Sony Vegas 6 Manual

							CHP. 9USING THE MIXER
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Using assignable effects chains
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Assignable effects allow you to send various levels of multiple tracks to a single audio effect chain. Like 
busses, these controls reside in the Mixer window and support plug-in chains. In addition, you can route 
assignable effects outputs to project busses. 
Click the Insert Assignable FX button () in the 
Mixer window to add an assignable effects chain to 
your project. For more information, see Adding Audio 
Effects on page 189.
 
Number/NameNumber and name of assignable effects. 
Double-click the name to edit it.
Automation settingsThe controls in the assignable effects 
control list can function as trim controls 
or automation controls for output level, 
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 155.
MutePrevents the assignable effects chain 
from processing the track’s signal. When 
Show Automation Controls is selected, 
the button is displayed as 
, and you 
can use the button to edit mute 
automation on the chain’s bus track.
SoloPlays only the output of that assignable 
effects chain.
Assignable FX Displays the Assignable FX window and 
allows you to adjust the plug-in settings.
Bus PanDrag to adjust the overall panning of the 
assignable effects chain. When Show 
Automation Controls is selected, the 
thumb is displayed as 
, and you can 
use the slider to edit pan automation on 
the chain’s bus track.
Bus assignmentAllows to you assign the assignable 
effects chain to a bus.
Input FaderAdjusts the input volume.
Output FaderAdjusts the output volume. When Show 
Automation Controls is selected, the 
thumb is displayed as 
, and you can use 
the fader to edit volume automation on 
the chain’s bus track.
MeterDisplays the incoming and outgoing signal 
level to the assignable effects chain.
Lock/Unlock Fader 
ChannelsLocks the faders so the left and right 
channels of stereo files always move 
together. Click again to unlock the faders.
Mute
Solo
Assignable FX
OutputBus 
Assignable Effects in Mixer Window
Number/Name
Input
Lock/Unlock
Fader 
Channels Fader and
MeterFader and 
Meter
assignment
Automation 
settings Pan slider
Assignable effects Assignable effects showing
automation controls 
						

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Tip: To use the output fader to control the wet/dry mix of the 
assignable effects chain, set each plug-in to 100% wet. Use 
the output (effects return) fader to balance the dry track 
signal with the wet plug-in signal.
You can work with assignable effects controls in much the same way you work with busses. Use the same 
methods described earlier in this chapter for adjusting volume, adjusting for clipping, muting, soloing, and 
renaming. For more information, see Working with busses on page 185.
Assigning audio tracks to assignable effects chains
You can adjust the level of a track that is sent to an assignable effects chain using the multipurpose slider in 
the track list. For more information, see Assigning audio tracks to assignable effects chains on page 146.
Routing assignable effects chains to busses
When you add assignable effects to your project, you can assign them to a specific bus for output. The bus 
mixes the assignable effects chain’s plug-ins along with any tracks that may be routed to the same bus. For 
more information, see Audio signal flow on page 39.
This option is only available if the project contains multiple busses. For more information, see Adding busses to 
a project on page 183.
1.Click the Bus button () on the assignable effect control. A menu displays 
all the busses in your project.
2.Choose the bus to which you want to route the assignable effects chain. 
The assignable effects chain displays the letter of the bus to which it is 
routed.
Automating busses and assignable effects
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
You can automate busses and assignable effect chains in the track view. You can view each of these controls 
on bus tracks at the bottom of the track view and to add envelopes to automate functions such as volume, 
pan, and assignable effect chain input/output levels. For more information, see Using Automation on page 155.
If you have the full version of Vegas software, you can also add envelopes to automate effect parameters for 
plug-ins that support automation. For more information, see Adding or removing effect automation envelopes on 
page 159.
Viewing bus tracks
From the View menu, choose Show Bus Tracks or press . The bus tracks appear at the bottom of the track 
view. A bus track appears for each bus or assignable effect chain in your project. 
Adding track envelopes
Right-click the track header in the track list, choose Insert/Remove Envelope from the shortcut menu, and 
choose the appropriate envelope type from the submenu. 
Modifying track envelopes
You can modify a track envelope for a bus or assignable effect in the same way you do with any other track. 
For more information, see Working with track envelopes on page 163.
U 
						

