(Solved): Drag (shift) a track in the middle

[MartinC]

Another feature request... unless it's already built-in, but I can't find it

I often use AP to repair analogue transfers and I often have multiple sources. For example, two copies of a vinyl album with different crackles/distortions.

In theory this is straightforward: Just load both tracks into an AP document, listen to the better track and if it has a really nasty distortion then patch it with the sound of the alternative track.

However, in order to do this the first task is to sync both tracks and this is were the trouble starts: These tracks are *never* entirely in sync, even if you have two transfers of the *same* vinyl with the *same* gear. It's like trying to permanently sync two clocks for good - one is always a bit faster, then a bit slower and then suddenly a bit faster again.

So you need to look for a distinct "peak" close to the distortion and sync it locally, which is exactly what I can't solve reasonably - because the only spot where I can actually drag/move/shift a track is the handle at the very beginning and at the very end of the track. But if you scroll to the beginning/end then you can't see the local "peak" any more and won't know how far you need to drag.

What I do now is this: I fetch a piece of paper, hold it on the monitor, make two "distance" marks with a pencil, drag to the beginning, hold the paper to the monitor again, try to drag the handle as far as the pencil marks, move back to the distortion and find out that I missed it once again a tiny little bit...

This is a bit, well... "analogue"... I would love to just directly drag the "peak" to the spot where it should be and move/shift the whole track with it. Is there any "secret handle/spot" in the middle of the track where I can just grab/drag the whole thing?

If not, is there any chance to add one?

[Ron Fleckner]

Wow, that pencil and paper trick is great. As you say, very analogue.
Would this help, I wonder? Copy the bit you want to move to a new
track in the document. It'll be small enough for you to see it and
grab it by its drag-able end to where you want.

Ron

On 12/05/2010, at 6:21 PM, MartinC wrote:

Another feature request... unless it's already built-in, but I can't
find it

I often use AP to repair analogue transfers and I often have
multiple sources. For example, two copies of a vinyl album with
different crackles/distortions.

In theory this is straightforward: Just load both tracks into an AP
document, listen to the better track and if it has a really nasty
distortion then patch it with the sound of the alternative track.

However, in order to do this the first task is to sync both tracks
and this is were the trouble starts: These tracks are *never*
entirely in sync, even if you have two transfers of the *same* vinyl
with the *same* gear. It's like trying to permanently sync two
clocks for good - one is always a bit faster, then a bit slower and
then suddenly a bit faster again.

So you need to look for a distinct "peak" close to the distortion
and sync it locally, which is exactly what I can't solve reasonably
- because the only spot where I can actually drag/move/shift a track
is the handle at the very beginning and at the very end of the
track. But if you scroll to the beginning/end then you can't see the
local "peak" any more and won't know how far you need to drag.

What I do now is this: I fetch a piece of paper, hold it on the
monitor, make two "distance" marks with a pencil, drag to the
beginning, hold the paper to the monitor again, try to drag the
handle as far as the pencil marks, move back to the distortion and
find out that I missed it once again a tiny little bit... [Evil or
Very Mad]

This is a bit, well... "analogue"... I would love to just directly
drag the "peak" to the spot where it should be and move/shift the
whole track with it. Is there any "secret handle/spot" in the middle
of the track where I can just grab/drag the whole thing?

If not, is there any chance to add one?

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[MartinC]

Wow, that pencil and paper trick is great. As you say, very analogue.
Would this help, I wonder? Copy the bit you want to move to a new
track in the document. It'll be small enough for you to see it and
grab it by its drag-able end to where you want.

I thought about this of course, and occasionally did it. But it has two disadvantages:
1) Sometimes the "local peak" can be a bit too far away, so that the zoom level displaying both the peak and the distortion will be too big to be precice.
2) If there are plenty of "bad spots" then using this technique is just as annoying as using dozens of paper strips...

I think it would be a great feature if one could just drag/move any track
- either by its title bar
- and/or at just any spot using a modifier key
- and/or with a tool (icon/symbol) that you can select in the window bar

[Ron Fleckner]

On 12/05/2010, at 9:30 PM, MartinC wrote:

Ron Fleckner wrote:

Wow, that pencil and paper trick is great. As you say, very
analogue.
Would this help, I wonder? Copy the bit you want to move to a new
track in the document. It'll be small enough for you to see it and
grab it by its drag-able end to where you want.

I thought about this of course, and occasionally did it. But it has
two disadvantages:
1) Sometimes the "local peak" can be a bit too far away, so that the
zoom level displaying both the peak and the distortion will be too
big to be precice.
2) If there are plenty of "bad spots" then using this technique is
just as annoying as using dozens of paper strips...

I think it would be a great feature if one could just drag/move any
track
- either by its title bar
- and/or at just any spot using a modifier key
- and/or with a tool (icon/symbol) that you can select in the window
bar

Oh, OK. Looks like a fair enough feature request.


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[alansilv]

Try option-click in the track you want to move. when you hit option the cursor changes to a hand; when you hold option and click the hand becomes a grabber and you can drag the file in the track right where you are without having to go back for the handles at either end. it only works when you have more than one track (the manual says at least one track must start at the zero point on the time line). Hope that works for you.

[MartinC]

Aaaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhh !!!!!

I have absolutely no idea why I didn't try this, or - to be more specific - why it didn't work when I did (once)...

Of course I read "TFM" and tried all kinds of spots-to-drag in any possible combination with keys but somehow failed to realize this.

Apologizes to everyone for making a public request-that's-already-in... and shame about the waste of paper-clips (but I only used old newspaper cuttings anyway)

[alansilv]

Don't beat yourself up. I couldn't find it in the manual either. I think I ran across it by accident when I hit opt (probably going for another key) and noticed the cursor changed. Glad it works for you.

[Martin Hairer]

Don't beat yourself up. I couldn't find it in the manual either.

Good point, I'll add this when I update it next time. Thanks,

Martin

HairerSoft
http://www.hairersoft.com/


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