After you install ACID and start it for the first time, the registration wizard appears. This wizard offers easy steps that enable you to register ACID online with Sonic Foundry. Alternately, you may register ACID online at www.sonicfoundry.com at any time.
Registering your product provides you with exclusive access to a variety of technical support options, notification of product updates, and special promotions exclusive to ACID registered users.
Registration assistance
If you do not have access to the Internet, registration assistance is available during normal weekday business hours. Please contact our Customer Service Department by dialing one of the following numbers:
Telephone/Fax |
Country |
1-800-577-6642 (toll-free) |
US, Canada, and Virgin Islands |
+800-000-76642 (toll-free) |
Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK, |
|
Netherlands, and Japan |
+608-204-7703 |
All other countries |
1-608-250-1745 (fax) |
All countries |
Customer service/sales
For a detailed list of customer service options, we encourage you to visit www.sonicfoundry.com. Use the following numbers for telephone support during normal office hours:
Telephone/Fax/E-mail |
Country |
1-800-577-6642 (toll-free) |
US, Canada, and Virgin Islands |
+800-000-76642 (toll-free) |
Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK, |
|
Netherlands, and Japan |
+608-204-7703 |
All other countries |
1-608-250-1745 (fax) |
All countries |
customerservice@sonicfoundry.com
Technical support
For a detailed list of technical support options, we encourage you to visit www.sonicfoundry.com/support.
•To listen to your support options, please call 608-256-5555.
•Customers who have purchased ACID Pro receive 60 days of complimentary phone support. The complimentary support begins the date of your first call. (Registration is required to receive this complimentary support.) Please call (608) 204-7704 if you need assistance with your Pro version product.
User manual feedback
If you have comments or suggestions about this user manual, we would like to hear from you. Send us e-mail at docfeedback@sonicfoundry.com.
Sonic Foundry, Inc.
1617 Sherman Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
USA
The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Sonic Foundry. The software described in this manual is provided under the terms of a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software license agreement specifies the terms and conditions for its lawful use.
Sonic Foundry and ACID are registered trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. ASIO is a trademark and VST is a registered trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies AG. AC-3 is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories. Other brands and products named here are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Foundry, its affiliates, or their respective holders.
Copyright © 2002-2003 Sonic Foundry, Inc. This user guide can be reproduced for noncommercial reference or personal/private use only and may not be resold. Any reproduction in excess of fifteen copies or electronic transmission requires the written permission of Sonic Foundry.
A special note concerning the use of the Dolby Digital trademark:
Dolby Laboratories encourages use of the Dolby Digital trademark to identify soundtracks that are encoded in Dolby Digital. This is an effective way to inform listeners of the soundtrack format, and the use of a standard logo promotes easy recognition in the marketplace. However, like any trademark, the Dolby Digital logo may not be used without permission. Dolby Laboratories therefore provides a standard trademark license agreement for companies who wish to use Dolby trademarks. This agreement should be signed by the company that owns the program material being produced. Recording studios or production facilities which provide audio production or encoding services for outside clients generally do not require a trademark license.
If you would like more information on obtaining a Dolby trademark license, please contact Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Information on trademark licensing plus instructions for using the Dolby Digital trademark and marking audio formats can also be found on-line at http://www.dolby.com.
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
100 Potrero Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94520 USA
Phone: 415-558-0200
Fax: 415-863-1373
E-mail: tsa@dolby.com
http://www.dolby.com
1
Table of Contents
Introducing ACID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Welcome to Sonic Foundry ACID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Installing ACID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Using online help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 What’sThis? help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Help on the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Overview of ACID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Main interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Track list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Track view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Window docking area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Keyboard command reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Audio signal flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 MIDI signal flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
What’s New?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Mixing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Plug-in effects automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 5.1 surround mixing and surround pan automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Alternate time signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 ASIO driver support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Loop Cloning in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Bus tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Enhanced time stretching for Beatmapped tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 New audio panning types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 New envelope fade types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 ReWire support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 
MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
MIDI piano roll editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
30 |
MIDI step recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
30 |
MIDI event list editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
31 |
VSTi support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
31 |
Yamaha OPT support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
31 |
Optimized DLS and VSTi soft synth controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
31 |
Workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Multiple media file previewing and Explorer enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Hotkey commands for track muting and soloing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Optimized ACID playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Autosave crash recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Customizable default track properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Windows Media Audio and Video import . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Enhanced video handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Starting projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Setting project properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Opening existing projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Getting media files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Previewing media from the Explorer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Adding media to the project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Understanding track types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Loops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
One-shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Beatmapped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Adding and editing events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Painting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Changing the length of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Erasing sections of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Moving events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Using the cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Positioning the cursor with the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
41 |
Positioning the cursor with the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
41 |
Positioning the cursor with the Go To command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
42 |
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3
Making selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Selecting an event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Selecting multiple events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Creating time selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Creating event selections within time selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Working with tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Reordering tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Resizing tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Changing track colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Renaming tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Duplicating tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Deleting tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Copying, cutting, and pasting tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Adjusting the mix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Muting tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Soloing tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Working with groups of tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Using undo and redo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Using undo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Undoing all edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Using redo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Clearing the undo history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Playing the project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Using the transport bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Using playback options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Using the Mixer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Viewing the Mixer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Using the mixer toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Renaming mixer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Using the mixer’s faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Saving, rendering, and delivering projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Saving projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Rendering projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Publishing to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Writing to CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Editing Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Copying events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
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4 
