Sony Acid Music Studio 9 Manual

							WORKING WITH PROJECTS | 25
Playing the project
You have several methods for playing your projects.
Using the transport bar
All buttons required to play your project are located on the transport bar. The transport bar should look somewhat familiar to you, 
as it contains buttons found on most home CD and cassette players. 
For more information, see Transport bar on page 8.
Using playback options
As you build a project, you will likely have different playback needs. For example, you may want to hear the project in its entirety 
when checking the final mix, but not when you are working on the ending. Because of this, you have three playback options:
• Playing the entire project.
• Playing from the cursor position.
• Playing in looped playback.
Playing the entire project
To begin playback from the beginning of the project, click the transport bar’s Play from Start button () or press Shift+Spacebar. 
To stop playback, click the transport bar’s Stop button () or press Spacebar.
Playing from the cursor position
To begin playback from the current cursor position, click the transport bar’s Play button () or press Spacebar. To stop playback, 
click the transport bar’s Stop button () or press Spacebar.
Playing in looped playback
You can also limit playback to a specific loop region on the timeline. This playback method uses the transport bar’s Loop Playback 
button (
) and allows you to fine-tune mixes and effects while continually listening to the selected area. For more information, see 
Transport bar on page 8.
1.Drag the handles of the loop bar to create the desired loop region.
2.Click the Loop Playback button () to turn on looped playback.
3.Click the transport bar’s Play button () or press Spacebar. Playback of the selected area begins. To stop playback, click the 
transport bar’s Stop button () or press Spacebar.
Using the metronome
You can use the ACID Music Studio metronome feature to keep time during playback. If you have the Metronome button () 
enabled on the toolbar, the metronome will automatically play when you start playing your project.
The metronome sounds are created by the general MIDI sound set, and the volume of the metronome during playback is 
determined using the Preview fader in the Mixer.
The metronome’s sound is not mixed in the final rendering of the project.
HandleLoop bar 
						

							26 | CHAPTER 4
Using the Mixing Console
The Mixing Console window is a dockable window with a default location in the lower-right corner of the ACID workspace. The 
Mixer window contains the following controls:
• A Preview fader, which allows you to adjust the loudness of media files previewed from the Explorer window, Track Properties 
window, Beatmapper, or the Chopper tool. Also, the Preview fader’s volume determines the volume of new tracks added to the 
project, unless you have set a default track volume level. This allows you to set up a quick mix while you are adding media to 
your project.
• A Master bus fader, which controls the overall volume.
• Faders for up to 26 project busses when added to the project.
• Faders for up to 32 assignable effect chains when added to the project.
• Faders for up to 32 soft synth controls when added to the project.
The function of the bus, assignable effect, and soft synth controls are beyond the scope of this chapter.
Viewing the Mixing Console window
The Mixing Console window appears by default when you start the application, but you can hide it if necessary. To view or hide the 
Mixing Console window, choose Mixing Console from the View menu or press Alt+3. A check mark appears adjacent to the 
command to indicate when the window is displayed.
Mixing Console toolbar
The Mixing Console toolbar is displayed at the top of the Mixing Console window and allows you to quickly configure the window’s 
display, downmix audio, dim the output, or add tracks, assignable effects, or busses.
ItemDescription
Properties and 
LayoutClick the Properties and Layout button () to open the Audio tab in the Project Properties 
dialog, or click the down arrow and choose a command from the menu:
Audio PropertiesDisplays the Audio tab in the Project Properties dialog.
Show Channel ListDisplays or hides the Channel List on the left side of the Mixing Console 
window.
Select a channel strip’s check box to display it in the Mixing Console, or 
clear a check box to hide a channel strip without removing it from your 
project.
Show ChannelsChoose a command to configure which channel strips are displayed in the 
Mixing Console window.
•Show All Channels: Displays all channel strips in the Mixing Console.
•Audio Tracks: Shows or hides audio track channel strips.
•MIDI Tracks: Shows or hides MIDI track channel strips.
•Audio Busses: Shows or hides auxiliary bus channel strips.
•Soft Synth Busses: Shows or hides soft synth bus channel strips.
•Assignable FX Busses: Shows or hides assignable FX channel strips. 
•Master Bus: Shows or hides the Master bus channel strip.
•Preview Bus: Shows or hides the Preview bus channel strip.
Show Control 
RegionsChoose a command to configure which portions of the channel strips are 
displayed in the Mixing Console window.
•Show All Control Regions: Displays all control regions.
•Insert FX Control Region: Shows or hides the Insert FX control region.
•Sends Control Region: Shows or hides the Sends control region.
•I/O Control Region: Shows or hides the I/O control region. 
•Peak Meters Control Region: Shows or hides Peak Meters.
•Faders Control Region: Shows or hides volume faders.
Show Control 
Region LabelsChoose this command to show or hide control region labels in channel 
strips.
Show Fader TicksChoose this command to show or hide the fader ticks next to the faders.
Channel WidthChoose a setting to indicate whether you want to view narrow, medium 
(default), or wide channel strips in the Mixing Console window. 
						