							10
CHP. 10ADDING AUDIO EFFECTS
CHAPTER189
Adding Audio 
Effects
You can use audio effects, or plug-ins, to improve the quality of the audio in a production or to create special 
artistic effects. Vegas® software supports a variety of DirectX® and VST plug-in effects from both Sony 
Media Software and third-party vendors. 
Using audio effects
There are three ways to use audio plug-ins: track effects, bus effects, and assignable effects. You can access 
these plug-ins by clicking the 
Track FX, Bus FX or Assignable FX buttons (). The combination of these 
various methods of applying audio effects is important to the final mix of a project. For more information, see 
Audio signal flow on page 39.
Track effects are applied to all events in a single track. 
Bus effects are applied to a bus (including the Master bus). When you add plug-ins to a bus, the tracks 
that are assigned to the bus are processed by the plug-in(s). Since multiple tracks can be assigned to a 
single bus, using bus-level audio effects is an efficient method of applying carefully customized chains of 
audio effects to multiple tracks. If plug-ins are assigned at the track level, the track’s signal flows through 
the track’s plug-in(s) before the bus plug-ins. For more information, see Using busses on page 183. 
Note: Multiple busses are available only in the full version of 
Vegas software.
Assignable effects allow you to send various levels of multiple tracks to a single effect chain. Like busses, 
these controls reside in the Mixer window and support plug-in chains. In addition, assignable effects 
outputs can be routed to busses. Click the 
Insert Assignable FX button () in the Mixer window to add an 
assignable effect chain to your project. For more information, see Using assignable effects chains on page 187.
Note: This feature is available only in the full version of 
Vegas software.
Track FX Assignable FXBus FX
10 
						

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Using plug-in chains
A plug-in chain is a sequence of plug-ins to be applied to 
tracks, busses, or assignable effects. A plug-in chain can 
contain one or more plug-ins. The same plug-in can be added 
to a chain more than once.
After the plug-in chain is created, the audio is processed by 
each plug-in in order. The plug-ins are cumulative so, in some cases, you may want to rearrange their order to 
achieve the desired effect. 
Note: If you’re working with a 5.1 surround project, you 
can use distinct plug-in settings for each channel (separate 
EQ settings for the front and surround speakers, for example) 
using effect automation. Add multiple instances of the plug-in 
to the track effects chain and select the 
Enable check boxes in 
the FX Automation Chooser for the channels you want each 
instance of the plug-in to affect. 5.1 surround is available 
only in the full version of Vegas software.
Creating a plug-in chain
Audio tracks have a built-in plug-in chain with three default plug-ins applied as a default. For bus effects and 
assignable effects, however, you must first create a plug-in chain. 
Creating a bus effects plug-in chain
1.Click the Bus FX button () on a bus in the Mixer window. The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears.
2.Select a plug-in and click OK. The Audio Plug-In window displays with your selected plug-in as the first in 
the new plug-in chain.
3.Adjust the settings for the plug-in to create the desired effect and click the Close button () in the upper-
right corner to close the window.
Creating an assignable effects plug-in chain
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
1.Click the Insert Assignable FX button () on the Mixer window. The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears.
2.Select a plug-in and click OK. The Audio Plug-In window displays with your selected plug-in as the first in 
the new plug-in chain.
3.Adjust the settings for the plug-in to create the desired effect and click the Close button () in the upper-
right corner to close the window. The new assignable effect control appears in the Mixer window.
Plug-ins in a chain 
						

