User Guide

50
GETTING STARTED CHP. 3
Using playback options
As you build a project, you will likely have different playback needs. For example, you may want to hear the
project in its entirety when checking the final mix, but not when you are working on the ending. Because of
this, ACID offers three playback options:
• Playing the entire project.
• Playing from the cursor position.
• Playing in looped playback.
Playing the entire project
To begin playback from the beginning of the project, click the transport bar’s Play From Start button ( ) or
press . To stop playback, click the transport bar’s
Stop button ( ) or press .
Playing from the cursor position
To begin playback from the current cursor position, click the transport bar’s Play button( ) or press .
To stop playback, click the transport bar’s
Stop button ( ) or press .
Playing in looped playback
You can also limit playback to a specific loop region on the track view. This playback method uses the
transport bar’s
Loop Playback button ( ) and allows you to fine-tune mixes and effects while continually
listening to the selected area. For more information, see Transport bar on page 17.
1. Drag the handles of the loop bar to create the desired loop region.
2. Click the Loop Playback button ( ) to turn on looped playback.
3. Click the transport bar’s Play button ( ) or press . ACID begins playback of the selected area. To
stop playback, click the transport bar’s
Stop button ( ) or press .
Using the Mixer window
The Mixer window is a dockable window with a default location in the lower-right corner of the ACID
workspace. The Mixer window contains the following controls:
•
A Preview fader, which allows you to adjust the loudness of media files previewed from the Explorer
window, Track Properties window, Beatmapper, or the Chopper. Also, the Preview fader’s volume
determines the volume of new tracks added to the project, unless you have set a default track volume
level. For more information, see Setting default track properties on page 178. This allows you to set up a quick
mix while you are adding media to your project.
• A Master bus fader, which controls the overall volume.
• Faders for up to 26 project busses when added to the project.
• Faders for up to 32 assignable effect chains when added to the project.
• Faders for up to 32 soft synth controls when added to the project.
The function of the bus, assignable effect, and soft synth controls are beyond the scope of this chapter. For
more information, see Using the Mixer on page 111.
Shift +Space Space
Space
Space
Handle Loop bar
Space
Space