							WORKING WITH PROJECTS | 27
Channel List pane
The Channel List pane is displayed on the left side of the Mixing Console window.
To show or hide the pane, click the down arrow next to the Properties and Layout button () and choose Show Channel List 
from the menu (or right-click the Mixing Console window and choose Show Channel List from the shortcut menu).
The top of the Channel List pane displays a listing of all tracks, busses, and assignable effects chains in your project. Select a 
channel’s check box to include it in the Mixing Console display, or clear a check box to hide the channel without removing it from 
your project.
Clicking a track, bus, soft synth, or assignable effects chain in the Channel List pane selects that channel. You can hold Ctrl or Shift to 
select multiple channels to perform ganged edits.
View pane
The View pane is displayed on the left side of the Mixing Console window. If the Channel List pane is visible, the View pane is 
displayed between the Channel List pane and the Channels pane.
Meter LayoutChoose Meter Layout, and then choose a command from the submenu to 
reset clip indicators; set the display range; or display labels, peaks, or 
valleys in the channel meters.
Insert Audio TrackAdds an audio track to your project.
Insert MIDI TrackAdds a MIDI track to your project.
Insert Assignable FXCreates an assignable FX chain that you can route to one or more tracks in your project.
To delete an assignable FX chain, right-click the assignable FX channel strip and choose Delete 
from the shortcut menu.
Insert BusAdds a bus to your project. The Audio tab in the Project Properties dialog is updated to reflect 
the new number of busses.
To delete a bus, right-click the channel strip for the bus and choose Delete from the shortcut 
menu.
Insert Soft SynthAdds a soft synth to your project.
To delete a soft synth, right-click the channel strip for the soft synth and choose Delete from the 
shortcut menu.
Item Description 
						

							28 | CHAPTER 4
You can use the buttons in this pane to show or hide components in the Mixing Console.
ItemDescription
Show AllClick to show channel strips for all tracks, busses, and assignable effects chains. 
Audio TracksClick to show or hide channel strips for audio tracks.
If your project does not contain any audio tracks, this button is unavailable.
MIDI TracksClick to show or hide channel strips for MIDI tracks.
If your project does not contain any MIDI tracks, this button is unavailable.
Audio BussesClick to show or hide channel strips for busses.
If your project does not contain any busses, this button is unavailable.
Soft SynthsClick to show or hide channel strips for soft synths.
If your project does not contain any soft synths, this button is unavailable.
Assignable FX Click to show or hide channel strips for assignable effects chains.
If your project does not contain any assignable effects chains, this button is 
unavailable.
Master BusClick to show or hide the channel strip for the Master bus.
Preview BusClick to show or hide the channel strip for the Preview bus.
Insert FXClick to show or hide the Insert FX control region in channel strips.
SendsClick to show or hide the Sends control region in channel strips.
I/OClick to show or hide the I/O control region in channel strips.
MetersClick to show or hide the Peak Meters control region in channel strips.
Fad ersClick to show or hide the Faders control region in channel strips.
Channel WidthDrag the slider toward the Zoom Out Track and Bus Width button () to decrease 
the width of the channel strips, or drag toward the Zoom In Track and Bus Width 
button (
) to increase channel strip widths. 
						

							WORKING WITH PROJECTS | 29
Channel strips
Tracks, busses, soft synths, and assignable effects chains are displayed as channel strips in the Mixing Console.
Tips:
• If you want to change the order in which channels are displayed, you can click the channel label and drag a channel strip to a new 
location.
• Hover over a fader and roll your mouse wheel to change its setting.
• To edit a fader value quickly, you can double-click the displayed value to type a new value.
• Hold Ctrl while dragging a fader to move it in fine increments.
ItemDescription
Insert FX Control RegionThe Insert FX control region displays the insert effects chain for a track or bus.
Note: MIDI tracks do not have this region on the channel strip.
Sends Control RegionThe Sends control region displays controls for routing tracks to busses or assignable effects chains. For 
assignable effects chains, the Sends control region also displays an input fader and meter.
Note: MIDI tracks do not have this region on the channel strip.
I/O Control RegionThe I/O control region allows you to choose the recording input for a track or route a channel to a bus or 
hardware output.
Peak Meters Control RegionThe Peak Meters control region displays peak meters you can use to monitor instantaneous levels during 
playback and determine the loudest level in your audio signal.
Note: To change the range of all meters in the Mixing Console, drag the Meter Range slider in the View 
pane (or right-click a meter and choose a range from the shortcut menu).
Faders Control RegionThe Faders control region allows you to control a channel’s gain.
• Audio track channels display controls for the track automation mode, arm for record, input monitor 
mode, mute, solo, pan, track gain, and phase.
• MIDI track channels display controls for the track automation mode, arm for record, MIDI input, solo, 
mute, pan, and track gain.
• Bus channels display controls for the bus automation mode, mute, solo, pan, bus gain, and pre/post fader 
effects processing.
• Assignable effects channels display controls for the bus automation mode, mute, solo, pan, and bus gain.
If the Peak Meters control region is not visible, the Faders control region also displays a peak meter.
Channel LabelThe Channel Label displays the name of the track or bus. Double-click to edit the name.
Insert FX Control Region
Sends Control Region
I/O Control Region
Peak Meters Control Region
Faders Control Region
Channel Label 
						

