Hi to everyone here. This is my first post.
I have recently purchased and installed Premier Elements 7 and everything appeared to go fine except that I got an error message when trying to register the smartsound bit. It told me I could skip registration and do it on their website later.
When I try to use smartsound within PE7, I select the music I want (from that I own), and it then asks me to insert the smartsound library CD. I have put the PE7 disk back in the drive but it turns its nose up at that and refuses to load anything. I then have to cancel out.
What am I missing here folks ?
Smartsound - Please insert the...Double-check which file you have chosen.
Make sure it's either Owned by Me or On My Computer.
If you've selected an Owned by Me, you'll be selecting from the clips that came with the program. If the program is not finding it, insert the installation disk in your drive and select the option to Install Additional Content.
Smartsound - Please insert the...I confirm the sound files I am trying to select are owned by me on my computer, but its still asking for the disk.
I have inserted the original PE7 disk and run autoplay. In the menu thats displayed I see Install PE7, install PE7 templates, browse DVD, readme and install Acrobat reader.
Clicking on install templates only offers to repair the template installation. If I select that it tells me its going to remove it from my system ?
Reading the readme file聽 I see
Installation Notes
......
鈥?If a subset of content is installed, all content must be uninstalled before additional content may be installed.
Is this relevant ?
On the DVD there is a smartsound folder with a setup launcher, and a Music installer Full Spectrum. I did try running these but its made no difference. I assume that with a normal install of PE7 smartsound just works? or is there a separate step you have to take in addition?
Thanks for your help
PS
I have been trying to access the smartsound website for the last 2 days but it will not load. I searched Google to see if they are having any problems but could not see any info on this.
I suppose it's possible SmartSound ''thinks'' you own the file, though you really don't.
Do you get the same results if you choose other sound clips from Owned by Me?
And which clip and style are you using? Maybe I could try it on my computer and see if I have any problems accessing it.
Welcome to the forum.
As of 6:50AM AZT 08/07/09, SmartSound is up and running.
Let鈥檚 step through the SmartSound installation, to make sure that you have what you need. Please note that I also have SmartSound SonicFire Pro 4 and 5 (Scoring Edition). I also do not have PrE7, so my use in PrE4 and PrPro is via the free QuickTracks plug-in for Premiere. That is basically what is included in PrE7, though mine was a separate installation after the installation of both of my versions of Pr - Pro and Elements 4. Because of this, your folder hierarchy might differ from mine, but this will give you the basics.
SmartSound has up to three sets of components. The default installation is as follows:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SmartSound Software Inc\
This is the location for XP-Pro - Vista may differ. With the exception of the Sound Files folder, this location MUST stay the same and it cannot be moved. More on the Sound Files later.
In this hierarchy, you will have the following folders:
Encoding - .BLX, .ICO, .SDI files
Exporters -
Libraries - ._Master.ssdb, BLX, .ICO, .SDI files
News -
Previews - .MOV, .MP3
Sound Files - .SDS (actual SmartSound sound files) *
Sound Files Hits
Sound Files Modified
UpdatePacks
C:\Program Files\SmartSound Software: (note: might be different with the installation of QuickTracks for Premiere, when installed during the installation of PrE7)
Quicktracks
Quicktracks for Premiere
SonicFire Pro 4 **
SonicFire Pro 5 **
Now, for some background. SmartSound comes in basically three ''flavors'' now. First, there is the QuickTracks. This is a plug-in for PrPro/PrE. It works from within the NLE program itself. Then, there are two versions of SonicFire Pro (a stand-alone program that is similar to QuickTracks, but offers so very much more in the way of power with the Strata Series (Multi-track music libraries). One is the ExpressTracks version, which is free with the purchase of any Strata Series disc., and the other is the full ''Scoring Edition,'' which can be purchased separately, or upgraded free, if one has a registered copy of SonicFire Pro 3 - 4.
Please check that you have the proper folders, and that the ones in the first group listed have NOT been moved from the C:\Documents %26amp; Settings (or Vista equivalent) folder structure. All but the Sound Files folder MUST be there, and no place else.
