Soundtrack Basics

A quick overview of Apple’s Soundtrack, a non-destructive audio editor designed for video soundtracking (duh) and long audio file arrangement.

Open/Import

To open audio files, you have to use the File Browser.

The file browser shows the entire network. To find your home directory, click on the little house icon. Make sure you save files in the network (Windows) version of your directory — not “Music” but “My Music”

Saving/Exporting

Soundtrack project files save with the extention: .loop

The “open” command will only open soundtrack projects. To open audio files (AIFs or WAVs), you have to use the Media Manager.

To save an standard audio file: File > Export Mix
This saves the mix as a stereo AIF

Editing

To add a track: Project > Add Track

Drag audio files from the Media Manager into the track.

Rather than cutting and pasting, Soundtrack works by splitting and moving the segments.

To split a track at the cursor, use the S key.

Editing is non-destructive – splits and don’t erase or alter the file

The bracket cursor stretches the audible part of the track. If you keep stretching beyond the length of the original file, it repeats.

The arrow cursor moves the files and split segments.

Effects — click the little asterisk to get the effects menu

Tips

The grid lines based on BPM and time signature.

If you tap the left-right cursor keys, the editing line jumps to the next grid line

Unlike Audacity, tracks are unified stereo files. You can only split them both at once.

The ends of the scrollbar allow zooming in and out.