Sony Vegas 5 Manual

							CHP. 7WORKING WITH EVENTS
139
Using opacity envelopes
Opacity envelopes set the overall opacity and 
allow you to fade video events in and out. This 
affects the transparency of the event in relation 
to background events on lower tracks. These 
background events can be other video events or 
background colors. For more information, see 
Using generated media on page 213.
Setting a video event’s opacity
When you place the mouse pointer at the top of 
the event, the pointer changes to a hand cursor 
( ) that you can use to lower the event’s 
overall opacity.
1.Place the mouse pointer at the top of the event.
2.When you see the envelope cursor ( ), drag the opacity envelope to the desired level. As you drag, the 
event’s opacity level is displayed.
Note: When you have multiple events selected, the opacity 
of all selected events is adjusted simultaneously.
Setting an event’s fade in and out
The event handles allow you to change a video event’s fade in and out. You can also change the type of 
curve that the event uses to control the fade in or out.
1.Place the mouse pointer on a handle (upper corners of the event). The 
pointer changes to the envelope cursor ( ).
2.As you drag the cursor, the opacity envelope appears. Both the time in 
the event and the opacity level are displayed as you drag.
Changing an event’s fade curve
You can set the shape of the fade curve (fast, linear, slow, sharp, or 
smooth) that an event uses to increase or decrease the opacity over time. To access the different fade curves, 
right-click anywhere in the event’s fade-in or -out region and choose 
Fade Type from the shortcut menu.
Tip: If you use the same fade curve frequently, you can set it 
as a default for all new video event envelopes. For more 
information, see Editing tab on page 297.
Using velocity envelopes
Velocity envelopes are only available in the full version of Vegas software.
You can use velocity envelopes to change the speed of a video event over time. To view a velocity envelope, 
right-click the event and choose 
Insert/Remove Velocity Envelope.
1.Right-click an event and choose Insert/Remove Velocity Envelope. The velocity envelope appears on the 
event as a blue line. 
2.To increase the speed, drag the envelope up. To slow the video down, drag the envelope down. 
						

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Adding velocity envelope points
When combined with points, envelopes can be used to animate velocity changes.
1.Double-click the envelope where you want to add a 
point.
2.Drag the point to adjust it. The time and velocity level 
of the point are displayed as you drag.
3.Right-click the envelope between two points to choose 
a fade type (linear, fast, slow, smooth, or sharp) to set 
the shape of the curve.
Tip: To delete a point, right-click the point and choose 
Delete.
Making a video play at twice its normal speed makes the duration of the video half as long. Likewise, slowing 
a video down makes it longer (with 0% being an infinite freeze frame). For example, if you decrease the 
speed of a ten-second video event by 50%, only five seconds of video play (played over the course of the ten-
second event), meaning that only half as much actual footage from the original event plays. On the other 
hand, if the speed is increased 200%, the ten seconds of content play in only five seconds. The remaining 
five seconds of the event are filled either with a freeze of the last frame or with ten additional seconds of 
video content from the longer file.
You may want to resample the frame rate of an event that has been significantly slowed. To resample an 
event, right-click the event and choose 
Properties. Then, on the Video Event tab, select the Resample check 
box. For more information, see Resampling video on page 199.
Using the Envelope Edit Tool
While you can edit envelopes using the Normal Edit tool ( ), you can limit your editing to envelopes only 
by clicking the 
Envelope Edit Tool button ( ). You cannot move, trim, or otherwise modify events with this 
tool, which allows you to edit envelope points without making any other unwanted changes. For more 
information, see Using the Envelope Edit tool on page 128.
Reversing a video event
Setting the velocity to a negative value reverses the video, working backwards from the point where the 
negative value occurs. An event that has been reversed plays backwards until it gets to the first frame and 
then holds that frame for the duration of the event.
1.Right-click an event and choose Insert/Remove Velocity Envelope.
2.Trim the beginning of the video event to the place where you want the reversal to begin (e.g., the last 
frame in the media file that you want to play if it were playing forward).
Envelope points 
						

