Soundtrack Pro 3 User Manual

Soundtrack Pro 3 User Manual......Page 1
Contents......Page 3
About Soundtrack Pro......Page 11
Additional Resources......Page 12
System Considerations......Page 15
Setting the Audio Input and Output......Page 16
Connecting Equipment......Page 17
Audio Device......Page 18
External Audio and Video Monitoring......Page 19
Amplifiers......Page 20
Example Hardware Setups......Page 21
Setup with a USB Audio Interface......Page 22
Setup with a Video Output Device......Page 23
Setup with a PCI Express Video Interface Card with Breakout Box......Page 24
Setup for Surround Mixing......Page 25
The Soundtrack Pro Interface......Page 27
Soundtrack Pro Window Organization......Page 28
Showing and Hiding the Panes......Page 30
Showing and Hiding Tabs......Page 33
Rearranging Tabs......Page 34
Project Pane......Page 35
Transport Controls......Page 36
Timeline......Page 37
File Editor......Page 41
Mixer......Page 43
Multitake Editor......Page 45
Bin......Page 46
Meters Tab......Page 48
Recording Tab......Page 49
Browser......Page 50
Search Tab......Page 51
Favorites Tab......Page 53
Project Tab......Page 54
File and Clip Details......Page 58
Envelope Point Details......Page 61
Effects Tab......Page 62
Tracks Tab......Page 63
Actions Tab......Page 64
Analysis Tab......Page 65
Timecode HUD......Page 66
Multipoint Video HUD......Page 67
Multitrack Projects......Page 69
Supported Audio File Formats......Page 70
About Looping and Non-Looping Files......Page 71
Using Tabs......Page 72
Using Project Layouts......Page 73
Customizing the Toolbar......Page 74
Using Shortcut Menus......Page 76
Undoing and Redoing Changes......Page 77
Using Value Sliders......Page 78
Scrubbing Audio......Page 79
Controlling Playback with the Transport Controls......Page 80
Locating and Adding Audio Files......Page 81
Using Favorites to Locate Files......Page 82
Searching for Files in Column View......Page 83
Refining a Search in Column View......Page 84
Searching for Files in Button View......Page 85
Refining a Search in Button View......Page 86
Adding Custom Keywords......Page 87
Adding a Directory to the Search Database......Page 88
About the Bin......Page 89
Searching Bin Information......Page 90
Using the Shortcut Menu and the Media Pop-Up Menu in the Bin......Page 91
Bin Column Information......Page 92
Previewing Audio Files......Page 93
Using the Preview Controls......Page 94
Playing Projects......Page 95
Setting the Playhead Quickly......Page 96
Entering Time-Based Units......Page 97
Setting the Playhead Using the Playhead Location Value Slider......Page 98
Using Snapping......Page 99
Reconnecting Media Files......Page 101
Setting Soundtrack Pro Preferences......Page 103
General Preferences......Page 105
Project Preferences......Page 107
Recording Preferences......Page 108
Synchronization Preferences......Page 109
Control Surfaces Preferences......Page 110
Video Out Preferences......Page 111
Creating, Opening, and Closing Multitrack Projects......Page 113
Setting Project Properties......Page 114
Sample Rate......Page 115
Overlap Mode......Page 116
Setting the Project Ruler Units......Page 117
Setting the Project Length......Page 118
Scratch Location......Page 119
Saving Multitrack Projects......Page 120
Adding Files to a Multitrack Project......Page 121
Clip Properties......Page 123
Busses......Page 124
Submixes......Page 125
The Master Bus......Page 127
Working in the Timeline......Page 129
Using the Timeline Editing Tools......Page 130
Blade and Blade All Tools......Page 131
Timeline Editing Tools HUD......Page 132
Using the Zoom Control......Page 133
Using the J, K, and L Keys for Shuttling......Page 135
Moving the Playhead with Keyboard Shortcuts......Page 136
Setting Track Height......Page 137
Working with the Cycle Region......Page 138
Adding Tracks, Busses, and Submixes......Page 140
Grouping Tracks, Busses, and Submixes......Page 141
Applying Changes to Selected Groups......Page 142
