Sony Vegas 6 Manual

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Connecting a control surface
You can use one Mackie® Control Universal or up to five generic control surfaces with Vegas software. 
Perform the following steps for each device.
1.Connect the MIDI Out port on your MIDI interface to the MIDI In port on your control surface.
2.Connect the MIDI In port on your MIDI interface to the MIDI Out port on your control surface.
3.Configure Vegas software to use your control surface
4.Use the MIDI tab in the Preferences dialog to select the device to which your control surface is 
connected. For more information, see MIDI tab on page 348.
5.Add your device on the External Control & Automation tab.
Note: For information about your specific device, please 
refer to the manufacturers documentation.
Configuring a Mackie Control Universal
The Mackie Control Universal is fully supported by Vegas software. An overlay is available from Mackie 
that you can use to label the buttons and controls with their mapped functions in Vegas software.
The overlay identifies the default control mapping. You can also customize the buttons and controls on the 
Mackie Control Universal. When you use the default mapping, the Mackie Control is divided into several 
functional areas. 
1.From the Options menu, choose Preferences to display the Preferences dialog.
2.Select the External Control & Automation tab.
3.Double-click your Mackie Control Universal in the Active devices list to display the Configure Mackie 
Control dialog.
4.To add or change a function do the following:
a.Select an item in the User defined surface control mappings list.
b.Select an item in the Available host functions list.
c.Click the Assign button.
5.To remove a function, select an item in the User defined surface control mappings list and click the Clear 
button.
6.To remove all functions, click the Clear All button.
7.To replace all custom functions with the default settings, click the Default All button. 
						

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Configuring a generic MIDI controller
If you have a MIDI control surface, you can configure it to work with the Vegas interface.
1.From the Options menu, choose Preferences to display the Preferences dialog.
2.Select the External Control & Automation tab.
3.Double-click the Generic Control entry in the Active control devices list to display the Configure Generic 
Control dialog.
4.To load a configuration from a file, click the Open button and browse to the mapping file you want to use.
5.To add or change a function do the following:
a.Choose a setting from the View function group drop-down list.
b.Select the Learn check box.
c.Select an command in the Host Command list and activate the control on your control surface.
d.You can click the Edit button to fine-tune the MIDI message settings. 
6.Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each command you want to make available on your control surface.
7.To remove a function, select an item in the Host Command list and click the Reset button.
8.To remove all functions, click the Reset All button.
9.Click the Save As button to save your updated configuration file.
MIDI tab
This tab is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Use the MIDI tab to set options for using MIDI devices with Vegas software. To display this tab, choose 
Preferences from the Options menu, then click the MIDI tab.
VST Effects tab
PreferenceDescription
Make these devices available for 
MIDI outputSelect the check box for each MIDI device that you want to use as a MIDI output for a control surface.
Make these devices available for 
MIDI inputSelect the check box for each MIDI device that you want to be available for a control surface.
Default AllRestores all MIDI preferences to the default settings.
PreferenceDescription
Default VST search folderDisplays the location where the software looks for VST effects.
Alternate VST search folder XClick Browse to choose an alternate location where VST effects can be found.
Select VST effects to be available 
as audio plug-insSelect the VST effects that you want available for use as Vegas audio plug-ins. Only the VST effects 
located in the default or alternate search folders appear in this box. 
						

