VcALign PRO 4 (AAX) Fr Pr Tls 11 Cmpatible with Apple Macintsh and Micrsft Windws systems User s Manual Manual Versin 6.1 1
Synchr Arts Limited 1995-2013 VcALign is a registered trademark f Synchr Arts Limited. Pr Tls and Digidesign are registered trademarks f Avid Technlgy, Inc. All ther trademarks are the prperty f their respective hlders. Cntact Infrmatin Synchr Arts Limited 13 Links Rad, Epsm Surrey KT17 3PP, UK Tel: +44 1372 811934 UK Tel: 01372 811934 Web: www.synchrarts.cm E-mail: inf@synchrarts.cm Online Supprt at: www.synchrarts.cm/supprt supprt@synchrarts.cm 2
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AGREEMENT CAREFULLY PRIOR TO USING THE VOCALIGN SOFTWARE PROVIDED WITH THIS AGREEMENT. USE OF THE SOFTWARE CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARE. IF YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE SOFTWARE, RETURN IT TO THE RETAILER FOR A REFUND OR CREDIT. If yu cannt btain a refund there, cntact Synchr Arts Limited fr infrmatin abut their refund plicies. THESE TERMS ALSO APPLY TO ANY SYNCHRO ARTS UPDATES AND UPGRADES FOR THIS SOFTWARE UNLESS OTHER TERMS ACCOMPANY THOSE UPDATES OR UPGRADES. 1. License. The VOCALIGN plug-in, VOCALIGN CONTENT and ther SYNCHRO ARTS LIMITED sftware, vide and audi accmpanying this License, whether n disk, in memry r n any ther media (the "Sftware") and related dcumentatin are licensed t yu by Synchr Arts Limited. Yu may use the Sftware n a single cmputer at a time. If yu wn a license yu can als install and use the licensed sftware n secndary cmputers. Hwever, yu may nt run the sftware simultaneusly n bth the primary and secndary cmputers. Yu may als transfer all yur license rights in the Sftware and related dcumentatin and a cpy f this License t anther party, prvided the ther party reads and agrees t accept the terms and cnditins f this License. 2. Cpy and use restrictins. Yu are nt allwed t distribute cpies f the Sftware r the dcumentatin. This Sftware is prtected by applicable cpyright laws. It is illegal t give cpies t anther persn, r t duplicate the Sftware by any ther means, including electrnic transmissin. The Sftware cntains trade secrets and in rder t prtect them yu may nt decmpile, reverse engineer, disassemble r therwise reduce the sftware t human-perceivable frm. Yu may nt mdify, adapt, translate, rent, lease r create derivative wrks based upn the Sftware r any part theref. Yu acknwledge that n title t the intellectual prperty in the Sftware is transferred t yu and that title and full wnership rights t the Sftware will remain the exclusive prperty f Synchr Arts Limited r its suppliers and licensrs. 3. Terminatin. This License is effective until terminated. This License will terminate immediately withut ntice frm Synchr Arts Limited if yu fail t cmply with any prvisin f this License. 4. N Extra Warranties. SYNCHRO ARTS LIMITED GRANTS NO EXTRA WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE, REGARDING THE PROGRAM AND RELATED MATERIALS, THEIR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE, THEIR QUALITY, THEIR MERCHANTABILITY OR OTHERWISE. 5. Severability. In the event any prvisin f this Agreement is determined t be invalid r unenfrceable, it shall be adjusted s as t best reflect the intent f the parties t the maximum extent pssible, and the remainder f this agreement shall be valid and enfrceable t the maximum extent pssible. 6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the entire understanding between the parties with respect t the subject matter heref and replaces any previus discussin and/r agreement regarding such subject matter. N amendment t r mdificatin f this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by Synchr Arts Limited. 7. Gverning Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enfrced in accrdance with English law and the English curts shall have jurisdictin t determine any dispute. Part f VcALign is develped and sld under license frm Wrdfit Limited. 3
Table f Cntents. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT.. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. A) IMPORTANT NOTES... 5 B) INTRODUCTION TO VOCALIGN... 6 C) APPLICATIONS... 8 D) AUTHORIZATION AND DE-AUTHORIZATION... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. E) WHAT IS NEW IN VOCALIGN PRO?... 12 F) OVERVIEW OF OPERATION... 13 G) BASIC OPERATION... 15 H) DETAILED OPERATION... 18 I) USE OF PREVIEW SYSTEM... 22 J) USE OF SYNC POINTS AND PROTECTED REGIONS... 24 K) PROTECTED DUB SECTIONS... 26 L) USE OF ALIGNMENT SETTINGS... 27 M) USE OF PATH LOCK... 29 N) PROCESSING MULTI-CHANNEL DUB SIGNALS... 30 O) ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES... 31 P) FOREIGN DIALOGUE SYNCHRONIZATION... 35 Q) SPECIAL OPERATIONS... 37 R) TROUBLE SHOOTING... 38 4
A) Imprtant Ntes In this manual, "VcALign PRO Audi Suite Plug-In fr the Digidesign Pr Tls System" will be referred t simply as "VcALign PRO". This prgram is cmpatible with Pr Tls 11 (r higher) sftware (an AVID prduct). VcALign PRO prcesses audi with sample rates up t 192 khz. Acknwledgements Special thanks g t the Digidesign and AVID staff fr their cntinued supprt. Thanks t Steve Cke fr prviding the English vices in the demnstratin audi. VcALign is develped and sld under license frm Wrdfit Limited. 5
B) Intrductin t VcALign What is VcALign? VcALign is a prcess that lets audi editrs make the timing f ne audi signal autmatically match the timing f anther audi signal. T use VcALign PRO effectively, the audi editr shuld understand the basic cmpnents f the prcessing. Hw des VcALign wrk? VcALign wrks by applying varying amunts f time stretching r cmpressin t ne signal (called the "Dub") t make its energy peaks and trughs align in time with thse f a Guide signal. It des this in 3 main steps. VcALign Blck Diagram Guide Audi Dub Audi SPECTRUM ANALYSIS SPECTRUM ANALYSIS TIME ALIGNMENT ALGORITHM (Basic r Advanced) Time- Warping PATH AUDIO EDITING (Time r Frequency Basis) Time- Aligned Dub Audi 1. VcALign analyzes the Guide and Dub audi signals using identical Spectrum Analyzers t prduce time-varying energy patterns. 2. Then it uses advanced pattern recgnitin techniques t examine the energy patterns and determine the best way t warp time t align the Dub energy t the Guide energy. In VcALign PRO, There are tw main prcesses r algrithms available t d this: A Basic and an Advanced.algrithm. The Time-Warping Path describes the best time-distrtin f the Dub fr matching t the Guide. It is imprtant t remember this. 3. The Path is fed t an Audi Editing prcessr that time-cmpresses and expands the Dub audi t create the aligned versin based n the Path. It is this edited versin f the Dub that is put back int the audi editing sftware fr the desired use. In VcALign PRO, the editing can be perfrmed either n a time r frequency basis. In the abve diagram, the audi signal names are clured t match thse in the VcALign PRO screen. 6
