@Alok-Sharma Zoom into the sound until you can see each sample.

I tried that, but I am not able to achieve the precision because by the time I hear & apply the cut, the audio has already travelled ahead.

If there is any way, I can manually play in by using some kind of slider to reach the precise point without having to play the entire audio clip.

@Alok-Sharma You can click and drag a selection where you want to cut the audio and activate loop playback (press Q on your keyboard).

Then zoom into the selection and make it more precise.

Thanks, I will try it out.

For precise audio edits @Alok-Sharma, go to the "Options> Snapping" context menu and choose 'Zero Crossings'.. or for editing down to the sample level, disable 'Snapping' altogether.. however this can sometimes create a click or pop noise at the edit point.
Also in "Options" confirm 'Quantize to Frames' is disabled.

@rraud, I tried out what @SP. mentioned by selecting the portion of the clip and playing it in a loop.

I also changed the settings you mentioned, but altogether, it's a lot of playing around to get to the precise location. I did a lot of trial & error but with very little success, and not anywhere to the pinpoint perfection.

Tomorrow morning, I will give this a try once again. Perhaps practise is what I need and once I get down to the very basics of all this, then it should be fairly easy.

You mentioned video editing. Are you by chance using Vegas Pro?

What you are trying to achieve may be easier to achieve in Vegas Pro, due to Vegas has additional slip/slide/nudge audio editing capabilities which allow you to nudge your edit point after you've made the initial cut. Then if there's something else you're trying to achieve specific to Sound Forge process, you can right click on that event in Vegas, select "Open in Sound Forge" and further apply processes to that audio in Sound Forge, where once you then save in SF, those changes get applied in Vegas as well.

In SF for similar nudge capabilities as Vegas, you can fine tune your selected data area of the audio waveform via nudge selection keyboard short-cuts. Open up the help menu and look at the "Data Selection Shortcuts" as well as "Cursor Movement Shortcuts." Likely the ones you will need are in the Data Selection shortcuts KB short-cut section such as, "Shift+ Right/Left Arrow" keys to nudge your selection area by "1 pixel" where a pixel is dependent on your current zoom level. The more you zoom in, the finer that adjustment will be when using that KB shortcut. There is also "Shift+ALT+ Right/Left Arrow" to nudge the selected data area by 1 video frame as well as "Shift+Ctrl+Alt+ Right/Left Arrow" to nudge the selection by 1 audio sample.

And if that still doesn't provide you enough resolution adjustment, where I would find it odd if it didn't, then you could always resample the audio to a much higher sample rate, where SF will allow you resample up to 768Khz. To resample the audio goto PROCESS>RESAMPLE.

It's a bit difficult to understand and provide additional advice over what has already been suggested including my additions without seeing the actual problem you're describing and how you're currently going about it. Sound Forge allows you to edit and select audio data all the way down to the 1 sample level which for video would be equivalent to 1 video frame and just like video you could always increase the frame rate in an effort to increase the selection resolution, but in the case of audio it would be the sample rate you're increasing. Frame rate and Sample rate are pretty synonymous with each other in regards to working with Video vs Audio.

@Rednroll - Thank you for the detailed information.

Let me explain this so that it is easy for everyone to understand. Actually, my bad, I should have done this earlier.

In SFP 14, I recorded a small audio clip of a song, obviously with the help & guidance of our other members, as can be found in the other thread. What I am looking to achieve is to trim off the unnecessary portion.

Here in India, Indian Banjo's are very popular. Indian Banjo's are typically made of strings and a combination of keys, as can be seen here

So there is an Indian song in which an artist has very skilfully played the Indian Banjo instrument. I am trying to extract that portion from the song.

I didn't know that I can do all this VP also as I was in the impression that VP is for video editing and SFP is for sound. I will try it out in some time. I just have to apply the cut the moment that instrument starts playing and then where it stops playing.

 

So there is an Indian song in which an artist has very skilfully played the Indian Banjo instrument. I am trying to extract that portion from the song.

Ok, sorry I now need to ask a further question. It seems like what you want to do is extract only the banjo sound out of a song which is mixed with with other instruments, similar to what you have shown in the video?

If that is the case, then it is no wonder you are still having troubles following our suggestions. We were thinking you wanted to do something like trim the beginnings and ends of the song to eliminate the sections where the banjo was not playing. Doing what was suggested would remove the beginning/ends of the complete song, but the part still remaining would still have the other instruments mixed with the banjo, this would be referred to as "trimming" or "cutting", similar to what you originally described. What it sounds like you are trying to do is "extract" a particular instrument out of a mixed song.