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Adding plug-ins to a plug-in chain
There are two ways to add plug-ins to a chain: via the Plug-In Chooser dialog and via the Audio Plug-In 
window.
Adding plug-ins via the Plug-In Chooser dialog
You can access the Plug-In Chooser dialog from the track, bus, or assignable effects chain to which you are 
adding the plug-in.
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Click the Plug-In Chain button () on the window. The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears. Plug-ins already 
in the chain appear at the top of the dialog.
3.Select a plug-in and click Add.
4.Repeat step three to add as many plug-ins as you need to create the desired effect.
5.Click OK to close the Plug-in Chooser dialog. The plug-in chain appears just below the title bar in the 
appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or Video Track FX).
Plug-ins already 
contained in 
the chain 
						

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Adding plug-ins via the Plug-In Manager
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
The Plug-In Manager is a dockable window that allows you to view and choose plug-ins to be added to a 
track, bus, or assignable effects chain.
1.If the Plug-In Manager is not displayed, press .
2.In the Plug-In Manager, navigate to the Audio folder and select one of the FX folders.
3.Drag a plug-in to a track, bus, or assignable effects chain.
Tip: You can select multiple plug-ins and add them at the 
same time by dragging them to the desired location.
4.Confirm that the plug-ins were added by clicking the Track FX, Bus FX or Assignable FX button () to view 
the appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or Video Track FX). You can customize the settings for the 
effects at this time.
Saving customized plug-in presets
Each plug-in has a number of presets that you can use to set the behavior of the plug-in. However, you can 
also adjust the controls for the plug-in manually to create custom settings. You can then save the effect 
settings as a new preset.
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.In the plug-in chain at the top of the window, click the plug-in you want to customize.
3.Adjust the settings for the effect.
4.Enter a preset name in the Preset box.
5.Click the Save button () to save the preset. 
Tip: You can delete a saved preset by selecting it from the list 
and clicking the Delete button ().
Ctrl+Alt+1 
						

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Arranging the order of plug-ins
Plug-ins are cumulative during playback. Because of this cumulative effect, you may need to arrange plug-ins 
in a certain order so that one plug-in’s processing does not adversely affect the next plug-in on the chain. 
There is no right or wrong way to order plug-ins, but some plug-ins work better when arranged in a particular 
order.
You can arrange the order of plug-ins in a chain in either the appropriate FX window or the Plug-In Chooser 
dialog.
Arranging the plug-in order in the FX window
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.On the plug-in that you want to move, right-click and choose Move Left or Move Right from the shortcut 
menu. Alternately, drag a plug-in to a new position.
3.Once the chain’s plug-ins are in the order that you want, click the Close button () in the upper-right 
corner to close the window.
Arranging the plug-in order from the Plug-In Chooser dialog
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Click the Plug-In Chain button (). The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears with the plug-in chain displayed 
at the top. 
3.Drag a plug-in to a new location in the chain, or select a plug-in and click either the Shift Plug-In Left () 
or 
Shift Plug-In Right () button.
4.Click OK to close the Plug-In Chooser dialog. 
						

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Bypassing plug-ins on the chain
You can bypass plug-ins on the chain by clearing the check box on a specific plug-in or by right-clicking the 
plug-in and choosing 
Bypass from the shortcut menu. The plug-in remains bypassed until you enable it 
again. Bypassing a plug-in prevents it from being processed on the mixer, track or bus.
You can bypass plug-ins from the appropriate FX window or from the Plug-In Chooser dialog.
Removing plug-ins from a chain
You can remove plug-ins from a chain in either the appropriate FX window or the Plug-In Chooser dialog.
Removing a plug-in from the chain in the FX window
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Select the plug-in that you want to remove.
3.Click the Remove Selected Plug-In button ().
Removing a plug-in from the chain in the Plug-In Chooser dialog
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Click the Plug-In Chain button (). The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears with the plug-in chain displayed 
at the top. 
3.Select the plug-in that you want to remove and click Remove to remove it from the chain.
4.Click OK to close the Plug-In Chooser dialog.
Saving plug-in chains
You can save and edit the plug-in chains that you add to tracks or busses or create as assignable effects 
chains. Saved chains retain the order of plug-ins and the settings that you have applied. These chains are 
stored as effect packages for use in future projects. If you use the same plug-in chains regularly, saving them as 
packages is faster and more consistent than recreating the chain manually.
Once you save a chain as a package, you can use it as either a track, bus or assignable effects plug-in chain. 
Saved plug-in chain packages appear in the Plug-In Chooser dialog.
Effect bypassedEffect enabled
To enable the plug-in again, click its
check box or choose Bypass from
the shortcut menu. 
						