* In the QuickTracks plug-in interface, launched via the New icon in PrE, you can use Tools to locate your Sound Files. On my laptop, I have them on a 2TB FW-800 external. On my workstation, they are located on my D:\ (Stock Media) drive. Before one moves the Sound Files, they must create the folder in the new location, and then in QuickTracks鈥?Tools, add that folder to the list. As that is where I want all installed Sound Files to be, I mark it as such in QuickTracks. Then, when one inserts a SmartSound library disc, or purchases from SmartSound, the Sound Files are located in this folder.
** As mentioned, I have SonicFire Pro 4 %26amp; 5. These folders/programs will not appear if one has just installed the QuickTracks for Premiere plug-in, either manually, or automatically with the installation of PrE 7. These are totally separate programs and are NOT included in PrE7.
As Steve points out, there are a couple of variables, when searching for SmartSound music. Two basically show what one owns and has available. The first is the SmartSound music ON their computer. This will be .SDS files that have been downloaded from SmartSound, or copied over to the computer with the installation of the QuickTracks for Premiere plug-in (small library), or for a purchased SmartSound disc. The next is Music Owned by Me. This differs slightly from the first in that when you install a purchased SmartSound disc, you have the choice of loading the Library to the computer, but keeping the sound files on the DVD. You can use these just fine, but you will then need to insert that disc to do so. You have the Library installed, but the Sound Files have NOT been copied over. This is likely what has happened.
The third search function is for ALL SmartSound music. When one updates the Libraries from the SmartSound Web site, all Libraries are added to the program鈥檚 database. This allows one to search the entire SmartSound Library for the right music. One has preview files, to listen to a bit of this music. The biggest difference here is that one does not yet OWN this music. It is available for purchase from SmartSound. Much can be purchased as individual cuts, but some is only available for sale in the full disc version. All is available with a full disc purchase. It鈥檚 easy to become confused, if one is not careful when setting the search criteria.
Now, the questions to help you will be: have you purchased additional SmartSound music and installed it? Did you copy over the Sound Files from those discs?
Good luck,
Hunt
As I was running long, and almost out of space above, I broke this off. It is basically a reiteration of the Libraries:
When you install PrE7 w/ SmartSound, you get a small Library of music, both the Library files and the Sound Files.
Also, you get Libraries (and previews) of what is available at the time that that PrE7 installer disc was created. When you update your Libraries from the SmartSound site, all new Libraries and previews are added to your system, though NOT the Sound Files.
When you install a purchased SmartSound music disc, the Library Enablers are turned ON and the Sound Files CAN be copied over, or CAN be accessed from THAT disc.
The Library files, along with their previews, exist to help you find music that you can then purchase. You do not have it on your system yet. Most can be purchased individually, and all can be purchased in the appropriate disc Library.
Hope that this helps,
Hunt
One last comment, and separate from the rest.
Registration of SmartShound for Premiere (PrE7) is not required. However, it is a good idea for two reasons:
1.) Notifications for updates for the QuickTracks for Premiere plug-in (what you get when you install PrE7) will be sent. This is a good idea.
2.) Notifications for additions to the complete SmartSound library (note lack of capitalization, as this is the entire ''library'' of all SmartSound music) will be sent, along with notifications of any sales. There is one going on right now and it really makes purchasing additional SmartSound music much cheaper.
I urge every user to register, as those notifications can get you updated programs and also save a ton of $ with the sales. SmartSound music is great, but not cheap.
Good luck,
Hunt
C:\Program Files\SmartSound Software: (note: might be different with the installation of QuickTracks for Premiere, when installed during the installation of PrE7)I've added some detail on SmartSound for information, with some questions specific to your situation. These are probably best viewed and followed, if you switch the View of this forum over to Threaded, from the normal Flattened View. You can do this by clicking on your Profile and in Options changing to Threaded View. You can always change this back to the more traditional, Flattened View.
Good luck,
Hunt
Thank you for your reply.
OK
I select smartsound
Click here to select music
Choose -聽 owned by me
Choose style - classical
Choose intensity - calm
The above selections gives me a choice of 4 tracks all of which are shown as being from the 'Full spectrum 22k' library. I selected Bach guitar and in the information box it is showing Location mounted CD.
I click select and thats when I get asked for the CD.
Wow thats a huge and detailed response, many thanks Hunt.聽 I will dig around in my Vista setup and see what folders etc I have.
I suspect it's an installation issue. This track opens up just fine on my computer!
Did you register your SmartSound when you first launched it?
