Funny you should bring this up, I ran into this yesterday. I had to take everything out to Sound forge to accomplish what should have been native to VV. I agree it should be included.

no multiple editors either :( is ACID the premiere multitrack editing app or is vegas? enquiring minds want to know :)

By the way, also see:

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=19&MessageID=119234

It's very strange that we still ain't got a mono button. In the above thread, Peter all but promises its return.

Ben

Totally agree. One user begged and begged for a "Dim" switch in Vegas, and they got it. How many people think this is MORE useful, than having a mono switch on the master bus? I guess it's the "squeaky wheel get's the greese" scenario.

Hmmmm. Who was that? I do find the decision to put in a dim switch and leave out mono a little, er, dim.

Ben

I tried to get it back in, but no go from the UI guys.

Sorry.

Peter

Shame, I see a nice empty space next to that dim button...

Ben

Well somebody found the time to add this to the "Dim" switch's help file:

"Attenuates the volume of all busses that are routed to hardware outputs by 20 dB so you can answer the phone or hear the pizza delivery truck. Click again to restore volume and tune out your cantankerous assistant."

I seriously question how this can be more important than a mono switch. No one's heard of a "Volume Fader"? Does the exrpession "turn down the fader" mean anything? Are video guys complete audio idiots?

If this is an example of the resource consuming efforts of the programming team.... DIM switch indeed!

Sorry.I'm pissed.

A

Or even just to the right of the Solo button. In fact it's EXACTLY the right size. But I remember it being in the bar just above that... Heck I'd take in the file menus... like anywhere!

Peter, please point this out to the UI guys. Figures fashion would win out over function.

Angels

>>> Well somebody found the time to add this to the "Dim" switch's help file:

"Attenuates the volume of all busses that are routed to hardware outputs by 20 dB so you can answer the phone or hear the pizza delivery truck. Click again to restore volume and tune out your cantankerous assistant." <<<<<<<<

Jezzzz, and then we (and they?) sometimes wonder why Vegas isn't taken seriously by our industry peers.

It'd be a ridiculous extrapolation to say that this is the reason SoFo's in trouble, but I suppose it must be indicative of some almost crazy decisions being taken. I know the dim vs mono switch thing isn't <that> important, but you know what they say, small things...

Ben

"Are video guys complete audio idiots?"

...

Okay, I feel I need to say some stuff.

Rednroll: "Totally agree. One user begged and begged for a "Dim" switch in Vegas, and they got it. How many people think this is MORE useful, than having a mono switch on the master bus? I guess it's the "squeaky wheel get's the greese" scenario.

If you are refering to me, I did not beg. In April 2002 I sent a 6-page Word document detailing various suggestions for the next version of Vegas (4) (one of which was for a 'Dim' switch). For the record, it included 27 'main' suggestions and 19 'bullet-point' suggestions. The latter were based on ideas I had gathered from other user posts on these forums.
I did not send and further product suggestions that I remember about dim switches.

Pipeline - it is you that has likes to route individual audio signals out through seperate busses>hardware outs. Please tell me how long it takes to turn down these outputs vs hitting the dim switch.

_Ben: "Hmmmm. Who was that? I do find the decision to put in a dim switch and leave out mono a little, er, dim."

Ben, we did discuss this very recently in another thread - you know my views (I would be more than happy to see a mono switch too).

Angels: "I seriously question how this can be more important than a mono switch. No one's heard of a "Volume Fader"? Does the exrpession "turn down the fader" mean anything? Are video guys complete audio idiots?"

Have you looked at the 5.1 feature in V4? You have 4 faders on the Master Bu;- do you think it's preferable to changes all four seperately and and try and restore the mix balance afterwards?

And finally....

1) I am primarily an 'audio guy' - that's what I started using Vegas for, and still do. I don't even own a camcorder (yet...)

2) I would actually like to see the mono swtich restored.

3) There are free plugins that will give you mono checking... it doesn't take long to find them on the 'net. If all else fails, render the mix, import the render into Vegas and change the event to 'combine channels'. Hell, possibly you monitor through a 'hi-fi' amp that has a mono switch on it? (but of course not, 'cus we're all pros here, right? ;)

4) I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MONO SWITCH

5) I can't quite believe that people serious about audio can claim to see no use in a dim switch. Most people will try very hard to keep monitoring levels consistant when mixing and mastering. You would never touch the level setup on your poweramp. It is quicker to hit the dim button, and very consistant. I know, of course, that I shouldn't have to be explaining this to fellow audio people. (apologies _Ben :)

6) Did I mention that I'd like to see the mono switch put in Vegas 4?

