importing a stereo mp3 file into both tracks seprately

Gerald-Shantz wrote on 11/7/2024, 5:56 PM

After using an older version of Sony Sound Forge 7.0, which was beautifully intuitive, I'm trying to figure out the new Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab 4 program. For starters, I still have the old Sony Sound Forge program, with which I've made several files in MP3 stereo, but when I try to import them, they come up as a single track, and I can't figure how to see the tracks as a pair. I need to be able to balance the volumes separately. Actually they show as a stereo pair, but all in one "track".

I'm using a high end Windows 7 64 bit system (even though it's supposed to be Win 10) but seems to be working pretty normally as far as I can tell. It's just that they've changed all the rules on me. 🙂

Any help on this would be appreciated. I've exhausted my search through the help files.

Thanks

Comments

SP. wrote on 11/8/2024, 2:28 AM

@Gerald-Shantz Right click on the audio in the top area of the program and select to split up stereo channels. Then simply click on the '2'-button on the right side of the audio area too enable the second track.

Sound Forge and Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab are completely different programs, that's why they work differently.

The confusing naming of Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab is simply just for brand recognition, but technically it is based on Samplitude.

rraud wrote on 11/8/2024, 9:35 AM

The confusing naming of Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab is simply just for brand recognition, but technically it is based on Samplitude.

+11

Moderator moved post to the ACL users community.

Gerald-Shantz wrote on 11/8/2024, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the response!

I feel real ignorant about now. However, no matter what I do, I do NOT see the word "audio" anywhere! The thing I did notice was after loading the "file", on the top line where the entire file is shown in its small size, appears to be a single mono data file. When I open the same file in the true Sound forge 7.0 program, (where it was created and saved) it appears normally as a stereo (2 channel) file). Is there something in the file format which the "Samplitude" program doesn't recognize? Everything was created and saved as MP3. I am loath to have to re-record everything with Audio Cleaning Lab, just to be able to clean it up.

I'm not sure if this will be posted back in the ACL users community.

SP. wrote on 11/8/2024, 12:45 PM

@Gerald-Shantz Simply right click on the audio file at the top. That is what I was describing.

johnebaker wrote on 11/8/2024, 1:40 PM

@Gerald-Shantz

Looking at the image above, the audio file is on track 1 (T: 1) and is displaying both left and right channels - red arrow in image below.

The empty track 2 (T: 2) is confusing the issue, as is also the Overview track at the very top, turn off the top and bottom buttons indicated by the yellow arrow, leaving only 1 on.

Added:

Below is one method to split the stereo file into 2 separate channels.

Note I am using Video Sound Cleaning Lab, ACL is identical

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

browj2 wrote on 11/8/2024, 3:19 PM

@Gerald-Shantz

Hi,

Look at the image below:

The top shows the overview so that you know where you are along the arranger/timeline. If you have zoomed in on the timeline, you can quickly move along by clicking where you want to move to or dragging with the mouse to change the zoom factor and location along the timeline.

At the left of track 1, you have volume and pan.

I put a volume curve on the track - the yellow line. You can automate this (keyframes).

Below, under Mastering, select Stereo Enhancer. You have a choice to adjust the Project or just the selected object. Review the presets. Near the bottom right you can adjust the volume of L & R channels separately and you can pan. When you play back, you'll see the result in the graph at the upper right of the Stereo Enhancer.

John CB

Gerald-Shantz wrote on 11/8/2024, 11:04 PM

Thanks to both browj2 and johnebaker for your help. I'm finding this program non-intuitive unlike the old original. I can see how it has much potential, but it is like so many things in life. If you don't know how, it is a mystery; but if you know, it is simple! I guess this is why I was so disappointed at not being able to make my old Sound Forge noise reduction add-on work. It's going to take this old dog (81) some weeks of learning all over again. One thing I found useful which is new to me, is being able to change the speed without changing the pitch. I needed to speed up a few songs that were painfully slow. With this method of switching between original and added effect, I never know for sure if and when that change has been permanently changed. I was disappointed that when I told the installation program to put the entire system on another drive, it still just put it on C: which as an SSD, doesn't have much room. I'll keep working on it, but may need a few more questions answered. Your using graphic files is a winner.

Oh to be young again! 🙂

Gerald