Logic for 'long form' dialogue/narration editing?

[CustomDigi]

Hi everyone,

I am working on a project that I would normally do in either pro tools or cubase, but since I have jumped over to logic 8 for my composing, I basically forced myself to do this particular project in Logic for the sake of education...I would love to get adept with the audio editing features in Logic and figured this might be a good opportunity.

The project is a 60 minute radio drama that was tracked on about 10 tracks, in pro tools. I have since imported everything into Logic (no problem of course since all tracks were bounced from the same place in pro tools) and run the strip silence, so I have a ton of regions of speech across the 10 tracks. Now I am adding in sound effects, music, etc...still no problems.

Here is where it gets dicey for me:

When dialogue needs to be tightened across two tracks...for example, one character needs to 'interrupt' the other...is there any -easy- way, or mode, that allows me to slide back the audio on track 4 (for example), and have every other region on every other track, that is beyond this point, move back by the same amount -- keeping their relationship with the other tracks? Editing with track groups doesn't seem to do the trick...it only moves selected regions across the groups...I want it to compensate for the empty space on the tracks between regions, too, if that makes any sense.

Maybe there is a key command or something that I am overlooking that makes this an easier process...it is a pain to have to lasso every region in the project each time I want to nudge one region....

Any advice on the best way to accomplish this would be welcome! Also I was wondering if this Soundtrack Pro 2 might be a better tool for this kind of work...I would be game for that if it is easier.

Thanks in advance,
Matt C.
Fort Lauderdale

[Nordkrog]

Hey

Yep, if I understand you right, it's just like in Pro Tools. It's called Shuffle mode and you find it in the top right corner in the "drag" drop down menu.

[CustomDigi]

Thanks Nord,

I did try that before I posted though...I guess what shuffle DOESNT do is delete blank space...it only works if what you have selected is a region. That -is- the behavior that I want, though.

The workaround in logic I think is the command 'delete between start/end points' or something. So I think I just need to assign a key command to that....then I can use the marquee to select the time...keystroke to set the start/end points...and then delete.

What I am looking for I think is something like "delete and ripple" does in video programs. I think that this is possible in STP2 so maybe I will try that.

-thanks again
Matt

[CustomDigi]

I think I have solved this issue, using key commands to set left and right locators (I used [ and ] ) which allows me to define the beginning and end of the edit Id like to make, no matter what track Im on....

THEN, I use ctrl-cmd-x to snip between the locators, and everything in the whole project moves to the left...perfect....

Now my only remaining niggle is that this project is not in any way grid or tempo dependent, and i keep getting an annoying little warning, asking if I want to change the time signature each and every time I make one of these 'snips' and it doesnt match up with the grid.

If anyone can recreat this and figure out a way to make this warning go away, Id be most appreciative! I'll let you know if I find it first :)

[pollyserial]

I've been using the marquee tool to select an area and then "set locators by regions"...
and then ctrl cmd x...and I don't get that message. could be context specific.

ps I've been doing the exact same thing, pro tools editor for 10 years, forcing myself to try out Logic 8, (tried w/ 5 and 7m in the past, loved the midi, hated the audio editing) and I think I'm starting to actually like it. I did have to get a larger screen (24") to be able to get a sense of what I'm working on because you can't zoom out beyond a certain point; and also dislike and do not understand the short filename limit (21 chars?) but, in general, quite pleased, and finding things that make me work faster and happier. It's great for instance to be able to assign so many key commands to whatever you like; the color options are a breath of fresh air; the way channel strips are saved into presets is very cool; I like the folders feature....and best of all, it's been rock-solid. no beach balls, no wierdness.

my feeling is, now, the differences between the programs are not earth-shattering. I could use either one quite happily for pretty much anything. Though -- I haven't yet committed to L8 for a big project, like a film -- so I guess that will be the true test.
But I'm having a harder time finding things I can do better in protools, or even finding things I miss from PT. How about you?

[CustomDigi]

"I've been using the marquee tool to select an area and then "set locators by regions"...
and then ctrl cmd x...and I don't get that message. could be context specific."






My workaround for this has been to set the time signature to 1/64...500 bpm

I would love if they get the zoom figured out, so you can zoom out and see your entire project....shouldn't be too much to ask! I have been pleased, too. It seems like there are a TON of useful key commands, if you choose to learn them and implement them.

My system has been very stable as well...Although PT 7.1 and Cubase SX 3.1 was also quite stable for me.

I think it is a work in progress and good enough to where I am going to stick with it. For composing it is killer and the editing is...well, nothing a little time and practice won't cure. When the bugs are ironed out of the quick swipe comping, I think even more people are going to be seriously looking at Logic.


The only thing missing at this point is the comfort level. So far I have been able to find a way to do everything I need to do...Thanks for your reply!

-Matt