							30 | CHAPTER 4 
						

							RECORDING | 31
Chapter 5Recording
ACID® Music Studio™ software can record audio into multiple mono or stereo audio tracks while simultaneously 
playing back existing audio and MIDI tracks. You are limited only by the performance of your computer system and 
audio hardware. Audio is recorded to a media file on your computer and into an event on the timeline. You may 
record into an empty track, a time selection, an event, or a combination of time and event selection. Audio output 
from your computer during recording is not necessarily recorded with the new audio.
You can also record into multiple MIDI tracks and MIDI step recording.
Recording audio
Preparing to record
Before you record, you must arm the tracks into which you will record the new audio. You must also select the 
recording settings for the tracks. You have the additional options of using a metronome or turning off playback 
during recording.
You may record into an empty track, a time selection, an event, or a combination of time and event selection. You can 
also record multiple takes for an event so you can maintain multiple versions of an event that you may play back and 
edit.
Arming the track for recording
Whether recording into an existing track, an empty track, a selected event, or a time selection, you must prepare a 
track for recording. You can arm multiple tracks prior to recording.
Click the Arm for Record button () in the track list.
Once a track is armed, a record meter appears in the track list. Depending on your hardware, a record gain fader may 
also appear.
In addition, one of two Record Device Selector buttons appears: () or (). The button that appears is based on 
the Audio device type selected in the Audio tab of the Preferences dialog.
Recording into an empty track
1.Select a track. Alternately, to record to a new track, choose Audio Track from the Insert menu.
2.Place the cursor on the timeline where you want to begin recording.
3.Arm the track by clicking the Arm for Record button () on the track.
ButtonDescription
 Stereo
 Mono left
 Mono right
This button appears when Use Microsoft® Sound Mapper™ has been selected as 
the audio device type on the Preferences Audio tab. The Sound Mapper allows 
you to choose how the signal will be recorded: stereo or mono. Click this button 
to view a menu with Stereo, Left, or Right.
 Stereo
 Mono left
 Mono right
This button appears when the Windows® Classic Wave Driver or an ASIO device 
has been selected as the audio device type on the Preferences Audio Device 
tab. When you choose this option, you can specify which device (e.g., sound 
card) you will record from on any given track prior to recording. Click this button 
to view a menu with Stereo or Mono, and a submenu with all available devices 
for either option.
Arm the track first. Track is ready for recording. 
						

							32 | CHAPTER 5
4.Start recording by clicking the Record button () on the transport bar.
Depending on the recording selection, a waveform is created along the timeline as you record into the armed track(s).
5.Stop recording by clicking the Record button () again or the Stop button () on the transport bar.
6.A dialog displays the name and location of the file or files that were just created. Click Done to return to the main workspace.
Monitoring audio levels
While you’re recording, a responsive meter is provided in the track header to monitor the incoming signal level of the selected 
recording device. It is important that you record with the highest signal possible without clipping.
A reading of 0 dB is the maximum for a digital signal. Clipping occurs when the incoming signal is too high to be represented as a 
digital value. The result is distortion in the recording. A clipped signal will be indicated by a red Clip warning at the end of the 
meters.
Right-click the meters and choose a command from the shortcut menu to adjust the display of the meters.
ItemDescription
DeleteRemoves selected file.
RenameChanges the name of a selected file.
Delete AllRemoved all files in dialog.
Show after every recording sessionWhen selected, ACID software displays this dialog after each 
recording session.
DoneReturns to the timeline.
Start/stop 
recordingStop 
recordingRecorded 
waveform 
						