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3.Drag the velocity down to -100% for a normal speed reversal.
Removing a velocity envelope
To remove a velocity envelope and all of its settings, right-click the event and choose Insert/Remove Velocity 
Envelope 
from the shortcut menu. 
Grouping events
You are allowed to group events together within tracks or across separate 
tracks. Once you create a group, you can move all the events in the group 
within their tracks as a unit and apply event-specific edits at the same 
time.
You can still edit properties of individual events within a group without 
affecting the other events in a group.
Creating a new group
Grouping is useful when you want to preserve timing of events and move events together along the timeline. 
1.Select the events you want to group. For more information, see Selecting multiple events on page 60.
2.From the Edit menu, choose Group, and choose Create New from the submenu.
This is the original, untrimmed, event. The horses run from left to right.
The event is edge trimmed to the frame where the reversal will begin.
The velocity envelope is added and set to -100%. The thumbnails reflect the change and 
the horses run backwards. The event can now be repositioned to fit the project.
Dragging one event in a group
moves all events in the group. 
						

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WORKING WITH EVENTSCHP. 7
Adding an event to an existing group
1.Right-click an event in the existing group, choose Group from the shortcut menu, and choose Select All 
from the submenu to select all of the members of the group.
2.Press   and click the event to be added to the group.
3.Right-click the event, choose Group from the shortcut menu, and choose Create New from the submenu.
Note: Events can only be in one group at a time. Adding an 
event to an existing group essentially clears the old group and 
creates a new one that includes all of the selected events.
Removing events from a group
You can remove individual events from a group without affecting the other members of the group. An event 
you remove from the group is not deleted from the project and remains on the timeline.
1.Right-click the event you want to remove from the group.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Group, and choose Remove From from the submenu. The event is 
removed from the group. The rest of the grouped events remain intact.
Clearing a group
You may ungroup all events by clearing the entire group. Clearing a group does not remove events from your 
project.
1.Right-click one of the members of the group.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Group, and choose Clear from the submenu.
Selecting all members of a group
While grouped events move together within their tracks, selecting one member of a group does not 
automatically select every member of that group. 
1.Right-click one of the members of the group. 
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Group, and choose Select All from the submenu. 
With all events in a group selected, you can move the group to other tracks, or cut and paste the group to 
a new location.
Suspending grouping temporarily
You can temporarily suspend the grouping behavior of all groups (including video media files with included 
audio streams) by clicking the 
Ignore Event Grouping ( ) button.
Cutting, copying, or deleting grouped events
1.Select the events you want to cut or delete.
2.From the Edit menu, choose Group, and choose Cut All, Copy All, or Delete All from the submenu. The 
selected events and any events that are grouped with the selected events are deleted or copied/cut to the 
clipboard.
Ctrl 
						

							8
CHP. 8USING THE MIXER
CHAPTER143
Using the Mixer
The Mixer window is where you control the project’s busses and assignable effects chains.
Multiple audio busses and assignable effects chains are only available in the full version of Vegas® software.
Using the Mixer window
The Mixer is a dockable window where you can control audio busses and assignable effects chains within 
your project and adjust the outgoing signal’s volume and routing.
Viewing the Mixer window
The Mixer window appears in the window docking area by default when you first start Vegas software. 
However, you can drag the Mixer within the workspace at any time to float it. For more information, see 
Window docking area and floating window docks on page 21.
To hide/view the Mixer window, choose 
Mixer from the View menu or press  .Alt +3
Preview
Float handle(display optional)Busses
Assignable effects
8 
						

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Using the Mixer toolbar
The Mixer’s toolbar allows you to access project properties, add busses, and add assignable effects chains to 
the Mixer.
Using the Mixer Preview fader
The Preview fader allows you to adjust the volume and monitor output levels of media files when you 
preview them from the Explorer window or Media Pool, or play them back from the Trimmer window. The 
Preview fader also controls the metronome volume. For more information, see Using the metronome on page 
167.
Viewing/hiding the Preview fader
The Preview fader is hidden as a default to 
make more room for other busses and assignable 
effects chains. To view or hide the Preview 
fader, simply right-click anywhere within the 
Mixer and choose 
Show Preview fader from the 
shortcut menu.
Adjusting the Preview fader
You can adjust the Preview fader while you are 
previewing a media file from the Explorer 
window. Drag the fader up or down, or press 
 while dragging to move in smaller increments. Double-click the fader to reset it.
You can select a preferred meter resolution at which the Preview fader displays the media file’s volume level. 
For more information, see Changing bus meter resolution on page 148. You can also adjust the Preview fader to 
correct clipping in the same way you adjust a bus. For more information, see Adjusting a bus for clipping on page 
148.
Button Description
The Project Audio Properties button accesses the project properties dialog 
(pg. 289).
The Downmix Output button downmixes your audio from 5.1 surround to stereo or 
from stereo to mono so you can ensure your mix will sound the way you intended it, 
even when your audience’s hardware has fewer channels than the original mix. The 
button represents the current playback mode:
 5.1 surround output
 Stereo output
 Mono output
The Dim Output button attenuates the volume of all busses that are routed to 
hardware outputs by 20 dB. Click again to restore original volume.
The Insert Assignable FX button adds an assignable effects chain to your project. 
You can route tracks to the assignable effects chain (pg. 151).
The Insert Bus button adds a bus to your project. You can route tracks or assignable 
effects chains to the bus (pg. 149). 
Ctrl 
						