Groups Outline......Page 143
Moving and Copying Tracks, Busses, and Submixes......Page 145
Adjusting Volume......Page 146
Adjusting Pan Position......Page 147
Muting and Soloing Tracks, Busses, and Submixes......Page 148
Adding Effects to a Track, Bus, or Submix......Page 149
Showing and Hiding Track, Bus, and Submix Envelopes......Page 150
Removing Tracks, Busses, and Submixes......Page 151
Selecting Audio Clips in the Timeline......Page 152
Selecting the Entire Contents of a Track......Page 153
Selecting Partial Contents of One or More Tracks......Page 154
Cutting, Copying, Pasting, and Removing Audio Clips......Page 155
Splitting Clips with the Blade Tool......Page 157
Splitting Clips with the Playhead......Page 158
Spotting Clips to the Timeline......Page 160
Moving Audio Clips......Page 161
Moving Clips with Keyboard Shortcuts......Page 162
Resizing Audio Clips......Page 163
Using the Trim Command......Page 164
Changing the Offset of an Audio Clip......Page 166
Types of Fade-Ins and Fade-Outs......Page 167
Creating Fade-Ins and Fade-Outs in the Timeline......Page 168
Adding Fades to Audio Clips......Page 169
Creating Crossfades Between Audio Clips......Page 171
Truncating Overlapping Audio Clips......Page 173
Inserting Markers......Page 174
Moving Markers......Page 175
Using Markers with Video......Page 176
Scoring a Marker to the Playhead......Page 177
Replacing the Source Audio in a Clip......Page 179
Making Clip Channel Selections......Page 181
Using the Shortcut Menu to Make a Channel Selection......Page 182
Separating Channels by Option-Dragging......Page 183
Editing Clip and Track Properties......Page 184
Setting Clip and Track Colors......Page 185
Enabling and Disabling Clips......Page 186
Locking Clips......Page 187
Locking Tracks......Page 188
How Selection Type Affects Actions......Page 189
Editing in Place......Page 191
How Source Audio File Editing Works in a Multitrack Project......Page 192
Using the Multitrack Timeline and the File Editor Together......Page 193
Making Changes in the File Editor and Hearing Them in the Timeline......Page 194
Using the File Editor to Add Part of a File to the Timeline......Page 195
Editing with the Timeslice Tool......Page 196
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Timeslices......Page 198
Deleting the Contents of Timeslices......Page 199
Changing the Timeslice Selection Area......Page 200
Using the Lift and Stamp Tools......Page 201
Working with Sound Palette Presets......Page 203
About the File Editor......Page 207
Opening Audio Files in the File Editor Tab......Page 209
Soloing an Audio File in the File Editor......Page 210
Scrubbing Audio Files......Page 211
Selecting All or Parts of an Audio File......Page 212
Adjusting Selections to a Zero Crossing......Page 215
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting in the File Editor......Page 216
Zooming In and Out in the File Editor......Page 218
Editing Audio Files Graphically with Waveform Editing Tools......Page 219
Using the Sample Edit Tool......Page 220
Using the Audio Stretching Tool......Page 221
Using the Zoom Tool......Page 222
Choosing the Sample Units in the File Editor......Page 223
Selecting and Editing Channels in Multichannel Files......Page 224
Creating a New Multichannel Audio File......Page 225
Viewing an Audio File in Frequency Spectrum View......Page 226
Using the Spectrum View HUD......Page 227
Adjusting the Frequency Spectrum View with the Shortcut Menu......Page 228
Editing in Frequency Spectrum View......Page 229
Guidelines for Using the Frequency Selection Tool......Page 230
Applying Actions......Page 231
Turning Actions On and Off......Page 232
Using the Action Insert Bar......Page 233
Flattening Actions......Page 234
Comparing the Last Two Actions......Page 235
Limitations of Actions That Change the File’s Length......Page 236
Overview of Analyzing and Fixing Problems in an Audio File......Page 237
Stage 1: Analyzing an Audio File......Page 238