Pasting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Using the Paste command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Using Paste Repeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Using Paste Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cutting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Deleting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Trimming events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Splitting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Splitting at the cursor position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
62 |
Splitting an event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
63 |
Splitting multiple events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
63 |
Splitting a time selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
63 |
Splitting events within a time selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
64 |
Joining events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Ripple editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Cutting events in ripple editing mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Deleting events in ripple editing mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Pasting events in ripple editing mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Slipping and sliding events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Shifting the contents of (slipping) events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Slip-trimming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Sliding events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Changing event properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Using event envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Setting an event’s volume envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Setting an event’s fade-in and -out envelope curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Creating crossfades between events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Working in the Track View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Using project markers and regions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Working with standard markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Working with time markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Working with command markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Working with regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Using snapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Choosing snapping options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Changing tempo, time signature, and key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Changing project tempo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Changing project time signature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Changing project key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
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Working with tempo/key/time signature change markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Changing a track’s key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Changing an event’s key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Adjusting time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Inserting time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Fitting to time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Using the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Working in the Chopper window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Viewing the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Changing the Chopper grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Changing Chopper snapping options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Magnifying the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Previewing in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Using Chopper toolbar and keyboard commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Inserting markers and regions in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Creating selections in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Placing files in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Creating selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Creating selections of a specific musical length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Inserting increments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Creating increments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Creating increments of a specific musical length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Creating increments of a custom musical length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Inserting selections in the track view. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Using the Insert Selection button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Using copy and paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Dragging selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Moving the insert position in the track view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Saving Chopper selections as new files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Using the Chopper with one-shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Working with Tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Using track effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Creating or adding to track plug-in chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Arranging plug-in chain order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Bypassing plug-ins in a chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Removing plug-ins from chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Saving plug-in chains as packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Removing or bypassing all effects on tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
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Using track envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Adding track envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Adjusting envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Using the Envelope tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Hiding track envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Removing track envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Choosing stereo pan types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Using the Beatmapper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Understanding stretching properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Configuring track properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Adjusting general track properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Adjusting stretching properties for loop or Beatmapped tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Adjusting track properties for MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Reloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Replacing files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Saving file properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Mixing multiple tracks to a single track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Exporting loops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Using the Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Using busses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Adding busses to the project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Routing tracks to busses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Routing busses to system hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Deleting busses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Using assignable effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Adding assignable effect controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Working with assignable effects chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Routing tracks to assignable effect controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Routing assignable effect controls to busses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Deleting assignable effect controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Using soft synth controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Adding soft synth controls to projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Modifying soft synth control properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Using ACID with ReWire panel applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Deleting soft synth controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 Routing MIDI tracks to soft synth controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
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Using mixer controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Working with mixer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 Adding effects to mixer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Working with multiple mixer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Automating mixer controls in track view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Recording in ACID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Recording audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Setting ACID’s recording properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Setting recording levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Recording multiple takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Reviewing and saving takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Working with MIDI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Adding MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Adding MIDI files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Creating new MIDI files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Recording MIDI tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Changing MIDI track properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Pitch shifting MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Setting root notes for MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Working with tracks in a MIDI file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 Previewing MIDI files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Using the piano roll editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Viewing the piano roll editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 Previewing MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 Selecting MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 Adding note events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 Editing note events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137 Quantizing note events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Deleting note events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Undoing and redoing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Saving MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Using the list editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
Viewing the list editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Previewing MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Filtering the list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 Editing events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 Creating events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 Step recording events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