							CHP. 8USING THE MIXER
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Using busses
Multiple audio busses are only available in the full version of Vegas software.
A bus is a master control for the audio-signal mix of one or more tracks. You can assign tracks to play back 
on a specific bus. For more information, see Assigning audio tracks to busses on page 149. 
However, to assign a track to a bus, you must have more than one bus in your project. Each project has a 
Master bus as a default, but you may add up to 25 additional busses to the Mixer window. A bus is the last 
stage in the signal’s flow through Vegas software. For more information, see Audio signal flow on page 34. 
You can configure each bus to use a specific hardware output. For more information, see Audio tab on page 295.
Adding busses to a project
You can add up to 25 busses at any time during the development of your project. 
Adding a bus
Click the Insert Bus button ( ) on the Mixer window. 
Automation 
settingsThe controls in the bus control list can function as 
trim controls or automation controls for bus 
volume, panning, and muting. Click the button 
and verify Show Automation Controls is not 
selected if you want the bus control to function as 
a trim control. Adjusting a trim control affects the 
entire track. Click the button and choose Show 
Automation Controls to adjust automation 
settings. For more information, see Using 
Automation on page 119.
MutePrevents playback of the bus (pg. 148). When 
Show Automation Controls is selected, the button 
is displayed as a  ,and you can use the button to 
edit mute automation on the bus’s bus track.
SoloPlays only the output of that bus (pg. 149).
FaderAdjusts the bus’s volume on two stereo channels 
(pg. 148). When Show Automation Controls is 
selected, the thumb is displayed as a  , and you 
can use the fader to edit volume automation on 
the bus’s bus track. Tip: Right-click the thumb and 
choose Pre FX or Post FX from the shortcut menu 
to specify whether the bus level is applied before 
or after the bus effects chain.
NameName of the bus. Double-click the name to edit it 
(pg. 149).
PanDrag to ajust the overall panning of the track.
When Show Automation Controls is selected, the 
thumb is displayed as a  , and you can use the 
slider to edit pan automation on the bus’s bus 
track.
Playback deviceAllows you to select the device that the bus uses 
for playback.
Bus FXDisplays the Bus FX window and allows you to 
adjust the audio effects plug-ins.
MeterDisplays the playback level of the bus (pg. 148).
Mute
Solo Bus FX
Fader
MeterName
Playback 
Bus control in Mixer Window
deviceAutomation 
settings
Pan slider
Bus controlBus control showing
automation controls 
						

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Adding multiple busses
1.
Click the Audio Properties button ( ) on the Mixer window. The Project Properties dialog appears with 
the 
Audio tab displaying.
2.In the Number of stereo busses box, enter the desired number of busses (up to 25) to appear in the Mixer 
window. 
3.Click OK to add the specified number of busses and close the Project Properties dialog.
The new busses appear in the Mixer window.
Enter the number
of busses 
						