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Editing tab
Display tab
PreferenceDescription
Enable looping on events by 
defaultSets events that are trimmed longer than their source media to automatically loop. When this option is not 
selected, extended events repeat the final frame of a video file.
Preserve pitch when stretching 
audio eventsPrevents pitch shifting when you stretch an audio event.
Collapse loop region when no 
time selection is presentWhen selected, a loop region does not persist when there is no time selection. This means that when you click 
the timeline and move the cursor (destroying the any previous time selection), the loop region is also reset to 
zero. By default, this option is not selected and loop regions persist until modified or until a new time selection 
is created.
JKL/shuttle speedChoose a setting from the drop-down list to set the speed that will be used for scrubbing the timeline with the 
JKL keys or with a multimedia controller.
Quick fade length for audio 
events (ms)Sets a fast fade on the edges of audio events (10ms by default) to soften potentially harsh beginnings and 
endings.
New still image length (seconds)Sets the default duration of inserted still image files (e.g., BMP, PNG).
Default time between CD tracksSets the default time created between CD tracks when using the Add Media as CD Tracks command in the 
Project Media window. For more information, see Adding media as CD tracks to a new project on page 353.
Cursor preview duration 
(seconds)Enter a value in the edit box to specify the length of the time Vegas software will preview when you preview the 
cursor.
To preview the cursor, press the 0 key on the numeric keypad. Vegas software creates a temporary selection 
(centered over the cursor) and begins playback automatically.
Cursor preview will loop if the Loop Playback mode is enabled.
Automatically overlap multiple 
selected media when addedCreates automatic crossfades between events when multiple media files are added to the same track across 
time. When this check box is not selected, multiple media files are added end-to-end across time with no 
overlap. For more information, see Creating a slide show on page 227.
Cut to overlap conversionSets the behavior of the cut-to-overlap feature. The cut-to-overlap feature allows you to transform a cut from 
one event to another into a transition. The Amount field sets the duration of the extended overlap. The 
Alignment value determines the direction of the extension. For more information, see Converting a cut to a 
transition on page 271.
Envelope fade typesSets the default fade curves for event, track, and bus track envelopes. You can choose separate fade types for 
audio and video envelopes. For more information, see Changing an event’s fade curve on page 176.
Default AllRestores all editing preferences to the default settings.
PreferenceDescription
Tr a c k  c o lo rsUse these controls to change the default colors used to display tracks in your project.
Select a track from the Track drop-down list, and then click the color swatch to display a color picker.
You can choose any color using the RGBA or HSLA controls, or click the eyedropper to sample a color from your 
screen. 
When you click OK or Apply, all tracks that used the selected color are updated.
Envelope ColorsChoose an envelope type from the Envelope color preference for drop-down list and click the color swatch to 
display a color picker, where you can choose any color using the RGBA or HSLA controls, or click the 
eyedropper to sample a color from your screen.
Icon color saturationDrag the slider to adjust the color intensity of icons in the Vegas window. Drag to the left to decrease the color 
saturation, or drag to the right to increase it.
Icon color tintDrag the slider to adjust the amount of tinting that is applied to the icons in the Vegas window. Drag the slider 
to the right to add an average of the title bar colors to the icons. Drag to the left to decrease the amount of 
tinting applied. 
						

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CD Settings tab
This tab is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
The CD Settings tab allows you to set preferences for burning CDs and extracting audio from your own CDs.
PreferenceDescription
Burn driveSets the device where you burn CD-R discs.
Burn speedSets the speed at which the device burns the CD-R disc.
Extract optimizationSets the amount of buffering and restitching done to recover audio from older CD drives. Adjust this setting if 
your extracted CD audio has occasional gaps or glitches.
Autoname extracted tracksAutomatically names extracted CD tracks based on the ISRC number, the track number, and the number of 
times the track has been extracted.
Use strict Red Book specification 
for DAO validationSelect this check box if you want to be notified prior to burning a disc-at-once CD if anything about your CD 
project is against strict Red Book standards.
These warnings are not critical, and in most cases you will not write an unreadable disc if you proceed. Clearing 
this check box will not suppress critical warnings that will result in an unreadable disc. 
Include wide SCSI devices when 
searching for drivesSelect this check box if you want Vegas software to scan for wide SCSI CD drives when you attempt to extract 
data from or burn CDs.
When the check box is cleared, Vegas software will not scan for wide SCSI devices, which can increase 
compatibility with some USB device drivers that incorrectly identify themselves as wide SCSI.
Skip drive database; autodetect 
drive capabilities on startupWhen the check box is cleared, Vegas software will use an internal configuration file to determine your drives 
capabilities.
If you encounter problems burning CDs, select this check box, and Vegas software will test your drive to 
determine its capabilities.
Default AllRestores all CD preferences to the default settings. 
						

