Sony Vegas 6 Manual

							CHP. 10ADDING AUDIO EFFECTS
197
When effects are bypassed, you can choose whether bypassed effects remain open. When the Keep bypassed 
FX running
 check box on the General tab of the Preferences dialog is selected, effects remain open so you can 
bypass/enable effects with no pause for A/B testing. When the check box is cleared, effects are fully bypassed, 
conserving processing power. 
						

							198
ADDING AUDIO EFFECTSCHP. 10 
						

							11
CHP. 11RECORDING AUDIO
CHAPTER199
Recording Audio
Vegas® software can record audio into multiple mono or stereo audio tracks while simultaneously playing 
back existing audio and video 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.
Recording does not alter any of the source media files in your project. Even when recording into an existing 
event, you are not overwriting the data in that event. Instead, the data is recorded into a new take for that 
event and saved to a media file on your hard drive.
Setting up your equipment
There are numerous ways to connect your equipment to your system. Refer to your equipment’s 
documentation for specific setup instructions. The following are some possible general configurations.
Basic setup
This setup includes a simple microphone and speaker that are connected to the computer’s sound card. With 
a more sophisticated microphone, you would typically want to use a preamplifier for input to the sound card.
Sound card out
Sound card in
11 
						

							200
RECORDING AUDIOCHP. 11
Setup with mixer
This setup includes a mixer where the speaker and microphone connect. The mixer is then connected to the 
computer’s sound card. Mixers usually have pre-amps built into them. This diagram does not show you an 
instrument or a physical preamplifier, such as a rack-mounted component. The reason for this omission is 
because these types of setups vary widely based on your mixer, instrument, and pre-amp type. Refer to your 
components’ documentation for specific setup configurations.
Setup with digital multitrack
This setup includes a digital multitrack recorder with an optional MIDI synchronization component. Usually 
you would have a mixer, a microphone, etc. connected to these components. Your particular setup will vary 
depending on your equipment. Refer to your components’ documentation for specific setup configurations.
Synchronizing MIDI timecode
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Vegas software can generate (output) MIDI timecode to synchronize external devices with project playback 
or can be triggered by MIDI timecode generated by an external device. To output MIDI, from the 
Options 
menu, choose 
Timecode, and choose Generate MIDI Timecode from the submenu. To allow Vegas software to 
be triggered by an external MIDI device, choose 
Trigger from MIDI Timecode from the same submenu. For 
more information, see Triggering from MIDI timecode on page 206 and Sync tab on page 344.
Sound card out
Sound card inMixer out
Mixer in
Mixer
Digital card
Digital in Digital out
MIDI card
Sync. inSync. out
The dashed line indicates
an option if you are synching
Vegas software to tape via a 
MIDI timecode.MTC converterDigital
multitrack 
						

							CHP. 11RECORDING AUDIO
201
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.
Tip: Select a media bin before recording if you want to 
automatically add your recorded audio to a media bin. To 
save track effects with your recorded files, create an effects 
package of the track effect settings and apply the chain to the 
event as a non-real time event effect.
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. 
1.Click the Arm for Record button () in the track list. 
The first time you arm a track to record in a project, the Project 
Recorded Files Folder dialog displays. 
2.Browse to the location where you want to save your recorded 
audio files.
3.Click OK.
Tip: You can change the location where recorded files are 
saved at any time. For more information, see Specifying 
where recordings are stored on page 206.
Once a track is armed, a record meter appears in the track list. Depending on your hardware, a record gain 
fader may also appear. 
Track is ready for recording Arm the track first.
using the Sound Mapper.Track is ready for recording
from a specific device. 
						

							202
RECORDING AUDIOCHP. 11
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. For more information, see Audio tab 
on page 342.
Selecting recording settings
After the track has been armed for recording, select whether the track records the signal in stereo, in mono 
from the left channel, or in mono from the right channel. If you are using the Microsoft® Windows® Classic 
Wave Driver, you also must select the device from which the track will record.
Selecting recording settings for Sound Mapper
1.Click the Record Device Selector button (). A menu appears.
2.From the menu, choose the recording method (Stereo, Left, or Right).
Selecting recording settings for Windows Classic Wave Driver.
1.Click the Record Device Selector button (). A menu appears.
2.Choose either Stereo or Mono from the menu.
3.From the submenu, choose the input device
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 Windows® Classic Wave Driver has been selected as the audio device type on 
the Preferences Audio 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. 
						

							CHP. 11RECORDING AUDIO
203
Using the metronome
A built-in metronome marks time to help with the timing and tempo when recording a performance. The 
metronome’s sound is not mixed in the final rendering of the project. Use the Preview fader in the Mixer 
window to control the metronome volume. For more information, see Using the Mixer Preview fader on page 
182.
To use the metronome, from the Options menu, choose Metronome. 
Tip: You can customize the sound of the metronome in the 
Audio tab of the Preferences dialog. For more information, 
see Audio tab on page 342.
Recording
You may record into an empty track, a time selection, an event, or a combination of time and event 
selection. The recording is added to the timeline as new take and saves it to a media file on your hard drive. 
Triggering recording from MIDI timecode is also supported.
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.
If this is the first time you arm a track for recording in this project, you will be prompted to identify the 
location where the new audio files will be saved. For more information, see Arming the track for recording on 
page 201.
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 small dialog opens displaying the name and location of the file or files that were just created. Click 
Done to return to the main workspace.
Start/stop Stop recordingrecording
Recorded waveform 
						