Stage 2: Viewing and Interpreting the Analysis Results......Page 240
Stage 3: Fixing Analyzed Problems......Page 241
Opening the File Editor Project View......Page 242
Setting the Time Ruler Units in the File Editor Project View......Page 243
Automating Realtime Effects in the File Editor Project View......Page 244
How Files Are Saved in the File Editor Project View......Page 245
Saving Audio File Projects Containing Video......Page 246
Saving Audio Files from the File Editor Project View......Page 247
Using the Timeline Controls in the File Editor Project View......Page 248
Using the Global Waveform View......Page 249
Using Markers in the File Editor Project View......Page 250
Processing Audio Files......Page 251
Choosing Processing Effects......Page 252
Normalize......Page 253
Invert......Page 254
Inserting Noise......Page 255
Inserting a Waveform......Page 256
Time Stretch......Page 257
Set Noise Print......Page 258
Save a Noise Print Preset......Page 259
Reduce Noise......Page 260
Replace With Ambient Noise......Page 262
Convert to Mono......Page 263
Edit Channels......Page 264
Render to Action......Page 266
Applying Processing Effects......Page 267
Working with Effect Presets......Page 269
Audio Effects Included with Soundtrack Pro......Page 270
Dynamics Effects......Page 271
Compressors......Page 272
EQ and Filter Effects......Page 273
Frequency Ranges Used with EQ......Page 274
Parametric EQs......Page 275
Flangers......Page 276
Delay......Page 277
Reverb......Page 278
MultiMeter......Page 279
Miscellaneous Effects......Page 281
Denoiser......Page 282
Working in the Effects Tab......Page 283
Adding Realtime Effects......Page 284
Adjusting Realtime Effect Parameters......Page 286
Chaining and Reordering Realtime Effects......Page 288
Adding Sends to Tracks......Page 290
Adjusting Send Pan Position......Page 291
Automating Realtime Effect Parameters......Page 292
Advanced Settings for Processing Effects......Page 293
Using the Multitake Editor......Page 295
Converting Standard Clips to Multitake Clips......Page 296
Overview of the Multitake Editor......Page 297
Stage 1: Splitting the Takes into Regions Using the Blade Tool......Page 298
Stage 3: Adjusting the Timing and Creating Crossfades......Page 299
Adding and Deleting Takes......Page 300
Reordering Takes......Page 301
Example: A Multitake Editing Workflow......Page 302
Basic Mixing in Soundtrack Pro......Page 305
Structuring an Audio Post-Production Project......Page 306
Setting the Submixes for Tracks and Busses......Page 307
Setting Hardware Outputs......Page 308
Creating Submixes......Page 309
Creating a Stereo Mix......Page 310
Creating a Separate Music and Effects Mix......Page 311
Signal Routing for a Separate Music and Effects Mix in Surround......Page 312
Example: Adding Effects with Sends and Busses......Page 313
Example: Combining Track Signals with Sends and Busses......Page 315
Using the Mixer......Page 316
Using Custom Layouts for Mixing......Page 317
Selecting Channel Strips......Page 318
Setting Channel Strip Volume Levels......Page 319
Setting Channel Strip Pan Position......Page 320
Setting Channel Strip Output......Page 321
Muting and Soloing Channel Strips......Page 322
Changing a Channel Strip Icon......Page 323
Showing and Hiding Sections of the Mixer......Page 324
Using the Channel Strip Level Meters......Page 325
Adding Effects to a Channel Strip......Page 326
Reordering Effects in the Mixer......Page 327
Deleting Effects from a Channel Strip......Page 328
Turning Sends Off and On......Page 329
Setting the Overall Project Volume Level......Page 330
Using the Peaks Value and Location Display in the Meters Tab......Page 331
Listening to a Temporary Mono Mix......Page 332
Creating Multiple Mixes......Page 333
Things to Keep in Mind While Mixing......Page 334
What Is 5.1 Surround?......Page 335
Setting Up Soundtrack Pro for Surround......Page 336
Using the Surround Panners......Page 337