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Burning CDs
You created your project in Vegas® software, and now you are ready to write the project to a CD. With the 
CD-burning capabilities of Vegas software, you can place and arrange audio files to produce professional 
audio CDs. You can burn CDs for multiple- or single-track projects and build audio CD layouts 
automatically or manually. You can also create video CDs that can be played in many home DVD players 
and on computers with a CD-ROM drive and VCD player software, and multimedia CDs that can be played 
in any computer with the appropriate player.
Understanding track-at-once and disc-at-once
Two ways are provided for recording audio to a CD-R disc: track-at-once and disc-at-once.
Track-at-once
Track-at-once writing records individual tracks to the disc and results in a partially recorded disc. However, 
the CD-R disc remains unplayable on most systems until you close the disc. The advantage of track-at-once 
writing is that you can record tracks onto the disc as you finish them versus waiting until you have finished 
your whole album. Track-at-once writing burns the entire project as a single track.
Disc-at-once (Single Session or Red Book)
Disc-at-once writing is the most common burning method in the music industry. This writing mode is used 
when creating a master disc to be sent to a disc manufacturer for mass replication. Disc-at-once works just as 
it sounds. Multiple tracks of audio are written to the CD in one recording session.
Understanding tracks and indices
You are ready to burn a CD. If you plan to use track-at-once to record a single track, you can proceed right 
on to writing the entire project to a CD. However, you are more likely to set up tracks—and perhaps 
indices—within your project and burn several tracks at once. 
Tr a c k s distinguish songs in the project and have a starting and ending point. Tracks are used to indicate to 
the CD-R device where to mark the beginning and ending of a track during the writing process.
Indices are single markers that subdivide a track. Indices are useful for navigating to specific areas within a 
track. For example, a sound effects CD may have one track of breaking glass. The track is then indexed to 
allow navigation to a specific glass-breaking effect within the track. However, be aware that not all CD 
players allow navigation to indices.
Tracks and indices are identified in a track list, which is a chronological text list of all tracks and indices 
defined in the audio CD project. 
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Setting up to burn audio CDs
You can set the project properties and adjust preferences to better accommodate writing audio CDs. The 
ruler and time display are set up for you automatically. 
Viewing the ruler and time display
The ruler and time display are automatically changed to audio CD time for you when you mark CD tracks in 
a project. 
Audio CD time formats are as follows:
Setting project properties
Click the Properties button () to access project properties. On the Audio CD tab, you can set the Universal 
Product Code/Media Catalog Number (UPC/MCN) or set the number for the first track on the CD. For 
more information, see Audio CD tab on page 334.
Setting preferences
From the Options menu, choose Preferences to access the Preferences dialog. On the CD Settings tab, you can 
select the CD drive or set the speed at which you will burn the CD. For more information, see CD Settings tab 
on page 350.
You can also enter the number of seconds added between tracks when adding Project Media window files as 
CD tracks. In the same Preferences dialog, click the 
Editing tab, and enter a value in the Default time between 
CD tracks 
box.
Finally, you may want to turn off the Quantize to Frames command in the Options menu. When quantizing 
to frames is active, your edits are limited to the starting edge of frame boundaries. In a CD layout project, you 
can turn this feature off to allow greater precision in editing and track placement. For more information, see 
Quantizing to frames on page 125.
Importing CD Architect files
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
You can use Vegas software to open projects created in CD Architect™ version 4.0 software.
1.From the File menu, choose Open. The Open dialog appears. 
2.Browse to the location of the project file.
3.In the Files of type drop-down list, select CD Architect Project Files (.cdp).
4.Select the file.
5.Click Open.
DisplayFormat
Rulerhh:mm:ss (hours:minutes:seconds) or 
hh:mm:ss:ff (hours:minutes:seconds:frames, with fps=75) when zoomed in tightly
Time display tt+mm:ss:ff (track number +/- minutes:seconds:frames, with fps=75) 
						

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Creating audio CD layout projects
Several ways are provided to create an audio CD layout project. If you have a set of audio files you wish to 
burn to a CD, you can add the files as tracks to a new audio CD layout project. Or, if you want to burn an 
audio CD from an existing project, you can mark the tracks in your project either automatically or manually.
Adding media as CD tracks to a new project
You have a collection of completed audio files that you want to write to a CD. An audio CD layout project 
can quickly be assembled from sound files in the Project Media window. You can add the tracks one at a 
time, or use the Project Media window to sort them into track order and add them all at once.
1.Create a new project.
2.Add all the media to be included in the project to the Project Media window. For more information, see 
Using the Project Media window on page 47.
3.To add all tracks at once, use the following steps to sort the files into track order:
 In the Project Media window, click the arrow on the Views button () and choose Details from the 
menu. The Project Media window changes to Details view.
In the Comments column, enter the track number for each media file (01, 02, etc.).
 Click the Comments column header to sort the list into track order.
 Select the sorted files in the Project Media window.
4.Right-click a media file (or the selected media files) and choose Add as CD Track from the shortcut menu.
The files are added to a new track and the audio CD tracks are marked on the CD layout bar. The name of 
the media file is used to name each track. If necessary, you can edit the information for the new audio CD 
tracks using the markers on the CD layout bar or using the Edit Details window. For more information, see 
Working with tracks and indices on page 355.
CD layout bar Track markers
Right-click files in the Project Media window to add them as CD tracks to a audio CD layout project. 
						

