Unable to adjust music volume level

[John]

When trying to lay a music track in my project from the Auto Music library, I am unable to adjust the level of that music. Prior to laying the track the volume control is grayed-out and unavailable. After the track is laid and the volume control is available, it has no effect on the music level in the laid track. Can anyone tell me how to adjust the level? John.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

What version of VS are you using
After selecting the clip in the timeline, adjust the 100% box adjacent to the digital clock.
Are you saying this option is unavailable.

auto music.png (19.91 KiB) Viewed 3520 times

[Black Lab]

Did you try it in both Clip Mode and Project Mode?

[John]

Thanks Black Lab. I am using VSPX4. The Volume Control is always unavailable in project mode and clip mode only comes on once the track is laid, at which time the volume control has no effect on the laid track. John.

[Ron P.]

John,

The volume controls in VS are based on each clip, not per track. That's just the way Corel has designed it. I know other programs do have "track" adjustments, however VS does not. I know if one other program that has "track effects". That gets to be a real PITA, when you don't want an effect applied to all clips in a given track.

[John]

Thanks Ron. With some experimenting I discovered that you can only set the music level in the clip mode once the track is laid, however, you can only hear the effects of the setting when it is played in project mode. Do I understand you correctly to say that if I adjust the setting for the music track it will also adjust the level of all other sound tracks, such as narration and effects by the same amount? Can you tell me where I can find the Fade-in Fade-out buttons for the music track? John.

[Ron P.]

John,

With VS, you need to forget about adjusting for an entire Track. That's not the way VS is designed. It is designed so that you adjust for a clip in a track. I was referring to another editing program where adjustments can be made to a track, instead of to a clip. For instance the now discontinued, scrapped, Ulead Media Studio Pro, had a Mute (called show/hide), and Solo buttons for each track. You could also lock tracks. These types of functions are also used in other programs such as Sony Vegas. However Corel does not put this function into VS, however I think that it would be very useful when working with 2 or 3 audio tracks, to be able to solo one or mute an entire track, when you may have several clips in a given track. I think VS works on the preface that the majority of the people that use VS will be using a minimal number of audio or video tracks, and will not use numerous audio clips in a production.

[Ken Berry]

Can you tell me where I can find the Fade-in Fade-out buttons for the music track?

In Trevor's photo posted above, the Fade In and Fade Out controls are those rising and falling bars to the right of the "100" about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the photo...

[John]

Thanks Ron, that is a big relief, I only want to adjust individual sound clips. Thanks Ken for the info on the fade-in fade-out buttons. John.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

The fade in / out ramps apply a one second fade. For me this is not long enough to hear the effect.
Go to (F6) Settings -- Preferences—Edit Tab--change the default durations.
I usually set the Audio and Transition effect durations the same, about 3 seconds.

Once you have applied a fade, switch to Sound Mixer View, (the music/wave icon below the preview screen.)
Now you will see the wave form and volume level showing the ramp.
You can adjust this line by dragging the square keyframes.
Floating your mouse over the clip volume line will show a finger to move line, and arrow to add keyframes.
This is known as Rubber Banding, I find it quite difficult to manage and tend to use the Audio options from edit mode. Will need a bit of practice.

When you mess up the sound levels, right click the clip to “Reset Volume”

[Black Lab]

Did you try it in both Clip Mode and Project Mode?

With some experimenting I discovered that you can only set the music level in the clip mode once the track is laid, however, you can only hear the effects of the setting when it is played in project mode.

Sorry, that's what I was trying to get at.