You can also go to the screen that says Click Here to Select Music and, from the Tools drop-down, select Option.
On the first screen, click the button that says Rebuild SmartSound Database.
On the Libraries tab, ensure that Full Spectrum is listed as copied to drive.
If so, go to C:/DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS/ALL USERS/APPLICATION DATA/SMARTSOUND SOFTWARE and open the SOUND FILES folder. Is Bach Guitar listed there?
Ok once again thanks for your detailed explanation.
I found the first set of folders you mention e.g.
Encoding - .BLX, .ICO, .SDI files
Exporters -
Libraries - ._Master.ssdb, BLX, .ICO, .SDI files
News -
Previews - .MOV, .MP3
Sound Files - .SDS (actual SmartSound sound files) *
in C:\Program data\Smartsound software Inc.
Encoding has files
Exporters -
Libraries - Compiled libraries.sxl, Full spectrum 22k.sdx, Master
libraries.sxl, UserData.sxl
News -
Previews - 5 files which will play using VLC media player
Sound files - Nothing !!
So, I found those files but I do not know if they are in the right place
for a Vista 32bit system?
I also found
C:\program files\Smartsound software\
Quicktracks
Quicktracks for premier
I saw you mentioned that smartsound had tools for managing the tracks etc so I tried it again and chose
Tools
Options
Libraries
Under libraries it shows
Full spectrum 22K copied to drive NO
Online purchases 44k copied to drive YES
I certainly have not purchased any new sounds files as yet and according to the above I have not copied the music to my hard drive either.
The common smartsound folder is shown as C:\Program data\Smartsound software Inc\
The above selections gives me a choice of 4 tracks all of which are shown as being from the 'Full spectrum 22k' library. I selected Bach guitar and in the information box it is showing Location mounted CD.
I click select and thats when I get asked for the CD.
I couldn't register smartsound when I installed it as I got an error message. I couldnt access the smartsound website either at that time but my internet connection was working. As of 17:16hrs GMT I still cant access their website.
I tried rebuilding the database but still no luck
Full spectrum is NOT copied to my drive so thats probably my problem. If only I could work out how to copy it from the PE7 installation disk. There is a program there called Music installer Full Spectrum 22k. When I run that I get the install screen saying this will install smartsound Full spectrum on your computer, click next... then it does a bunch of stuff but its too fast to see where its putting stuff !
The common smartsound folder is shown as C:\Program data\Smartsound software Inc\Thank you hunt.
I searched my computer for Bach Guitar 22k.sds - not found. searching *.sds finds nothing either,
I have looked on the PE7 installation disk and there is a Smartsounds folder. There are no .sds files at all.聽 There is an ominous Data1 cabinet file which is where I suspect they may be lurking.....
I have no idea how to look inside this file,
I would expect these clips will be available once you register the software.
I'm not sure why you're having trouble getting to the site. I've visited it several times this morning, in doing research for this discussion.
I couldn't register smartsound when I installed it as I got an error message. I couldnt access the smartsound website either at that time but my internet connection was working. As of 17:16hrs GMT I still cant access their website.Here is a look at Full Spectrum:
Now, I do not know if all are available with PrE7. I have that full disc, so maybe I have more available. It's a pretty large Library, and I do not remember that many cuts coming with Pinnacle (years, and years ago), or CyberLink PowerDirector (much more recent).
As I have so much of the SmartSound material, there is really no way that I can verify what came from where.
Good luck,
Hunt
I would expect these clips will be available once you register the software.Hunt
Now your torturing me...... 聽聽聽 If I could see just one file on my system I would feel cheerful
I still cant access smartsound's website and I have tried three different machines. I dont have my security settings very high so I don't know what the issue is, maybe its our narrow roads in the UK
I think I will try installing it on a different machine and see if that cures my woes. But I wont try that until I can be sure of reaching smartsound over the internet for registration.
If anyone else is in the uk reading this please see if you can access smartsound because I can't and if its my machine letting me down I want to know about it
I have looked on the PE7 installation disk and there is a Smartsounds folder. There are no .sds files at all.聽 There is an ominous Data1 cabinet file which is where I suspect they may be lurking.....Can you get there with your browser?
http://www.smartsound.com/backstage/register.php
Many thanks for your efforts in trying to help me solve this little problem.聽 I will keep trying their website. I remember using smartsound many moons ago on another computer. That was when I could not afford to buy anything, now I am retired I can buy what I like. Guess what, there is nothing I want !!!!聽聽聽 Except some smartsound music to compliment my hobby
No I cant get there either. I have never experienced anything like this before where other people can access a site but I can't. Is it me do you think ? Maybe I am slowly being erased from the world wide web?聽 The thought is just too painful to contemplate..........
