Crossfade multiple tracks

[Gregw]

This is probably a totally easy question, and I'm just a newbie not understanding what I'm doing. Nonetheless, here's the problem I'm having: I have a stereo recording and I put the right and left channels into two separate tracks in the multitrack editor, because I want to manipulate them independent of each other. I want to cut out a portion of the audio and create a crossfade between the two parts, and I want this to be identical for both tracks. So I used the time selection tool to select the portion of the tracks I want to remove, then I used "Ripple Delete — Time Selection in All Tracks." Once I removed that portion, I selected the later clips on each track and dragged them left to create a crossfade. Everything looks normal, but when I play back, the crossfade works on one track but not the other. Namely, track 1 works exactly as I expected, but track 2 just fades out. The next clip never fades in. So I'm left with only track 1 playing after the crossfade. Does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I'm not entirely sure why this doesn't work, but I wouldn't do this by ripple-deleting anyway. If you have two tracks, then if you select both of them (hold the Ctrl key down to add to your track selection) and then use Ctrl+K you can split the clips, and then drag the ends of them back to remove the bit you don't want. As long as you have snapping set up correctly they will align perfectly. Now, if you select the remainder of the tracks to the right, you have more than one choice: if you group them (Ctrl+G) then picking up either one and sliding them back over the other clips will put a cross-fade on both tracks. Or, if you don't group them, you can make individual adjustments, and even vary the cross-fade for each track. And it works fine here. The only way I can get the second clip not to appear in the output is if I mute it, which I'm presuming that you haven't accidentally done...

[Gregw]

Thanks a lot for your help! Here's a bit more info, though. So last night when I left work, I closed Audition with the crossfade in it. When I came back today and opened it up, I played the section in question, and it worked fine—both tracks played exactly as I wanted after the crossfade. Then I tried the method you described on a different section—and I got the same result as yesterday. At the crossfade, track 2 simply fades out, and I can't get it to play anywhere after that point without undoing the cut/crossfade. I haven't muted the track or done anything other than follow your directions. I'm stumped...

[Gregw]

Another update: It seems to be the cutting that is causing the problem. I used the razor tool to make the desired cut, then checked the tracks without the crossfade and I got the same result: no sound from track 2 after the cut. Does this help point to the cause of the problem?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Not really - just splitting a clip in two on the same track shouldn't affect either of the two new clips in the slightest as far as the track output is concerned. Can you provide a screen-grab of the multitrack session after you've done this?

[Gregw]

Yeah, I suspected. Here's a screenshot. I just made a random cut in track 2, but the same thing happens if I do any cutting, even if I only make a cut in track 1. Nothing plays in Track 2 after the cut. I'm sure this is something totally simple that I've screwed up because I'm still learning the program, but nonetheless I am buffaloed...

[ryclark]

Which version of Audition are you using? Does the same thing happen if you move the audio down onto Tracks 3 and 4 instead of 1 and 2?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Well from your screen-grab, on the face of it something odd is going on - you've got a mono track panned a long way over towards the right, and only the left-hand track meter is showing any output which, considering where the CTI is, is wrong. What does the properties box for the clip show as where its output should be going? And have you touched the mixer at all?

[Gregw]

I did the panning, but I haven't touched the mixer for anything else. And the same thing has happened as before: I closed the file when I left work, and when I returned and opened it again this morning, it plays as it should (both tracks play normally, before and after the cut). But when I make a new cut, the same thing happens. I'm attaching a screenshot to show the channel routing in the properties. This isn't right, is it? I mean, I can make it work by closing the file and opening again, but I don't want to have to do that!

[ryclark]

Apart from my stupid question about Audition version, which of course I could see in your screen image anyway, have you tried my other more sensible suggestion to try the audio on different tracks?