Soundtrack Pro Explained

Presented by Apple Certified Logic Trainer Doug Zangar, this is the definitive guide to Apple's Soundtrack Pro. If you're new to Soundtrack Pro, pull up a seat, sit down and get ready to learn this powerhouse editing application inside and out.

The Basics

• Interface Overview Pt. 1 (04:27) - This video covers launching Soundtrack Pro and talks about the 5 panes; Project, Transport, left, right and lower. It also explores items in the Window menu.

• Interface Overview Pt. 2 (04:10) - This video covers moving tabs, minimizing windows and layouts.

• The Toolbar (06:49) - This video shows how to customize the tools and explains all the buttons found in the toolbar.

• Timeline Editing Tools (05:35) - This video explores how to select and use the timeline editing tools.

• Timeline Project Properties (04:03) - This video explores the previous/next selection buttons and Project Controls located across the top of the Timeline.

Time and Space

• Global Timeline & Display (05:20) - This video explores the global timeline and the time display with its associated Time Ruler Units menu which is a sub-menu of View menu.

• Selection Bar & Cycle (06:49) - This video looks at making time slices with the selection bar and shows how to create and manipulate cycle regions.

• Track Headers Pt. 1 (07:21) - This video shows the elements of track headers, the pop-up menu items and the redundant items found in the Multitrack menu.

• Track Headers Pt. 2 (03:46) - This video looks at the audio input choices and how to use track header selection to modify and edit as a group.

• Time Based Track (02:58) - This video demonstrates how changing tempo affects the time location of a beat based item. It also shows how to make a track time based or beat based.

• Timeline Controls Pt. 1 (06:41) - This video looks at the Master Envelopes and the Snapping button. It also explores the Snap to Value menu and the related items in the View menu.

• Timeline Controls Pt. 2 (05:11) - This video looks at adjusting track height and the various ways to zoom in and out in the timeline. Key commands and the View menu are also shown.

• Project Pane Controls (05:37) - This video examines all the items in the bottom pane of Soundtrack Pro, where your transport controls are found.

• Key Command Navigation (02:46) - This video examines alternate ways to navigate using keyboard commands.

Working with Clips

• Spot & Select Clips (04:39) - This video demonstrates spotting clips from the search tab and ways of selecting single and multiple clips.

• Moving Clips (04:07) - This video demonstrates various ways to move clips around the timeline.

• Copy, Cut & Join Clips (04:26) - This video demonstrates various ways to copy, cut or split and join clips.

• Resize Clips (06:52) - This video shows how to resize clips with the Clip Resize Pointer, trimming and changing offset via slip.

• Using Fades (05:00) - This video covers applying and modifying fade ins, outs and cross fades on a clip.

• Clip Shortcuts (08:15) - This video covers most of the shortcut items found in the clip shortcut menu and a few in the main Clip menu.

• STAP Editor Overview (06:34) - This video shows how to open up a clip as a STAP. Features and techniques including selection and markers are explored.

• Using Scripts (03:44) - This video shows how to create, save, find, manage and use scripts on audio clips.

Markers and Tabs

• Using Markers (07:41) - This video demonstrates creating, spotting and editing four marker types. It also covers score markers and score marker to playhead.

• Video, Project & Details Tabs (07:25) - This video covers the features of the Video and Project tabs and how video information is revealed in the Details tab.

• The Details Tab (05:04) - This video examines the Details Tab and explains the information it reveals.

• The Effects Tab (06:24) - This video examines the Effects Tab, looking at adding and deleting effects and manipulating their parameters.

• The Tracks Tab (04:26) - This video examines the Tracks Tab features of Mixer Objects, Groups and the channel strip.

• The Analysis Tab (03:50) - This video examines the Analysis Tab, discussing the types and parameters. It also shows editing some clicks.

• The Actions Tab (05:07) - This video examines the Actions Tab and covers the shortcut and action menu items.

• Meters & Recording Tabs (05:23) - This video demonstrates and explains how the features of the Meters and Recording tabs work.

• Browser & Favorites Tabs (06:04) - This video demonstrates and explains how the features and functions of the Browser tab and Favorites tab work.

• The Search Tab (07:47) - This video explains the various features of the search tab and shows how to find the key of the project and a audio loop.

• File Editor Tab Pt. 1 (07:38) - This video covers the link with timeline feature, as well as the tools and views of the file editor tab.

• File Editor Tab Pt. 2 (05:49) - This video covers making selections, snapping and searching zero crossings.

• Multitake Editor Tab (08:49) - This video covers creating and editing a multitake clip in the Multitake Editor tab.

• The Mixer Tab (06:12) - This video looks at the Mixer tab interface and audio flow. It shows redundancies with the Tracks tab and the track headers.

• The Bin Tab (07:34) - This video shows the features of the Bin Tab. How to navigate the hierarchy and manage the Bin are also explored.

Sound Repair and Correction

• Noise Reduction (05:38) - This video how use the Noise Reduction interface. Setting the noise print and going through the noise reduction process are shown.

• Removing P Pops (04:47) - This video goes through the settings of the Frequency Spectrum. A plosive (p pop) is removed from a VO.

• Ambient Noise (02:45) - This video shows how to set an ambient noise print and looks at 'Replace With' and 'Add Ambient Noise functions'.

STP Preferences

• General Prefs (07:00) - This video goes through all the general preference settings.

• Project Prefs (03:40) - This video goes through all the project preference settings.

• Rec, Sync, Control & Video Prefs (04:02) - This video goes through all the Recording, Synchronization, Control Surfaces and Video preferences.

Logic, Final Cut and STP

• Logic Round Trip (05:49) - This video shows the round trip for an audio file from Logic to Soundtrack Pro and back to Logic.

• Final Cut to STP (07:00) - This video goes over the method of exporting a project from Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack Pro and then working on an older and newer version of the project using Conform to relocate audio clips. The features of Conform are also explained.

• FCP Audio to STP (03:24) - This video shows two methods of sending audio to STP: Soundtrack Pro Audio File Project and Soundtrack Pro Script.

• FCP to STP Roundtrip (03:11) - This video shows sending to a STP multitrack project and exporting the edited project from STP back to the FCP project.

STP Workflow

• Track Setup (04:01) - This video shows how to create, name, and color tracks and submixes. Routing tracks to submixes is also shown.

• Markers & VO (04:28) - This video shows how to create markers on the fly, name them and spot VO clips in the timeline.

• Spotting FX (08:25) - This video shows multiple methods of spotting FX in the timeline. The Multipoint Video HUD is demonstrated. Mix automation is also shown.

• Working with Music Pt. 1 (05:25) - This video shows how to create an independent audio file that is not an apple loop that one can then time stretch.

• Working with Music Pt. 2 (05:14) - This video shows setting up the project tempo for bringing in music clips using the score play head to marker technique. Music clips are then added.

• Working with Music Pt. 3 (08:52) - This video deals with making Apple Loops fit the video. Copying, trimming, transposing and adding extra beats are demonstrated.

Mix and Export

• Cleaning up VO (08:45) - This video shows using the Stamp Tool, the Pitch Shifter plug-in and Normalize. It explains setting volume with envelope points and demonstrates Latch and Touch automation modes.

• Mixing in STP (05:40) - This video shows basic mix techniques of volume and pan. It shows creating a bus for reverb effect and using sub-mixes to adjust the mix.

• Export Your Masterpiece (07:28) - This video shows how to set automation envelopes to prepare the mix for export. It explains menu choices in the export window and shows muting/soloing of tracks and using the cycle region to customize an exported audio file.