Using VocalSync

Typical workflow

To specify the guide track

To specify the dub audio

To open the VocalSync editor

To adjust the alignment strength

To adjust the noise filter strength

To choose render algorithms for an individual VocalSync clip

To specify default render modes for new VocalSync clips

VocalSync Region FX clip restrictions

Typical workflow

Before the alignment process can begin, you must specify the guide track, and the dub audio must be converted to a VocalSync Region FX clip.

1.	Determine which audio track you want to use as the timing guide track. To specify the guide track, do one of the following:

Right-click the desired guide track and select Set as Default VocalSync Guide Track on the pop-up menu.

In the VocalSync editor, select the desired guide track in the <Select Guide> drop-down list.

Note: For best results, it is a requirement that the guide track and dub track are already time aligned as closely as possible. You cannot have an arbitrary selection for the guide track.

2.	Select an audio region or clip you wish to process with VocalSync. To select a region on the timeline, use the Smart tool or Select tool and drag across the bottom part of the clip(s). To select an entire clip, simply click the clip. For details, see Selecting clips.

3.	In the Track view, click the Region FX menu, point to VocalSync, then select Create Region FX.

The selected audio region is converted to a Region FX clip, and VocalSync makes an initial attempt at aligning the dub with the guide track. The VocalSync editor appears next to the clip. If you close the VocalSync editor, you can open it again using one of the following methods:

Double-click the VocalSync Region FX clip.

Right-click the VocalSync Region FX clip, and select Region FX > VocalSync > Open Editor.

Click the Region FX clip icon, and select Open Editor on the pop-up menu.

The guide track audio waveform is shown superimposed over the bottom part of the VocalSync clip while the VocalSync editor is open. This serves as a reference when you adjust the alignment strength.

If you do not want to see the hybrid dub/guide waveform, click the Track view View menu, point to Display, then clear the Display VocalSync Hybrid Clips option. Regardless of the Display VocalSync Hybrid Clips setting, hybrid waveforms are always shown when the VocalSync editor is open.

 

Note: Depending on the duration of the dub audio, the initial analysis can take a couple of seconds, after which real-time adjustment of the Guide Strength control is possible.

4.	In the VocalSync editor, adjust the Guide Strength control until you achieve the desired alignment.

As you adjust the Guide Strength control, VocalSync applies varying amounts of time stretching or compression to the dub audio. The dub audio waveform in the top part of the clip moves in relation to the guide track waveform to represent the stretch changes.

5.	When you are happy with the results, click the Render button to commit the stretching to a new audio clip using the high-quality offline render mode.

Figure 480. VocalSync.

A. VocalSync editor B. Dub C. Guide track reference waveform

To specify the guide track

To specify the timing guide track, do one of the following:

Right-click the desired guide track and select Set as Default VocalSync Guide Track on the pop-up menu.

In the VocalSync editor, select the desired guide track in the <Select Guide> drop-down list.

Note: The Set as Default VocalSync Guide Track command specifies the default guide track. However, you can assign the guide track for each individual VocalSync clip in the VocalSync editor.

Note: For best results, it is a requirement that the guide track and dub track are already time aligned as closely as possible. You cannot have an arbitrary selection for the guide track.

To specify the dub audio

1.	Select an audio region or clip you wish to align to the guide track. To select a region on the timeline, use the Smart tool or Select tool and drag across the bottom part of the clip(s). To select an entire clip, simply click the clip. For details, see Selecting clips.

2.	Do one of the following:

In the Track view, click the Region FX menu, point to VocalSync, then select Create Region FX.

Press SHIFT+V.

The selected audio is converted to a new VocalSync Region FX clip, and the VocalSync editor appears next to the clip.

To open the VocalSync editor

To open the VocalSync editor, do one of the following:

Double-click the VocalSync Region FX clip.

Right-click the VocalSync Region FX clip, and select Region FX > VocalSync > Open Editor.

Click the Region FX clip icon, and select Open Editor on the pop-up menu.

The VocalSync editor appears next to the clip.

To adjust the alignment strength

1.	Double-click the VocalSync clip to open the VocalSync editor.

The guide track audio waveform is shown superimposed over the bottom part of the Region FX clip while the VocalSync editor is open.

2.	Adjust the Guide Strength control until you achieve the desired alignment. For fine resolution, hold down the SHIFT key as you adjust the control.

As you adjust the Guide Strength control, VocalSync applies varying amounts of time stretching or compression to the dub audio. The dub audio waveform in the top part of the clip moves in relation to the guide track waveform to represent the stretch changes.

Tip: To see how audio transients are stretched or compressed, change the track’s Edit Filter to Audio Transients. Red segments are compressed, blue segments are stretched, and black segments are unprocessed.

Figure 481. The VocalSync Region FX clip shows both the dub audio waveform and the guide track waveform.

A. VocalSync editor B. Dub C. Guide track reference waveform

To adjust the noise filter strength

You can control onset detection with noisy or sporadic audio material. This may be helpful if your dub or guide track has room noise and/or if the material was recorded in such a way that there is empty space between audio material (i.e. vocal stabs a few measures apart).