I still cant access smartsound's website and I have tried three different machines. I dont have my security settings very high so I don't know what the issue is, maybe its our narrow roads in the UK No I cant get there either. I have never experienced anything like this before where other people can access a site but I can't. Is it me do you think ?Many thanks for emailing their support for me that's good of you.聽
Yes the weather has been real nice of late. I dont have the benefit of your air conditioning but make do with a 'swamp cooler'. Sometimes they work and at others they raise the humidity to Rain forest proportions.
I will keep trying the website, and raise it with my ISP (TalkTalk). I will also ask my neighbour to try them, he is on a different ISP I think.
Cheers
Ken
Ok
A quick trip next door and that shows that there is NOTHING wrong with the connection to the smartsound website and the problem is firmly with my setup or ISP. Further research is need and I will report back.
For others who may come across the same issue, my ISP is TalkTalk in the UK.聽聽
I will keep trying the website, and raise it with my ISP (TalkTalk). I will also ask my neighbour to try them, he is on a different ISP I think.Eureka !
I can now connect to www.smartsound.com ..... but not with my normal ISP, I am currently using my mobile broadband dongle and thats allowing me to get to their website just fine.聽 So, now I will try again to register the sogtware and let you know how I get on.
Fingers crossed ....
Well, as they say in the Guinness commercials (at least the ones in the US) ''Brilliant!''
Looks like the ISP is the issue. I'd have a ''talk-talk'' with Talktalk...
Now, let's hope that with registration, things begin to unlock for you. As Steve Grisetti mentioned earlier, that could be the key. He uses SmartSound with PrE7, so I will certainly defer to his judgement.
If things do not fall into place, you at least have access to the SmartSound FAQ's and Knowledgebase, plus support. I'd read around a bit first. Though I refreshed my memory on those two areas, I have to admit that I saw nothing specific to PrE7. What I did find was not something that I felt could help with your particular situation, but could have missed it, big-time.
If you do need to go further, from Support, look for Contact Support. First, read any links, that will appear above the e-mail form. If not helped, then e-mail them too. It will be much better for you to make contact with them, as there might be questions that they will have, that I could not answer. As I said, they are quick, but we're about to go into the weekend, so they might not get to it until early next week. They will likely have you step through some operations, and ask for locations, etc. Again,you can then do this directly, where I'd have to come back, ask, then go back to them. All I did was mention the gist of your problem and point them to this thread.
Good luck, and please report what you find out, as it will educate me, and likely help another later on,
Hunt
Bummer !
No better I am afraid. I went through the registration process and that all worked fine this time. However, still no music available. I managed to connect with PE7 and download 3 updates for Smartsound but they have not made any difference either.
I cannot even play the previews which it states are playing over the web.聽 I am off for a bit of a sulk now. I will return to thr frey again later when curiosity gets the better of me again.
I will follow your advice and make contact with their customer support. One other thing I will try is installing the smartsound software onto a windows XP machine. If I can see the files there then I can copy them across as your described.
I am not losing hope
Enjoy your weekend and thanks for the help so far, its appreciated.
Ken
No better I am afraid. I went through the registration process and that all worked fine this time. However, still no music available. I managed to connect with PE7 and download 3 updates for Smartsound but they have not made any difference either.Hello Hunt
Can you see that I am
Thats because my latest effort worked !聽聽聽 I installed the sound files onto a Windows XP laptop and hey presto there they were all neatly unpacked and winking at me seductively.聽聽 I told you I was loosing it
Anyway, thanks to you telling me where to put them they are now installed on my Vista editing machine and I have just created my first track!聽 I love it. I will now have a play to see if I can get the previews to work over the web.
All the best
Ken
Just checked and the web previews work now also !!!!!聽聽 It looks like I am in business. What was that about special offers ???
Hello,
First of all thank you for using SmartSound Software and thank you Hunt for all of the assistance you give on numerous forums!
