Sonar User Forum: Tip of the Day

What are your favorite/most-used workflow secrets? Was there a moment where you said, "I can do that? Cool!"? Please post 'em below. I'll try to come back to this thread every few days and update the top post. If no one has posted any new ones I'll grab one from Tip of the Day, or my own workflow.

General Sonar:

• Tip of the Day is completely editable. Open the text file "Tipoftheday" - and add your own new tips, reminders, jokes... I made a TipoftheDay.txt that is Brian Eno's "Oblique Strategies" - my "Tip of the Day" says things like "Disciplined self-indulgence" or "Consider transitions" which, believe it or not, usually ends up being helpful.
  
  
• Many parameters can be changed by clicking on the widget and using the mouse wheel.
  
  
• Assign a key-binding to the Meter's Clipping Indicators Reset. [Editor's Note: Awesome tip!]
  
  
• You can quickly Zoom in and out to the minimum and maximum settings in any view. To do so, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the magnifying glass.
  

Track View:

• Z enables the microscope on the mouse, you can then click+drag the area you want to zoom into, it comes in handy if you want to display into a specific number of tracks on the screen.
  
  
• To change the key of an acid clip use pitch markers.
  
  
• Running the mouse down the track numbers with the left mouse button pressed will select those tracks.
  
  
• Shift-drag when re-sizing a track, when multiple tracks are selected, will re-size all selected tracks.
  
  
• Zooming and unzoooming tracks can be done with the max and minimize buttons on the track headers.
  
  
• Select non contiguous tracks by using Ctrl+click on the tracks needed to be selected.
  
  
• You can drag the fx from the bin to the audio clip and vice versa.
  
  
• Ctrl + drag an effect from one FX bin to another tracks FX bin you will copy the effect and current preset.
  
  
• Use Sonar's Loop Explorer view to find/audition your loops and them drag them directly to the pads in Beatscape.
  
  
• Since you can't audition REX2 files in the Loop Explorer: to point the Beatscape browser at a full REX2 library, re-install from the install disc, and when it asks you where to install the content point it to your REX library folder (Sonar will install its content with in a sub-folder of this). If you still don't see your full REX library you may have to edit the path in your registry.
  
  
• Ctrl+Tab and Shift+Ctrl-Tab to rotate through open views.
  
  
• You can apply gain adjustments to only segments of a clip by highlighting a section (by selecting a track, left-clicking+drag across the time ruler) then selecting Process/Audio/Gain.
  
  Alternately: holding down the Alt key and 'wiping' a selection area over the clip you want to work on.
  
  
• Arm multiple input tracks with track folders: set up multiple tracks up inside a folder (you can lock the height of folders so that you can only see the folder description and the MSR). Use the folder Record button to arm everything in one go.
  
  
  

Audio Tracks/Clips:

• Ctrl+drag to time stretch an Audio Clip
  
  
• It's easy to drag and drop audio files in to, and out of, the arrange page in track view. Files can be dragged to and from the desktop / a folder or between multiple open projects. For example: Handy if you've done all your rendering and bouncing and you want to 'export' the 2-track as you don't have to go via 'files - export audio' just grab your bounced 'mastered' version and drop it in your folder of choice. Note: If you are going to try this you should be aware that you need to keep the mouse button held down until the file has finished copying to the clipboard, then let go of the button over the folder you wish to drop the file in and it will appear there.
  
  
• To add 4 nodes to an envelope, drag your selection onto the time-line (or Alt-wipe your selection), right-click "Add Nodes to Selection". (Anyone know a better way?)
  

Piano Roll/MIDI:

• In the transpose box, right clicking the +/- buttons will get the transpose value to change by a full octave..no need to click the +/- button 12 times. Its a huge convenience esp if you are setting up a harmony.
  
  
• Changing velocities or note values: + or - gives you one Increment up or down but the bracket keys: "[" & "]" gives you ten increments or an Octave up or down depending on context.
  
  
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General Workflow & Productivity:

• When using loops I place all the loops that I feel I want to use or experiement with into one audio track that I label as the loop library. I mute this track and use it to drag various loops into the rest of the project as needed.
  
