Sounds in 3DS Max

[Syntax Domain]

Just as the title states, im looking for a way to import and control sounds during the animation. if anyone knows of any tutorials, or (should it be simple enough) just want to spit out how to do it right here on the forum, i would certainly appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

[AndyB]

I know at least for the animation we did this past year, all the sounds were done with post processing.

[lilwupster]

You can use video post to put in sound where you want and when you want. Video post is very useful for many things.

Not sure if you know anything about it so let me know if you would like me to make a small tutorial on it for you.

[Syntax Domain]

I was under the impression that there was to be no post processed editing (sound, camera changes, ect.).

And yes a small 2.59 min tutorial would be very much appreciated. thanks.

[lilwupster]

my bad. I thought it was video post, but it's the curve editer.
(and in the AVA award, it is against the rules to post process in anything other than max)

Here's how to do it

~once you have your animation, go to Graph Editors --> Curve Editor~Then in the left browser area, right click on the sound option, and go to properties
~From the Sound Options, click Choose Sound
~Find your sound that you want

Now I'm not sure how to move this sound to a different frame to start, though i'm sure it's possible and I can look into if you want, but there are two options from here.

~Create Entire Audio including blank space so it will match up with the animation

OR (this is why I was thinking video post)

~You just save a .3ds file of your audio only, no matter the length
~Then in a new file, use video post to add your animation file, and the audio file (choose perspective if thats what you used for your curve editor) and then you can move the audio to wherever you'd like.

I'm certainly free for more help if you need it. I love helping others with max.

[lilwupster]

oh, and make sure on your audio file (if you use the video post method) that you change your animation start and end times to fit in all the audio. make sure it's all there by playing the animation in the viewports as you would any other animation

[BuddyB309]

doing this method does work, but it is very difficult to get anything good out of it. Lets say you want a steam, powered, clanking robot walking around. You would have to have Hissing for when his release valves go off, metal clank when his foot hits the floor, squeaking of his joints, and maybe a soft hum of the interworkings. Thats just one character, combining all those sound effect layers into curve editor is just not gonna happen, especially when curve editor only allows one layer at a time. Sound in curve editor is only good for lip sync, or finding the beat of the music. If you add a short "meow" sound to the curve editor, the sound effect is going to loop when its done playing. (who wants to watch a animation when the only audio is "MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!.....")

So what if you do it in video post? I have never attempted this strategy but i know how video post works. Lets say in your sound effect layer you are off but a half of second in the timing. Now your animation looks like a badly dubed japan film. Sound effects only need to be off a couple of frames for this effect to happen. Now you have to rerender your entire project just to fix the timing of the sound effect. And lets face it, most of you out there only leave time for one render. (I'm guilty of it too, my first year i just made the deadline by a couple of hours.)

What about video post pulling from already rendered video files?
Well, Im my expirence video post is really good at slaughtering the quality of the video files when it does it this way. It'll will look like you pulled something off of youtube. But if your team is fine by that, by all means go for it.

In short you are far better off getting a trial version of adobe premier, or some other video compositing program and putting sound, music, and annoying cats meowing into the animation after its done rendering.

The problem is that under the constraints of the Autodesk Visualization award you are not allowed to use other companies programs, (yes boys and girls not even photoshop is allowed in the competition). There are many ways around this. Autodesk LOVES if you use their products in the creation of the animation. Cruise around on their website and see if any products come to interest. If anything comes to fancy, lets say a video compositing program (combustion), pick up the phone and dial autodesk. Explain the situation like "hi my name is so and so and I'm from on the animation team in team so and so. We are making a animation for the 2008 Autodesk Vizualization award but we would like a video compositing program to complete our animation. Since we can only use Autodesk programs we were wondering if you would allow us to have a 30 day trail of so and so even though you dont have it on the website."

Or you can ask autodesk if they could donate a student copy of the program to your team. Believe me if you keep trying and ask the right person, they are more than happy to help you. (for those of you really into making an awesome "Pixar look" animation WITHOUT a ridiculous render time, look into Combustion and then contact me)

[lilwupster]

I remember they used to let you use their other products, if you listed what you used, but starting last year they discontinued this. (dunno why but I guess if you go purchase their software and make sure they know, they wouldn't mind as much).

Anyway, video post can be more useful than a 3rd party video editing program (such as premiere) for syncing up sounds. First of all, you can have each sound on a different track (most video editing programs might have a limit, whether it be 2 or 99). And also with video post, you set the actual frame that you want the audio to start and end. This way, when the cat opens its mouth to MEOW, instead of lining it up externally to the visual of the cat opening its mouth, you can line it up with the frame that you actually made the cat open its mouth. and so on.

As far as I'm aware, for the safety animation you can use other post processing programs, but not for AVA. Both of these processes work well and I suggest you look into both of them.

[BuddyB309]

I remember they used to let you use their other products, if you listed what you used, but starting last year they discontinued this. (dunno why but I guess if you go purchase their software and make sure they know, they wouldn't mind as much).

Anyway, video post can be more useful than a 3rd party video editing program (such as premiere) for syncing up sounds. First of all, you can have each sound on a different track (most video editing programs might have a limit, whether it be 2 or 99). And also with video post, you set the actual frame that you want the audio to start and end. This way, when the cat opens its mouth to MEOW, instead of lining it up externally to the visual of the cat opening its mouth, you can line it up with the frame that you actually made the cat open its mouth. and so on.

As far as I'm aware, for the safety animation you can use other post processing programs, but not for AVA. Both of these processes work well and I suggest you look into both of them.

I'm sorry but i just now attempted to put sound effects into video post, and also looked at the users reference guide and it does not say anything about how to add sounds to video post. I have 3ds max 8, if they have changed this in 3ds max 9 all of your theories should work.

But i stand to my belief, You are far better off contacting autodesk and asking for a compositing program (combustion).

[lilwupster]

did you try posting it in the current audio file?