Adding Audio Files to VS Pro X9 Audio Track

[DayO]

What is the basic procedure for adding audio sounds/files to an already-existing audio track in VS Pro X9?

One track should not overwhelm the other. These are .WAV audio files.

It should be obvious, but I can't seem to find a simple guide for that procedure!

[RobertOZ]

Could you explain more on what you are trying to do, you can add Audio filters by highlighting the audio clip, select options, then select Audio Filters select which filter you want to apply, Add,which moves the filter to the right hand side, then select options, here you can adjust the characteristics of the filter

[DayO]

The audio file is an "Alien" sound effect to mix with (but not overwhelm) an already-existing audio track in a video clip.

For starters, I need to know which track on the Timeline to add it to. I know about audio filters; I want to start with adding
the audio file to that video clip.

Thanks.

[RobertOZ]

I use a few mp3 sound effects which I place in a second audio track, then highlight that track, select options, select Volume leveling, options, then adjust the sound level to the desired strength

[DayO]

So where is an added audio track situated in terms of the Timeline?

My first order of business.

[RobertOZ]

Open Track Manager and change the number of music tracks

[asik1]

What is the basic procedure for adding audio sounds/files to an already-existing audio track in VS Pro X9?
It should be obvious, but I can't seem to find a simple guide for that procedure!

How about reading the manual PDF for start?
you will find many helpful things there.

[Terfyn]

As suggested above, add to the number of music tracks (nominally 1). Open Track Manager under Settings and add Music Tracks. (I normally add 4) Then add the chosen Audio file to your Library and drag it down to one of the music tracks.
You now have control over the volume. (see user manual for volume control)

You can also use Audio Ducking, applied to this new audio track, to reduce the volume automatically when the sound from the video track becomes louder.

I separate the audio from the video if I am adding extra audio - voice over or music for example.
I normally "Split Audio" on the video track and locate it on another Music track. This gives you total control over both the "live" sound and your new audio track. ( Right click the video track and choose Split Audio from the pop up list)

[DayO]

What is the basic procedure for adding audio sounds/files to an already-existing audio track in VS Pro X9?
It should be obvious, but I can't seem to find a simple guide for that procedure!

How about reading the manual PDF for start?
you will find many helpful things there.

I have referred to that manual, but the basic procedure for adding audio to an already-existing video track
remains elusive....

[DayO]

Open Track Manager and change the number of music tracks

Works the same for adding speech to a video track (that already has an audio track)?

[Terfyn]

I have referred to that manual, but the basic procedure for adding audio to an already-existing video track
remains elusive....

That is because you do not add audio to an existing video track - there is no need because you use the audio tracks for audio. You need to be clear that when you render the completed video all the video and audio tracks are combined to produce a completed video file.
The whole strength of VideoStudio is that you can separate all the component parts in order to edit them and then the program recombines the bits of video and audio in the final render.

If you are having problems keeping the video and audio tracks in sync, use the ripple edit locks at the side of the timelines.

If for some reason you need to combine two audio tracks then you would need to remove the audio track from VS and combine in an external audio editor such as Audacity before re-introducing it to VS.

[asik1]

Terfyn , why ? 8 tracks not enogh?

Dayo, your situation is not clear.
Or you don't know how to discribe it.
show us a screenshot of your issue, or we will grind water even finer.

[Terfyn]

Terfyn , why ? 8 tracks not enogh?

What? I don't understand your comment.
See OPs comment, OP is trying to combine an extra audio track within the audio on track one "I have referred to that manual, but the basic procedure for adding audio to an already-existing video track remains elusive...." instead of using the audio tracks available.
I use the number of audio tracks needed to do the job. It is clear to me that if I want to use Audio Ducking for example, I need to use two tracks with audio in.

[OBB]

If an addition of an audio snip is overpowering the main (or any other) audio track...

Just as above, open the track manager, from there you can add up to 8 separate audio tracks (lanes). But to keep this simple, lets just use 2 tracks so from the track manager change the number of audio tracks from 1 to 2... then close the track manager and *POOF* you will now notice that you now have two lanes of audio.

Once you have established two separate audio lanes, go back to the main audio & video that reside on the top-most main video track, right click it, look down the list of options and choose 'separate Audio'. Once the main audio is separated from the video you will find the original audio now resides in AUDIO lane #1 independent of the main movie track.

From here, now you simply drop, import or whatever you preferred method of adding an additional audio snippet you simply make sure you bring it over to AUDIO lane #2... So now you have 2 separated audio lanes. Pretty easy, huh?...

Now from here you have quite a few different ways to adjust & edit audio. I know the simple answer is to simply apply ducking but, with my experience with VS's ducking is that it is not very good at what it does. And when ever I have used it it always seem way to sensitive as well as adds a bit of compression when it combines the 2 audio tracks for the final result and I personally don't care for its result so...

If you notice up at the top of the track pane there is a dedicated button for dealing with audio. But you can also (and is easier) to simply double click on (any) one of the audio snippet you are adding and you will notice when you do that a simple line with simple markers at either end will appear on the audio snips. From here you have a few options to deal with audio levels...

... from the audio dialogue pane, you will see you can do simple ease in or ease out... as well as a couple of other options but there is no good option for reducing or increasing gain in a 'fine tune' aspect. And for me personally I think that absolutely manual is the best way to deal with additional audio.

So now, go back directly to the snip in an audio lane, double click it, and it will put you in audio edit mode... Then, just simply grab an audio placeholder at one end (yes, the little tiny square/dot at either end of the audio clip) and from there simple click-drag up or click-drag down the line level of that audio placeholder. Take notice of the Db factor +/- as you adjust and do the same at the placeholder at the other end (you can only move one place holder at a time so be sure you do the same at both ends). And viola you can now lower or raise gain on any audio item per each sample, no matter what audio lane you are working from within.

After that it's just a matter of previewing (via entire project or via clips) and then compare how the new level is now mixed with the original audio, if still not simply adjust it a bit more... And you'll usually have a satisfactory audio merge after a few quick manual adjustments... Also note that when in the manual audio adjustment that you can add placeholders as well (lust click anywhere on the level line and it will add another placeholder for adjustment). With extra placeholders you also have the advantage of easing in & out as well as increasing or decreasing from within any Audio snip... For even more flexibility with it... But beware of using too many placeholders in long main audio tracks as if you increase, lets say, a five minute long main audio track and if you do lengthy inclines or declines of gain it VS has a tend to begin popping about every 5-10 seconds as it adjusts that track... it's not terrible but can be a little annoying in the final product...

Hope this helps... VOILA! yer done...