Please feel to correct me if I'm still mistaken, but if you're trying to extract only the banjo so the other instruments are no longer present, then neither Sound Forge or Vegas are able to do that on their own.

For that type of sound extraction from an already mixed music file, you would need to use a tool like SpectraLayers Pro, which uses Deezer's "Spleeter" to do such a task.

I would suggest downloading and installing this free version of Spleeter which is the same technology built into other programs such as SLP to be able to extract a particular instrument out of an already mixed song. Results may not be perfect, but it does tend to work.

https://makenweb.com/SpleeterGUI

Are you stating you wish to edit out the section where the other instrument takes the lead, (approx 1:26 to 1:46)?

If so, that is fast and easy with audio only, but maintaining A/V sync raises the difficulty somewhat and should be done in Vegas (or other NLE).

"If there is any way, I can manually play in by using some kind of slider to reach the precise point without having to play the entire audio clip"

The easiest IMO is using the scrub tool .. Just 'drag' the double-arrow icon at the left-bottom of the timeline horizontally to decrease or increase the playback speed. Alternately, use the J-K-L shortcut keys. The small arrow just below it is 'sticky' and maintains the speed change. (double-clicking it returns it to normal).

Once again, my sincere my apologies as I am not able to explain correctly.

Ok, sorry I now need to ask a further question. It seems like what you want to do is extract only the banjo sound out of a song which is mixed with with other instruments, similar to what you have shown in the video?

That video is just an example video to illustrate how the Indian Banjo looks like.

If that is the case, then it is no wonder you are still having troubles following our suggestions. We were thinking you wanted to do something like trim the beginnings and ends of the song to eliminate the sections where the banjo was not playing. Doing what was suggested would remove the beginning/ends of the complete song, but the part still remaining would still have the other instruments mixed with the banjo, this would be referred to as "trimming" or "cutting", similar to what you originally described. What it sounds like you are trying to do is "extract" a particular instrument out of a mixed song.

Please feel to correct me if I'm still mistaken, but if you're trying to extract only the banjo so the other instruments are no longer present, then neither Sound Forge or Vegas are able to do that on their own.

As you pointed out correct, I just want to trim some portion from the beginning and then at the end. No extraction is required because that particular portion of the audio is purely instrumental, with some other instruments being played in the background. But my main challenge is reaching to that pinpoint position.

However, with all the suggestions from the members, I was able to come somewhat closer. I am just a few micro-seconds away.

For that type of sound extraction from an already mixed music file, you would need to use a tool like SpectraLayers Pro, which uses Deezer's "Spleeter" to do such a task.

I would suggest downloading and installing this free version of Spleeter which is the same technology built into other programs such as SLP to be able to extract a particular instrument out of an already mixed song. Results may not be perfect, but it does tend to work.

https://makenweb.com/SpleeterGUI

Thank you for letting me know about this wonderful software. I am now downloading it now and will play around with it to see what I can do with it.

Are you stating you wish to edit out the section where the other instrument takes the lead, (approx 1:26 to 1:46)?

Exactly, the beginning point would be from where the instrument takes the lead, but it's not the above video. I recorded the audio in SFP itself from the music player.

If so, that is fast and easy with audio only, but maintaining A/V sync raises the difficulty somewhat and should be done in Vegas (or other NLE).

It's only an audio, no video, so that saves some extra work.

The easiest IMO is using the scrub tool .. Just 'drag' the double-arrow icon at the left-bottom of the timeline horizontally to decrease or increase the playback speed. Alternately, use the J-K-L shortcut keys. The small arrow just below it is 'sticky' and maintains the speed change. (double-clicking it returns it to normal).

 

In my case, it is a small square box.

When I drag the slider in either direction, it plays in the reverse or forward direction. The small arrow beneath it only moves forward from 0.00 to 4.00, but not backward.

But I am getting the logic, I have to drag the slider gently to reach the desired position I am playing around with it now.

Now, that you figured it out. Go try doing this in Vegas. I've been a long time Sound Forge User/Advocate but feel for this type of editing Vegas is way better suited for the task. For quick front/back trims Forge is alright but Vegas is way more versatile since it has non destructive editing.

