Hi, I've put a RealTrack on a Utility track #1 and want to Mute/Back to Normal etc with the options in F5.
I can edit any of the "normal" tracks, which I've done, but there's no option to edit any of the Utility tracks.
Is there another way to Mute/Back to Normal etc Utility tracks.
Thanks Brian
Brian Cadoret BIAB 2025 Pro build 1125e with BIAB2023 UltraPAK . Samplitude Pro X4 Suite. Mixcraft 10.5 Pro Studio Focusrite 2i2 Scarlett Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz Installed RAM 8.00 GB
With the 2022 version, instead of using the Bar Settings dialogue to control volume you can use the new Volume Automation feature. This feature is shown at 51:18 of this video:
You may get some better answers, but most I've heard have been to use the amplitude automation. Another option may be to use the "Silence" RealTrack as part of a medley.
This is one of those areas where, at present, all tracks are not quite equal. I suspect they may be at least closer in BiaB 2023.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
So it seems editing Utility tracks audio has to be done in the Edit Audio window.
It's doable and really good for finer audio editing, but for quick basic Mute/Back to Normal etc edits the F5 option is quicker.
Maybe the Utility tracks could be added to the F5 options in the future.
Thanks Brian
Last edited by Brian Cadoret; 04/26/2209:06 AM.
Brian Cadoret BIAB 2025 Pro build 1125e with BIAB2023 UltraPAK . Samplitude Pro X4 Suite. Mixcraft 10.5 Pro Studio Focusrite 2i2 Scarlett Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz Installed RAM 8.00 GB
It's doable and really good for finer audio editing, but for quick basic Mute/Back to Normal etc edits the F5 option is quicker.
Maybe the Utility tracks could be added to the F5 options in the future.
There have been a few hints that this might be incorporated down the line...
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Thanks Noel I have looked at that and is a good workaround.
Brian
Brian Cadoret BIAB 2025 Pro build 1125e with BIAB2023 UltraPAK . Samplitude Pro X4 Suite. Mixcraft 10.5 Pro Studio Focusrite 2i2 Scarlett Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz Installed RAM 8.00 GB
As I found out the hard way, the trick is to make sure that you freeze the Utility track after you move the file from a location that allows F5 to be used. If the track isn't frozen to preserve the settings, it will get overwritten next time the song is generated.
These days I always make sure that I save a copy of the SGU/MGU file with a different name before I start moving things around. That makes it much easier to get back to the original if I need to.
Hi, I've put a RealTrack on a Utility track #1 and want to Mute/Back to Normal etc with the options in F5.
I can edit any of the "normal" tracks, which I've done, but there's no option to edit any of the Utility tracks.
Is there another way to Mute/Back to Normal etc Utility tracks.
Thanks Brian
Originally Posted By: Brian Cadoret
Thanks Chantelle and Gordon for the replies.
So it seems editing Utility tracks audio has to be done in the Edit Audio window.
It's doable and really good for finer audio editing, but for quick basic Mute/Back to Normal etc edits the F5 option is quicker.
Maybe the Utility tracks could be added to the F5 options in the future.
Thanks Brian
I'm posting some added information for clarification to the original posts questions about Mute/return to normal feature since the post is a question rather than a 'Wishlist' item.
For those that may not be completely familiar with BIAB Audio Editing and want a quick, basic Mute/Back to normal edit of a Utility Track, there's nultiple ways to mute/unmute within the BIAB Audio Window. Previous posts have explained two, the Volume Automation tool and RealTrack replacement.
First. There are 5 different ways to Mute/Return to normal to Utility Tracks than the Bar Settings Window (F5).
Second. All of the options of Bar Settings that apply to RealTracks in the Legacy Tracks can be done, and with more precision, in the Audio Edit Window equally for all 24 tracks. Learning to edit from the Audio Edit Window will be more beneficial immediately because the user will have full access to all tracks, Legacy and Utility, and editing will be uniform for every track. Every track is accessible immediately with a single mouse click and the edit region selected remains active.
Third. My experience with editing from the Audio Edit Window has shown it's overall faster, more precise and takes less mouse selections than doing the same task in Bar Settings (F5).
I guess that the situation here is to provide a consistent and common way to perform these functions.
Depending on the particular track type, both Bar Settings and Audio Edit can be used to successfully produce volume changes. Different methods for different tracks.
I think it's up to PG Music to decide on how to produce a single method that is consistent across all track types.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
"I guess that the situation here is to provide a consistent and common way to perform these functions."
I agree and that's the point I'm making in my earlier post.