Hw can VcALign help? If yu are a dialgue editr needing t lip-sync vcals, r a music editr needing t tighten-up lead r backing vcals, instrumental tracks, r a number f ther alignment tasks, then VcALign is fr yu! Cnsider the fllwing examples: Wrking withut VcALign: A dubbing sessin, fr film pst prductin, r music prductin, begins with a guide track. Then the vice-ver artist, singer, r musician will dub this as clsely as pssible. Because humans are nt machines, they will nt be able t get exactly in time with the Guide. This is generally nt acceptable fr lip-syncing, nr fr duble-tracking f vcals r instruments. Often, the next step is t lp-recrd the mre tricky sectins individually, but this can break-up the natural flw f the line. Lastly, the editr will use a digital audi editr t cut and nudge individual sectins f the new recrdings int time with the Guide. The abve prcess can take many hurs fr bth the artist and the editr. Wrking with VcALign: The abve prcess becmes a simple matter f getting the artist t cncentrate n creating a great perfrmance, and nt wrry abut the fact that it may drift in and ut f exact sync with a previus perfrmance. VcALign can then be used t adjust the timing by autmatically applying the required amunt f varying time-stretching and cmpressin t allw the Dub t take n the same timing as the Guide. This saves studi time, saves artists time and imprves the quality f yur results. Mst imprtantly, yu allw yur artists t prduce their best perfrmances, free frm the rigidity nrmally assciated with dubbing. What s new in VcALign PRO? Almst everything! Please g t Chapter E fr a detailed descriptin. 7
C) Applicatins VcALign was riginally designed fr Lip Syncing replacement dialgue fr Film and Vide pst-prductin but it has been adapted t wrk successfully in all f the fllwing applicatins: Syncing replacement dialgue in Pst Prductin fr Film and Vide. Duble-tracking vcal parts r instrumental parts Tightening backing singers with ne anther, r with the lead vcal Tightening backing instrumental tracks Syncing a drum machine audi-utput t a real drummer (r vice versa) Giving a dubbed vcal the timing f a live vcal perfrmance, Changing the vice r even sex f a singer r actr s perfrmance. Replacing the vcals in a music vide sht with a prductin track, achieving perfect lipsync. Freign Language Dubbing 8
D) Installatin and Authrizatin System Requirements VcALign PRO 4 AAX plug-ins will run with Mac and Windws OS systems that supprt Pr Tls 11. It is authrized by an ilk License (see belw). Sftware Installatin If yu have nt already dne s, dwnlad VcALign PRO 4 plug-ins frm www.synchrarts.cm/dwnlads and install it by fllwing the instructin n the website. Trial and Full Licenses VcALign PRO can run in a Trial Mde but it will require an ilk Trial license which yu can btain frm the Synchr Arts website. Once yu have btained and installed the Trial license as described belw, VcALign PRO will run in a fully functinal demnstratin mde fr the number f days stated in the infrmatin yu receive with it. VcALign PRO licenses will authrize bth Mac and Windws versins. If yu already have a VcALign PRO license installed n an ilk Smart Key that is plugged int the cmputer running VcALign PRO, yu can skip the rest f this sectin n authrizatin. 9
Sftware authrizatin summary VcALign PRO uses the ilk system described n www.ilk.cm fr authrizatin. IMPORTANT: Befre yu can run VcALign PRO, yu must d all f the fllwing (if yu haven't already dne s) 1. Obtain an ilk USB "smart Key" (pictured belw) frm ilk.cm r yur pr-audi dealer. 2. Create an accunt n www.ilk.cm 3. G t www.ilk.cm, dwnlad and install the new ilk License Manager n yur cmputer. 4. Plug yur ilk Smart Key int a USB prt n yur cmputer 5. Run the ilk License Manager and sign in 6. If yu have a License in yur ilk.cm accunt, the License Manger will display it and let yu drag it t yur ilk smart key. 7. If yu dn't have a License but instead have received an ilk Activatin Cde in the frm: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX (where X's are numbers) nte that this cde is NOT a licence but an Activatin Cde that yu can redeem in the ilk License Manager t btain yur licence. T redeem an Activatin Cde: Open the 'Redeem Activatin Cde' windw in the ilk License Manager. Enter yur Activatin Cde as instructed. If the cde is recgnized, yu will get a VcALign PRO License in the ilk Manager Drag the License t yur ilk Smart Key. 10
Hw t authrize VcALign sftware with yur ilk Key ilk Keys can hld licenses fr a number f prtected sftware prducts. Yu can have licenses frm Synchr Arts and ther sftware vendrs n the same ilk. If yu fllwed the abve prcedures crrectly, and the ilk Key with the relevant license is inserted in the cmputer running VcALign PRO, it shuld run in an authrized mde by simply launching VcALign PRO. Reauthrizing VcALign PRO if ilk is remved If yu subsequently try t run VcALign PRO withut the ilk inserted int yur cmputer yu will receive a warning message. Fllw the instructins in the warning t reauthrize the sftware. WARNING: D nt remve the ilk frm yur cmputer while yu are using VcALign PRO. If the ilk is remved, VcALign PRO will put up a message asking yu t reinsert yur ilk Key. If yu d nt re-insert the key, the prgram will utput silence and als warn yu that it is nt licensed. ilk Supprt Fr further infrmatin n ilk, g t www.ilk.cm. 11
E) What is new in VcALign PRO? Since 1995, VcALign has been used regularly n majr feature films and TV shws and ppular music recrdings. After years f research and develpment, VcALign PRO has been created, which cntains a hst f new features and imprvements ver previus versins. New Features and Functins Increased alignment accuracy:- achieved with a new and mre sphisticated pattern recgnitin algrithm. User settable Sync Pints:- targets audi alignment at specified pairs f pints in the tw signals. Prtected signal blcks:- user can mark sectins f the Replacement (Dub) signal t nt be time-cmpressed r expanded during alignment. Cmprehensive audi preview ptins in VcALign: - allws listening t sectins r the whle signal(s) befre and after alignment, individually r tgether. Ability t re-use an alignment path:- n anther Dub signal. (Can be used fr multitrack micrphne recrdings - e.g. simultaneus clse and distant mikes) New imprved TimeMd (time cmpressin/expansin): - ptimised fr single- pitch signals but maintaining the ptin t use an alternative TimeMd algrithm fr mre cmplex signals. Lnger maximum signal length:- Nw up t 5 minutes (previusly 2 minutes) ilk authrizatin:- prvides easy and secure license administratin. Benefits f VcALign PRO Audi editrs nw have mre cntrl ver any required audi alignment editing. Users can target the alignment f the replacement signal (Dub) t the Guide where it is required, by using the new Sync Pints feature and can keep sectins f the Dub frm being edited by specifying Prtected areas. These features will be invaluable fr certain types f nisy r reverberant Guide signals and especially useful fr freign dialgue replacement. In additin, new Preview Cntrls allw much mre detailed examinatin f parts r all f the tw signals, tgether r separately, bth befre r after alignment t cnfirm the quality f editing and alignment. The ther features such as imprved verall quality f autmatic alignment and micr-editing will save the user even mre time and effrt. 12