1.	Double-click the VocalSync clip to open the VocalSync editor.

2.	Click the NF button to show the Noise Filter Strength knob.

3.	Adjust the Noise Filter Strength knob. This is not an audio noise gate, rather it controls the number of onsets detected in a clip. Typically lower adjustments give better results.

When you release the Noise Filter Strength knob, SONAR will automatically reanalyze the VocalSync region based on the current Noise Filter Strength setting.

4.	To return to the Guide Strength knob, click the NF button again.

5.	Adjust the Guide Strength knob as desired.

Figure 482. VocalSync editor.

A. Show/hide Noise Filter Strength control B. Guide Strength (blue LED) C. Noise Filter Strength (red LED) 

To choose render algorithms for an individual VocalSync clip

1.	Select the VocalSync clip or clips you want to edit.

2.	Press SHIFT+I to open the Clip Properties Inspector. The Clip Properties Inspector displays settings for the currently selected clip(s).

3.	In the Clip Properties Inspector, click the AudioSnap section’s header bar.

The AudioSnap section displays the current online and offline render modes of the selected clip. If you select multiple clips that have different render modes, the Online Render and Offline Render lists display (Multi).

4.	Select the desired Online Render or Offline Render mode. The options are as follows:

Online Render. This choice determines what stretch algorithm is used during real-time playback. For more information about render modes, see Algorithms and rendering. The options are as follows:

Default. This mode uses the default Groove Clip algorithm (the same algorithm used for stretching Groove Clip files). For information about specifying the default online render mode, see To specify default render modes for new VocalSync clips.

Groove clip. This mode works best with sustained vocal sounds, is faster than Percussion render mode, and uses less processing power.

Percussion. This mode can work better than the Groove Clip render mode for percussive vocals.

Note: The Online render mode is for preview purposes only during playback. The final audio quality will be greatly improved after the Offline render mode is applied during mixdown/export.

Offline Render. This drop-down menu lets you choose the algorithm that is used when you export or freeze VocalSync audio. Although the default Radius Solo (Vocal) algorithm is ideal for most voices, it’s worth experimenting with different algorithms to find what works best with your voice. The options are as follows:

Default. This uses Radius Solo (Vocal). For information about specifying the default offline render mode, see To specify default render modes for new VocalSync clips

Radius Mix. Best for clips containing polyphonic, stereo data (although this type of source material isn’t commonly used with VocalSync).

Radius Mix Advanced. Similar to Radius Mix, but exposes a Smoothing slider that adjust how much detail to preserve.

Radius Solo. Better for clips containing monophonic, solo instruments.

Radius Solo (Bass). Better for clips containing solo bass instruments, but can also be a good choice for low voices.

Radius Solo (Vocal). Usually best for clips containing solo vocals in normal singing ranges.

Same as Online. Uses the same choice as the Online field.

To specify default render modes for new VocalSync clips

By default, VocalSync clips inherit the default online and offline render modes as defined in Aud.ini. To specify the default render modes:

1.	Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Configuration File.

2.	Under Configuration Settings, click Edit Config File.

The Aud.ini file opens in the default Windows text editor.

3.	In Aud.ini, add a new entry called DefaultVocalSyncOfflineStretchMethod or DefaultVocalSyncOnlineStretchMethod and set its value to 7. For example:

[Aud]

DefaultVocalSyncOfflineStretchMethod=7

Valid values are as follows:

1 = Groove Clip Stretching (this is the default online render mode)

2 = iZotope Radius Low Quality (faster - currently not used)

3 = iZotope Radius Normal Mix Quality

4 = iZotope Radius for Solo Material

5 = ReCycle-style

6 = iZotope Radius for Solo Material for bass

7 = iZotope Radius for Solo Material for vocals and higher-pitched material (this is the default offline render mode)

8 = Indicates that offline mode should match the online mode

9 = iZotope Radius Mix Advanced

Note: It is not recommended to set the online method to the expensive types since it may cause glitches.

4.	Save Aud.ini and close the Windows text editor.

5.	Click Reload Config Settings to reload the current audio configuration settings from Aud.ini.

Note: Changing the default render modes will only affect new VocalSync clips. Existing VocalSync clips will retain whatever the default modes were when the VocalSync clips were originally created. To apply new default render modes to existing VocalSync clips, first remove the Region FX, then create the VocalSync Region FX again, then render the clips. Alternatively, assign the desired render modes for selected VocalSync clips directly from the Clip Properties Inspector. For details, see To choose render algorithms for an individual VocalSync clip.

VocalSync Region FX clip restrictions

The following editing functions are disabled for VocalSync Region FX clips:

Clip automation.

Copy/paste for a time selection that contains a Region FX.

Split clip.

Slip-stretch.

Groove Clip looping.

AudioSnap.

 

See:

VocalSync editor

VocalSync automatic audio alignment (Platinum only)

Using Region FX

ARA Audio Random Access

Melodyne (Platinum and Professional only)

Drum Replacer (Platinum only)