The author's original post is specific to RealTracks/Audio. The concern is an audio specific task currently shared between The Audio Edit Window and Bar Settings. Both work but the Audio Editor is the better choice. It's a consistent way to edit muting and the other audio editing tasks while also being common to all of the Mixer Tracks and to all BIAB versions. As noted in the author's original post, Bar Settings aren't available on Utility Tracks. Other types of files don't display in the Audio Edit Window and aren't necessary to discuss because they're off topic to the audio question at hand.
Another common answer to this and similar queries made in past posts is to export audio tracks to a DAW for simple audio editing tasks. My opinion, position and suggestion is that in BIAB's current version, the most convenient, consistent and efficient method to achieve quick, quality audio edits is to use the BIAB Audio Edit Feature. In regard to audio, the Audio Edit Window exceeds the precision, speed of execution and also gives the user visual awareness of the waveform over using Bar Settings. In 2022, in regard to audio; The Audio Edit Window is an improved, updated and superior alternative to the antiquated Bar Settings Feature.
In regard to audio, the Audio Edit Window exceeds the precision, speed of execution and also gives the user visual awareness of the waveform over using Bar Settings. In 2022, in regard to audio; The Audio Edit Window is an improved, updated and superior alternative to the antiquated Bar Settings Feature.
I agree, Charlie.
Just recently I wrote and arranged a song using BIAB's Audio Edit to modify the tracks rather than my DAW. The process worked excellently and was much more nuanced than bar settings. It was also very easy to use.
Noel, an interesting note about your workaround is that with only the modification of moving RealTrack audio to a folder rather than a Utility Track, which didn't exist then, users could use the Audio Editor on RealTracks in earlier versions of BIAB as far back as 2015 instead of a DAW.
One thing about F5 (Bar Settings) that is really a plus is the "ALL INSTRUMENTS" option. Which, before utility tracks, would allow you to perform a function on all tracks in one place with one step. Although, that function doesn't affect the utility tracks.
Also, the "MASTER TRACK" in the mixer allows you to make volume automation changes, but they don't do anything. Would be great feature if implemented.
I'm a fan of bar settings for all channels, although volume automation is a very nice feature.
One thing about F5 (Bar Settings) that is really a plus is the "ALL INSTRUMENTS" option. Which, before utility tracks, would allow you to perform a function on all tracks in one place with one step. Although, that function doesn't affect the utility tracks.
Also, the "MASTER TRACK" in the mixer allows you to make volume automation changes, but they don't do anything. Would be great feature if implemented.
I'm a fan of bar settings for all channels, although volume automation is a very nice feature.
You're correct that the "ALL INSTRUMENTS" option in Bar Settings no longer works for all instruments but those features are still available for all instruments and now even include the Utility Tracks.
Of the "All Instrument" options, my thought is the Mute/Return to Normal would be the most common usage, correct? That feature is still available for "All Instruments". All channel Mute/UnMute is now done using the Master Mute button on the Mixer. To me, this is more convenient and faster than the older Bar Settings method. Soloing various tracks and Freezing all tracks can also done from the Master Track. All instruments can be uniformly changed up or down in the BIAB Mixer using the Ctrl key and mouse or using the Master Fader. Fade-in can be done manually using the Master Volume control in the Classic View. Fade-out can be manually done using the Master Volume control in the Classic View or programmed from the Song Settings Window. So, no feature has been lost with the introduction of Utility Tracks. In my opinion, the upgrades and new features outweigh the minor inconvenience of learning their new locations.
Charlie, thanks for your reply. But I must confess that I'm quite confused by it.
The Master channel in the mixer (as far as I can tell), cannot be used to fade in the start of a song, or fade it out. Volume automation doesn't work on it and you can't specify where to come in or out. The mute button just mutes all channels. Doesn't replace being able to specify bars, it just mutes.
As far as I can see (and I hope and wish that I'm wrong), the only thing that the Master channel on the mixer is good for is inserting plug-ins that affect the whole song.
Didn't mean to be confusing and no correction is necessary to what you're thinking to be correct. Your perspective of BIAB being similar to how DAW automation works is right.
I don't think of BIAB in terms of DAW operation and never have so I don't encounter workflow automation glitches if a new feature is added like the introduction of Utility Tracks have created for many users.
So, while your thinking that BIAB's Mixer and Master Channel capability is very limited, you've only discovered one of it's many abilities. It will do all of the things I pointed in my earlier post and more. However, BIAB's Mixer operates like a basic, hardware digital multi track recorder and not like a DAW. That means operations are not automated but are done manually in real time. In many instances, with operations being done one at a time.
F5 options that include Utility Tracks are in the Wish List Forum and one day may be a reality.
EDIT: I corrected the third paragraph to reflect I mean your thoughts about mixer capability, not your thinking... ;=)
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