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Deleting busses from a project
You can remove busses from your project at any time. When you remove a bus from a project, any tracks 
assigned to it are reassigned to the Master bus.
Deleting a bus
Right-click the bus to be deleted in the Mixer window and choose Delete from the shortcut menu.
Deleting multiple busses
1.
Click the Audio Properties button ( ) on the Mixer window. The Project Properties dialog appears with 
the 
Audio tab displaying.
2.In the Number of stereo busses box, enter the desired number of busses to appear in the Mixer window.
3.Click OK. All tracks assigned to a deleted bus are reassigned to the Master bus in the Mixer window.
Routing a bus to another bus
If you have multiple busses, you can use bus-to-bus routing to create subgroups. 
1.Add busses to your project. For more information, see Adding busses to a project on page 145.
2.In the Mixer window, click the Playback Device Selector button on the bus you want to route and choose a 
bus from the menu.
The button is displayed as a   when a bus is routed to the master bus.
The bus letter is displayed ( ,  , and so on) when a bus is routed to another bus.
The button is displayed as a   when a bus is routed to a hardware output.
Routing busses to hardware
You can assign busses to use specific hardware for output. When you installed the software, it automatically 
detected the hardware available for output on your computer. For more information, see Audio tab on page 295.
1.From the Options menu, choose Preferences and click the Audio device tab. 
From the 
Audio device type drop-down list, choose Windows Classic Wave Driver or an ASIO™ driver.
Note: If you select Microsoft Sound Mapper in the Audio 
device type
 drop-down list on the Audio tab, you will not be 
able to assign the bus to a different device.
2.Click OK to close the Preferences dialog.
3.In the Mixer window, click the Playback Device Selector button on the bus you want to route.
4.Choose a hardware device from the menu.
The button is displayed as a   when a bus is routed to the master bus.
The bus letter is displayed ( ,  , and so on) when a bus is routed to another bus.
The button is displayed as a   when a bus is routed to a hardware output.
Note: You can map multiple busses to a single sound card. 
						

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Working with busses
Busses in the Mixer window are fully independent and may be adjusted separately. You can adjust the bus 
volume, change the bus meter resolution, and adjust the bus fader to eliminate clipping.
Adjusting bus volume
You can adjust a bus’s volume during project playback by dragging the fader. The fader on a stereo bus is split 
so that you can adjust the levels of the two stereo channels independently.
The fader can function as a trim control that adjusts the overall level of the bus, or it can adjust volume 
automation settings on the bus track. Click the 
Automation Settings button   and verify Show Automation 
Controls 
is not selected if you want the fader to function as a trim control.
The faders are locked (ganged) so that the left and right channels of stereo files move together. Click the 
Lock/Unlock Fader Channels button ( ) to unlock or lock the faders. You can also press   while dragging a 
fader to temporarily override a fader’s locked or unlocked state.
Tip: Double-click a fader to reset it to 0.0 dB. If you have set 
each channel independently, double-click either the left or 
right fader to have the other fader match the other’s volume 
setting.
If you want to adjust volume automation settings on the bus’s bus track, click the 
Automation Settings button 
 and select 
Show Automation Controls. For more information, see Adjusting volume or pan automation settings 
on page 120. The fader handle is displayed as   in Automation mode.
You can adjust the volume of several busses simultaneously by selecting the busses and adjusting any of their 
faders. If you select an assignable effect along with the busses, the output fader of the assignable effect moves 
along with the bus volume faders.
Changing bus meter resolution
You can select a meter resolution at which a bus displays the signal levels that are being mixed. When you 
change the meter resolution on this control, the other meters (assignable effects and preview) automatically 
change to match.
To change bus meter resolution, right-click a meter and choose a meter resolution from the shortcut menu.
Adjusting a bus for clipping
If the volume level is set too high, it may cause clipping. The clipping displays in red at the top of the meter 
with the clipping value displayed in decibels (dB). Adjust the fader and click the red clipping value to reset 
the meter. Continue to adjust the fader and reset the meter until you eliminate the clipping.
You can set the meter to remember and display the highest and lowest levels by right-clicking and selecting 
Hold Peaks and Hold Valleys. 
Muting a bus
Muting allows you to temporarily suspend playback of the bus. When a bus is muted, the word Muted appears 
at the bottom of the meter. You can mute more than one bus at a time.
The 
Mute button can mute the bus, or it can adjust mute automation on the bus’s bus track. To must the bus, 
click the 
Automation Settings button   and verify Show Automation Controls is not selected. Click the Mute 
button ( ) to mute the bus, and click it again to restore playback.
To adjust mute automation, click the 
Automation Settings button   and select Show Automation Controls. 
The 
Mute button is displayed as   in Automation mode. Click to turn mute automation on, or click it again 
to turn mute automation off. For more information, see Adding or removing mute automation on page 120.
Shift