F) Overview f Operatin 1. Tutrial T learn t use the basic functins f VcALign PRO nly takes a few minutes, but fr getting the best results we strngly recmmend that yu first try VcALign PRO n the "VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" Sessin. The "VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" sessin can be fund in the "Tutrial" flder n the install CD (if yu have ne), r can be dwnladed frm: www.synchrarts.cm/dwnlads Nte - it is recmmended that yu DO NOT "Save" ver the Pr Tls' "VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" sessin when exiting Pr Tls, s it can be used again. Instead, yu might wish t make a cpy fr yur wn cntinued use. 2. Starting VcALign PRO With Pr Tls running, select the VcALign PRO Plug-in frm the AudiSuite menu in Pr Tls. (It might be lcated in the Other AudiSuite submenu). 3. The Basic Steps and Optins Open the VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" sessin in Pr Tls. (Alternatively have yur wn suitable sessin laded.) 13
The basic 3 step peratin f VcALign PRO is simple: 1) Select and capture the Guide audi and then select and capture the Dub audi. 2) Align the Dub energy t the Guide and Prcess the audi t create an Aligned Dub. 3) Send the Aligned Dub back t the desired track in Pr Tls. Additinal ptins in VcALign PRO allw yu t preview the audi signals and als adjust r cntrl the alignment and editing prcesses. The Preview cntrls let yu: a) Adjust the selectin f Guide, Aligned r Dub audi yu wish t hear b) Select if yu preview just the selectin(s) r the whle signal. c) Select which ne r pairs f signals yu preview. The Alignment and Editing cntrls let yu: a) Adjust the start and r end f the selected audi regins; b) Select the Basic r Advanced Alignment algrithm and its settings; These ptins are discussed in detail belw. 4. An explanatin f Basic versus Advanced Alignment mdes The Alignment switch ffers a chice between Advanced and Basic.mdes. Basic Alignment - prvides the user with the alignment algrithm used in all previus versins f VcALign. This algrithm is smewhat faster than the Advanced ne and will generally be successful at alignment when the energy patterns f the Dub and Guide are nt t dissimilar in timing r energy patterns. When Basic Alignment is used with Editing Basis set t Time, then VcALign Pr is implementing the same prcessing used in prir versins f VcALign. Advanced Alignment prvides the user with an additinal set f tls t cntrl a number f details f the Advanced alignment prcess. The Advanced Alignment algrithm: 1) Users a mre sphisticated pattern recgnitin system 2) Can prtect user-selected parts f the Dub that shuld nt be time-mdified; 3) Can be influenced by user-selected Sync Pint targets. The use f these will be discussed in further detail belw. 14
G) Basic Operatin 1. List f Screen Cntents and Cntrls 1) Guide Windw Selectr: Click this t select Guide as next input frm Pr Tls. 2) Dub Windw Selectr: Click this t select Dub as next input frm Pr Tls. 3) Scrll Bar Use slider t mve wavefrm psitin in windw in cnjunctin with cntrls in 16. 4) Align Buttn: Click this t generate the Aligned audi energy trace in Guide Windw (des nt create aligned audi). 5) Prcess: Click t generate Aligned audi. 6) Preview n/ff: Click t auditin the audi selected by the Preview Cntrl (7). 7) Preview Cntrl: Select signals and extent f signals being previewed. 8) Capture: Click this t transfer the audi selected in Pr Tls t the Guide r Dub windws. 9) Alignment Algrithm Mde: Select Advanced r Basic mde. 10) VcALign Settings: Cntrls the characteristics f the alignment prcssing. 11) Path Lck: Allws the current Time Warping Path t be applied t additinal Dub signals. 12) Spt: If nt created, creates the Aligned audi and sends it t Pr Tls int the selected Destinatin Track in sync with the Guide audi. 13) Infrmatin Windw: Tips, Warnings and Errr messages are displayed here. 14) Editing Basis: Click t chse between Time and Frequency basis fr nn-linear Time cmpressin and expansin. 15) Help: Click t access the Manual. 15
16) Wavefrm display scaling and scrlling: Click t adjust the audi energy displays. a. Mve wavefrm left and right with the < and > buttns b. Zm in and ut with the + and buttns 17) Dub Preview Selectin Bar: Click in this area t insert a Preview Selectin cntrl. 18) Dub Prtectin Bar: Click in this area t insert a Prtected Dub area. 19) Energy Display Range: Click + r t scale range up r dwn. 20) Signal Start and End markers: Can be dragged t limit prcessing fr bth Guide and Dub. 21) Dub Energy: A prfile f the energy f the Dub signal in time 22) Sync Pints Bar: Click in this area t insert a pair f Sync Pints. 23) Guide Preview Selectin Bar: Click in this area t insert a Preview Selectin cntrl. 24) Aligned Audi Trace: A representatin f the energy f the new Aligned signal. 25) Guide Energy: A prfile f the energy f the Guide signal in time 26) Destinatin Track: Selects int which Pr Tls track the Aligned audi will be placed when Spt is pressed. It is advised that yu always select a destinatin track. (See Special Operatins later in this Guide.) 27) Use In Playlist switch: It is advised that yu always select this ptin. 28) Mn/Stere Dub: Selects hw multiple Dub tracks are prcessed. 2. Quick peratin in Basic Alignment mde The fllwing peratins are suitable fr first-time users f VcALign, but the advanced features are nt emplyed. Experienced users can skip t the fllwing Chapter. 1. Select the VcALign PRO Plug-in frm the AudiSuite menu in Pr Tls. 2. Make sure use in playlist and Stere Dub are selected in the VcALign PRO windw. 3. Select the Guide audi in Pr Tls (e.g. Steve Guide 2 in the "VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" example sessin) 4. In VcALign PRO, click the Guide buttn r within the Guide Windw and then press Capture. The Guide audi energy prfile will appear in the Guide Windw. 5. Select the Dub audi in yur audi editr (Twit-Dub in the example Sessin) 6. In VcALign PRO, select the Dub buttn and click Capture. The Dub audi energy prfile will appear in the Dub Windw. 7. Fr nw, select Basic under Alignment and Time under Editing. 8. Make sure Nrmal Flexibility appears in the Settings display. If it desn't, click n Settings and use the pp us Settings Menu t select it. 9. Click Align t generate a yellw Aligned Dub trace in the Guide Windw that lets yu visually check alignment. 10. Select a destinatin track fr the Aligned audi. (e.g. select Audi 3 fr the "VcALign Tutrial PT" Sessin. 11. Optinally yu can nw skip t (12) r if yu wish t auditin the Guide and Aligned signals in VcALign - click n Prcess t generate the Aligned wavefrm, click n GA and All in the Preview Cntrl, and click Preview t start and stp playback. 16