  
• Billy Arrnell(ba-midi)'s Simple A/B of Two Differnt Mixes
  
  
• Multiple button mouse: These buttons can be assigned as shortcuts in Sonar by using the Logitech Setpoint software. This gives you more shortcut options right on your mouse, which for some are easier to hit and remember than keyboard shortcuts.
  

Version:

And a little bump, with an 'official' Sonar Tip of the Day...

When using loops I place all the loops that I feel I want to use or experiement with into one audio track that I label as the loop library. I mute this track and use it to drag various loops into the rest of the project as needed.

ORIGINAL: Ebony Blue

Here's a tip that I've been meaning to post for awhile...

Instead of using the crapp... um 'limited' file browser in Beatscape which requires you to import your own loops before you can even audition them, you can use Sonar's Loop Explorer view to find/audition your loops and them drag them directly to the pads in Beatscape.

-e.B

lol

Yeah I've been learning Beatscape and I was thinking "damn it takes a long time to listen to the samples". I've only heard like 1/10 of them since it takes so long to browse. I didn't even think of using the loop explorer view. Thanks dude!

Here's a tip.
The better you learn the tools you have (Sonar, Dynamic controlled processors, EQ's, Effect processors) The better your songs will be and and there fore the better experience youll have with Sonar .
Cj

Here's one I figured out just tonight: You can apply gain adjustments to only segments of a clip by highlighting a section (by selecting a track, left-clicking and dragging across the time ruler) then selecting Process/Audio/Gain.

Regards,

DB

Here's a simple way to A / B two mixes:

Do your first mix (bouncedown). Mute it after.
Do your 2nd mix.

Now click the SOLO widget on both mixdowns,
click the "quick group" widget on both tracks by holding down CONTROL key while you click on them. The quick group is near the track #, if you're unaware of this feature.
Now click on the MUTE widget of one mix, then hold CTRL while clicking on the MUTE widge of the 2nd mix.

You should notice that the two MUTEs look a little different than usual (they have a different color and have a slightly different icon now).

If you've done this correctly, you can now click on either mute (without holding control) and it will toggle the mute status of the two mixes where one is ON and one is OFF.

So just click Mute again, and it switches to the "other" track. Ie., if you muted mix one, mix two plays; click on mute again, and they will switch.
Instant A/B'ing!

Here's one I figured out just tonight: You can apply gain adjustments to only segments of a clip by highlighting a section (by selecting a track, left-clicking and dragging across the time ruler) then selecting Process/Audio/Gain.

Regards,

DB

I think you could do the same thing with the new selection tool in only two steps. Select then do the process.

great post.

A little pre-weekend bump.

Some MIDI/PRV tips would be awesome. Susan, you must have a few!

Hey, I know I've seen this on this forum somewhere but I can't locate it now:

How to add multiple nodes to an envelope?

I know it involved selecting along the timeline and a key-combo, and it would add 4 points to the envelope.

Does anyone remember how this works?

ORIGINAL: puffer

Hey, I know I've seen this on this forum somewhere but I can't locate it now:

How to add multiple nodes to an envelope?

I know it involved selecting along the timeline and a key-combo, and it would add 4 points to the envelope.

Does anyone remember how this works?

Just click on the line where you want the new node and then drag it up or down.

Hi puffer-

I know it involved selecting along the timeline and a key-combo, and it would add 4 points to the envelope.

I don't remember right now if there's a keyboard shortcut for it, but you can right-click and then click "Add nodes at selection". You'll get 4 nodes.

-Susan

I didn't ask, but I sure appreciate you checking!

You know what would be cool? A visual, object oriented keyboard-shortcut mapping editor.

Glad it's helpful. Never really got much traction, but what're ya gonna do?

I'm not sure what you mean with your first query. If I have my windows floated, those key-strokes do rotate through the stacking order, bringing either the next or last in focus to the top. I have dual monitors, so all those windows are primarily floated on the 2nd monitor, while I use the larger monitor (don't ask) for the track view.

And, yep, you're right. The other thing doesn't work . Seems Susan is right, the only way to add four nodes at once, other than with the pen tool, which is useful though erratic, is to right-click and "add nodes to selection", which does not apparently have key-binding hook. I'll change that until someone can prove otherwise. I through a bunch of key combinations at it and could not get it to add nodes just by dragging the envelope. On the plus side, I'm getting a lot more mileage out of Alt-dragging than I ever did before.