Trim?

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vicevursa

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Ok, I know this might be stupid, but what is the "trim" used for in Sonar (or mixers in general)? Or what can it be used for might be a better question. I never have used it. Is like to fine tune the volume or what?

Vice
 
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Trim is a way to adjust the overal volume of a track after the faders. Here is an example of what I use it for. Say I have a guitar track that I need to clean up. I'll use the envelope tool and create the automation to clean up. This makes the faders move automatically when the song is played. But once you do this, you can't adjust the overall volume of the track with the faders anymore. They are "stuck" only to where the envelope is set. But you can use the trim.

There may be other practical uses, but this is what I use it for.
 
Vice,

> what is the "trim" used for in Sonar <

Tim's example is a good one. Here's another (which is mentioned in the Sonar manual):

Let's say you have four vocal backing tracks, and you group (link) the main volume controls so changing one changes them all. This is pretty common to allow controlling a related group of tracks (vocals, drums) with one fader. But now you find one of the tracks is a little louder - or softer - than the others. You can't change the main volume for that one track because they're all linked. So you use the Trim control.

--Ethan
 
In Sonar 1.3, a volume offset feature has been added to do exactly what Ethan just mentioned. If you select the Volume Offset icon, all volume boxes say 0.0. you can then tweak your relative volumes without affecting automation.
 
Thanks for the replies. That little trim feature will be very useful.


Vice
 
Chuck,

> If you select the Volume Offset icon, all volume boxes say 0.0. you can then tweak your relative volumes without affecting automation. <

Wow, I had no idea that was in there. Thanks!

--Ethan
 
I got that one from the user group meeting at Berklee. There's no mention of it in the manual, so I think it's a 1.3 thing.
 
I am not worthy...

Berklee is where the Boston area Sonar user groups take place. No, I don't go to Berklee, but I live in the Boston area. I didn't even pick up a guitar until I was 20 (and that was 20 years ago). I've gone to the last 3 Sonar meetings there hoping some musical talent will rub off on me.:D
 
Well, it is in the manual..... page 3-17

It is also in the online help..... if you look up Tracks/parameters of, you get this handy little blurbette:

Volume Trim is a pre-fader control which allows the fine tuning of a single track's volume.
For example, let's say you have four tracks, three tracks have their volume fader set to 0 dB while the fourth track's fader is set to +10 dB. You want to group the faders and do a slow fade out, but the slightly higher level of the fourth track causes its volume to be higher in relation to the other tracks towards the end of the fade out. To balance the fader levels, reduce the fader level for the fourth track to 0 dB and raise the Volume Trim value for that track to +10 dB. The resulting volume levels for the project are the same, but now you can group the faders and perform a fade out with no track standing out disproportionately at the end of the fade out.
 
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