Sony Acid 7 Manual

							CHP. 1INTRODUCING ACID
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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
Window view commands 
Playback commands
Description Keys Description Keys
Create new projectCtrl+NSave projectCtrl+S
Create new project and bypass the 
Project Properties dialogCtrl+Shift+N Open project’s properties Alt+Enter
Open existing project or media fileCtrl+OClose current projectCtrl+F4
Description Keys Description Keys
Set focus to track viewAlt+0Shift focus forward through open 
ACID windowsF6
View the Explorer window Alt+1 Shift focus backward through open 
ACID windowsShift+F6
View the Chopper windowAlt+2Shift focus forward (clockwise) 
through track list, track view, bus 
track view, and bus track listTa b
View the Mixer window Alt+3 Shift focus backward 
(counterclockwise) through track 
list, bus track list, bus track view, 
and track viewShift+Tab
View the Video windowAlt+4Show/hide bus tracksU
View the Audio Plug-In window  Alt+5 Show/hide window docking area F11
View the Track Properties windowAlt+6Show/hide track listShift+F11
View the Surround Panner window Alt+7 Show/hide track list and window 
docking area Ctrl+F11
View the Soft Synth Properties 
windowAlt+8
Description Keys Description Keys
Start/stop playbackSpacebarRecordCtrl+R
Stop playback Esc Go to start Ctrl+Home or W
Toggle looped playback on/offQGo to endCtrl+End
Play from start Shift+Spacebar (when working 
in the track view)
Shift+F12 (from any window)Skip backward Page Up
Play from cursorCtrl+Spacebar (when working in 
the track view)
F12 (from any window)Skip forwardPage Down
Pause/resume playback Enter (when working in the 
track view)
Ctrl+F12 (from any window)Reset all MIDI ports (panic button) Ctrl+Alt+F7
Alt +8 
						

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INTRODUCING ACIDCHP. 1
Cursor placement commands
Loop region commands
Selection commands
Event commands
Description Keys Description Keys
Go to beginning of active loop 
region or view (if no selection)HomeCenter in view\
Go to end of active loop region or 
view (if no selection)End Move cursor to opposite end of time 
selection or loop barNumeric keypad 5
Go to beginning of projectCtrl+Home or WMove left to marker(s)Ctrl+Left Arrow
Go to end of project Ctrl+End Move right to marker(s) Ctrl+Right Arrow
Move left by grid marksPage UpMove left to event edit points 
including fade edgesCtrl+Alt+Left Arrow
Move right by grid marks Page Down Move right to event edit points 
including fade edgesCtrl+Alt+Right Arrow
Go to 
(using measures, beats, and ticks)Ctrl+GMove by one pixelLeft or Right Arrow
Go to 
(using absolute time)Shift+G Move through a video event one 
frame at a timeAlt+Left or Right Arrow
Move cursor to corresponding 
marker or regionNumber keys (not on numeric 
keypad)
Description Keys Description Keys
Make a loop region Shift+Left or Right Arrow Double loop region length‘ (apostrophe)
Extend loop region left by grid 
marksShift+Page UpHalve loop region length; (semicolon)
Extend loop region right by grid 
marksShift+Page Down Shift loop region left, (comma)
Expand loop region one pixelShift+Left or Right ArrowShift loop region right. (period)
Make a loop region during playback I (in) and O (out) Snap loop region to event edges Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Left or Right 
Arrow
Restore past loop regions 
(up to last five)BackspaceExpand loop region by one video 
frameShift+Alt+Left or Right Arrow
Select loop region Shift+Q (when Time Selection 
tool is selected)
Description Keys Description Keys
Range selection (events) Shift+click range of events Select all Ctrl+A
Multiple selection (events)Ctrl+click individual eventsUnselect allCtrl+Shift+A
Select loop region Shift+Q (when Time Selection 
tool is selected)
Description Keys Description Keys
Paint the entire media file as an 
event for one-shot, Beatmapped, 
and MIDI tracksCtrl+click (on track with Paint 
tool enabled)Slip Trim: moves the media with the 
edge as it is trimmedAlt+drag edge of event
Erase entire event for one-shot, 
Beatmapped, and MIDI tracksCtrl+click (on event with Erase 
tool enabled)Slip: move media within event 
without moving the eventAlt+drag inside event
UndoCtrl+ZSlide: move the event while leaving 
the relative position of the media in 
placeCtrl+Alt+drag event
Redo  Ctrl+Shift+Z Temporarily disable snapping while 
moving eventShift+drag
Cut selectionCtrl+X Copy eventCtrl+drag event
Copy selection Ctrl+C  Pitch down one semitone Numeric keypad -
Paste from clipboardCtrl+VPitch up one semitoneNumeric keypad +
Paste repeat Ctrl+B Pitch down one octave Ctrl+Numeric keypad -
Paste insertCtrl+Shift+VPitch up one octaveCtrl+Numeric keypad + 
						

