How do you set the timeline to start at something besides 1?

Hi, there,
 
How do you set some sort of timeline offset or simple default to have it start at something besides 1? Sometimes my "1" really has a few beats of a pre-measure and it'd be nice for it to start at 0 or -1 or something like that.
 
I know that a workaround is just to start at measure 2, buf if you do a lot of writing/composing, you tend to map things out in your head first, and think in terms of 1-16, etc, and moving this to 2-17 can really start to play with your mentality when you're trying to visualize where the last verse in your song should go.
 
Thanks a bunch, and sorry if this is obvious. I just received S8.5PE in the mail today, so I've probably got a little ways to go before finding that in the docs, but it'll help my workflow so I thought I'd throw it out to you all.
 
Thanks again, and have a wonderful day,
 
- Paul

Hmm. Guaranteed?

Some sub-$100 hosts can do this, and I know I'd not be the only one with the need.

If it can't be done, well, there's always a FR for S9, isn't there?

Thanks a lot,

- Paul

I agree with rbowser. I do all sorts of crazy "handmade" music, where I'm starting on 5 over a 4 count, or whatever, and I just use markers like a mofo. As a matter of fact, I have an old project open right now that starts at 1:03:605 and the verse/chorus markers are offset by that amount as well.
If this is something that really bothers you, you could start a song any old way you want, and trim all the tracks down to start on the 1.
Or just  practice coming in exactly on the downbeat of the first measure with a count in. I've done that too. More of a pain, but I've done it.
If you get comfortable with markers, the 1 can be anywhere, and then you can just transcribe to sheet music if you need to. A lot of my tunes have pickup notes, and I just take that into account when I record.
Hope this makes sense. It makes sense to me, which probably means it doesn't make sense to ANYBODY. Let me know If I can be of further assistance.

+1 to using markers...quick & easy way to navigate through projects.

+1 to OP's request as measure count offset couldn't be that complicated to address in the next version of SONAR. Just having an option to be able to view 'negative' measures so to speak would make more sense at times.

Paul, papa gave you the answer right up front. No it can't. And I have been around this forum (when it was a newsgroup) long enough to tell you that your not the only one who has had a need for this. CW has recieved FR on this many times. Maybe not lately, (I haven't put it in in a long time!!) but there are still those around who remeber Ted and Greg getting into it over this very issue.

I would love this feature. But CW has never seen it worthy enough to implement. In fact there was so much BS about it that even though I wanted the feature and was on the side of getting it done, I just relented and said the hell with it, I will just start my project on the 2! And I have ever since.

In fact now that I think about it, the selective count-in was CW's response to this FR. But all of us that were for the FR, wanted the ability to shift the numbers on the measures. All Ted wanted was the ability to place one measure in the beginning. A blank measure.

Oh what fond memeories!

AngelicLight


Hi, there,
 
How do you set some sort of timeline offset or simple default to have it start at something besides 1? Sometimes my "1" really has a few beats of a pre-measure and it'd be nice for it to start at 0 or -1 or something like that.
 
I know that a workaround is just to start at measure 2, buf if you do a lot of writing/composing, you tend to map things out in your head first, and think in terms of 1-16, etc, and moving this to 2-17 can really start to play with your mentality when you're trying to visualize where the last verse in your song should go.
 
Thanks a bunch, and sorry if this is obvious. I just received S8.5PE in the mail today, so I've probably got a little ways to go before finding that in the docs, but it'll help my workflow so I thought I'd throw it out to you all.
 
Thanks again, and have a wonderful day,
 
- Paul

Simplist way, just move the now time line to where you want to start. Only use the rewind button.
Set up a loop from the point you want. It's much simpler than changing a global default.

I just add a couple of beats to the first measure.  If the first measure is 3/4, I make it a 5/4 or 6/4 and start the music accordingly.  This would be a problem if you were to print out a score or parts but Sonar is not good for score writing anyway.

Now this has to be first. I agree with everyone on this. Hell must have frozen over.

John


Now this has to be first. I agree with everyone on this. Hell must have frozen over.

Sorry - lost me on that one.
 
That first measure extended length is actually quite an idea that might work well.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the explanations.

Oh, duh on my part - too easy to misinterpret on forums. My bad.

How do you extend the first measure only? You know, that may indeed solve the problem, since it's just the "little more time up front" that would be useful.

And sorry to even make this sound like it's a big deal. I probably have wasted more of your guys time than it's worth so I hope I can repay it someway. :)