12. Click Spt. The Aligned audi, if it hasn t been created will be generated, and will be sent t the selected destinatin track in Pr Tls. 13. In Pr Tls, play the Guide and the new Aligned audi regins with the Dub track muted. The Aligned audi shuld have its timing crrected t match the Guide. Nte the abve basic steps d nt utilise the new features in VcALign PRO. This is cvered in the next sectins. REMINDER - DO NOT Save the "VcALign PRO Tutrial PT" sessin ver the riginal Tutrial sessin when exiting Pr Tls, s it can be used again. 3. Editing Basis VcALign PRO ffers tw methds f editing the Dub audi. The differences are highlighted in the table belw. Editing Basis Optimum Signal Requirements Advantages Speed f Editing Frequency Audi cntains nly a single pitch. (e.g. ne vice r ne single pitched instrument) Gd fr reducing editing artefacts in transients and rapid pitch changes when expanding. Slwer Time Audi can be single viced r cntain cmplex signals. Gd fr cmpressin and maintaining musical beat. Fastest 17
H) Detailed Operatin In this sectin, we describe the main peratinal steps in detail with reference t the VcALign PRO windw shwn belw and in additinal figures fllwing in use with the Tutrial Audi. The VcALign PRO Windw Sets Destinatin in Pr Tls fr Aligned Audi Make sure this is selected Selects Guide fr Guide Windw Selects Dub fr Capture Dub Windw Selects audi fr Preview Align Dub t Guide Energy nly Access t Help Create aligned Dub Turn audi Preview n r ff Captures Guide r Dub Sends Aligned audi t Pr Tls Selects and displays alignment setting Infrmatin windw fr Tips, warnings and errrs Selects TimeMd Editing Basis 1. Nrmal Operatin: 1) In Pr Tls, pen a sessin in which there is "Guide" (riginal) audi cntained in a single Pr Tls Regin n ne track and a "Dub" (replacement r new) audi in a secnd track. Ensure that at least a third track is available and visible in Pr Tls t receive the prcessed. The VcALign PRO Tutrial Sessin is used fr the fllwing explanatin. 2) Highlight the desired prtin f the Guide audi regin fr prcessing. This can be any given regin r multiple regins. Yur selectin can begin and end in the middle f a regin. 18
TIP: Try t capture up t arund 0.25 t 0.5 secnds f backgrund r leader audi at the beginning f yur Guide audi selectin. (This will assist the prcess t set the nise flr levels and generally allw better alignment at the start f the signal). Nte: In the current versin f VcALign PRO, the selected audi must be shrter than 5 minutes (300 secnds) and lnger than 0.25 secnds. 3) Select VcALign PRO frm the AudiSuite menu in Pr Tls. 4) In VcALign PRO Click n the Guide buttn r windw, and then click the Capture buttn. The selected audi will be analysed and the energy prfile is displayed in blue in the VcALign PRO Guide windw. (See figure belw.) The grey vertical lines indicate the start and end f the energy. 5) Using the Selectr Tl in Pr Tls, highlight the desired prtin f the Replacement audi regin r Dub fr prcessing. Again, this can be any given regin r multiple regins. Yur selectin can begin and end in the middle f a regin. NOTE: The Dub des nt have t start at the same time f the Guide. In ther wrds, the timecde psitin f the Dub is nt used. The Guide's timecde is imprtant and s is the amunt f backgrund captured befre the Guide and the Dub. TIP: Try t capture as much r very slightly mre backgrund audi befre the Dub signal starts than yu did fr the Guide. 6) In VcALign PRO, click n the Dub buttn r panel, and click the Capture buttn. The selected audi will be analysed and the energy prfile is displayed in range in the VcALign PRO DUB windw (see figure belw). The grey vertical line(s) indicate the start (and end) f the energy..examine the resulting nn-prcessed alignment shwn in the energy prfiles. 19
7) The user can ptinally perfrm several peratins n the audi wavefrm itself befre prcessing:- a) The start and end bundary f the selected regins can be mdified by psitining the cursr (arrw) n the grey lines at either end f the audi selectins, hlding dwn the muse and dragging the dtted line that appears. Where the wavefrm turns grey indicates unselected audi energy. Releasing the muse will leave the bundary indicatr in place. b) Clicking at the bundary and dragging will leave a dtted line in place at the previus bundary and create a secnd line t shw the new cursr psitin. Mving the cursr by dragging will allw a new bundary psitin t indicate a new energy start pint. This is shwn abve. This peratin affects the prcessing. c) The display can be scrlled with the scrll bars t examine the captured wavefrms. d) The Hrizntal Scale + and - buttns can be used t zm in r ut f the wavefrm t see mre (+) r less (-) detail in the display windws at ne time. e) The Dub wavefrm can be slid alng t the right r left fr inspectin by clicking in the energy displayed and dragging in the desired directin. This des nt affect the prcessing. f) Chse an apprpriate setting (e.g. if the Dub is very lng cmpared t the Guide, try "Maximum Cmpressin", setting number 1.) 8) The fllwing Alignment and Editing settings can be tried first, but further infrmatin n these features will be given in fllwing chapters. Alignment Mde: Setting: Editing: Advanced Nrmal Flexibility Time 9) Click Align and visually inspect the results in the Guide windw. The peaks and trughs f the yellw (Aligned Dub) energy trace shuld line up generally with thse f the Guide as in the figure belw. Nte the Align buttn will grey ut indicating that it cannt be pressed again. Hwever, nce any change is made t the signals r settings that require a new alignment, the Alignment trace will disappear frm the Guide windw, and the Align buttn will revert t it s riginal state allwing the user t press it when required. 20