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Quantizing events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Deleting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 Undoing and redoing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 Saving MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Loading third-party OPT plug-ins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Saving, reloading, or replacing MIDI files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Routing MIDI tracks to MIDI devices or soft synth controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Resetting MIDI ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Rendering projects with MIDI tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Playing MIDI from external devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Adding external devices as MIDI inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 Assigning MIDI inputs to soft synth controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Synchronizing using MIDI timecode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Generating MIDI timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151 Triggering from MIDI timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 Generating MIDI clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Working with Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Managing video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Adding or replacing video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Removing the video track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Hiding and showing the video track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Synchronizing audio and video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Removing the video’s audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Changing frame numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Editing video events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Moving video events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Trimming video events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Slipping and sliding video events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Using the Video window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Using toolbar buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155 Using the shortcut menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155 Viewing the status bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Previewing on external monitors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Scoring video with ACID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Working with 5.1 Surround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
What is 5.1 surround?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Setting up surround hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
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Setting up surround projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
Routing to hardware in the mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
159 |
Assigning audio to the LFE channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Panning audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Panning tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161 Panning mixer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162 Using the Surround Panner window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Automating panning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
Turning on panning keyframes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 Adding panning keyframes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 Working with keyframes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Rendering surround projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
Burning AC-3 files to DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Customizing ACID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Working with ACID windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Docking and floating ACID windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Changing the time ruler format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Using the ruler offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Using the project grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Setting the grid type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Using the toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
Hiding and displaying the toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175 Reordering toolbar buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175 Adding buttons to the toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 Removing buttons from the toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Using the time display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
Changing cursor position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177 Changing the time display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177 Monitoring MIDI timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Setting default track properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 Setting ACID preferences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Using the General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 Using the Audio tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 Using the MIDI tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 Using the VST Instruments tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 Using the ReWire Devices tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 Using the Video tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 Using the Editing tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 Using the Sync tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
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Using the Other tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
ACID Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Adding long media files quickly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Playing with duplicate tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Detuning paired tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Duplicating with offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188 Creating ping-pong pan effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Adding depth with assignable effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Playing double time/half time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Constructing the wall of sound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Adding through subtraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Tweaking the dynamics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fading in and out of mixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Adding build ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Creating wah-wah effects with automated Track EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Making automated changes more stark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Abruptly changing volume or pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191 Turning automated effects on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
Making automated frequency changes more natural. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Overriding compress/expand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Slicing and dicing in the Chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Chopping new loops for alternate time signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193 Chopping multiple files into a new loop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193 Creating drum-roll build ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Creating drum fills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Creating one-track remixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Creating DJ-style crossfades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Creating pseudo-granular synthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
Building instrument solos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Building scales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i
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CHAPTER
Introducing ACID
1
Welcome to Sonic Foundry ACID
Congratulations on purchasing a revolutionary software application for Windows. Using Sonic Foundry ACID® you can create great music by simply picking, painting, and playing.
System requirements
In order to use ACID, your computer must satisfy the following minimum specifications:
•300 MHz processor (400 MHz processor required for video scoring)
•Microsoft Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP
•64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended)
•60 MB hard-disk space for program installation
•Windows-compatible sound card
•CD-ROM drive (required for installation from CD-ROM)
•Supported CD-recordable drive (required for CD burning)
•DirectX 8.0 (included on CD-ROM)
•Internet Explorer, version 4.0 or higher (version 5.0 included on CD-ROM)
Installing ACID
Prior to installing ACID, we recommend that you exit all open applications and temporarily turn off any virus protection.
Note: If you’re installing ACID on a system running
Windows 2000, your user account must be a member of the
Administrators group to install ACID and a member of the
Power Users group (or higher) to register ACID.
1.Insert the ACID CD-ROM. The ACID Installation screen appears if CD-ROM AutoPlay is enabled.
Note: If CD-ROM AutoPlay is turned off, click 
and choose Run. In the Run dialog, enter the CD-ROM drive’s letter and add :\setup.exe. Click OK to begin installation.
2.Click Install Software to begin the installation process.
3.Follow the on-screen prompts and enter the necessary information when required. At the final screen prompt, click Finish.
CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
12 
Using online help
You can access two varieties of help within ACID:
•Online help
•What’sThis? help (also referred to as context-sensitive help)
Online help
To access online help, choose Contents and Index from the Help menu or press F1.
Note: To view online help, Internet Explorer 4.0 or later must be installed on your system. Internet Explorer 5.0 is included on the ACID CD-ROM for your convenience.
Tabs
The Contents tab provides a list of available help topics. Double-click a closed book (
) to open the pages and then click a topic page (
).
The Index tab provides a complete listing of the help topics available. Scroll through the list of available topics or type a word in the Type in the keyword to find box to quickly locate topics related to that word. Select the topic and click 
.
The Search tab allows you to enter a keyword and display all of the topics in the online help that contain the keyword you have entered. Type a keyword in the Type in the word(s) to search for box and click 
. Select the topic from the list and click 
.
The Favorites tab allows you to keep topics that you revisit often in a separate folder. To add a topic to your favorites, click 
on the Favorites tab.
INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
13
What’sThis? help
What’sThis? help allows you to view pop-up window descriptions for ACID menus, buttons, and dialog boxes. Choose What's This? from the Help menu, press Shift + F1 , or click the What’sThis? help button (
) on the toolbar and then click any ACID item. To use What’sThis? help in a dialog box, click the question mark button (
) in the upper-right corner of the dialog box and then click an item in the dialog box.
