I just managed to record one of my weekend shows using 4.0 (b1117) which was basically adding voicetracks and then mixing down. As a whole the result was very positive, and so here are some comments/questions about the Mix Editor. I can then add bugs/feature requests based on some feedback which I’m happy to do.
Loved the ability to select 3 tracks (Song-VT-Song) and then click the Mix Editor button. Excellent
Zoom using mousewheel - Excellent
Ability to play from position by just clicking timeline bar - Excellent
Able to drag the audio track - good, except if I wanted to start the VT slightly later (after the “fade out” cue, it wouldn’t move the actual VT, but the “Start Next” of the previous track would move but actually did nothing. I had to drag the “Fade Out” cue on the previous track for it stick.
Liked the ability to move/adjust levels whilst playing. Excellent
Would like to see numeric value when I adjust volume on envelope (dB etc). I had to match the start with the end of reduced volume so was reliant on a straightline.
Can we have a Close button on the bottom right. (yes, I can x top right, but close is nicer)
Ctrl-Z for undoing a single mis-adjustment would be nice, rather than just discard changes.
Overall, very positive and fitted in with my workflow very well. When the VT record module is added, it will be extremely powerful.
If any of the above are bugs per se, I’ll be happy to update the bugtracker.
Thanks for you comments, Richard. Being a brand-new feature, I believe there is a lot of potential when it comes to improve the Mix Editor, so I appreciate any suggestions.
Please keep in mind that mAirList’s automation can still not start tracks at arbitrary points in time, but will always rely on the Start Next and Fade Out markers. So the Mix Editor is not a real multitrack-editor, but merely a convenient tool to adjust the available cue markers, and see/hear the results in real time.
In earlier alpha releases, it wasn’t even possible to grab a waveform and move it around - all you could do was move the markers on the previous track. We (the testers and I) felt that this felt wrong, and the user would expect that you actually can drag the waveform itself.
For the moment, dragging a waveform will simply adjust the Start Next marker of the previous track. Alternatively, hold down Shift to adjust Fade Out instead.
I would love to have a more intelligent algorithm, but that needs a bit more consideration.
I found that if the Start Next > Fade Out, then the waveform stayed at the Fade Out position, so I had to drag the Fade Out. Thanks for the Shift-Drag tip.
Torben, it’s an excellent start. Can’t wait for the Voicetrack add-on, really I can’t.
I wasn’t even aware of the volume envelopes until I hovered the mouse over the bottom edge of the tracks - Making the volume splines seemed a bit hit ‘n’ miss and I found it too easy to make multiple nodes. The flexibility of the nodes is great (good ol’ Bass_Slide!) and it’ll take some time to get used to it - I’m used to EncoDAD’s Tracker with has 2 nodes at each end of the track to give you a nice fade-in or to bring the track forward (CueIn). Ducking is achieved by setting the next track as an “Over” element.
That said, the Mix Editor certainly allows for creativity - the only thing I would suggest for future development is some form of “wizard” function that can create/handle the volume nodes without getting into a pickle with lots of volume node points etc. I found the cross-hair pointer very easy to miss!
Maybe start off by using IVP on the Playlist (which inserts the ‘ducking’ Envelope and nodes for you), then adjust manually? Or was that not quite what you meant, Charlie?
I found this too, sometimes trying to adjust a node, I ended up with another node and no way to get rid of it either. Possibly make the squares a little bigger on the theory you wouldn’t want too many node too close together anyhow.
I found this too, sometimes trying to adjust a node, I ended up with another node and no way to get rid of it either. Possibly make the squares a little bigger on the theory you wouldn’t want too many node too close together anyhow.[/quote]
There is a “tolerance” value - currently 2 pixels in either direction, if I remember correctly. I can try to increase it.
I invariably get that wrong and end up ‘distorting’ the shape of the envelope instead; just like I am poor at dragging things into a window FROM an ‘edge.’ I never seem to be able to start dragging at the ‘correct’ place. (And yes, I’m terrible at games that require aiming or precision moves as well.)
As further optional ways to ‘delete’ a point, I would like to be able to:
a) right-click and Delete (as a context menu item), OR
b) left-click and press Delete (the keyboard key!).