10) When the alignment lks satisfactry, the user can generate the Aligned Audi by pressing Prcess. This creates the Aligned audi int a file n the disk and the Prcess buttn will als grey ut indicating the user cannt press it again until changes are made t the settings r signals. 11) T hear the Prcessed audi fr this example, select All and GA in the Preview Cntrl, and click the Preview buttn t hear the Guide and Aligned signals tgether. Select A t hear the Aligned audi n its wn. 12) If the alignment is satisfactry, select a destinatin track (e.g. Aligned in this example) and click Spt t send the Aligned audi autmatically t the crrect time psitin and destinatin track in Pr Tls. 13) If the alignment des nt lk r sund satisfactry, there are several ptins: a) Select anther Setting r Alignment mde (which will clear the aligned trace and reset the Align and Prcess buttns), click Align again, and examine the results. b) Adjust the "leader" audi befre the start f the Guide and Dub t be rughly equivalent with the Dub "leader" being smewhat lnger. c) Insert Sync Pints at pints f misalignment (see sectin J). d) Reselect and recapture the Guide r Dub audi in Pr Tls, if the selectin is thught t be causing the prblem. 21
I) Use f Preview system The audi preview system within VcALign PRO gives the editr immediate feedback abut the selected audi befre prcessing and the prcessed audi s alignment and quality. The fllwing describes the main steps in using the audi preview system. These can be dne in any rder. 1) Chse hw much f the audi signals yu want t listen t in the Preview Cntrl. T d this, click:n- All - If yu want t hear the entire signal (r signals). This is mst effectively used after prcessing t check alignment. Selectin - If yu want t hear t a selected prtin f the audi signal(s). Using a selectin f 1 t 2 secnds is useful fr lcating the beginning r ending f a prtin f audi in the Guide r Dub befre prcessing, in rder t adjust Synch Pints, Prtected sectins, r the energy start and end markers. If yu chse Selectin, yu will need t select a prtin f the Guide, Dub r bth. This is shwn using the Preview Selectin Indicatr, described belw, fr the Guide and/r Dub signals. Preview Selectin Indicatr a) If a Preview Selectin Indicatr is nt present, it can be created manually, simply by clicking within the Guide r Dub Selectin Bar anywhere t the right f its Selectin icn. Click anywhere in a Selectin Bar b) T adjust the start r end f the selected audi, click and drag the apprpriate speaker icn f the Preview Selectin Indicatr t mve the end pints f the audi Selectin. A fine line will appear in the crrespnding Guide r Dub Windw t shw the exact psitin f the audi Selectin start and finish. c) T mve the psitining f the entire selectin keeping its length the same, click in the inner prtin f the Preview Selectin Indicatr and drag it. 22
Click and drag t mve start r end marker Click and drag t mve whle Preview Selectin Indicatr 2) Select which signal r signals (pairs) yu wish t hear. G = Guide, D = Dub, A = Aligned In the image abve, bth the Guide and Aligned signals will be previewed. The dts shw the signal s displayed clur. 3) Click the Preview buttn t start playback f the Selected signal(s). Clicking it again will stp the playback. 4) If yu select t preview the Aligned audi (by itself r with anther signal) ensure the Aligned audi has been created. If it hasn t, turn the Preview buttn ff, and click the Prcess buttn. 5) Changes can be made during preview t any f the abve selectin methds, and the revised selectin will be heard in the subsequent pass f the preview playback. 6) T delete a Preview Selectin Indicatr, hld dwn the Alt key n yur cmputer keybard while clicking anywhere in the Preview Selectin Indicatr. TIPS fr Preview: Selectins f 1 t 2 secnds are recmmended fr lcating beginning and ends f audi within the Guide and Dub befre prcessing, whereas ALL is best used fr reviewing alignment. If there is n aligned signal but it is selected fr Previewing, then silence will be utput instead. The user shuld stp the preview, create the aligned signal by pressing Prcess, and restart preview. If the preview Selectins are less than 0.5 secnds, there is likely t be a ccasinal silent sectin during playback. This is due t the Pr Tls preview system peratin. 23
J) Use f Sync Pints and Prtected Regins VcALign PRO ffers the user further ptinal cntrl f the Alignment prcess in the Advanced mde, shwn selected belw by pressing the Advanced buttn. 1. Synch Pints In this mde, the user can manually create and set Synch Pints, which are targets r suggested alignment pints between the Guide and the Dub fr the alignment algrithm t try t match. Synch Pints allw the user t influence the alignment f the final utput. Nte: Synch Pints can be set which the alignment algrithm cannt achieve. They can be ignred cmpletely if their psitin makes it impssible t align the audi befre and after each Synch Pint. Smetimes, chsing a Setting f High Flexibility in the Setting cntrl will allw mre Synch Pints t be hit if they are being ignred in ther settings. Synch Pints can be set manually, r autmatically. Pressing the Autmatic buttn shwn abve will let the alignment algrithm inspect the signal fr the mst bvius synch pints (such as between breaks between high energy sectins f signals). Fr mre detailed alignment, Synch Pints can be created manually, simply by clicking within the Synch Pint Bar t the right f the Synch Pint icns. As shwn belw, this will insert a pair f Synch Pints shwing a clur transitin in the Guide and Dub energy wavefrms at the Synch Pint. Each pint in the pair can be mved independently by clicking and dragging t the desired pints in the Guide and Dub. A cnnecting line will link the pair. T delete a Synch Pint pair, hld dwn the Alt key n yur cmputer keybard while clicking n ne f the tw pints. 24
T delete all Synch Pints, press the Clear buttn. Tips fr Synch Pints: a) D nt add Synch Pints t silent parts f the Dub. The results are unpredictable. Try t anchr them t a viced part f the Dub and Guide. b) It is better t use mre than ne Synch Pint t frce the alignment f a sectin f the Dub t a sectin f the Guide. If needed, placing ne Synch Pint at the start f the sectin and ne at the end f the sectin will usually wrk well. Yu can refine the alignment further by adding mre and mre Sync Pints befre and after each sectin until yu get the alignment yu want. c) T btain the greatest influence f Synch Pints, use a Setting with Nrmal r High Flexibility. 25
