When making sample libraries it can be useful to be able to export multiple audio clips at once and automatically name the files "snare01.wav", "snare02.wav" and so on. I got feedback from someone at Cakewalk a while ago saying this would be fairly easy to implement. Is this now possible in Sonar X1?

Thanks for bringing this topic up! :-) It is a question I want to ask as well.

However, I'd like to add, that it would be immensely helpful if during this export Sonar could use the name of each selected clip as the name of the exported file.  I mean, all my clips are named in my projects so when I export clips in Sonar 8.5 I wish that the export dialog had an option like: "use clip name as export file name". and do not add any numbers to the file name. It's such an obvious feature to have....

To overcome this ommision I have learnt to do a very quick succession of key strokes for each file I export:
1. Alt+enter on clip
2. Copy clip's name
3. Hit 'E' ( my shortcut for Export)
4. Cntr+V to paste the name
5. Enter.

Repeat as many times as there are clips.
Pheew!

Now, the new scenario would be:
1. Tick an option in the export menu "use clip name as export file name"
2. Select all clips that I want exported.
3. Export.

Done! I end up with all my clips exported and named (without any of those arbitrary numbers Sonar adds during some export options) with appropriate names in the fraction of the time it takes me in 8.5.

I agree there should be several different options for naming files when exporting them. But have anyone checked to see if this is possible in Sonar X1?

Waiting to find out.... :-)

All Individual tracks in a project; yes. Individual clips in a project no. 

Why is that? Clips often don't really exist eg. You have an audio track that you edit , cut , chop up, move around and breakup into smaller "Clips" The underlying audio file remains intact but the SONAR .cwp (project file) contains all the edits you've performed. this is why its called a non-destructive editor.

When you export you can select tracks, busses, entire mix etc as the source of you exported file/s
This has been a long time feature of SONAR and is clearly explained in the help file. Just methodically select the options in the export dialog as you follow the steps - Press F1 and type "Export audio in the Index keyword lookup box. You'll have a step by step description.

If you have multiple clips in a audio or MIDI track you'll need to do a real time export as the Audio from VSTi's will need to be rendered as will any file edits represented by clips etc. The instructions are very clear. Do a few experiemnts so you get to understand the processes involved.

Its difficult to name clips by some automatic convention as I explained earlier a clip is just a reference to an underlying audio file. It can also be a small audio file and a track can be any combination of audio files and referenced clips pointing to audio files.

I use a little but very powerful program called Rename Master for all my file naming issues. It an awesome program and its free. There's a bunch of other utilities the guy has written that may be of use as well.

One little trick is to create your project and name a track/ before you record any audio to it. SONAR will then use that name as the base name for the audio file when you do record to that track. Once you've finished recording all your audio if you're not happy with the long file names and want to tidy things up you can use rename master to batch renaming and amending and appending to get waht you want. A few goes and you'll be a master and wonder how you ever got on without it.

Individual clips in a project no.

Thank you Mike. So it's not possible.

The rest of your post is rather patronising and contains innacuracies on how Sonar operates. I don't think we need to be told what non-destructive audio is, or how to access the help file in order to learn how to export. The problem is, Sonar misses some export options that people who do sound design would find very helpful, and which do exisit in other hosts.

Why is that? Clips often don't really exist eg. You have an audio track that you edit , cut , chop up, move around and breakup into smaller "Clips" The underlying audio file remains intact but the SONAR .cwp (project file) contains all the edits you've performed. this is why its called a non-destructive editor.

Clips DO exist in as much as I can select a single clip and export it. Right ? Do you agree? If so, why can't we select MULTIPLE clips and export them in one go preserving their names ? Or as in OP's case, specify a 'consecutive' name. For example, in OP's case he has 20 clips with his snares. He selects all those clips, then selects Export, and in the export dialog selects this option:

"specify consecutive file name"

what this would do, he would be able to write "snare" in the option window, and after clicking export, Sonar would export all 20 clips named like this:
Snare 1.wav
Snare 2.wav
Snare 3.wav
etc.

If you have multiple clips in a audio or MIDI track you'll need to do a real time export as the Audio from VSTi's will need to be rendered as will any file edits represented by clips etc. The instructions are very clear. Do a few experiemnts so you get to understand the processes involved.