Help on the Web
Additional ACID help and information is available on the Sonic Foundry Web site. Choose Sonic Foundry on the Web from the Help menu to view a listing of Web pages pertaining to ACID and Sonic Foundry. If your browser is not already open, ACID will automatically start it for you.
Overview of ACID
ACID is designed to be a powerful and flexible, but easy-to-use music creation application. Many of the ACID operations, menu items, and shortcut keys are common to other Sonic Foundry applications.
The following sections provide a tour of the ACID work area.
Main interface
The work area includes three main areas: the track list, the track view (or timeline), and the window docking area. The other parts of the interface are tools and features used while creating and working with your project. You can resize the track list, track view, and window docking area by dragging the dividers between them.
Divider
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CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
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Toolbar
The toolbar allows you to quickly access the most commonly used functions and features in ACID.
Opens a new project. You will be prompted to save any changes to the current project.
Displays the Open File dialog. From this window, you can browse all of the available drives to select an ACID project or audio file to open.
Saves any changes to the current project.
The first time you save a project, the Save As dialog appears.
Opens the Publish wizard so you can share your ACID creation on the Web.
Clears the selected items from the track view and places them on the ACID clipboard. You can then paste them to a new location.
Creates a copy of the selected items from the track view on the ACID clipboard. You can then paste them to a new location.
Inserts the contents of the ACID clipboard at the current cursor position. The pasted items cover any existing events. To make room for pasted events, choose Paste Insert from the
Edit menu.
Reverses the last action performed. ACID supports unlimited undos, allowing you to restore the project to any state since the last save.
Reverses an undo.
Turns the snapping feature on or off. With snapping enabled, you can decide whether to snap to the grid or to all elements (markers, regions, etc.).
Locks envelope points so they move with an event when it is moved along the timeline.
Activates the Draw tool to add and edit events.
Activates the Selection tool to select multiple events.
Activates the Paint tool to insert events across multiple tracks.
When used in conjunction with the Ctrl key, the Paint tool can paint an entire one-shot, MIDI, or Beatmapped media file to an event with one click.
Activates the Erase tool to erase events or parts of events.
When used in conjunction with the Ctrl key, the Erase tool can erase an entire one-shot, MIDI track, or Beatmapped track event with one click.
Activates the Envelope tool to select and modify envelope points.
Activates the Time Selection tool to quickly select all events within range of time.
Opens a dialog where you can download media from the Internet.
Opens a frequently updated Web page containing special offers, tips, tricks, and other good stuff.
Activates What’sThis? help to obtain information about a specific option, menu, or part of the ACID window.
INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
15
Track list
This list identifies the track order in your project and contains the track’s controls. The following sections identify and briefly explain the controls located in the track list.
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Mute |
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Solo |
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Surround panner (surround projects only) |
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Multipurpose slider |
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View buttons
These buttons control the track’s appearance (size) on the track list and the track view.
Track number and type
This area identifies the type of file (loop, one-shot, MIDI, Beatmapped) contained in the track as well as the track’s number in the project. You can quickly change the track order by dragging selected tracks within the track list.
Track type icons
Loop
One-shot
Beatmapped
MIDI
Track name
When you add a file to a project, the track name is initially the same name as the file’s name. Right-click the track name and choose Rename from the shortcut menu (or double-click) to change the track name.
Bus assignment
Clicking the Bus Assignment button (
) and selecting a letter from the menu allows you to assign the corresponding track to the specified output bus. However, the button is only available in projects containing multiple busses. For more information, see Adding busses to the project on page 111.
On a MIDI track, the Device Selection button ( ) appears instead of the Bus Assignment button. This button allows you to route a MIDI track to a soft synth or MIDI device. For more information, see Routing MIDI tracks to MIDI devices or soft synth controls on page 149.
Track FX button
The Track FX button (
) accesses the Audio Plug-In window from which you can add, edit, and apply effects to the track. The button image changes ( 
) to indicate when an automatable effect is present. For more information, see Using track effects on page 93.
CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
16 
Mute button
Clicking the Mute button (
) temporarily suspends playback of the corresponding track, allowing you to focus on the project’s remaining tracks. A muted track appears grayed out in the track view. For more information, see Muting tracks on page 47.
Solo button
Clicking the Solo button (
) isolates the track during playback by muting the project’s remaining tracks. For more information, see Soloing tracks on page 48.
Surround panner
In 5.1 surround projects, the surround panner allows you to view and edit surround panning settings for a track. Double-click a surround panner to view the Surround Panner window and make fine panning adjustments. For more information, see Working with 5.1 Surround on page 157.
Multipurpose slider
This multipurpose slider allows you to control the following:
•A track’s volume relative to the project’s other tracks.
•A track’s placement in the stereo spectrum (panning).
•The level of the track’s signal being routed to each of the project’s busses.
•The level of the track’s signal being routed to an assignable effect control.