Mike K

what did I do ? :)

I gotta wonder tho, why would I turn down all the busses at once using the dim switch?

Relax ibliss I dont think anyone is knocking you, youre one of the good guys

Sorry Pipe - I guess I was on a bit of a rant! I took your last post (where you quoted the 'are video guys audio idiots') to mean you agreed with that statement and saw the dim switch as a request from the 'video side'.

I don't particularly enjoy reading or writing negative, aggressive posts, particularly the ones that come accross like they've been penned by spoilt kids. (Yes, Red, I'm referring to your post above - it's from your Mr Hyde character...:)

Agreed wholeheartedly with the mono issue. It's needed, it's useful. There are still people out there who need to create mono files (for example, for games), and would like to preview the results in Vegas.

I solve the problem by using a Waves StereoImager with either the Width set to 0 (mixes both channels) or Assymmetry to full left / right (uses only one channel), but it's not a reason to leave mono out of Vegas.

I don’t think that being able to right click on the Output Meters and toggling a Stereo/Mono menu item would destroy the interface.

I’ve really got a love/hate relationship with those UI guys...

"I guess it's the "squeaky wheel get's the greese" scenario."

Boy, I wish that were true. I've been squeaking for literally years for the SF fellahs to implement non-destructive audio even reversal in Vegas. Hell, ACID already does it. Why doesn't Vegas still do it?

no multiple editors either :( is ACID the premiere multitrack editing app or is vegas? enquiring minds want to know :)

THIS IS quite confusing :)

that is really a very funny joke!

Skaven, you said "...implement non-destructive audio even reversal in Vegas. Hell, ACID already does it."

I don't think ACID does do this - but if you know a way, please tell me. :)

DIM switch was trivial. To add back the mono switch would result in equaling the behavior in Vegas 1/2 - that is changing faders from stereo to mono, etc.

Peter

Ibliss,
I see you are taking my post personally, and I don't think I was really singling you out. My post has turned this into a DIM switch VS. MONO switch argument. Both features can be useful for different users. I see more work arounds for a "DIM switch" than a "Mono switch". If you need to hear something else, because some pizza guy stepped into the room...why use the "Dim" switch? What's wrong with "Pause" or "Stop" button? How about you pull down the master buss fader, as mentioned, then to get your level back you just double click on that master fader and it returns to 0dB? Anyone serious about audio, knows that the master buss is always set at 0dB for mixing....thus the double click feature. I have NO need for a Dim switch because I have all my outputs connected to an external mixer...and I can reach for my "monitor" volume control and turn it down, and it doesn't effect the MIX, just as quick as you can click a "DIM" switch.

"I can't quite believe that people serious about audio can claim to see no use in a dim switch. Most people will try very hard to keep monitoring levels consistant when mixing and mastering. You would never touch the level setup on your poweramp."

Since, you want to point out that "people serious about audio" have always needed a "Dim" switch and this should be an obvious feature, then you should understand how one really works. A DIM switch does NOT lower the level of ALL the Busses...It reduces the "MONITOR" level on the mixing board...and all the busses and master buss get unaffected, because they are being fed to external tape machines. Thus, it uneffects signals being recorded to devices like a DAT machine, Multi-track, or CDR and if someone comes in the room, you can use the "DIM" to lower the monitor level, and your signals going to tape, don't get altered. So if you're the one requesting this, you should have included that in YOUR request....because it's implemented WRONG, if it lowers the volume of ALL the outputs. So if you're the one serious about audio, why wouldn't you be complaining that it's IMPLEMENTED WRONG.

Now for a "MONO" switch, what are the work arounds? If you don't have an external mixer, than there isn't one...unless you render your mix to MONO, and then play it back. What you really need is a way to do an A/B comparison BEFORE you render. Even if you do decide to render seperate Mono and Stereo mixes, you would then have to open a NEW vegas project, and you would do an A/B comparison by toggeling the MUTE and SOLO button on one of the 2 tracks. Is this practical? But like I stated, I have an external mixing board, so it also has a "mono" switch. What does someone do that doesn't have an external mixing board?

Mr Hyde wants to know? Dim wit!!