You are correct that the Full spectrum 22k.exe file will install the SmartSound music that was included with Premiere Elements 7.聽 It appears that the music from this installer is not actually being decompressed and copied into the proper folder.聽 Usually this is caused by restricted permissions on the destination folder, i.e. not using an administrator account.聽 Can you verify that your account is set as the administrator?
If the sound files do not exist in the C:\ProgramData\SmartSound Software Inc\Sound Files folder, that would be the problem.聽 Try first logging in as the administrator (don't open Premiere Elements yet) and running the Full Spectrum 22k.exe file again by right-clicking it and selecting ''Run as Administrator''.聽 Once it has completed, check the Sound Files folder and see if the files are there.聽 If so, then open up Premiere Elements and see if you can access the files through Quicktracks.
Let me know how it goes, as soon as we get the sound files in their proper location with the proper permissions, everything should be good to go.
Regards,
Frank
SmartSound Software Tech Support
support@smartsound.com
www.smartsound.com
Hi Frank
Try first logging in as the administrator (don't open Premiere Elements yet) and running the Full Spectrum 22k.exe file again by right-clicking it and selecting ''Run as Administrator''.聽 Once it has completed, check the Sound Files folder and see if the files are there.聽
Frank,
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I had not even condidered the Administrator aspect, though it's a common problem with other programs' installations and even running some of the Adobe programs, themselves.
I hope that this will cure ShrimpFarmer's problems, and that he can get to using his SmartSound plug-in, especially as your current ''sale'' draws to a close!
I was concerned that I was missing something relative to the version of SmartSound, that he had - PrE 7. Now, you've given me something to tuck away in my ''bag of tricks.''
Greatly appreciated and have a wonderful weekend,
Hunt
Ok further to the above.....
Apologies but the files were copied to my computer but they were placed in
C:\programdata\COMPANY_NAME\Soundfiles
I have to apologise to Hunt as when I searched my computer before these files were not found yet I suspect they were there all along. My account is the administrator account, however the first few times I ran the installer I did not run as administrator.
There is something wrong with my search function in Vista, not that I am asking for anyone to help me solve that issue. I used to be into flight simulation and I remember deactivating some services to eak out extra performance. I need to go back and reset those I think. Maybe it was that that was causing my problems. if so apologies.
Anyhow, now I know where its storing the files. My question is will I be able to install additional files ok if I buy more tracks? Is there a way to make sure they are installed into the right folder next time.
best regards
ken
Interesting...apparently it did not create the SmartSound folder properly? Go ahead and move the sound files into the proper folder in the SmartSound directory.聽 Then in Quicktracks, open up the options window and click the Folders tab.聽 As long as the default folder path that you see listed there聽 exists, that should be where the sound files go to.聽 If you move them to this location and they work, then you shouldn't have any problems installing new music.
If anything comes up, please let me know.
Regards,
Frank
SmartSound Software Tech Support
support@smartsound.com
www.smartsound.com
Thanks Frank
I did the above and its all working fine. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this succesful solution.
Best regards
Ken
ShrimpFarmer - that is great!
Hey, along the way, I found out a few things about SmartSound in PrE7 and also Vista. I use neither. I also was reminded, by Frank, about the prospect of non-administrative log-ins. I knew that, but just did not think of it as a possibility - duh!
The best news is that you have given others, with the same problem, a solution. It was not for naught - plus you now have SmartSound. Hey, the sale ends on Sunday!!!
Also, I think that in October, if you are near Mayfair, you owe Frank and me a pint. I'll take a Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter... Do not know what Frank prefers.
Happy editing,
Hunt
PS when you do purchase more of the SmartSound discs, remember what I mentioned about the newer Strata Series - they will not contain the 44KHz files and will not work in QT for PrE7, only SonicFire Pro * . Also, let us know how the discs do install.
* I'll probably contact Frank off-line to mention some sort of a banner to point out the incompatibility with the newer Strata Series discs and any version of QT's. While I love SmartSound and highly recommend it to all, I would never want someone purchasing something, thinking it will work in one of their programs and not realize that it will not work in another.
I would be happy to buy you a beer anytime
Now decisions decisions.
What do I go for?