The multipurpose slider defaults to displaying a track’s volume control. ACID tracks are preset to -6.0 decibels (dB), but the volume range is -inf. to 12 dB. Each track’s slider position is independent from the others; however, you can move sliders simultaneously by selecting multiple tracks before making your adjustment. If you do not see this slider, expand the track.
You may choose what the slider controls by clicking the slider label. Changing the slider type for one track changes it for all tracks so you can compare levels of the same control across the project. For more information, see Adjusting the mix on page 46.
Track view
In the track view, you can view and edit the events in a track. The area in which events display is the timeline. The track view contains other elements which are described in the following sections.
Loop bar |
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Marker bar |
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Beat ruler |
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Zoom controls
Transport |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
17
Marker bar
The marker bar runs the length of your project and contains the tags for markers and regions positioned along the project’s timeline.
Beat ruler
The beat ruler allows you to place events in reference to the musical time of bars and beats. This ruler is fixed and does not update when you change the tempo. This allows the events in the tracks to maintain their size when you adjust the tempo.
Time ruler
The time ruler provides a timeline for your project. This ruler can show real time in many different formats.
For more information, see Changing the time ruler format on page 173. The ruler changes with tempo, since the number of beats and beats per second of real time changes with tempo.
Transport bar
The transport bar contains the playback and cursor positioning buttons frequently used while working on your project.
Record new track |
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Pause/resume project playback |
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Loop playback |
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Stop playback |
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Play from beginning of project |
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Move cursor to start of project |
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Play project from cursor position |
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Move cursor to end of project |
ACID also includes keyboard shortcuts for these playback commands. For more information, see Playback commands on page 19.
Zoom controls
To the right of the horizontal scroll bar are the time zoom controls. Clicking the Zoom In Time button ( 
) increases the horizontal magnification of the project. To decrease the level of magnification, click the Zoom Out Time button ( 
).
Directly below the vertical scroll bar are the dedicated track height zoom controls. Clicking the Zoom In Track Height button ( 
) increases the vertical magnification of the project. To decrease the level of magnification, click the Zoom Out Track Height button ( 
).
Note: Double-clicking the horizontal or vertical scroll bars adjusts the magnification so that as much of the project (either horizontally or vertically) is displayed as possible.
Click the Zoom Tool button (
) in the corner of the track view to temporarily change the cursor into the Zoom tool. After you select an area of the track view to magnify, the cursor reverts to the previously active tool.
Note: Double-clicking the Zoom tool adjusts both the horizontal and vertical magnification so that as much of the project is displayed as possible.
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CHP. 1 |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
18 
Window docking area
This area allows you to keep frequently-used windows available while working on a project. Windows can be docked side by side or in stacks in the windows docking area. For more information, see Docking and floating ACID windows on page 172.
Two windows display in the window docking area when you start ACID for the first time: the Explorer and the Mixer. The Chopper™, Video, Audio Plug-In, Track Properties, Surround Panner, and Soft Synth Properties windows can be docked or undocked after they are displayed by choosing the desired window from the View menu.
Tip: You can quickly hide or show the window docking area by pressing F11 .
Explorer window
Click a tab to view a window
The Explorer window works similarly to the Windows Explorer. You can use the Explorer window to locate, preview and select media files to be added to your project. You can also use the Explorer window to perform common file management tasks, such as renaming files or creating folders.
Mixer
The Mixer window provides access to output levels, as well as advanced features such as busses, assignable effect chains, and soft synth controls. For more information, see Using the Mixer window on page 50.
Chopper
The Chopper isolates audio events so that you can dissect them and reinsert them into a project to produce elaborate slice-n-dice effects with minimal effort. Display the Chopper by choosing Chopper from the View menu or pressing Alt + 2 . For more information, see Using the Chopper on page 85.
Video
This window displays prerendered video files that can be imported and synchronized with an ACID project. The video file displays during project playback and can be rendered with the project to an appropriate format. Display the Video window by choosing Video from the View menu or pressing Alt + 4 . For more information, see Using the Video window on page 155.
Audio Plug-In
This window displays plug-ins and settings for track, assignable, bus, and soft synth effects chains. Display the Audio Plug-In window by clicking any FX button ( 
) or by pressing Alt + 5 . For more information, see Using track effects on page 93 and Adding effects to mixer controls on page 121.
Track Properties
This window allows you to change track attributes and edit MIDI tracks using OPT plug-ins. Display the Track Properties window by double-clicking a track’s icon or by pressing Alt + 6 . For more information, see Configuring track properties on page 105 and Working with MIDI on page 131.
Surround Panner
This window allows you to control panning in a 5.1 surround project. Display the Surround Panner window by double-clicking the surround panner on a track or mixer control or by pressing Alt + 7 . For more information, see Working with 5.1 Surround on page 157.
INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
19
Soft Synth Properties
This window allows you to change the attributes of soft synth controls in the Mixer window. Display the Soft Synth Properties window by double-clicking a soft synth control’s icon or by pressing 
. For more information, see Using soft synth controls on page 115.
Keyboard command reference
The ACID keyboard commands are shortcuts that you can use while working on your project.
Project file commands
Description |
Keys |
Create new project |
Ctrl+N |
Create new project and bypass the |
Ctrl+Shift+N |
Project Properties dialog |
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Open existing project or media file |
Ctrl+O |
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Window view commands
Description |
Keys |
Set focus to track view |
Alt+0 |
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View the Explorer window |
Alt+1 |
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View the Chopper window |
Alt+2 |
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View the Mixer window |
Alt+3 |
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View the Video window |
Alt+4 |
View the Audio Plug-In window |
Alt+5 |
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View the Track Properties window |
Alt+6 |
View the Surround Panner window |
Alt+7 |
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View the Soft Synth Properties |
Alt+8 |
window |
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Playback commands |
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Description |
Keys |
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Start/stop playback |
Spacebar |
Stop playback |
Esc |
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Toggle looped playback on/off |
Q |
Play from start |
Shift+Spacebar (when working |
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Shift+F12 (from any window) |
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Play from cursor |
Ctrl+Spacebar (when working in |
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F12 (from any window) |
Pause/resume playback |
Enter (when working in the |
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Ctrl+F12 (from any window) |
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Description |
Keys |
Save project |
Ctrl+S |
Open project’s properties |
Alt+Enter |
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Close current project |
Ctrl+F4 |
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Description |
Keys |
Shift focus forward through open |
F6 |
ACID windows |
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Shift focus backward through open |
Shift+F6 |
ACID windows |
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Shift focus forward (clockwise) |
Tab |
through track list, track view, bus |
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track view, and bus track list |
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Shift focus backward |
Shift+Tab |
(counterclockwise) through track |
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list, bus track list, bus track view, |
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and track view |
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Show/hide bus tracks |
U |
Show/hide window docking area |
F11 |
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Show/hide track list |
Shift+F11 |
Show/hide track list and window |
Ctrl+F11 |
docking area |
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Description |
Keys |
Record |
Ctrl+R |
Go to start |
Ctrl+Home or W |
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Go to end |
Ctrl+End |
Skip backward |
Page Up |
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Skip forward |
Page Down |
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Reset all MIDI ports (panic button) |
Ctrl+Alt+F7 |
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CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
20 
Cursor placement commands
Description |
Keys |
Go to beginning of active loop |
Home |
region or view (if no selection) |
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Go to end of active loop region or |
End |
view (if no selection) |
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Go to beginning of project |
Ctrl+Home or W |
Go to end of project |
Ctrl+End |
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Move left by grid marks |
Page Up |
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Move right by grid marks |
Page Down |
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Go to |
Ctrl+G |
(using measures, beats, and ticks) |
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Go to |
Shift+G |
(using absolute time) |
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Move cursor to corresponding |
Number keys (not on numeric |
marker or region |
keypad) |
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Loop region commands
Description |
Keys |
Make a loop region |
Shift+Left or Right Arrow |
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Extend loop region left by grid |
Shift+Page Up |
marks |
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Extend loop region right by grid |
Shift+Page Down |
marks |
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Expand loop region one pixel |
Shift+Left or Right Arrow |
Make a loop region during playback |
I (in) and O (out) |
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Restore past loop regions |
Backspace |
(up to last five) |
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Select loop region |
Shift+Q (when Time Selection |
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tool is selected) |
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Selection commands
Description |
Keys |
Range selection (events) |
Shift+click range of events |
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Multiple selection (events) |
Ctrl+click individual events |
Select loop region |
Shift+Q (when Time Selection |
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tool is selected) |
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Event commands
Description |
Keys |
Paint the entire media file as an |
Ctrl+click (on track with Paint |
event for one-shot, Beatmapped, |
tool enabled) |
and MIDI tracks |
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Erase entire event for one-shot, |
Ctrl+click (on event with Erase |
Beatmapped, and MIDI tracks |
tool enabled) |
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Undo |
Ctrl+Z |
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Redo |
Ctrl+Shift+Z |
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Cut selection |
Ctrl+X |
Copy selection |
Ctrl+C |
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Paste from clipboard |
Ctrl+V |
Paste repeat |
Ctrl+B |
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Paste insert |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
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Description |
Keys |
Center in view |
\ |
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Move cursor to opposite end of time |
Numeric keypad 5 |
selection or loop bar |
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Move left to marker(s) |
Ctrl+Left Arrow |
Move right to marker(s) |
Ctrl+Right Arrow |
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Move left to event edit points |
Ctrl+Alt+Left Arrow |
including fade edges |
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Move right to event edit points |
Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow |
including fade edges |
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Move by one pixel |
Left or Right Arrow |
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Move through a video event one |
Alt+Left or Right Arrow |
frame at a time |
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Description |
Keys |
Double loop region length |
‘ (apostrophe) |
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Halve loop region length |
; (semicolon) |
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Shift loop region left |
, (comma) |
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Shift loop region right |
. (period) |
Snap loop region to event edges |
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Left or Right |
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Arrow |
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Expand loop region by one video |
Shift+Alt+Left or Right Arrow |
frame |
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Description |
Keys |
Select all |
Ctrl+A |
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Unselect all |
Ctrl+Shift+A |
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Description |
Keys |
Slip Trim: moves the media with the Alt+drag edge of event edge as it is trimmed
