Auto Spread Slides along Music (changes in PTE 5.5

[Lin Evans]

I have not been keeping completely abreast of changes in PTE since 5.1, especially in the area of music synchronization. I was quite surprised to find that the "auto spread slides along music" feature (found in Project Options, Main Tab) no longer worked as I expected.

In the original 5.0/5.1 you could check this feature then on the timeline find that the slide timings were spread equally to match music timings. When I tried this recently I discovered that not only did it not work as I expected when viewing the music waveform on the timeline, but that when I went to the Objects and Animations screen and clicked on the "start preview from the current slide" even though I was on my last slide the music began to play from the beginning rather than from the point in the slideshow I expected.

Igor explained to me that for some time now things work differently - duhhhh - my error for not keeping up! But I decided to write this because others may also be confused, especially those who are new to PTE or those who like me have not kept abreast of current changes to the music/image synchronization.

If you want to see the slides equally spread on the waveform do not use "auto spread slides along music" feature - leave it unchecked (in fact it may now be obsolete and due for possible future removal). Instead, go to the timeline (from the main menu) and click on the "timed points tab" then click on "arrange all points". This will automatically do what the old "auto spread slides along music" feature did.

If you want the music play in synchronization with your currently selected slide, then go to Projects Options Main Tab and put a check beside "synchronize music and slides" and the music will then play in its proper synchronization with "start preview from the current slide". If this block is not checked, music will play from the beginning regardless of which slide you may be on when you click on "start preview from the current slide" icon.

[goddi]

Lin...

I have a question concerning the "Auto Spread..." and the "Syn. Music and Slides". While I searched the Forum to see what others have talked about this, I came across your post below. Is your statement that the "Auto Spread..." does no longer work any more still correct? I never noticed that it did not work as you stated. And today it seems to work as expected and does Preview from the current slide. Am I missing something here???

Along with that, I am still confused as to what the "Sync. Music and Slides" choice does. I understand that when the "Auto Spread..." selection is chosen, the 'Time Line' goes grey. However, what is the function of the "Sync. Music..." choice? It does not seem to me to really do anything or prevent anything that I can see.

It seems to me that there are 3 ways to create the show:

1-'Sync' (meaning that the 1st slide will be shown as the music starts the slideshow and the last slide will be shown as the music ends the slideshow.

Is this the way I should look at it???

2-'Unsyncd' (meaning that the slides are not tied to any position in the show and each slide will be positioned manually).

Why is there not a "Unsyncd" choice?

3-'Auto Spread' (meaning that this will spread all slides evenly from the beginning to the end of the selected music).

And now does clicking on the "timed points tab," then clicking on "arrange all points," now accomplish what the "Auto Spread Slides Along Music" feature does.

Also, with the 'Auto Spread..' selected, the 'Time Line' goes grey. Makes sense. However, you can still move slides around in the 'Time Line' and you can also affect the spread of the slides by changing the 'Time interval for new slides.' But when you Preview, it follows what you set for the "Auto Spread", not what you did in the Time Line, which makes sense. But, from a practical point of view, why would one want to change the 'Time Line' while in 'Auto Spread'? Is this a useful 'feature' to you? I just ask since you are way ahead of me in using the program. Is this helpful for those who want to toggle between Sync'd and Auto Spread?

Thanks...Gary PS Yes, I read the Users Manual and I am still not clear on these issues...

=============================

I have not been keeping completely abreast of changes in PTE since 5.1, especially in the area of music synchronization. I was quite surprised to find that the "auto spread slides along music" feature (found in Project Options, Main Tab) no longer worked as I expected.

In the original 5.0/5.1 you could check this feature then on the timeline find that the slide timings were spread equally to match music timings. When I tried this recently I discovered that not only did it not work as I expected when viewing the music waveform on the timeline, but that when I went to the Objects and Animations screen and clicked on the "start preview from the current slide" even though I was on my last slide the music began to play from the beginning rather than from the point in the slideshow I expected.

Igor explained to me that for some time now things work differently - duhhhh - my error for not keeping up! But I decided to write this because others may also be confused, especially those who are new to PTE or those who like me have not kept abreast of current changes to the music/image synchronization.

If you want to see the slides equally spread on the waveform do not use "auto spread slides along music" feature - leave it unchecked (in fact it may now be obsolete and due for possible future removal). Instead, go to the timeline (from the main menu) and click on the "timed points tab" then click on "arrange all points". This will automatically do what the old "auto spread slides along music" feature did.

If you want the music play in synchronization with your currently selected slide, then go to Projects Options Main Tab and put a check beside "synchronize music and slides" and the music will then play in its proper synchronization with "start preview from the current slide". If this block is not checked, music will play from the beginning regardless of which slide you may be on when you click on "start preview from the current slide" icon.

[fh1805]

There are several places where a decision made in respect of a setting value can influence how PTE v5.5 behaves with regard to the playing of the music alongside the slides. I am deliberately avoiding the word "synchronize" as I believe that PTE's use of this word is sometimes at odds with what might be thought of as "common usage" of the word.

In the Project Options...Main tab there are two tick boxes: "Synchronize music and slides" and "Auto spread slides along music". If you tick "Synchronize..." and leave "Auto spread..." unticked then PTE will position the soundtrack file to the correct point for playback whenever you use the "Start Preview from the current slide" button on the lower toolbar. If you untick "Synchronize..." then PTE will commence playback of the soundtrack from the beginning no matter which slide you select when you use the "Start Preview from the current slide" button.

No matter which setting you choose for "Synchronize...", the setting of the "Auto spread..." value has no effect. Tick it: nothing happens. Untick it: nothing happens. As Lin said in one of his posts above: it looks as though it is a redundant tick box.

In the Timeline view, as an option behind the "Timed points" button can be found "Arrange all points". Click on this and your slides will be spread evenly along the durantion of your soundtrack file. The slides will be spread evenly no matter which setting you have chosen for "Synchronize..." as discussed above.

Finally, keep an eye on the "Repeat music after playing" tick box on the Music tab of Project Options. This can have unwanted effects if not set correctly.

[goddi]

If you untick "Synchronize..." then PTE will commence playback of the soundtrack from the beginning no matter which slide you select when you use the "Start Preview from the current slide" button.

This is what Lin stated too. I missread what he said and what you just wrote. It just became clear to me. I thought you both were saying the 'slideshow' started from the beginning as opposed to the 'music'. I see now that with the unticking of the "Synchronize..." makes the music start, as you say, from its beginning, no matter which slide you "Start Preview" from. Thanks for setting me straight on this.

The "Synchronize music and slides" should be changed to "Synchronize the beginning of the soundtrack to the beginning of the slideshow". Thanks...

Gary