Connecting Physical Outputs......Page 338
Surround Speaker Placement......Page 339
The Surround Panner HUD......Page 341
Surround Metering......Page 345
Meters Tab......Page 346
Mixing Surround Files......Page 347
Converting a Stereo Mix to 5.1 Surround......Page 348
Placing Dialogue and Voiceover in a Surround Mix......Page 350
Using Surround Effect Plug-ins......Page 351
Accommodating Stereo Playback......Page 352
Project Files......Page 353
Working with Video in Soundtrack Pro......Page 355
Adding a Video to a Project......Page 356
Controlling Video Playback Using Keyboard Shortcuts......Page 357
Using Video Output Devices......Page 358
Viewing Video Details......Page 360
Using the Time Display and Time Ruler with Video......Page 361
Opening and Closing the Multipoint Video HUD......Page 362
Dragging a Clip Around the Multitrack Timeline......Page 363
Dragging Markers......Page 364
Removing a Video from a Project......Page 365
Working with Envelopes......Page 367
Default Surround Envelopes......Page 368
Selecting Envelope Points......Page 369
Moving Envelope Points......Page 370
The Timeslice Tool and the Envelope Selection Mode......Page 371
Viewing and Editing Envelope Point Details......Page 372
Nudging Envelope Points......Page 373
Deleting Envelope Points......Page 374
Automating Effect and Send Parameters......Page 375
Recording Automation Data......Page 376
Thinning Envelope Points in Recorded Automation Data......Page 377
Getting Ready to Record......Page 379
Enabling Tracks for Recording......Page 380
Adjusting Recording Settings......Page 381
Multitrack Recording......Page 383
Recording Multiple Takes......Page 384
Recording into the Multitake Editor......Page 385
Recordings Location......Page 386
Recording Audio in the File Editor Project View......Page 387
About Podcasts......Page 389
Podcasting Media Production......Page 390
Displaying the Podcast Track and the Details Tab......Page 391
Podcast Marker Information in the Details Tab......Page 392
Moving Podcast and Chapter Markers......Page 393
Editing Podcast and Chapter Markers......Page 394
Creating Podcast Markers from Final Cut Pro Chapter Markers......Page 395
Setting an Episode Image for an Entire Podcast......Page 396
Using the Image Source Pop-Up Menu......Page 397
Exporting Video Podcasts......Page 399
Exporting Video Podcasts Using Compressor......Page 400
Using Post-Export Actions for Podcast Production......Page 401
Connecting Control Surfaces......Page 403
Adding and Deleting Control Surfaces......Page 404
Premapped Controls......Page 406
Mapping Commands to Control Surface Buttons......Page 407
Recording Control Surface Automation......Page 408
About Soundtrack Pro Audio File Projects......Page 409
Sending Audio Clips from Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack Pro......Page 410
Sending Clips from Final Cut Pro to the Soundtrack Pro File Editor......Page 411
Processing a Clip’s Media File with a Soundtrack Pro Script......Page 413
Opening a Final Cut Pro Clip’s Media File in Soundtrack Pro......Page 415
Sending a Final Cut Pro Sequence or Clip Selection to a Multitrack Project......Page 416
Sending a Mixdown Back to Final Cut Pro Automatically......Page 418
Using Soundtrack Pro with DVD Studio Pro......Page 421
Using Soundtrack Pro with Motion......Page 423
Using Soundtrack Pro with Logic Pro......Page 424
Using OMF and AAF Files......Page 425
Manually Creating Audio File Project and File Links......Page 426
Using Exported Audio Files with Other Applications......Page 427
Exporting Multitrack Projects......Page 429
About Export Options......Page 430
General Export Options......Page 432
About Export Options for AIFF, WAVE, and Other Formats......Page 434
About MP3 Export Options......Page 435
About Options in the Audio Pane for AAC/Podcast Export......Page 436
About Options in the Streaming Pane for AAC/Podcast Export......Page 437
About Options in the Podcast Pane for AAC/Podcast Export......Page 438