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1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Click the Plug-In Chain button (). The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears with the plug-in chain displayed 
at the top. 
3.Click Save As. The Save Plug-in Package dialog appears. 
4.Enter a name for the package.
5.Click OK or press  to save the package.
Editing saved plug-in chains
You can add, delete, or rearrange plug-ins in a saved package at any time. You can then save your changes to 
the package, or enter a new name to save the chain as a new package.
1.Click the Tr a c k  F X, Bus FX or Assignable FX button (). The appropriate FX window (Audio Plug-In or 
Video Track FX) appears.
Assignable effects are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
2.Click the Plug-In Chain button (). The Plug-In Chooser dialog appears with the package in the chain 
area.
3.Add, delete, rearrange, or change the settings of plug-ins in the package chain.
4.In the Plug-In Chooser dialog, click Save As to save the modified package.
5.To save the package with a new name, enter a name in the Name box. To save the changes to the existing 
package, choose the name of the package from the 
Name drop-down list.
6.Click OK or press  to save the new settings.
Organizing your plug-ins
Within the Plug-in Chooser 
dialog, you can create folders 
to organize the plug-ins. 
This can help you organize 
large numbers of plug-ins on 
your system. You can create 
folders and then drag plug-
ins to the folders.
Plug-in chain packages that
you have created and saved
Enter
Enter 
						

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Automating effects parameters
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Automation allows you to control audio and video levels, panning, and effect parameter automation over 
time. You can create fades, apply stereo panning, and add effects that come and go as you please. 
Automation is represented on the Vegas timeline as an envelope or set of keyframes. You can create 
automation by adding envelopes or keyframes to your tracks (including bus tracks), or you can record 
automation parameters by adjusting controls in the Vegas interface (or on a control surface) during playback. 
For more information, see Using Automation on page 155.
Applying non-real-time event effects
Non-real-time event effects are a different method of applying audio effects. In all other cases, event editing 
is nondestructive, meaning that edits and effects are applied to events in real time and not to the source 
media files, which remain unaltered. There may be times, however, when you want to create a permanent 
file using an effect or effects. This may be useful in a very complicated project or when a slower computer 
cannot process the effects quickly enough for a real-time preview.
By applying non-real-time event effects, you can make a new copy of a media file with the effects applied to 
it. This new media file is saved and added to the project as a take. For more information, see Working with takes 
on page 130.
1.Select an audio event.
2.From the Tools menu, choose Audio, and choose Apply Non-Real-Time Event FX from the submenu.
3.In the Plug-In Chooser dialog, add plug-ins to create a plug-in chain. For more information, see Adding plug-
ins via the Plug-In Manager on page 192.
4.Click OK.
5.In the Take window, adjust the settings for the plug-in(s) to create the desired effect.
6.Preview the effect by clicking the Preview button () in the Non-Real-Time Event FX window.
7.Click OK.
8.In the Take dialog, click Save to save the newly processed media file.
The new media file is saved and added to the project as a take.
Bypassing all audio effects
From the Options menu, choose Bypass All Audio FX to omit all audio effects (track, bus, and assignable 
effects) during playback.
Bypassing effects allows you to quickly compare your project with and without effects and conserve 
processing power to avoid playback problems.