, 1m3, etc...

Each project is specifically for each cue (as each one points to the same video source file). The problem is - if I change the tempo I have to resync the entire project. Not the end of the world, but a pain in the ass. Is there a way to lock audio to the video in sync in sonar?

I'm having TWO sync issues.

First, is the project loosing sync between the video and the video's audio tracks when I change tempo. This does not happen in protools.

Second, is the audio and video running out of sync over the duration of a feature - which makes it impossible to do laybacks from Sonar.

Both of these issues are big professional barriers, serious users.

The system holds sync for each cue, no problem but over extended time it drifts - so I could not use sonar to assemble all the stereo cues into one continuous project - and I don't know if there is a way to output audio to the Canopus AVC110 via firewire. It appears the PC only allows one audio output source and that would be my RME.

ORIGINAL: subtlearts
I haven't noticed drift really but I have had the whole system just sometimes play out of sync, like a half second, and then somehow correct itself when I stop and start again... annoying but hasn't stopped me yet.

ORIGINAL: NYSR

ORIGINAL: dexterflex

Why do you guys use vegas and final cut pro? I thought sonar can load videos. Or do you guys just use those programs because you are sent a film that is to long and you want to split it?

I use Vegas Video because I also have to edit multiple tracks of video. So since its more than just prepare audio for the video I need something that helps me prepare the video too.

However, I prefer to work my audio in SONAR so I usually fine tune the audio in SONAR.

Thanks for the reply. So just so I'm clear when you say edit tracks for video is that the music or the actual video itself?

ORIGINAL: bunnyfluffer

I'm having TWO sync issues.

First, is the project loosing sync between the video and the video's audio tracks when I change tempo. This does not happen in protools.

Second, is the audio and video running out of sync over the duration of a feature - which makes it impossible to do laybacks from Sonar.

Both of these issues are big professional barriers, serious users.

That scares me, maybe you should ask cakewalk about that. I would like to see some more support for the video side of things in sonar 8

ORIGINAL: bunnyfluffer

I'm having TWO sync issues.

First, is the project loosing sync between the video and the video's audio tracks when I change tempo. This does not happen in protools.

Have you tried changing the clips time base? CTRL-A to select all clips then right click on any audio clip and select "Clip properties" from the menu. Change the Time Base from Music to Absolute (SMPTE). You might also have to tick the "Lock" parameter.

I have not tried this myself but I think it is worth exploring. I have no idea how groove loops will react to this.

Second, is the audio and video running out of sync over the duration of a feature - which makes it impossible to do laybacks from Sonar.

Could this be a video codec issue? Do you have the latest codec for the video format you are using? I'm just guessing...

EDIT: Forgot the word "not" in a sentence. :)

UnderTow

I will check out the clip properties - good call.

-tbf

good point undertow - I need to check out the dropframe/non-drop frame settings as well. I know I'm running 29.97 on the avi clip.