[Ardour-Users] click free editing and zero crossings?

[Thomas Vecchione]

On Thu, May 20, 2010 at 12:20 PM, Thomas Vecchione <seablaede at gmail.com>wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, May 20, 2010 at 11:44 AM, John Emmas <johne53 at tiscali.co.uk>wrote:
>
>>
>> Consider the case of two identical waveforms (i.e. theoretically capable
>> of being perfectly edited).  Start off with the simplest case (a continuous,
>> uniform frequency such as a sine wave).  Detecting two corresponding zero
>> crossings and producing a flawless edit should be easy enough.  But uniform
>> frequencies don't make for interesting waveforms.  Most waveforms will have
>> a fundamental frequency, modulated by harmonics.  In a small window either
>> side of the preferred zero crossing (the one corresponding to the
>> fundamental frequency) there'll often be further zero crossings caused by
>> the harmonics.  Detecting two that match mightn't be so difficult if the
>> waveforms are (literally) identical.  But if they're (say) two different
>> takes of the same bit of music, there's a good chance that the harmonics
>> will have slightly different phase and timing relationships in each case.
>>  This makes it no more reliable to edit at a zero crossing point than to
>> edit at any other arbitrary value.  Of course, if you can see the waveforms
>> visually, that's a great help - but seeing them would be a great help
>> anyway, no matter where you wanted to place your edit.
>>
>>
> You have stated above the limitations of edits without fades, not why
> zero-crossing edits are any harder than edits at non-zero crossings, which
> was my question about your assertion.
>

Actually to tell the truth you point about varying harmonics applies to ALL
edits, even those with fades.  That is practically the difference between an
edited take and doing it right all in one take.  Besides, most of the time,
edits shouldn't need to match harmonics to the level you describe as that
would essentially be mid note, and if you are editing like that, chances are
it will be audible no matter what you do.  Always edit on the beat for a
reason, and if you have a broadband transient to help mask the edit, it
helps tremendously.

       Seablade
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