Sonicfire Pro sounds fantastic but I would not be able to make any use of its power within PrE7 as PrE7 does not support it. I am just a hobby film producer, its not my work so I am thinking PrE7 will probably be able to do all I could ask of it and a lot more besides. I dont really want to upgrade to the big boys software. The cost of the Sonicfire Pro packages would be ok for me.
Of course I have only just discovered Smartsound so my knowledge of it is zero. I will have a search on here today to see what I can discover about how best to use it.
Within PrE7 it allows me to create a piece of music of whatever length I need but of course it lacks all the clever tricks of Sonic Pro. So far I have simply been picking a track from my CD collection and editing to the music. Would I be right in thinking that now I should
1. create a rough edit of my clips,
2. Use Smartsounds to create a piece of music that matches the content
3. Edit to the music
4. Create a new Smartsound track using the previously selected settings but this time match it to the new length of my edited video
I am hoping that when I do this that Smartsound creates exactly the same piece of music as before but just adjusts the ending ?
Now looking towards Sonicfire Pro - is the upgrading to a different video editing package the only way to get the benefits of that software ?
All the best
Ken
Here are a couple of thoughts. They focus mainly on workflow, but there are possibly other things to take away, as well.
For me, the Soundtrack is the last thing that I do. There are several reasons for this:
1.) I can't really finalize the mood of the music, until I have my edits done. Simple choices like using a Dip-to-Black vs a Cross-Dissolve, can alter the mood to some degree.
2.) Though SmartSound is great, it only really offers 100% control in Pinnacle. Stepping back a bit, SmartSound creates a complete music score with a beginning a middle and an end to the Duration, that one chooses. Along the way, one can choose variations on that particular cut too. Now, in Pinnacle, SmartSound offers a more dynamic way to do the score - you can alter the total Duration, dynamically on the Timeline, and the beginning, middle and end are maintained. The middle just acts like an acordion, if that makes sense. In other applications, that dynamic behavior is not available. Now, one can use TimeStretch to tailor the Soundtrack a little, but very much and one will notice the change in the piece. If my overall Duration changes much, I just do a new SmartSound piece instead. Not a biggie, but I hope that SmartSound can incorporate the fully dynamic editing of the Duration of the pieces, a la Pinnacle. Now, it's not fair to put the onus on SmartSound. The reason for the difference is that Pinnacle handles Audio differently, than many other NLE's, PrPro and PrE included. Matter of fact, Adobe changed things enough with PrPro CS4, that the QT's plug-in does not work with it - yet. SmartSound is working to get the ''Pinncalce model'' into the plug-in for other applications, but they do not have it nailed down and it's taking more time, than they had hoped.
Now to SonicFire Pro. You are correct. It is not a plug-in for PrE. It is not a plug-in for anything, but a total standalone program. What one must do is edit their Video and its Audio. When done, you output a ''reference movie,'' and then bring this into SonicFire Pro. There, one has such wonderful control over the scoring, using the Strata Series Multi-layer music. It allows one to actually break apart all of the various instruments in the orchestra and tallor the music to exactly what is happening on-screen. Both versions of SonicFire Pro will allow some level of this tailoring, but only with the Strata Series (or the now gone BackStage Multi-layer) discs. The ExpressTracks (free with the purchase of any Strata Series disc) version is slightly limited as to what it can control. The Scoring version (paid) is totally unlimited. Even with the tutorials, one cannot grasp the power and usefulness, until they try it for themselves. Note that SonicFire Pro can work with all SmartSound music, however its full power comes with the Strata Series music. [Remember that some newer Strata discs cannot be used with QT's, as they no longer contain the 44KHz versions of the music on the disc.]
This scoring method is how Hollywood does it. There may be work on the compositions to be used prior to editing, but it is not until the editing is done, that the music track is laid down. They also use a ''reference movie'' for this purpose. Often the conductor is looking at a monitor, while directing the musicians.
Hope that this provides you with a bit of background and some thoughts on workflow with SmartSound.
Happy editng,
Hunt
Thanks for that detailed explanation, very useful.
I would love to get Sonicfire Pro as I know I would really enjoy playing around with all the various layers. However, one concern is that it sounds as if I may be painting myself into a corner as Quicktracks will not make use of the latest multi-layer tracks format. But does this matter? If I followed your method of editing clips and audio first and then used Sonic for the soundtrack.