							204
RECORDING AUDIOCHP. 11
Note: The Recorded Files dialog does not appear if you are 
triggering from MIDI timecode, as this would interrupt the 
synchronizing. Instead, files are automatically named and 
saved according to your preferences.
Recording into a time selection
By making a time selection, you specify where along the 
timeline to record. The time selection also determines how 
long the software records. Any selected events that occur 
within the time selection are split and the recorded data is 
placed into the time selection. 
The event’s waveform is displayed as it is recorded and 
automatically stops recording when the cursor reaches the end of the time selection.
Recording into an event
By recording into an event, you automatically create a new take containing the recorded material that is the 
same duration as the selected event. The edges of the selected event serve as the punch-in and -out points 
that are used for recording. Recording into an event allows you to establish a pre-roll before recording, which 
gives you time to prepare before recording starts. 
Because the entire recording is saved to the media file (not just the material between the edges of the take), 
you are not limited to the recorded material contained in the length of the new take. You can adjust the 
edges of the event or slip the contents of the event if necessary. For more information, see Shifting the contents 
of (slipping) an event on page 107.
The existing event that you record into is not affected or deleted. Instead, the event now contains two media 
files, each listed as a separate take in the event. For more information, see Working with multiple recorded takes 
on page 206.
1.Place the cursor before the event to allow for pre-roll.
2.Press  and click the event to select it.
Tip: You can record into multiple events by pressing  
and making selections.
Delete—removes selected file
Rename—changes the name of a selected file
Delete All—removes all files in dialog
Done—returns to track view
When a check mark appears in this box,
Vegas software displays this dialog after
each recording session.
Recorded waveform
Ctrl
Ctrl 
						

							CHP. 11RECORDING AUDIO
205
3.Click the Arm for Record button () on the event’s track. When recording into multiple selected events, 
arm their respective tracks at this time.
4.Click the Record button () on the transport bar to begin recording.
5.Click the Record button () again or the Stop button () on the transport bar to stop recording.
Recording into an event with a time selection
Recording into a time selection allows for a pre- and post- roll during recording. The time selection is 
adjustable to increase or decrease the pre- and post-roll duration. During recording, the selected event’s 
edges serve as the punch-in and -out points. You can create multiple punch-in and -out points by selecting 
more events within the time selection.
You may need to split an existing event into three pieces so that you can select a smaller portion of the event 
to record into. For more information, see Splitting events on page 105. 
1.Click the Arm for Record button () on the desired track(s).
2.Select the event to record into.
Tip: You may record into multiple events by pressing  
and making your selections.
3.On the marker bar, drag a time selection. You may adjust the time selection by dragging the selection 
bar’s starting and ending points. Make the time selection start before the event for a pre-roll.
4.Click the Record button () on the transport bar to begin recording.
If input monitoring is turned on, the track’s original audio is played until the cursor reaches the selected 
event. When the cursor plays through the selected event, you’ll hear your recording input, and the track’s 
original audio is played again when the cursor moves past the selected event.
Using pre-roll
The previous technique allows you to define the playback region with a time selection and sets the punch-in 
and punch-out points in the recording to the event boundaries. When you click the 
Record button, playback 
begins at the beginning of the time selection. The event is then filled with the newly recorded material. The 
audio file that is recorded to your hard disk is the full duration of the time selection. The event only contains 
a portion of the full recorded performance and can therefore be trimmed (both shorter and longer) and 
repositioned within the event.
Ctrl
Pre-roll Post-rollTime selection bar - 
Punch-in Punch-outdefines the recorded
audio file’s duration. 
						

							206
RECORDING AUDIOCHP. 11
Triggering from MIDI timecode
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Recording can be triggered and synchronized by an external MIDI device that outputs (generates) MIDI 
timecode (MTC). When triggering from MIDI timecode, you should have your audio devices connected 
together via a master digital word clock. The word clock keeps the audio hardware locked together, 
eliminating the need for the software to constantly vary its playback rate to stay synchronized. The incoming 
timecode is only used for an absolute time reference. For more information, see Sync tab on page 344.
1.From the Options menu, choose Preferences and go to the Sync tab.
2.From the Trigger from MIDI Timecode settings drop-down list, select the device that you want to trigger 
Vegas software. 
3.Click OK. The Preferences dialog closes.
4.Click the Arm for Record button () on the desired track(s).
5.Right-click the time display and choose MIDI Timecode In. The time display now shows the timecode 
being generated from your MIDI device. The top of the display reads 
MTC Input Waiting.
6.Begin generating MTC from your MIDI device. The top of the time display now reads MTC Input Locked, 
the time updates from the MIDI device, and recording automatically begins. Typically, there is a short 
delay between when you begin generating MTC and synchronization.
Working with multiple recorded takes
Clicking the Loop Playback button () on the transport bar enables you to continually create takes during 
recording. Takes are different versions of a recorded event that you can quickly switch between to choose the 
best one. Each take within an event references a different source media file.
During recording with loop playback enabled, the time selection continually repeats and starts recording a 
new take until you stop recording. You can preview, select, rename, and delete takes. For more information, 
see Working with takes on page 130.
Specifying where recordings are stored
When you record, the event appears on the timeline while its media source file is written to your hard drive. 
The first time you arm a track to record in a project, you are prompted to identify the location where the 
recordings will be stored. 
Changing where recorded files are stored when arming a track
1.Press  and click the Arm for Record button () on a track. The Project Recorded Files Folder dialog 
appears.
2.Browse for the location where you want to save recorded files.
3.Click OK.
Shift