To do this in Vegas.

1. Place your original file on a track in Vegas.

2. place your cursor at the point you want to make your cut, press "S" for Split. *Note: Vegas will automatically place an edge fade for you at the split point to avoid any pop/click playback concerns. You can edit/change that fade ramp type and duration if needed as well.

3. Select the media to the left and press the Delete key so it is out of your way. It's the same as editing video, so I'm assuming you're already familiar doing this.

4. Select the audio event still present

5. Press the "[" key to enter into FRONT EDGE TRIM MODE, should see a red bracket on edge of audio event.

6. create a loop playback region on your timeline, and begin loop playback if you want to listen to the audio while you're making your edge trim edits.

7. During loop playback, use Numeric keys 4 and 6 (trim by pixel amount), to trim the front edge of the audio. The higher your zoom level is in Vegas, the finer your edge trim adjustment will be when pressing the NUM 4/6 keys.

8. After trimming the front edge, you can do the same steps but this time press the "]" key to enter into BACK EDGE TRIM MODE to perform trim edits on the end of the audio event, using NUM keys 4/6.

9. Once done trimming, move the event to the beginning of your timeline, and render to a new audio file.

Numeric keys 1 and 3 could also be used, where they trim the audio independent of your zoom level 1 frame amount at a time but Num keys 4/6 will provide you the finer adjustments while zoomed in.

You could also use "Slip Edit" and achieve similar results. Press and hold the "Alt" key, then use your mouse, to drag over the audio event where you will observe the audio move while the event edges remain stationary.

Overall, Vegas is a much better tool to perform these type of audio edits, you probably just may need to get more familiar with using them and if you edit video, many of them should already be familiar. Check out the keyboard short-cuts in Vegas under "Event selection and editing" section and play around with them. They also work the same way on video events, so if you aren't already familiar with them, it will likely improve your video editing skills/capabilities as well.

There's many more ways this could be achieved in Vegas as well. I likely would have started by loading the audio into the Vegas Trimmer window. Selected a rough start and end in the trimmer, dragged it into the track view, then went into Trim edit mode using the "[" and "]" keys to fine trim the begging and end using the NUM 4/6 keys..

Either Sound Forge or Vegas can do the job. If you more adjustable x-fades in SF, use the event mode. Another handy feature is the 'Ctrl+K' shortcut for auditioning a cut or delete edit, prior to executing (highlight the section on the timeline you wish to remove and select Edit> 'Preview cut' or the above shortcut).

The 'scrub tool' was designed to emulate an analog Reel-to-Reel tape machine's scrubbing and variable speed playback (pitch). The small arrow icon emulates the 'pitch' control the double-arrow (or whatever) icon is the scrub. Most R-R machines will not 'playback' in reverse, to achieve this, the supply and take-up reels were physically removed, flipped over and swapped. SF emulates this as well in 'Process> Reverse'..

Either Sound Forge or Vegas can do the job. If you more adjustable x-fades in SF, use the event mode. Another handy feature is the 'Ctrl+K' shortcut for auditioning a cut or delete edit, prior to executing (highlight the section on the timeline you wish to remove and select Edit> 'Preview cut' or the above shortcut).

The 'scrub tool' was designed to emulate an analog Reel-to-Reel tape machine's scrubbing and variable speed playback (pitch). The small arrow icon emulates the 'pitch' control the double-arrow (or whatever) icon is the scrub. Most R-R machines will not 'playback' in reverse, to achieve this, the supply and take-up reels were physically removed, flipped over and swapped. SF emulates this as well in 'Process> Reverse'..

Pretty cool. Never realized that event tool was in Forge. Just tried it out, very similar to Vegas. Do you happen to know if SF also has assigned keyboard short-cuts similar to Vegas where you can nudge the events right/left as well as trim the edges similar to the trim edit mode in Vegas?

Just tried it out using the Vegas KB short-cut methods and looked like a no go, where everything was mouse pointer editing on the events only.

The "S" key (event split) and "Ctrl+ Shift X" (auto x-fade) are the same in both apps, as is 'Ripple'. I am not sure which others are the same. Obviously these are not applicable in the normal edit mode.

Yep, noticed those right away but the others I use quite often in Vegas which tend to provide the ability to do fine and more precise adjustments after inserting a split on an event are kind of alluding me in Forge. I never really enjoyed editing using a mouse, it always felt kind of tedious.