Best Audio Editor For Use With VegasPro?

[HD-tography]

I apologize if this has been discussed thousands of time in the past, but I was interested what is the best "up to date" audio editor for use with VegasPro (9)?

I am new to this NLE (and "indepth" editing as a whole) and working on a number of small projects involving all kinds of audio sources, from low quality audio captured on PAL SD footage to high quality audio from my DM-100/HF S200 NTSC HD footage to captured dialogue/ambient recordings from my Zoom H2 to cutting up various audio tracks/music (varied bitrates & quality) from .wav, .mp3, FLAC, etc. sources.

I guess using it within/with VegasPro would be ideal.

So whatca yall using deeze days?

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

If Vegas' own audio abilities are not enough for you, you can try the free Audacity.

[HD-tography]

If Vegas' own audio abilities are not enough for you, you can try the free Audacity.

Hmmmm Vegas' own abilities huh... I guess I don't really know how to drive VegasPro just yet... but now I'm rockin' Free Audacity and lovin' it (so far)... nice program! Easy user interface and lots of functions/plug-ins... good share! Thanks

[charlie_tango]

Vegas' own audio abilities are not enough for you

I'm using this version and it's enough for what i do...what do you expect exactly?

[HD-tography]

I'm using this version and it's enough for what i do...what do you expect exactly?

Well I already own VegasPro (9) but it was a recent purchase coming from lower end consumer editing software (CyberLink PowerDirector and before that U-Lead Videostudio 9) so I really am just learning how to drive it... I need to be able to import, cut, and clean alot stuff up, and wasn't really sure how to get Vegas to do what I wanted, I guess I'm used to the ol' consumer stuff like Nero Wave Editor and NCH's Wavepad.

I like this Free Audacity already though! What is VegasPro capable of doing? Anywhere I can find some tutorials to learn it's capabilities?

[Rainer]

errm - read the manual? If you have Vegas Pro 9, didn't this come with a copy of Soundforge?

[HD-tography]

Not much one for reading em' tedious manuals (I know I'm terrible), I'm more of a hands on/trial error/video tutorial/classroom kinda guy...

And just because you own a ferrari doesn't mean you know how to drive it...

Perhaps my post was a little pre-mature, don't take it as me knocking the software, I know the problem lies with the user in this case... but I am drowning in lost time swimming against the learning curve... just need to get some stuff done already and learn along the way. Was curious as to what else people are using is all.

[net]

Vegas actually started out as an audio editor, video was added later.

It is very capable - has everything you need. You can also add VST and Direct-X plug-ins; purchased or free plug-ins.

It's going to take a lot of trial and error - don't expect to get the hang of it overnight.

"Sony Vegas audio tutorial" search into YouTube and Google can get you started.
Also utilize the "show me how" tutorials within the program itself.

If you're stuck on something, just go to Google, type "how" [subject] "Sony Vegas" - go through the results.
Or just [subject] "Sony Vegas". For example: reverb Sony Vegas

[drapeama]

I need to be able to import, cut, and clean alot stuff up

It won't do any miracle, audacity or Vegas. Depends on how bad your sounds need to be cleaned.

[HD-tography]

Depends on how bad your sounds need to be cleaned.

Ummm yeah some of it is pretty bad... some is top end quality... such a huge difference between them... might have to dirty some of the good stuff down to meet in the middle... what you get for using what was available at the time, and this is really primitive gear (PAL SD MiniDV camcorder from Africa missions footage, I never shot it, villagers did, but I have to make something of it)... oh well... get beyond this ol' stuff with whatever is usable and move on (with MY new quality gear)

[HD-tography]

It's going to take a lot of trial and error - don't expect to get the hang of it overnight.

"Sony Vegas audio tutorial" search into YouTube and Google can get you started.
Also utilize the "show me how" tutorials within the program itself.

If you're stuck on something, just go to Google, type "how" [subject] "Sony Vegas" - go through the results.
Or just [subject] "Sony Vegas". For example: reverb Sony Vegas

Good advice! I wouldn't mind finding out if there are some DVD tutorials for the NLE as a whole available for purchase... Even if it were for VegasPro 10, I understand there is not much difference between them, which is why I bought the older 9 version at a MUCH better price.

I was considering investing in a keyboard such as this one



that or buying the hotkey sticker sets to give some velocity to my workflow



Anybody have any suggestions for this or other keyboards for use with "VegasPro 9" to speed up the learning curve?

[eiker_ir]

I use Sound Forge 10 along with Vegas 10, great como imo.


Btw, i'd never recommend getting one of those software specific keyboards. What happens if you need to edit something on someone else's computer or laptop or a new job?

