how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

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datapopstar
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how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by datapopstar » Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:52 pm

hi all,
since live has a track delay wich can be adjusted in ms or samples, i thought i could be a good idea to use the track delay to compensate, for example, for the difference between a D.I. bass track, and a microphone bass track of the same.
i can use the selection tool to mark the gap between the two tracks, but: how can i see in ableton how long this selection is, preferable in samples.
the info view on the bottom only shows in ms and is by far not exact enough for the task.
any ideas? :?:
kind regards, leif
gesund allein ist die amöbe...

fishmonkey
Posts: 4479
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:50 am

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by fishmonkey » Thu Sep 08, 2016 1:20 am

the best idea is to use your ears...

datapopstar
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:41 pm
Location: halle/saale

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by datapopstar » Thu Sep 08, 2016 9:28 am

Tada!
Thank you, Thats helpfull...
How to measure the distance between two walls...no Problem sir, just use your eyes.... :mrgreen:
gesund allein ist die amöbe...

fishmonkey
Posts: 4479
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:50 am

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by fishmonkey » Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:10 am

datapopstar wrote:Tada!
Thank you, Thats helpfull...
How to measure the distance between two walls...no Problem sir, just use your eyes.... :mrgreen:
assuming that the purpose of aligning the two tracks is to improve the sound by altering the phase relationships, then yes, using your ears is arguably the best method.

if you are trying to fit a large sofa into a small room then using a tape measure will tell you if the sofa will fit. it won't however tell you if the sofa looks good in the room.

datapopstar
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:41 pm
Location: halle/saale

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by datapopstar » Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:20 am

Thats an Argument.
But the Question was "how to measure"
So, i got an answer, but for a Different Question.
Is there a method to measure in samples, or not?
If not, fine, so i can give up searching.
And yes, i use my ears all the Time, even when i timealign
Tracks per measure.
gesund allein ist die amöbe...

fishmonkey
Posts: 4479
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:50 am

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by fishmonkey » Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:37 am

fair enough, in that case you can convert the duration in milliseconds to samples (i don't think there is a way to get Live to display the selection duration in samples).

number_of_samples = ( duration_in_milliseconds / 1000 ) * sample_rate

for example, 20 ms @ 44100 Hz:

number_of_samples = ( 20 / 1000 ) * 44100 = 8820

there are various audio calculator phone apps that do these calculations too.

although i guess that doesn't improve your accuracy any.

anyway 1 ms resolution is surely fine enough?

datapopstar
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:41 pm
Location: halle/saale

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by datapopstar » Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:49 am

cool,
than the answer is no.
because the ms display on the bottom is not exact enough.
good, than back to business and time align by hand (and of course ears).
gesund allein ist die amöbe...

fishmonkey
Posts: 4479
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:50 am

Re: how to measure the distance between to audio tracks

Post by fishmonkey » Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:51 am

if you zoom in then the display at the bottom will go to the nearest millisecond, which is pretty close.

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