Slip: move media within event |
Alt+drag inside event |
without moving the event |
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Slide: move the event while leaving |
Ctrl+Alt+drag event |
the relative position of the media in |
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place |
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Temporarily disable snapping while |
Shift+drag |
moving event |
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Copy event |
Ctrl+drag event |
Pitch down one semitone |
Numeric keypad - |
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Pitch up one semitone |
Numeric keypad + |
Pitch down one octave |
Ctrl+Numeric keypad - |
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Pitch up one octave |
Ctrl+Numeric keypad + |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
Description |
Keys |
Delete selection |
Delete |
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Move selected event(s) right one |
Numeric keypad 6 |
pixel |
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Move selected event(s) left one pixel Numeric keypad 4 |
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Split event(s) |
S |
Join events |
J |
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Create fades |
F |
Render to new track |
Ctrl+M |
Trim/crop time-selected events only |
Ctrl+T |
Track view commands |
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Description |
Keys |
Record |
Ctrl+R |
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Turn on/off ripple edit mode |
Ctrl+L |
Select Draw tool |
Ctrl+D |
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Select next edit tool in list |
D |
Select previous edit tool in list |
Shift+D |
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Mark in point for selection |
I or [ |
Mark out point for selection |
O or ] |
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Show/hide track panning envelope |
P |
Insert/remove track panning |
Shift+P |
envelope |
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Show/hide track volume envelope |
V |
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Insert/remove track volume |
Shift+V |
envelope |
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Toggle through display of track |
E |
effect automation envelopes |
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Adjust envelope point value in fine |
Ctrl+drag envelope point or |
increments without changing the |
segment |
envelope point’s timeline position |
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Adjust envelope point value in |
Ctrl+Alt+drag envelope point |
normal increments without changing |
or segment |
the envelope point’s timeline |
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position |
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Move envelope point’s timeline |
Alt+drag envelope point |
position without changing its value |
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Description |
Keys |
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Pitch down 4 semitones |
Shift+Numeric keypad - |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
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Pitch up 4 semitones |
Shift+Numeric keypad + |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
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Reset pitch |
Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad - or |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
+ |
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Change an event’s gain value |
Numeric keypad / or * |
Change an event’s gain by 10% |
Shift+Numeric keypad / or * |
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Change an event’s gain by 25% |
Ctrl+Numeric keypad / or * |
Set an event’s gain to 0.0 dB |
Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad * |
Set an event’s gain to -inf (silence) |
Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad / |
Description |
Keys |
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Show/hide bus tracks |
U |
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Turn on/off snapping |
F8 |
Toggle between snap to grid and |
Ctrl+F8 |
snap to all |
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Insert region |
R |
Insert marker |
M |
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Insert time marker |
H |
Insert command marker |
C |
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Insert tempo change marker |
T |
Insert key change marker |
K |
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Insert tempo and key change |
Shift+T |
marker |
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Insert time signature change marker Shift+K |
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Change project tempo |
Alt+drag time marker |
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Insert MIDI track |
Ctrl+Alt+Q |
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Render to new track |
Ctrl+M |
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Track list commands
Description |
Keys |
Solo track |
X |
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Mute track |
Z |
Delete track |
Delete |
Pitch down one semitone |
Numeric keypad - |
Pitch up one semitone |
Numeric keypad + |
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Pitch down four semitones |
Shift+Numeric keypad - |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
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Pitch up four semitones |
Shift+Numeric keypad + |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
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Pitch down one octave |
Ctrl+Numeric keypad - |
Pitch up one octave |
Ctrl+Numeric keypad + |
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Reset pitch |
Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad +/- |
(Windows 2000 and XP only) |
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Description |
Keys |
Decrease fader value |
Left Arrow |
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Increase fader value |
Right Arrow |
Move track selection up one track |
Up Arrow |
Move track selection down one track |
Down Arrow |
Multi-select tracks |
Shift+Up or Down Arrow |
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Move track selection up one screen |
Page Up |
of tracks |
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Move track selection down one |
Page Down |
screen of tracks |
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Select all tracks |
Ctrl+A |
Unselect all tracks |
Ctrl+Shift+A |
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CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
22 
View commands
Description |
Keys |
Zoom time in/out small increments |
Up or Down Arrow |
when track view has focus or zoom |
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to loop region (if one exists) |
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Zoom time in/out large increments |
Ctrl+Up or Down Arrow |
when track view has focus |
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Description |
Keys |
Zoom track height in/out small |
Shift+Up or Down Arrow |
increments when track view has |
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focus |
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Mixer commands
Description |
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Change selection of a mixer control |
Left/Right Arrow |
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Select multiple, adjacent mixer |
Shift+Left/Right Arrow |
controls |
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Select multiple nonadjacent mixer |
Ctrl+Left/Right Arrow |
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Move the fader of the selected mixer |
Up/Down Arrow |
control (for assignable effect |
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Description |
Keys |
Move the left channel of the fader |
Shift+Up/Down Arrow |
for the selected mixer control |
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Move the right channel of the fader |
Ctrl+Up/Down Arrow |
for the selected mixer control |
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Delete the selected bus or control |
Delete |
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MIDI commands
Description |
Keys |
Generate MIDI Timecode |
F7 |
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Trigger from MIDI Timecode |
Ctrl+F7 |
Generate MIDI Clock |
Shift+F7 |
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Description |
Keys |
Enable real-time MIDI |
Alt+F7 |
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Reset all MIDI ports (panic button) |
Ctrl+Alt+F7 |
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Chopper commands
For more information, see Using Chopper toolbar and keyboard commands on page 86.