K) Prtected Dub Sectins Smetimes, it is desirable t nt allw the Dub t be time stretched r cmpressed in a particular sectin. VcALign PRO allws the insertin f any number f Prtected Sectins int the Dub windw. It is imprtant t nte that: a) Prtecting part f a Dub des nt fix its time psitin in the final utput and b) Lng prtected regins may limit VcALign s ability t align the remaining 'unprtected' regins f the Dub. T insert a Prtected Sectin, click t the right f the Prtected icn anywhere in the bar under the Dub Windw Click in this area This will insert a pair f Prtected lck icns in the Prtected Sectin Bar and a crrespnding transparent red panel in the Dub windw clearly shwing the range f the prtectin frm timecmpressin r expansin during alignment (see figure belw). Clicking and dragging the lck icns in the Prtected Sectin Bar will mve the crrespnding end pints f the Prtected Sectin. T remve a Prtected sectin, hld dwn the Alt key n yur cmputer keybard and click n ne f the tw Prtected (lck) icns. TIPS fr Prtected Sectins: a) It is better nt t start a Prtected sectin in a silent part f the Dub. Try t anchr the Prtected sectin t a viced part f the dub. Ding this will make the final alignment mre predictable. b) Try t keep the prtected regins as shrt as pssible. c) If there is audi in the Dub which is NOT in the guide and which is als after sme silence in the Dub and the alignment is nt crrect at this pint, try the fllwing. Put a prtected sectin extending frm the end f the piece f crrect dub audi befre the silence, thrugh the silence and int the unmatched Dub. 2. Further Tips and Advice Fr further infrmatin n peratin and use f these new features, visit www.synchrarts.cm/supprt. 26
L) Use f Alignment Settings In additin t selecting which Alignment algrithm t use, the user has cntrl ver the internal Settings, which greatly affect hw the alignment perfrms. Clicking t the right f Setting in the circled arrw r n the Active Setting will bring up the Settings Pre-sets windw, frm which the user can select which Setting is active. NOTE: The names in the windw will be the same fr bth the Advanced and the Basic Alignment mde, but the effect f the Setting is very different in the tw mdes. Click here t bring up Settings List Active Setting 3. Basic Mde These settings are the same as previus versins f VcALign and the cmments n Characteristics in the chart belw relate t cmparisns amngst the Basic Settings nly. Setting Lw Flexibility Nrmal Flexibility High Flexibility Maximum Cmpressin Maximum Expansin Main characteristics Alignment is nt very flexible, sund quality may be best. (Default): Recmmended trying this first as it wrks best in mst cases. Alignment is the mst flexible f the Basic Settings. Tries t match the Guide by time cmpressing the aligned audi as much as pssible. Tries t match the Guide by time-expanding the aligned audi as much as pssible. 4. Advanced Mde In general, in additin t supprting Synch Pints as targets fr alignment, the Advanced mde allws cnsiderably higher amunts f time cmpressin and expansin t ccur and prvides increased accuracy ver the Basic mde. The influence f the Sync Pints during the cmputatin f the time-alignment Path depends n the Active Setting and ges frm strng (high influence) t weak (lw influence). In general, the less flexible the Setting, the smaller the number f time-alteratins there are likely t be. This means there will be fewer edits and less chance f creating audible editing artefacts. 27
i.e. the lwer the flexibility, the higher the quality is likely t be, but the chances fr mis-alignment are higher. Crrespndingly, the mre flexible the Setting, the lwer the quality culd becme. Of curse, these effects are als signal dependent. The fllwing chart clarifies the differences between the Advanced mde settings. Setting Influence f Synch Pints Main characteristics This is the least flexible setting and prduces the highest quality utput. Lw Flexibility Weak It can cmpress r expand a sectin f audi up t a maximum f tw times. It als assumes that the Guide and Dub audi are already pre-aligned t within abut tw secnds. Yu can use Synch Pints with this setting but they have a weak influence, s in general they will have nly a small effect n the alignment. This setting is suitable fr aligning audi where the main blcks f the Guide and Dub are already fairly well aligned. This is the nrmal Setting fr mst users and generally gives a gd quality utput. Nrmal Flexibility Medium It can cmpress r expand a sectin f audi up t a maximum factr f three times. It makes n assumptin abut the initial alignment f the Guide and Dub. Synch Pints, if used, have a fairly strng influence n the alignment. This is the mst useful Setting and shuld be the first ne a user tries. This is the mst flexible Setting but its utput can sund distrted n sibilants and breathy nises. It can cmpress r expand a sectin f audi up t a maximum factr f five times. High Flexibility Strng It makes n assumptin abut the initial alignment f the guide and dub. Synch Pints, if used have a strng influence n the alignment. In sme cases, the Alignment algrithm may nt be able t find a path thrugh the Synch Pints and will generate an errr message. This is a useful setting fr difficult alignments. It als a gd setting fr using Synch Pints. Maximum Cmpressin Medium This is very similar t High Flexibility but favurs cmpressin ver expansin. This is useful when the Dub is much lnger than the Guide. Maximum Expansin Medium This is very similar t High Flexibility but favurs expansin ver cmpressin. This is useful when the Dub is much shrter than the Guide. 28
M) Use f Path Lck Referring back t the diagram in the intrductin in Chapter B, the utput f the time alignment algrithm is the Time Warping Path. This Path cntains the time-distrtin infrmatin required fr editing the Dub. There are smetimes situatins where mre than ne Dub signal needs t have the same time distrtin applied in rder t maintain accurate alignment with a cmmn Guide. Generally, the alternative Dub signals were recrded at the same time; fr example, in the case f a multiple micrphne recrding f dialgue n a set in which there might be bth a radi mike and a bm mike recrding the dialgue. Path Lck simply allws the editr t create an alignment f a Dub Number 1 t a Guide and then click Path Lck (as shwn in the Figure belw) t lck dwn all the VcALign PRO alignment cntrls, lad in anther Dub, and apply the same time-based editing requests t subsequent Dub Numbers 2, 3, 4, etc. The purpse f this is t maintain accurate time-aligned edits. Nte, it is nt generally apprpriate t use Path Lck when events in the multiple Dubs differ in timing within the recrdings. Als, t maintain audi quality, the use f Path Lck des nt maintain precise phase accuracy fr each edited Dub signals. This is because VcALign PRO des nt assume that each f the Dub signals used will have identical pitch characteristics at each f the pints which require editing. 29