About Options in the Audio Pane......Page 439
About Options in the Bitstream Pane......Page 442
About Options in the Preprocessing Pane......Page 443
About Export Options Using Compressor......Page 444
Exporting Part of a Multitrack Project......Page 445
Exporting a Master Mix to a Standard Audio File......Page 446
Exporting as MP3 Files......Page 447
Exporting to AAC/Podcast Files......Page 448
Exporting to Dolby Digital Professional (AC-3) Files......Page 450
Using Compressor Export Presets......Page 452
Exporting Multichannel Projects with Compressor......Page 453
Exporting Tracks, Busses, and Submixes Separately......Page 454
About Exporting Multiple Mono Files......Page 455
Exporting to AAF......Page 456
Using Post-Export Actions......Page 457
Using Export Presets......Page 458
Distributing a Multitrack Project and Its Media Files Together......Page 460
About Soundtrack Pro Conform......Page 463
Conforming a Soundtrack Pro Multitrack Project......Page 464
Filtering Out Unchanged Clips......Page 468
Grouping Clips in the Conform Worklist......Page 469
Approving Changes and Clips......Page 470
Filtering Out Approved Clips......Page 471
Finishing the Conform Process......Page 472
Appendix A: Soundtrack Pro Keyboard Shortcuts......Page 473
Layouts, Tabs, and HUDs......Page 474
Navigating the Timeline......Page 475
Cycle Region......Page 476
Editing Audio Clips in the Timeline......Page 477
Moving Audio Clips and Envelope Points......Page 478
Viewing the Timeline......Page 479
File Editor Project View Tools and Commands......Page 480
Processing and Editing Audio Files......Page 481
Markers......Page 482
Selecting Audio Clips in the Timeline......Page 483
Using Arrow Keys to Move the Playhead......Page 484
Working with Timeslices......Page 485
Fundamentals of a Sound Wave......Page 487
Phase......Page 488
Frequency Spectrum of Sounds......Page 489
Measuring Sound Intensity......Page 491
Decibel Units......Page 492
Headroom and Distortion......Page 493
Dynamic Range and Compression......Page 494
Identifying Two-Channel Mono Recordings......Page 495
Identifying Stereo Recordings......Page 496
Sample Rate......Page 497
Bit Depth......Page 498
FireWire for DV......Page 501
FireWire for Uncompressed Digital Video......Page 502
PCI Express Video Interface Card with Built-in Connectors......Page 503
Video Signals and Connectors......Page 504
S-Video......Page 505
FireWire 400......Page 506
HD-SDI......Page 507
Built-in Audio Interfaces......Page 508
DV FireWire......Page 509
Tips for Selecting a Third-Party Audio Interface......Page 510
FireWire for Digital Audio......Page 511
USB Audio Interfaces......Page 512
PCI Express Audio Interface Card with Breakout Box......Page 513
1/4" Audio Connectors......Page 514
S/PDIF......Page 515
AES/EBU......Page 516
About Microphone, Instrument, and Line Level......Page 517
About Balanced Audio Signals......Page 518
Tips for Choosing Speakers and an Amplifier......Page 519
Self-Powered Versus Passive Speakers......Page 520
Connecting Professional SD Video Devices......Page 521
Connecting Consumer Analog Video Devices......Page 523
Connecting Non-DV Devices to a DV Converter......Page 524
Connecting Consumer Digital Audio Devices......Page 525
Synchronizing Equipment with a Blackburst Generator......Page 526
Setting Up the LTC Source Device......Page 528
Setting Up Soundtrack Pro to Sync to External Timecode......Page 529
Creating and Saving a New Apogee Configuration......Page 531
Specifying Global Parameters in the Apogee Setup Dialog......Page 532
Specifying Units Parameters in the Apogee Setup Dialog......Page 533
General Tab......Page 534
Inputs Tab......Page 535
Outputs Tab......Page 536
Using a Previously Saved Configuration......Page 537
Choosing a Configuration Saved with a Project......Page 538
Solutions to Common Problems......Page 539
Eliminating Recording Latency......Page 540
Contacting AppleCare Support......Page 541