There are several things about basic manual audio editing in X2 (some of it applies to X1 as well) that I just don't understand the reasoning behind. I mentioned in an ealier thread, that when you turn off snapping, the Smart Grid will still be visible but not in a higher resolution that 1/4 note. When I edit, I will almost always need a grid at least a 1/16 note resolution and I just don't see the use of Smart Grid with snapping turned on. Fastbikerboy suggested to set the snap resolution high, but if you set it to lets say 1 tic, it's almost like there's no snapping, but as soon as zoom in or out, the resolution will change (that's the understandable nature of Smart Grid) and you'll have to change the snap setting to 1 tic again before the next editing.
 
I seems to me, that Smart Grid is created mainly to work along with the snapping turned on instead of turned off. Can someone please explain the reasoning behind that?
 
Another thing that bothers me is the way X2 behave, when you want to move a selection of a clip:
When you left-click and drag to either side, it will look like this:
 

 
The transparent, darker tone of the original clip color is very calm and comfortable to look at. Now, when you grab the selection and move it, it will become a new, active clip with a white background and you will still see a "ghost" version of the original selection in the background. I couldn't make a printscreen of the actual move, but if you try, you'll see what I mean (you probably already know what it looks like anyway )
 
Both the change of background color and the "ghost" selection is rather annoying and it makes it rather difficult to see what you are doing (remember, I'm talking about editing (pocketing) which means that you only want to move the clip slightly to either side)and again - I don't understand the reasoning.
 
After dragging and slipping the mouse, it looks like this:
 

 
Firstly, I don't understand why the background color of the clips is white, because I know I set "selected clip" to purple (I imported the color settings from X1 and it does say purple in the Preferences). Secondly, I don't understand why the moved clip and the clip it overlaps (to the left) are white - meaning they are selected clips - when I've set the "Selection after single split" to "None".
 
The ideal scenario when moving clips for minor adjustments (pocketing) to me would be to:
1. Have a fully functionable Smart Grid when snapping is off
2. Keep the transparent, darker tone of a selection when moving it
3. Let the moved clip and potential overlapped clips stay unselected
 
I'm not in any way an audio master and there may be something I've overlooked or misunderstood about X2's behavior. So if you've got a solution/suggestion to any of above, I'd be very thankful.
 
Best regards from...

Am I completely on my own on this one?

spend the time to check out this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw5z9BKWD-I

I think it will explain a few things

As I understand it the smart grid is reference to the variable snap resolution. If snap is off the smart grid is off by definition.

As far as I can see you've selected part of a clip which will become a separate clip. If you want to move the whole clip click in the clip header which will move that rather than the selected part.

I'm not sure I'm following the colour bit but it's dark initially to show it's a partial clip selection then as you start the move it becomes a single clip which is highlighted white/grey to show the whole clip (that it now is) is selected.

HTH

FastBikerBoy


As I understand it the smart grid is reference to the variable snap resolution. If snap is off the smart grid is off by definition.

Hi Fastbiker,
 
Now, that's exactly what I'm confused about. If you turn off snapping and zoom in and out, the Smart Grid will still reflect the zoom level, but it has got only two resolutions: whole notes or 1/4 notes.
Obviously, I really hope that this is just a bug and that Smart Grid is supposed to behave the same way, whether snapping is on or off. I sent a report to Cakewalk yesterday, but haven't heard from them yet.
 

FastBikerBoy

As far as I can see you've selected part of a clip which will become a separate clip. If you want to move the whole clip click in the clip header which will move that rather than the selected part.

I'm not sure I'm following the colour bit but it's dark initially to show it's a partial clip selection then as you start the move it becomes a single clip which is highlighted white/grey to show the whole clip (that it now is) is selected.

I'm sorry if I made this part sound more complicated than it actually is. My question on moving clips is not really about what Sonar does, it's about the way it does it and actually Sonar doesn't even differ in this area from the other DAWs I've tried.
What I would like is the option to have the selection in the first picture to look the same (darkened) when I drag it (when it becomes a new clip) and to still look the same after I drop it in the new spot.
I honestly don't see what purpose the change of background color and having the original clip in the background serve. I imagine it would be much more friendly for the eye without that.
 
I'm a bit surprised that no-one seems to support me on the smart grid part. It makes me uncertain of the way I use Sonar, because I'm definitely not an expert in any way. Do you guys all use Audio Snap for audio editing or do you just hit the beat right on?
 

I'm a midician not a musician so I have no problem hitting the beat :-)

Erik_O

FastBikerBoy


As I understand it the smart grid is reference to the variable snap resolution. If snap is off the smart grid is off by definition.

Hi Fastbiker,
 
Now, that's exactly what I'm confused about. If you turn off snapping and zoom in and out, the Smart Grid will still reflect the zoom level, but it has got only two resolutions: whole notes or 1/4 notes.
Obviously, I really hope that this is just a bug and that Smart Grid is supposed to behave the same way, whether snapping is on or off. I sent a report to Cakewalk yesterday, but haven't heard from them yet. 
  
 
I'm a bit surprised that no-one seems to support me on the smart grid part. It makes me uncertain of the way I use Sonar, because I'm definitely not an expert in any way. Do you guys all use Audio Snap for audio editing or do you just hit the beat right on?
 

I don't see that behaviour with the Smart Grid. If it is off but snap is on then it behaves like the old snap, i.e. one set resolution. If the smart grid is the setting but the snap is off it doesn't respond at all to zoom level.
 
Not sure why you are seeing different but I don't think it's expected behaviour.

synkrotron


I'm a midician not a musician so I have no problem hitting the beat :-)

Around 30 percent of the time I'm a midician as well and when I am, I really appreciate to have all the grids in the world - with or without snapping enabled.
So, you actually hit the nail right on the head

FastBikerBoy

 
I don't see that behaviour with the Smart Grid. If it is off but snap is on then it behaves like the old snap, i.e. one set resolution. If the smart grid is the setting but the snap is off it doesn't respond at all to zoom level. 
 

Well, that is strange. This is a print screen of the project with snapping turned off and Smart Grid checked:
 

 
And this is what it looks like after Ctrl+1 click on the right arrow:
 


 

I see the same thing in the drop down, but AFAIK it's just an inactive setting. It doesn't do anything until snap is turned on. I thought you meant that the zoom level was responding while switched off in the same way it does while it's on.

That I don't see.