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Marking tracks in an existing project
Once you have laid out your audio project with the appropriate pauses, you can mark tracks and indices 
either automatically or manually.
Note: In DAO CD burning, Vegas software burns from the 
beginning of the timeline to the last track marker, regardless of 
the location of the first track marker. Material before the first 
marker is included as a hidden track on the disc (if your drive 
supports burning this material).
Adding pauses
Each audio CD track in your project should have a two-second pause following it. This default setting is 
based on the Red Book specification for audio CDs. The exception to this standard is a continuous 
recording, such as a live concert CD. For a continuous recording, you can omit the pauses after tracks for 
continuous playback. For more information, see Red Book specification on page 385.
Note: The Red Book specification also requires a two-second 
pause at the beginning of an audio CD. If the first track in 
your project begins before the two-second mark, a ruler is 
added offset to ensure the project begins with the required 
two-second pause.
If you use the Add as CD Track command to add tracks from the Project Media window, the appropriate 
pauses are added automatically. However, if you are laying out your project manually, you must create these 
pauses between audio CD tracks.
1.Position the cursor where you want to insert the pause.
2.From the Insert menu, choose Time. The Insert Time dialog appears.
3.Enter two seconds in the Amount of time to insert box.
4.Click OK. Two seconds are inserted in the timeline at the cursor 
position.
Marking tracks automatically
Vegas software can examine the events in your project and mark the audio CD tracks for you. Once the 
tracks are marked, you can adjust them manually if necessary. For more information, see Moving track and index 
markers on page 355.
1.Lay out your project with two-second pauses between tracks.
2.From the Tools menu, choose Lay Out Audio CD from Events.
The new audio CD track markers appear on the CD layout bar above the timeline. The name of the media 
file for each event is used to name the tracks. 
Two-second pauses 
						

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Marking tracks manually
You can make a time selection and then mark that selection as an audio CD track. 
1.Make a time selection that includes the audio for the new track. 
2.From the Insert menu, choose Audio CD Track Region. The markers for the new audio CD track appear on 
the CD layout bar.
Marking indices
You can create an index marker in much the same way as you create track markers.
1.Position the cursor where you want the index mark to appear.
2.From the Insert menu, choose Audio CD Track Index. The new index marker 
appears on the CD layout bar.
Working with tracks and indices
Once you have marked your tracks and indices, you can edit, move, rename, or delete them as needed.
Navigating to and selecting tracks and indices
Several shortcuts are provided for navigating to and selecting audio CD tracks on the CD layout bar. 
 Double-click a track marker to select the track.
 Press  (period) to jump the cursor to the next track or index marker. 
 Press  (comma) to jump the cursor to the previous track or index marker. 
 Press  (period) to jump the cursor to the next track marker (index markers are skipped). 
 Press  (comma) to jump the cursor to the previous track marker (index markers are skipped). 
 Add  to any of these keystrokes to select rather than jump. For example, press  
(period) to select from the cursor position to the next track marker.
The shortcut keystrokes can be used to jump the cursor while working on a project or during playback. 
Moving track and index markers
Track and index markers function just like markers and regions in Vegas software (pg. 115). You can drag a 
track or index marker to move it along the CD layout bar. Alternately, you can use the Edit Details window 
to make precise adjustments. 
Tip: Move both the starting and ending markers for a track 
by pressing  and dragging either of the markers.
Renaming track and index markers
1.Right-click a marker and choose Rename from the shortcut menu that appears. 
2.Type a new name for the marker and press .
Deleting track and index markers
You can delete a single track or index marker by right-clicking it and choosing Delete from the shortcut 
menu. To delete all markers at once, right-click the CD layout bar and choose 
Delete All from the shortcut 
menu.
.
,
Ctrl+.
Ctrl
+,
Shift
Ctrl+Shift+.
Alt 
Enter 
						

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Editing markers using the Edit Details window
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
The Edit Details window provides a way to adjust the settings for a track or index. 
1.From the View menu, choose Edit Details. The Edit Details window displays.
2.From the Show drop-down list, choose Audio CD Track List. The track settings display.
3.Double-click a setting to edit it:
In the Po si t io n column, adjust the track starting position or index position.
In the End column, adjust the track ending position.
In the Length column, adjust the track length.
in the Name column, enter the name of the track or index.
In the Prot column, select the check box to apply copy protection to the track.
In the Emph column, select the check box to enable a simple noise reduction process that is 
implemented by a CD player. For more information, see Emphasis on page 380.
In the ISRC column, enter the ISRC number for the track (if used).
Copying a track list from the Edit Details window
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
You can use the Edit Details window to copy your track list and 
paste it into another application.
1.Click the gray box in the upper-left corner of the Edit 
Details window to select all the cells.
2.Press  to copy the cells.
3.Switch to another application and paste the information 
into a document or spreadsheet.
Ctrl+C