recording multiple audio tracks - at the same time

weaver wrote on 10/2/2012, 4:29 PM
Can MS12 record multiple simultaneous audio tracks? I have a saffire pro24 sound card with different audio channels for my particular application. So - I want to record 2 separate tracks of audio like with a DAW. When I read the MS12 manual it sure sounds like MS12 can handle it - but I don't see how to specify different audio channels for 2 different audio tracks.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 10/2/2012, 8:18 PM
You choose your track input assignments by right-clicking on the header. You can record up to the available number of audio tracks in your Movie Studio version.
DocSatori wrote on 10/3/2012, 2:54 AM
You can arm as many sound tracks as you want - up to the track number limit of the application. But, if I read between the lines of your question, I think you're asking if each track can be assigned a different source for a simulateous recording.

e.g. microphone 1 to track A, microphone 2 to track B

In my opinion, there is no way to set up MS12 for mulitple sources split simultaneously over various tracks, independent of your sound card. You can isolate only to channels - left, right, etc.

The SONY video editing software is best suited for editing media once it's been recorded.

But, I'd love it if someone can prove me wrong.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/3/2012, 8:29 AM
If your sound interface has enough discrete I/O channels, you should be able to do anything you want.
mike_in_ky wrote on 10/3/2012, 9:47 AM
Based on what I'm reading in this post, you should be able to select a record input device from the "Record Input" button on the audio track header. I have SMS Platinum 12 (both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions). I cannot find this button for selecting an input device for recording that is referred to in the Help file.

I also have Sony Acid Music Studio 8.0. When I add an audio track to the display, I do see the "Record Input" button on the track header and by clicking that button I am able select an input device from a pull down menu. In Acid 8 using the "Record Input" button on two different audio tracks, I select different microphones (one from the built in sound card in my motherboard and one a USB microphone) and when I arm both and then select "Record" on the transport, I am indeed able to record audio from two different sources simultaneously.

In Platinum 12, I've tried selecting "Microsoft Sound Mapper" and "Windows Classic Wave Driver" in "Options-->Preferences-->Audio Device", but I still do not see a "Record Input" button on the track header. I've also tried right-clicking on the audio track header. This occurs in both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of Platinum 12. Any ideas? Why am I able to see and use the button in Acid 8 but not in Platinum 12? Why does it work in one application and not the other?

Mike
weaver wrote on 10/3/2012, 5:44 PM
Thanks for the responses. I'm running MS12 now and right clicking on every header I can find - and there appears to be no capability to record audio from 2 different audio channels (my audio card has a large number of independent input channels 16??) ... and have it saved into 2 different audio tracks in MS12 ... at the same time. From the MS12 interface it looks like I can only select 1 audio channel at a time ... and record that same audio channel into multiple audio tracks simultaneously (simply arm multiple audio tracks and start recording audio). The thing is - I'm not sure why on earth MS12 would have that capability of recording the SAME audio into different tracks..

The MS12 quick start guide has some very wide open claims suggesting that it can do much more than it appears that it can. For example - for audio - it claims that MS12 is limited ONLY by computer system and audio hardware. It says it can record audio into multiple tracks while simultaneously playing back existing audio and video tracks. It even says select the "Arm for Record" buttons on the tracks where you want to record. Notice that "buttons" and "tracks" are plural. That sounds like what I want to do - but I don't want to record the exact same audio into different tracks!

For me this would be a fantastic capability. Basically I could do everything I need from MS12 - and I wouldn't need and DAW software since my audio needs are quite simple.

But if there is a hidden button, selection, preference or option - then I would like to know about it.

Thanks
IW
DocSatori wrote on 10/3/2012, 6:34 PM
"I'm not sure why on earth MS12 would have that capability of recording the SAME audio into different tracks."

In practical terms, I can't either.

So I did understand what you wanted to achieve, correctly. You want to record from a variety of sources and have each source recorded to its own track - all at the same time.

As you confirmed and I said earlier - it can't be done in Movie Studio 12. I don't care what hardware you have. The software just doesn't allow for it.

The only thing you can do is have all of your sources merged together into one signal - but on multiple tracks if you want.

Personally. I never expected video editing software at the price of Movie Studio to operate as an audio mixing application as well. But, I agree, some of the literature muddies the program's capabilities. I don't think that was intentional on SONY's part.

But, as you wrote also weaver, "if there is a hidden button, selection, preference or option - then I would like to know about it."

I'd love for someone to prove us wrong.

Anyone?
musicvid10 wrote on 10/3/2012, 6:55 PM
With twenty audio tracks, I would find myself a bit perplexed if Movie Studio does not have multitrack recording capabilities.

Silly question -- Are your record/play preferences in Vegas correctly set for your multichannel ASIO audio device?
weaver wrote on 10/4/2012, 2:46 AM
Yes - my audio preferences are correctly set. Basically - in Options/Preferences/Audio Device/Default audio recording device ... I am allowed to select only 1 of the many possible audio inputs that my sound card provides. Again - this is a saffire pro 24 DSP unit.

This tells me I can only select one audio input at a time.

Again - VMS has all the pieces in place to achieve multichannel audio recording - the multiple audio tracks, ability to arm multiple audio tracks simultaneously, and documentation that strongly indicates (to me at least) it has the ability.