Not true. In my work on sound design projects I export audio clips, synth midi clips to wav in the fast export mode (ie: non-realtime). Clearly, it's not us who need to refer to those clear instructions. ;-)

Its difficult to name clips by some automatic convention as I explained earlier a clip is just a reference to an underlying audio file. It can also be a small audio file and a track can be any combination of audio files and referenced clips pointing to audio files

It's immaterial what the clip references. Once I select bounce to track, or export, all that is collated and exported in one go. However, the clip is named with one name. It should be a simple proccess for Sonar to take this clip name and use it for the exported file name. Do an experiment:

-Select a clip, name it.
-Then, go to File-Export, select 'wave' as the file.
-what do you see in the File Name dialog? You should see 'wave' highlighted in blue. Great. We can name this clip. But what if I want to use the clip's name? There ought to be an option to specify that I want to do that. Sonar has all the information already. It just needs a new option: "use clip name as export file name".

I use a little but very powerful program called Rename Master for all my file naming issues.

Sure. Thanks for the tip. But the name of the game here is to do the job as fast as possible without wasting time naming/renaming multiple times. What do I mean ? If I have all my clips in the project already named, all I need is for Sonar to take this into account when exporting. This way, there is no need to use 3rd party utilities.

I hope this clarifies what is being asked for. :-)

Oh my, oh my, oh my...

Of course it's possible (unless that was changed for X1 - but why should it?):

- select clips
- apply trimming (only if they're slip-edited)
- drag them all to the desktop or a folder of your choice
  (hold mouse button until the copy message disappears!)

Sonar even numbers them for you. HTH

werner

Yes I see what you mean. We're at odds over terminology. It''s afeature many of us have long asked for but not avaiable at present that's why I explained what was the underlying process in SONAR which is Cakewalk's explanation for why itisn't so easy to achieve as you think. Anyway my intent wasn't to debate what can and can't be done just the way SONAR does things. I don't use that lengthy process if I want to make a single or even multiple clips inmto seperate waves.

When I want to save a clip I just click and drag it to a folder or the desktop.

I agree that there ought to be all sorts of things that we should be able to do but I try to focus on what I can. And keep feature discussion seperate to a thread that was started witha question can you do such and such in SONAR?

For me clicking or shift clicking multiple clips and dragging them to my location is far fewer steps. Not an export function the way I use. It.

in the area of being patronising I have no idea of a persons proficiency or knowledge of SONAR and answering the OP and you in general terms was my only intent as well as passing on some self help tips. perhaps I shouldn't have bothered. All the best to you.
I hope you find others more helpful

As for clarifying what's being asked I see that as a feature request which you ought to submit. I know many who have aready done so over the years along with myself.

In SONAR 8.5 I could access a far more elaborate clip specific menu than the more simplfied one we have now. Another backward step in function brought to us by SONAR X1 but still no specific asset management tools for those of us that work with lots of  clips and audio data in general.

Sorry not to have ben the help you'd hoped for.

dreamkeeper


Oh my, oh my, oh my...

Of course it's possible (unless that was changed for X1 - but why should it?):

- select clips
- apply trimming (only if they're slip-edited)
- drag them all to the desktop or a folder of your choice
(hold mouse button until the copy message disappears!)

Sonar even numbers them for you. HTH

werner

You haven't read my post or that of the OP's carefully, since if you did you'd know that what you propose is not fit for purpose. The reason is, export by 'drag and drop' adds more text to the exported file. So, I end up with a file that has the project name, clip name, and some arbitrary number in the file name. But, i need *just* the clip name, no numbers, no project name, just the clip name.

The OP's need wouldn't be solved either as the numbers added to the files do not go from 1, but start on an arbitrary number, perhaps referencing clip's order within the project.

So your rolling eyes are misguided.

Silly me after focussing on your reply rather than the first question i kind of supplied a yes answer hidden in a typical verbose post.

If you shift click multiple clips you can just drag them to a folder or the desktop but I think they inherit the naem of the underlying file not the specific clip name - give it a try, Getting tired here at 2:45 am It could be Ctrl click multiple clips not shift  - try them both its one or the other.

doesn't help any with SONAR's poor file naming with littel or no control over the newly rendered wav. I suppose youi could try doing the shift click and try export>audio>wav maybe it will generalt consecutive file names based on the first files name. time to experiment.