what is SmartSound?

[wai2]

Just would like to check what is the difference between using SmartSound and MP3 as the sound track of video?

As I would like to uninstall the Quicktime, but the Quicktrack will also be disabled. Any reason for using Quicktrack actually?

[sjj1805]

Smartsound is an expensive sound creation system where it breaks some music or sound effects up into small chunks - a bit like lego bricks.
You then ask it to manufacture a piece of sound of exactly xx seconds in length. It does so by building with these chunks rather like building with lego bricks.

Certain chunks are designated as 'openings'
Certain chunks are designated as 'endings'
Other chunks are designated as 'middle bits'

It is quite clever really and you generate a piece of sound that is unique, fits the item exactly and sounds right.

[Ken Berry]

And just to complete Steve's thought, Mp3 is a format, with various codecs available to produce mp3 audio.

However, these days, 'mp3' has in effect become a word in its own right. So we talk about 'an mp3' to mean a song or piece of music recorded using the mp3 format/codec.

As Steve has said, SmartSound can tailor make a music track to fit exactly into a specific length of time, and it comes with a start, middle, and end. So if you have a spot in your project where you really need 37 seconds of music, then you choose the Quick Track that you like and simply tell SmartSound that it should be 37 seconds long, and the program will produce your sound track at that length, and it will complete with a beginning, middle and end.

With an mp3, however, you have to manually insert it into an audio editing program, cut it at 37 seconds, then apply a fade-out to the end. Otherwise, it will sound pretty awful and unprofessional when you insert it into your project.

[wai2]

Thanks sjj1805 and Ken.

Then if I purchased the soundtrack from SmartSound, can I just import into VS11+ for reproduce? Or I have to install the SonicFire?

Thanks.

[Ken Berry]

You should be able to use the SmartSound module in Video Studio to be able to use any of the SmartSound discs. However, it you acquire a lot of them and/or use SmartSound a lot, you might want to buy Sonic Fire as well as it gives you a lot more options. For instance, it includes a video screen for better coordination of music and video. And if you ever acquire any of the new Strata Series SmartSound discs, then you will absolutely need Sonic Fire to take advantage of its mood matching technology. This allows you not only tailor the length of music, but also select what instruments to include. Very nifty indeed!

[sjj1805]

Whilst you can use smartsound using just VideoStudio, another benefit of using SonicFire Pro is its powerful search wizard. When you want to add a piece of music to your video you can specify what you are looking for.
For example
Classical, haunting, slow.

It then finds various matching pieces of music, you then tell it the required duration and it produces the music for you. Using a Host Application such as VideoStudio then you would have to manually go through your sound files looking for a suitable piece.

[Black Lab]

Sonicfire Pro 4.5 is on sale for $299. Includes 6 SmartSound discs. 50% off.
http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/pr ... sp?pid=490