N) Prcessing Multi-Channel Dub Signals Firstly, when prcessing multi-channel Dub audi, ensure the fllwing Audi Suite switch (if it is shwing) shws Stere Dub. NOTE: If this switch is set t Mn Dub, nly ne f the Dub s input channels will be Aligned and cpied t each f the multi-channel utput channels. The Stere setting allws each input Dub channel t be edited t a crrespnding Aligned Dub channel in the Sptted utput. Next, it is imprtant t recgnize there are tw main methds f prcessing a multi-channel Dub and a related methd fr prcessing multiple signals as Dubs t the same Alignment Path. The chice f which is best t use depends upn the initial relatinship between the audi in the channels and the desired phase relatinships between the utput channels. The fllwing chart describes the ptins. Dub Signal Type Required Relatinship Advantages and Disadvantages Settings One multichannel audi signal All channels must be edited at the exact same pints. (e.g. nrmal stere) All channels shuld be edited at apprximately the same pints in time, but mre imprtant t maintain signal integrity in each channel. Maintains exact phase between channels, but pssible editing artefacts can arise if cntent differs greatly between the channels Minimizes editing artefacts but allws lser phases relatinships between channels. Alignment Basic Path Lck OFF Editing Basis - Time Alignment Basic Path Lck OFF Editing Basis- Frequency Multiple audi signals Each channel in each signal can be edited independently, but editing will fllw the same Alignment Path. Minimize editing artefacts but phase relatinships between signals in channels is nly apprximate. Alignment Advanced Path Lck ON Editing Basis - Time 30
O) Additinal Techniques Althugh the Advanced Alignment algrithm can deal with aligning differing signals with much less user interventin than befre, a number f simple adjustment techniques can assist prblematic alignment, particularly at the beginning and end f audi regins. Althugh mentined previusly, these techniques will be explained further. 1. Altering the Selected Regin The length f the Dub being prcessed can be reduced in VcALign PRO withut having t return t Pr Tls. Yu may wish t d this t align nly the beginning part f the Dub and leave the fllwing part unaligned. These examples use the VcALign PRO PT Tutrial Sessin (Steve Guide 2 and Twit-Dub). 1) Mve the cursr t the grey vertical line at the end f the Dub energy wavefrm. Hld dwn the muse buttn, and a dtted line shuld appear. While hlding dwn the muse buttn, drag the dtted line t the left and release it at the pint shwn in the next picture. (This des nt need t be exactly the same pint). 2) The end f the Dub shuld be grey as shwn belw. 3) Next, click n the grey vertical line nw psitined at the clur bundary and the dtted line shuld appear. Drag the dtted line left again whilst hlding the muse dwn t the pint shwn belw and release the muse. 4) The picture abve indicates that the selected Dub regin fr prcessing is nw much shrter than the Guide selected regin. 5) Click n Align and the fllwing result shuld appear. This shws that nly the Selected Dub audi has been aligned t the crrespnding sectin f the Guide. 31
6) Clicking Prcess, fllwed by the Preview buttn will auditin the Aligned audi with the Guide if GA is selected. 2. Prcessing Signals with Different Lengths In general, it is cmmn fr either the Guide r Dub t be part f a much lnger audi regin than the ther is. In mst cases, the Guide regin is lnger (being part f a lng transfer), while the Dub is a shrter sectin. In the example in the Dem Sessin, we have a Dub that is lnger than the Guide and even cntains extra audi at the end f the regin that is nt in the Guide. 1) Open the VcALign PRO Tutrial PT sessin. 2) The Guide (Steve Guide2) and Dub (Twit-Dub) shuld be played tgether t hear hw the Dub is nt nly much slwer and lnger than the Guide but it has extra audi at the end. 3) As in previus examples, highlight in Pr Tls and capture all f Steve Guide2 and all f Twit-Dub as the Guide and Dub (as shwn belw fr the Dub) respectively. Nte that even thugh the user culd chse t stp the Dub audi selectin in Pr Tls befre the last part f the audi, this example will shw that when the Guide audi stps, if there is mre Dub selected t prcess, it will simply be added n after the alignment activity required by the Guide is cmpleted. 32
4) Click n the Align buttn in VcALign PRO and the resulting aligned (yellw) trace ver the Guide shuld appear as shwn belw: In this case, the Dub audi filter wavefrm is aligned up t the pint where the Guide selected wavefrm (shwn in blue) stps, and then the rest f the Dub filter wavefrm is jined n but withut any mdificatin. Prcess and Preview the results (in the All Preview setting) in VcALign PRO and nte that while the beginning f the Dub is aligned up t the clur change, the end f the Aligned Dub is unedited. 3. Aligning Multiple Takes An additinal useful feature f VcALign PRO is that nce a Guide r Dub is captured, yu may recapture either f the signals withut affecting the ther. There are many advantages t this, and in this example, we will use this feature t align three different vcal tracks. 1) Open the VcALign PRO Tutrial PT sessin in Pr Tls and lcate the three regins shwn belw. Play these three tracks tgether t hear hw they are aligned in this sessin. 2) Highlight the audi within the regin "BG-Guide1" in track Guide as shwn. Capture this as the Guide. 33
3) In Pr Tls, highlight and capture the BG-Vice2 regin as shwn belw as the Dub. 4) Align this, check the sync and if it is crrect, set the Destinatin Track in VcALign PRO t Aligned1 and click Spt. The edited regin shuld appear in Pr Tls track Aligned1. 5) Highlight and capture the BG-Vice3 regin as shwn belw as the Dub. 6) If using Basic Alignment mde, Change the Setting t Lw Flexibility. This is t minimize the amunt f editing n this vice. In Advanced Alignment mde, use Nrmal Flexibility. 7) Click Align and examine the alignment. Set the destinatin track t Aligned2 and click Prcess. The edited regin shuld appear in Pr Tls track Alinged2. 8) In Pr Tls, mute tracks Dub and Dub2, and play tracks Guide, Aligned1 and Aligned2 tgether. They shuld be tightly synchrnized. 34