Surround Panner commands
For more information, see Moving the pan point on page 164.
Miscellaneous commands
Description |
Keys |
Online help |
F1 |
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What’sThis? help |
Shift+F1 |
Shortcut menu |
Shift+F10 |
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Refresh screen |
F5 |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
23
Mouse scroll-wheel shortcuts
Description |
Keys |
Zoom in on timeline |
Default mouse wheel behavior |
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Horizontal scroll |
Shift+wheel |
Vertical scroll |
Ctrl+wheel |
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Move by video frames |
Ctrl+Shift+Alt+wheel |
Move the cursor in grid increments |
Ctrl+Shift+wheel |
Auto-scrolling |
Press mouse wheel and move |
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Move fader |
Wheel over a fader |
Make fine fader adjustments |
Ctrl+wheel over a fader |
Move pan point front/back in |
Default mouse wheel behavior |
Surround Panner window |
(when pan point is selected) |
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Move pan point left/right in |
Shift+wheel |
Surround Panner window |
(when pan point is selected) |
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CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
24 
Audio signal flow
Audio event* |
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Event envelope |
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Bus pre/post volume |
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pre/post volume |
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Track FX |
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Pre |
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Pre |
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Post |
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Post |
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Bus send |
Track volume |
Assignable FX send |
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Pan track†
Assignable FX
Input Chain Output
Mute track
Mute (Pan)‡
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Bus assignment |
Bus assignment |
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Bus Control |
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Mute |
FX |
Volume |
(Pan)^ |
Master Bus Control
Mute |
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FX |
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Volume |
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Hardware |
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output |
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output |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
25
Notes on audio signal flow
* This diagram describes non-MIDI audio events. For MIDI events, see MIDI signal flow on page 26.
† In 5.1 surround projects, tracks routed to the Surround Master bus send surround panning (six-channel) information. Tracks routed to busses (e.g., Bus A) send stereo panning (two-channel) information.
‡Assignable effect chain panning is available only in 5.1 surround projects. In 5.1 surround projects, assignable effect chains routed to the Surround Master bus send surround panning (six-channel) information. Assignable effect chains routed to busses (e.g., Bus A) send stereo panning (two-channel) information.
^Bus panning is available only in 5.1 surround projects. In 5.1 surround projects, busses routed to the Surround Master bus send surround panning (six-channel) information. Busses routed to hardware send stereo panning (two-channel) information.
CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
26 
MIDI signal flow
MIDI event |
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Track volume |
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Mute track |
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Device or soft synth assignment |
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External
MIDI device
DLS or VSTi assignment
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MIDI |
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DLS |
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VST |
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voice set |
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instrument |
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Audio |
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Soft Synth Control
Mute |
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FX |
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Volume |
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Bus Control |
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Master Bus Control |
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Mute |
FX |
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Volume |
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(Pan)^ |
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Mute |
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FX |
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Volume |
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Hardware |
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Hardware |
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output |
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output |
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INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
27
Notes on MIDI signal flow
*Soft synth panning is available only in 5.1 surround projects. In 5.1 surround projects, soft synth controls routed to the Surround Master bus send surround panning (six-channel) information. Soft synth controls routed to busses (e.g., Bus A) send stereo panning (two-channel) information.
^Bus panning is available only in 5.1 surround projects. In 5.1 surround projects, busses routed to the Surround Master bus send surround panning (six-channel) information. Busses routed to hardware send stereo panning (two-channel) information.
CHP. 1 |
INTRODUCING ACID |
28 
INTRODUCING ACID |
CHP. 1 |
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