[HD-tography]

What happens if you need to edit something on someone else's computer or laptop or a new job?

Yeah, though I have my own in home editing studio now, I invested bigtime in a powerhouse PC desktop, multiple screens, video cards, a powerhouse laptop, and I am my own boss... but I see your point. I think color code is easier to visually learn off of, besides of course you will eventually remember what actual keys you are pressing to do what function.... Jog wheel is kinda cool too... just dunno if it will work well with this version of VegasPro, as it looks like it came out back in 2003? Stickers may be just as good...

[zagnut]

Although Audacity is a great tool for being open-source freeware, I don't like it. In fact, I hate it. Maybe because it's because I started audio editing on Cool Edit Pro, which was bought by Adobe and is now Audition. I have both Sound Forge and Audition and I prefer Audition.

Check out iZotope for some really great audio software as well. Rx Advanced is pretty awesome, if you have the cash.

[Almohada]

Although Audacity is a great tool for being open-source freeware, I don't like it. In fact, I hate it. Maybe because it's because I started audio editing on Cool Edit Pro, which was bought by Adobe and is now Audition. I have both Sound Forge and Audition and I prefer Audition.

I also started on Cool Edit Pro 2.0!!!! It's too awesome. Do you remember the sample tracks when you first install the program? "Cooool Edit Prooo two point ohhhhhhhhh" I then moved up to Audition 1.5 and way later on when I switched to Mac I started using Audacity. I don't like it either. Compared to Audition, the interface is just horrible, and feels unprofessional. I get lost when using it. I don't like it and I don't think I ever will. But once in a while, I'm forced to use it cause it's the only thing that works. And you're right, it's free so of course it's better than having nothing. I'd get the new Adobe Audition 3 for Mac but I'm still running 10.4.11...

[zagnut]

Haha, yeah I remember that.
I dislike Audacity for the same exact reasons. I moved over to Audition 3 (from CE Pro2) just earlier this year. The transition was practically seamless. Everything is laid out just like CE Pro. I still have my copy of CE Pro 2 just in case I need it for something.

[Almohada]

Damn I want to upgrade to Leopard now!!

[1]

e I started audio editing on Cool Edit Pro...

Haha, me three!

Wasn't there like a version Cool Edit Pro 2000? I seem to recall it being called that before Adobe got their sticky, greasy little hands on it. (I don't do Adobe AT ALL* so I don't know Audition)

* I reluctantly use their shockwave player after they bought that. Oh, gosh, I hate it so much....

[Khaver]

Reaper is a great DAW program. Only $50 and the trial never ends if you don't have a conscience. It even has a video window so is great for soundtrack production. Do your video and dialog edit on your NLE, output video with audio, import into Reaper. Apply required filters on the audio. Now you're ready to do your SFX and score (Midi, WAV, instruments, mics, whatever).

[Bob Sanders]

(I don't do Adobe AT ALL* so I don't know Audition)

Well I'll second Zagnut. I use Audition and it's an outstanding DAW. I've tried soundforge, WavLab... etc and they don't come close to what audition can do.

Most of the time Vegas will do what is needed, but there are times when you need that extra bit of control. Back in the dark ages when I was actually using my HV20, I would take the stereo track and actually create a 5.1 track from it. (I would cut sounds out from the original stereo tracks and move them to the appropriate 5.1 track, then mix for proper balance) It was pretty tedious work but I found that Audition did this the easiest and fastest .

ADDED:
I should also mention that Audition (with a free plugin) is the only DAW I know of that recognizes .AC3 .DTS and DTS-HD files.

[1]

Just remembered another good audio editor from way back: GoldWave.

I stopped using it once they charged, IIRC, but there still might be a free version, haven't checked.

[drapeama]

ADDED:
I should also mention that Audition (with a free plugin) is the only DAW I know of that recognizes .AC3 .DTS and DTS-HD files.

That's a good thing, but why editing a rendered file? Unless you want to use them in your project...but even so, convert to PCM and use them in Vegas.

[Bob Sanders]

but even so, convert to PCM and use them in Vegas.

Well that's one of the things Audition does... Vegas can't do it with DTS or DTS-HD

[cornreaper]

Still using Cool Edit Pro 2.1. And for some inexplicable reason, despite much information stating the contrary, it works almost flawlessly with Win 7 64. The only glitch seems to be that it doesn't recognize optical drives.

[drapeama]

Well that's one of the things Audition does... Vegas can't do it with DTS or DTS-HD

That's why I said:

convert to PCM and use them in Vegas.

You can use eac3to (it's free) to read these lossless format and convert them into a .wav file, so you can read them in more software.