P) Freign Dialgue Synchrnizatin This sectin discusses the prblems that arise in freign language dialgue replacement (dubbing) and hw and when VcALign PRO can be used t assist this prcess. Users can als check www.synchrarts.cm/supprt fr the latest tips and suggestins. 1. Overview The variability in freign dialgue signals is virtually infinite. Cnsequently, the quality f lip synch that can be achieved in Freign Dialgue Replacement (ften called Dubbing, Dublage, etc.) depends n many factrs including:- The quality f the translatin. The accuracy f the timing f the new dialgue recrding. The ability f the editr t mdify the new dialgue. VcALign PRO will attempt t align ne set f audi mdulatins t anther, n matter what the audi signals are. Therefre, it can be used t align the mdulatins f recrded dialgue in ne language t recrded dialgue in anther language. Thus, when there is an audi Guide Track that is in gd synch with the lip mvements in the picture, VcALign PRO can generally be used t imprve the accuracy f the lip sync f the replacement freign dialgue. Smetimes, unfrtunately, the Guide Track may nt be in clse sync with the picture. This can ccur if the Guide Track is itself already badly dubbed r in a different language frm the riginal lcatin recrding. In this case, even if VcALign PRO matches the new audi mdulatins t the Guide, they will be ut f sync, just as the Guide is. An experienced editr must align the audi by ear and eye in this case, and VcALign PRO is nt likely t be f much assistance. Als, the Guide track used fr dubbing can smetimes cntain music and effects. This makes the jb fr VcALign PRO harder, but nt impssible, since it must "ignre" the music and effects in the Guide Track and match nly t the dialgue. Lastly, the translatin may demand that the tw audi signals are vastly incmpatible and result culd never be ttally satisfactry. In this case, the best result smetimes cmes frm making the tw audi signals start tgether and, if pssible, end tgether. 2. Use f VcALign PRO If the Guide Track dialgue synchrnizes well with the n-screen lip mvements, and the replacement freign dialgue has been translated and recrded t achieve gd lip sync, then VcALign PRO shuld be able t imprve the quality f lip synch. 35
The tw unique features that will help in additin t VcALigns ability t synch autmatically are: a) The identificatin and use f Sync Pints by the dialgue editr, which can be used t target and align the mst imprtant and visible synchrnizatin pints between the Guide and Dub audi; b) The ability fr the editr t create Prtected sectins f the Dub dialgue frm being unnecessarily edited (e.g. when n n-screen lip mvements are present in a part f a sectin f dialgue r editing wuld time-distrt all r sme f the replacement audi). 3. General Advice and Tips Dialgue Editrs shuld be very familiar with the use f VcALign PRO n dialgue replacement in the same language befre attempting t use it fr freign dialgue replacement. The fllwing additinal tips are suggestins and nt rules, s the user shuld nt nly try these techniques, but als experiment further. Every line f dialgue is likely t need individual attentin. Break the dialgue int shrter, apprpriate length sectins. Use f VcALign PRO s Advanced time alignment means that peaks in energy patterns will dminate the alignment prcess and can prvide cnsiderable flexibility, particularly in lw level signals between sentences. Advanced mde shuld always be tried first. If using Basic alignment settings, the user must remember that VcALign PRO is deliberately restricted t stretching a part f a signal by a factr f 2.0 (100% expansin) and cmpressing it by a factr f 1/2 (50% cmpressin). If VcALign PRO is trying t expand r cmpress a gap in the speech, and it has used up its allwance, it may try t expand r cmpress the neighburing speech. This means, fr example, that if gaps in the new and replacement dialgue appear in different places r are f very different duratins, after mdifying the gap regin, VcALign PRO in Basic mde might als have t expand r cmpress the replacement speech signal near the gap, t best align the mdulatins. This may lead t unwanted effects. In this case, the user shuld break the signal int sectins that can be individually treated. Sync up nly the beginning f a line T get nly the beginning f a new line f dialgue t sync up with the Guide, use the "latching" technique described in the next chapter. This means nly selecting perhaps a secnd at the start f the Guide that VcALign PRO will try t sync the dub start t, and the entire replacement line fr the Dub will fllw, but withut editing. Minimize the amunt f VcALign PRO's Time Cmpressin and Expansin If VcALign PRO is making t many timing mdificatins and creating unnatural sunding speech, try using the "Lw Flexibility" setting. 36
Q) Special Operatins 1. Latching T align just the start f the Dub with the Guide (and leave the rest f the Dub unprcessed), capture nly 0.25 t 1.0 secnd f the Guide and capture the Dub as nrmal. Alternatively, use the technique described in Sectin 1 f Chapter O t adjust the Guide energy being used t the first secnd r s. Reverb tails T stp the end f a Dub frm being stretched t wrngly "fit" t a nisy r reverberant Guide, stp the captured end f the Guide 0.25 t 1.0 secnd befre the Guide signal f interest ends and capture the Dub as nrmal. Alternatively, insert Sync Pints r Prtected areas t shape the end f the Dub as required. Destinatin Track set t nne Nrmally, the VcALign PRO user is advised t always select a destinatin track in the plug-in. Hwever, if the destinatin track is set t nne and aligned audi is prcessed, it will be returned t Pr Tls in sync with the riginal Guide audi, and n a track where the cursr is present. Once aware f this fact, the user can make use f this t speed-up peratins. a) Make sure use in playlist is selected. b) Ensure that the Dub audi is clse t the Guide audi in the Pr Tls timeline. c) Select the Guide audi and send it, as nrmal, t VcALign PRO. d) Select the Dub audi and send it t VcALign PRO, making sure the Dub audi remains highlighted. e) Once aligned, press Prcess with destinatin track set t nne. The aligned audi will be sent t the track where the Dub was taken frm. In this way, Dub audi can be aligned by VcALign PRO and updated in Pr Tls. There is then n need fr an additinal track t receive the aligned audi. 37
R) Truble Shting Sme cmmnly ccurring prblems are listed here: Prblem: VcALign PRO des nt appear in the AudiSuite menu. Slutin: Mac users: Check that the file "VcALign PRO has been cpied t the Plug-Ins flder within the DAE flder in yur System Flder. Windws users: Check that the files "VcALign PRO.dpm" and "VcALign PRO.dpm.rsr" have been cpied t the Plug-Ins flder within the DAE flder. Prblem: The aligned audi appears in an incrrect destinatin track. Slutin: Make sure yu have selected a destinatin track befre pressing Prcess. If nne is the selected destinatin track, the aligned audi will appear in the currently selected track, in sync with the Guide. If yu have renamed Pr Tls tracks whilst the plug-in windw is pen, the drp-dwn destinatin track list will nt reflect thse changes until the plug-in windw is clsed and pened again. Prblem: N aligned audi appears in the audi editr. Slutin: Make sure yu have selected use in playlist in the VcALign PRO windw. Further help and advice can be fund n the Synchr Arts website at http://www.synchrarts.cm/supprt 38