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Track view commands
Track list commands
Delete selection Delete Pitch down 4 semitones
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Shift+Numeric keypad -
Move selected event(s) right one 
pixelNumeric keypad 6Pitch up 4 semitones
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Shift+Numeric keypad +
Move selected event(s) left one pixel Numeric keypad 4 Reset pitch
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad - or 
+
Split event(s)SChange an event’s gain valueNumeric keypad / or *
Join events J Change an event’s gain by 10% Shift+Numeric keypad / or *
Create fadesFChange an event’s gain by 25%Ctrl+Numeric keypad / or *
Render to new track Ctrl+M Set an event’s gain to 0.0 dB Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad *
Trim/crop time-selected events onlyCtrl+TSet an event’s gain to -inf (silence)Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad /
Description Keys Description Keys
Record Ctrl+R Show/hide bus tracksU
Turn on/off ripple edit modeCtrl+LTurn on/off snappingF8
Select Draw tool Ctrl+D Toggle between snap to grid and 
snap to allCtrl+F8
Select next edit tool in listDInsert regionR
Select previous edit tool in list Shift+D Insert marker M
Mark in point for selectionI or [Insert time markerH
Mark out point for selection O or ] Insert command marker C
Show/hide track panning envelopePInsert tempo change markerT
Insert/remove track panning 
envelopeShift+P Insert key change marker K
Show/hide track volume envelopeVInsert tempo and key change 
markerShift+T
Insert/remove track volume 
envelopeShift+V Insert time signature change marker Shift+K
Toggle through display of track 
effect automation envelopesEChange project tempoAlt+drag time marker
Adjust envelope point value in fine 
increments without changing the 
envelope point’s timeline positionCtrl+drag envelope point or 
segmentInsert MIDI track Ctrl+Alt+Q
Adjust envelope point value in 
normal increments without changing 
the envelope point’s timeline 
positionCtrl+Alt+drag envelope point 
or segmentRender to new trackCtrl+M
Move envelope point’s timeline 
position without changing its valueAlt+drag envelope point
Description Keys Description Keys
Solo track X Decrease fader value Left Arrow
Mute trackZIncrease fader valueRight Arrow
Delete track Delete Move track selection up one track Up Arrow
Pitch down one semitoneNumeric keypad -Move track selection down one track Down Arrow
Pitch up one semitone Numeric keypad + Multi-select tracks Shift+Up or Down Arrow
Pitch down four semitones
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Shift+Numeric keypad -Move track selection up one screen 
of tracksPage Up
Pitch up four semitones
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Shift+Numeric keypad + Move track selection down one 
screen of tracksPage Down
Pitch down one octaveCtrl+Numeric keypad -Select all tracksCtrl+A
Pitch up one octave Ctrl+Numeric keypad + Unselect all tracks Ctrl+Shift+A
Reset pitch
(Windows 2000 and XP only)Ctrl+Shift+Numeric keypad +/-
Description Keys Description Keys 
						

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INTRODUCING ACIDCHP. 1
View commands
Mixer commands
MIDI commands
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 Description Keys
Zoom time in/out small increments 
when track view has focus or zoom 
to loop region (if one exists)Up or Down Arrow Zoom track height in/out small 
increments when track view has 
focusShift+Up or Down Arrow
Zoom time in/out large increments 
when track view has focusCtrl+Up or Down Arrow
Description Keys Description Keys
Change selection of a mixer control Left/Right Arrow Move the left channel of the fader 
for the selected mixer controlShift+Up/Down Arrow
Select multiple, adjacent mixer 
controlsShift+Left/Right ArrowMove the right channel of the fader 
for the selected mixer controlCtrl+Up/Down Arrow
Select multiple nonadjacent mixer 
controlsCtrl+Left/Right Arrow Delete the selected bus or control Delete
Move the fader of the selected mixer 
control (for assignable effect 
controls, moves the Out fader)Up/Down Arrow
Description Keys Description Keys
Generate MIDI Timecode F7 Enable real-time MIDI Alt+F7
Trigger from MIDI Timecode Ctrl+F7Reset all MIDI ports (panic button)Ctrl+Alt+F7
Generate MIDI Clock Shift+F7
Description Keys
Online help F1
What’sThis? helpShift+F1
Shortcut menu Shift+F10
Refresh screenF5 
						

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Mouse scroll-wheel shortcuts
Description Keys
Zoom in on timeline Default mouse wheel behavior
Horizontal scrollShift+wheel
Vertical scroll Ctrl+wheel
Move by video framesCtrl+Shift+Alt+wheel
Move the cursor in grid increments Ctrl+Shift+wheel
Auto-scrollingPress mouse wheel and move 
the mouse in the desired 
direction
Move fader Wheel over a fader
Make fine fader adjustmentsCtrl+wheel over a fader
Move pan point front/back in 
Surround Panner windowDefault mouse wheel behavior 
(when pan point is selected)
Move pan point left/right in 
Surround Panner windowShift+wheel 
(when pan point is selected) 
						

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INTRODUCING ACIDCHP. 1
Audio signal flow
Master Bus Control
Audio event* Event envelope
Bus sendTrack FX
Track volume
Pan track
†
Mute trackAssignable FX send
Input Chain Output
Mute
Volume FX  Mute
Hardware Bus assignment
 output Bus pre/post volumeAssignable FX
Assignable FX
Bus Control
Bus assignment
pre/post volume
Volume FX  Mute
Hardware
 output
(Pan)^
(Pan)‡
Pre
Post Pre
Post 
						

							CHP. 1INTRODUCING ACID
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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. 
						

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INTRODUCING ACIDCHP. 1
MIDI signal flow
MIDI event Track volume
Mute track
Volume FX  Mute
Soft Synth Control
(Pan)*
Device or soft synth assignment
DLS or VSTi assignment
External
MIDI 
device
DLS
voice set
VST
instrument
MIDI
Audio
Master Bus Control
Volume FX  Mute
Hardware
 output
Bus Control
Volume FX  Mute
Hardware
 output
(Pan)^ 
						

							CHP. 1INTRODUCING ACID
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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. 
						

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INTRODUCING ACIDCHP. 1