Is it the case that you create a reference movie, create your soundtrack within Sonicfire Pro and then export the final music track back to your editing software for final output in the format of your choice and discard the reference movie? If so, and it outputs a wav file then that could just be imported into PE7 and added to the edited film.
I don't like burning things to DVD. I prefer to create video files that will play on a laptop and my Sony PS3. Because my computer setup is not a professional rig I generally work in small chunks that would equal a normal DVD chapter. Then string these together into a final media file once they are all ready. Well, at least thats the plan and how I have done it with other platforms in the past.
Sorry to keep firing questions.
Ken
Good questions.
As for the latest Strata Series discs, they will only work in SonicFire Pro, because they are 48KHz files only, and QT's can only work with up to 44KHz files (plus all lower sampe-rate files below). However, there are many hundreds of other ''libraries,'' from which to choose. These include the older Strata Series libraries, as well. I just try to point out that the newer (do not have a date, but I first saw this about 6-8 mos. ago) Strata's do not contain a 44KHz version of the music. As I use both SonicFire Pro and QT's (most often), it's not that big a deal for me. However, someone only wishing to work with QT's would be shut out, and without much warning. I've corresponded with SmartSound on two things: bringing back the 44KHz material, or putting a warning sticker on the Web site to the effect that certain libraries will only work with SonicFire Pro. Have not heard about either suggestion, so I assume they are still working on this.
Now, I was just a little light on my workflow description. I left out the final parts. Once I have scored to my reference movie, I Export as a PCM/WAV from SonicFire Pro. I bring this into my NLE and use it as my Soundtrack. I also work as you do, in Sequences (think of these as mini-Projects in PrE) for my ''chapters.'' Now, one of these ''Chapters'' might have several different Soundtrack files, or might have one, but altered enough in SonicFire Pro to seem like different music. It just depends on what I have, and what I want. As this Exported PCM/WAV can still be edited regarding most Fixed Effects (Volume, Balance, etc.), I might still do some tweaking back in PrPro, though most of that work is done in SonicFire Pro. Also, I often will upmix my stereo Soundtrack to DD 5.1 SS, so I will often do much more Audio work in PrPro, or maybe even Adobe Audition. Still, regardless of what other editing I do, the Soundtrack is PCM/WAV back in the NLE. It may be 6 discrete PCM/WAV files for the Surround Sound, but it's still PCM/WAV. I will then do my Export, and for the DD 5.1 SS will choose DD AC3. If just stereo, I stay with PCM/WAV. In your case, since you are not doing the delivery via DVD-Video, you will mux your Audio and Video to get both streams into one file. I always keep mine separate (elemental streams) and use those in my authoring program.
I assemble my individual Sequences (''Chapters'') in the authoring program, Encore. You would do this in a separate Project. Your steps would be to do all editing, including the Audio, and then Export as a DV-AVI Type II file, either muxed (probably easier in your case), or as elemental streams (not bad, but two files for each ''Chapter''), and then Import these into that new Project for final assembly and Export to the desired format/COCEC. The beauty, to me, of the Sequences in PrPro is that I can keep everything together and in fully editable form in my NLE's Project. I just Export each Sequence and do the final assembly in Encore.
Hope that this helps,
Hunt
Yes as always Hunt that explanation did help. I have just had another look at Smartsounds website, in particular at their bundle deals.聽 Its still a little confusing.
They offer the Mega Bundle for $498 which is very tempting as it comes with a lot of music. Its listed as being for Final Cut Pro, however I am right in thinking that I just set that bit aside for if and when I do move up the chain and just use the Sonic scoring edition software as we have been discussing ?
I only ask this as the lower bundles which are much less attractive clearly state that they are meant for all other editing software systems. I am nearly there on this one I think
The sale you mentioned earlier, I assume your refering to their mega music sale. I take it the bundle offers are failry static in price, and if so is now the right time to buy?聽 If the package prices are not likely to shoot up them the most sensible course is for me to grab their 21 day trial.
Cheers
Ken
They offer the Mega Bundle for $498 which is very tempting as it comes with a lot of musicFor some general background on SmartSound, here is my recent ARTICLE on it in the Tips %26amp; Tricks sub-forum.
Hunt
PS much in this article was taken from this and many other threads. The biggest difference is that I was able to get SmartSound to edit it, before I posted. I learned a few new things in that process.
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