Jim

I just caught your on 8.5, 

Not sure if its the same as X1 and its been along time since 8.5 for me so my memory is off if it is the same.

Jim:
 
I do this by aligning the Tempo Map of the project to the recorded audio performance and it's fairly straight forward.
 
I'm making the assumption that each song is in it's own project (as you indicate you already do).
 
An overview of what I do is:

• Prep the project settings for Tempo Map alignment
• Align all tracks to start at 1:01:000
• Align the tempo map of the project to the actual performance

 
To prep the project settings for Tempo Map alignment I do the following:

• Turn off "Snap to Grid"
• Ensure the tempo map only has one entry (doesn't really matter what it is at this point)
• Ensure the Meter/Key Signature is set to the proper Meter at measure 1:01:000
• Ensure that "Replace Old with New" is selected in Drag and Drop options
• Ensure each track only has one big clip in it (select all the tracks and their clips and bounce to clips if you need to)

 
Here's how I align all the tracks to start at 1:01:000:

• Set the "Now Time" as close to where you think measure 1:1:000 should be in the audio (you'll probably have to listen to the song a couple of times to figure out where 1:01:000 should be)
• Select all the tracks and clips in the project
• Split all the clips in all tracks where you have set the "Now Time"
• In all the tracks, select and delete all the newly created clips to the left of where you think 1:01:000 should be
• Slide all the remaining clips in all tracks to start at 1:01:000 on the timeline 
• Once you've done the above, all your tracks will have the audio 1st beat starting at the project timeline at 1:01:000. 

Here's how I align the tempo map of the project to actual performance:

• Play the song and listen to where the 2:01:000 should be.  (I find the "Scrub Tool" along with "Aim Assist" is useful for this.)
• Position the "Now Time" to where you think 2:01:000 should be and press Ctrl-M to bring up the Measure Beat/Meter dialog.
• Ensure that the Measure input box has "2" in it, and the Beat input box has 1.000 in it and press OK.  You will note that the project timeline now indicates that 2:01:000 is at the "Now Time".
• Perform these alignment steps for each measure through the entire song.  (I sometime have to use the Measure Beat/Meter dialog on beats other than x:01:000 if there is a significant decelerando or accelerando in the song that needs to be tracked.)
• Once you done these alignment steps, your Tempo Map should be aligned quite nicely with each measure in the audio.

 
Once you've aligned the Tempo Map, you can then use the other tools to "tighten up" the timing, or add MIDI based sound reinforcement.  You can even make the tempo more consistent by setting all the clips to follow the project tempo from the AudioSnap pallette and modifying the tempo map to remove variations in tempo where desired.
 
I hope this is applicable to what you are trying to accomplish,
Paul 

Thanks JB101 - yes I do have a couple of videos on how to do this on youtube. You just need to extract the tempo map from one of the tracks. I find the kick one of the more reliable tracks to use.

The video for X1 on how to do that is HERE but I see you've bought the SWA Complete X2 video (thanks BTW) and the video on how to extract a tempo map is more detailed in that, including what causes and how to avoid the dreaded "tempo out of range" message.

That is found in this chapter with time in brackets

· Working with Audiosnap (Pt. 2) (7:00:31)
· Preparing clips to avoid "Tempo out of range"
· Editing the clip map
· Extracting tempo from a clip
· Extracting MIDI for drum replacement

HTH

Thanks Paul,

Ive never tried this, might give it a try on an older project to check it out.

Its nice when people will actually post a "recipe" on the steps for ya  

Telstar,

Here is my question - what tempo do you capture the songs at when you first begin??? What is your tempo set at - I'm asking because I have a similar event I'm doing tomorrow.

So for clarity does it matter where or what your tempo is on when you first start to record???

listen


Telstar,

Here is my question - what tempo do you capture the songs at when you first begin??? What is your tempo set at - I'm asking because I have a similar event I'm doing tomorrow.

So for clarity does it matter where or what your tempo is on when you first start to record???

No it doesn't matter at all, you can always extract it later. Part of the reliable extraction process is to set the project tempo to the rough clip tempo before starting though (extracting the tempo not recording).

kellerpj's post #12 is an excellent breakdown. The only addition I make to that is I bounce to clips after the clip tidy up.

Thanks fastbikerboy

digi2ns.....mike  Audio Snap, v8.5 method is probably similar in later versions of Sonar...the workflow is likely the same..THX.
kellerpj.....paul 
FastBikerBoy....Karl   I've got your video with me (laptop) and will check out the particular chapters first; just got your video and haven' t had a chance to watch it, but will ASAP
listen.....

kellerpj.... Great workflow example.  I get what you are saying and will try it ASAP.  I have a follow up question though.  It has to do with your comment: 

Here's how I align all the tracks to start at 1:01:000:

Set the "Now Time" as close to where you think measure 1:1:000 should be in the audio (you'll probably have to listen to the song a couple of times to figure out where 1:01:000 should be)

The question may be slightly off topic, however, it has merit. Where might you consider the 1:01:000 to be?  If a song starts on the downbeat, that may make sense for 1:01:000.  If the first percussion/downbeat comes later in the song, where would one start to place 1:01:000?  In other words, since the first downbeat will occur at some later time (thus not the first measure) how would one back track to set up measure 1:01:000.  Thought I'd ask :^)
 
Thanks again, all......  I'll work through your comments.   Regards,
 
JimK

Jim:
 
Typically, where a song has some pickup notes at the beginning, I generally make 1:01:000 on the percieved first beat of the measure those pickup notes are in.
 
Hope that answers your question,
Paul