							RECORDING | 33
Recording MIDI 
You can use an external MIDI controller (or the keyboard/drum list between the track header and timeline) to record MIDI into your 
ACID Music Studio project.
You can record in real time during project playback or use step recording to build MIDI tracks.
Setting up a MIDI controller for recording into a track
1.Select the MIDI track you want to record into, or press Ctrl+Alt+Q to add a new, blank MIDI track to your project.
2.Choose a MIDI input port by clicking the MIDI Input button on the track header. Choose a command from the menu:
• Auto Input  — Uses automatic input routing.
• Input Off  — Turns off MIDI input to the track.
3.Choose a MIDI input channel:
a.Click the MIDI Input button on the track header.
b.Choose MIDI Channel from the menu, and choose the MIDI channel you want to send data to the track, or choose All if 
you want the track to listen to all channels.
4.Click the MIDI Input button on the track header and choose Send MIDI Input Thru to MIDI Output from the menu if you want 
to echo notes from the MIDI controller to the track's MIDI device or soft synth for monitoring.
Recording MIDI in real time
You can record MIDI in real time while your project plays back.
1.Connect a MIDI controller to your computer. If you do not have a MIDI controller, you can use the keyboard in the timeline 
(when in MIDI timeline editing mode) or the keyboard in the Soft Synth Properties window.
2.Select the Arm for Record buttons () on the tracks where you want to record. Arming a track enables it for recording.
3.Choose a MIDI input device and channel for each armed track. For more information, see Setting up a MIDI controller for recording 
into a track on page 33.
4.Set up any desired MIDI message, velocity, or quantize filters for your armed tracks.
5.Position the cursor where you want to start recording.
6.Click the Record button () on the transport bar to start recording. MIDI messages from your controller are recorded as you 
play them.
• Notes are added to an event in the timeline.
• MIDI controller adjustments (such as pitch wheel and modulation wheel movements) are recorded as track envelopes.
MIDI controllers are recorded in latch mode: envelope points are created when you change a control setting, and 
recording continues until you stop playback. When you stop adjusting the control, the control's current setting overwrites 
the existing envelope points.
Tip: If you use the keyboard/drum list between the track header and timeline to input MIDI notes, note that the buttons are velocity 
sensitive: clicking toward the right side of a button plays the note with a higher velocity setting than clicking toward the left side. The 
keyboard/drum list is visible in inline MIDI editing mode.
Important: Attempting to record MIDI controller data over an existing event will overwrite existing note data.
Note: Not all VSTi plug-ins can record using the keyboard in the Soft Synth Properties window.
Note: Envelope points are not thinned when recording MIDI controllers from a hardware device. 
						

							34 | CHAPTER 5
7.To stop recording, click the Record button () again or click the Stop button () on the transport bar.
A new clip is created for the recorded MIDI data on each armed track. You can use the Clip Pool tab in the Track Properties 
window to manage clips.
Using MIDI step recording
Click the MIDI Step Record button () to open the MIDI Step Record dialog, where you can record by specifying the interval 
between MIDI messages. Step recording allows you to record notes with very precise timing.
1.Connect a MIDI controller to your computer. If you do not have a MIDI controller, you can use the keyboard in the timeline 
(when in MIDI timeline editing mode) or the keyboard in the Soft Synth Properties window.
2.Select the Arm for Record buttons () on the tracks where you want to record. Arming a track enables it for recording. If you 
do not arm a track for recording, a new MIDI track will be created when you click the MIDI Step Record button ().
3.Choose a MIDI input device and channel for each armed track. For more information, see Setting up a MIDI controller for recording 
into a track on page 33.
4.Set up any desired MIDI message, velocity, or quantize filters for your armed tracks.
5.Position the cursor where you want to start recording.
6.Click the MIDI Step Record button (). The MIDI Step Record dialog is displayed.
7.Use the MIDI Step Record dialog to set options for recorded MIDI notes.
a.Click the Step size button and choose the interval between the beginnings of notes.
Select the Tu pl et check box to set irregular intervals. For example, to set a triplet interval in 4/4 time, select the Tu pl et 
check box and choose 3 in time of 4.
b.Click the Duration button and choose the length of the note’s sustain. When you choose a duration longer than the step 
size, notes will overlap.
c.To set the note-on velocity for recorded notes, type a value in the Velocity box. If you want to record note-on velocity 
from your controller, select the As Played check box.
8.MIDI messages from your controller are recorded as you play them, and notes are added to an event in the timeline.
9.To stop recording, close the MIDI Step Record dialog or click the Stop  button on the transport bar.
Note: You can also record into time selections, punch into MIDI events, or record multiple clips (when recording into a selection with 
Loop Playback  selected) in the same way you record audio.
Note: Not all VSTi plug-ins can record using the keyboard in the Soft Synth Properties window.
Notes:
• MIDI controller adjustments (such as pitch wheel and modulation wheel movements) are not recorded in step record mode.
• If you press a key before releasing the current key, both notes will be recorded at the same timeline position. Release both keys to 
advance to the next step.