Antares Infinity user manual

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STATUS DISPLAY
The Status Display on the Palette gives information about the location of
the cursor. Four fields of information are displayed which show various
fields, depending on the current usage of the software:
Track: This field displays the track where the cursor is located.
C: This field displays the absolute time at the cursor location.
Amp: This field displays the vertical location of the cursor’s active pixel.
C-I: This field displays the horizontal position of the cursor relative to the
insertion point when the insertion point is present.
During a selection, this field reads “Select:” and shows how much data has
been selected.
When the loop points are being dragged and the cursor is in the Mainview,
this field reads “Loop:” and displays the amount of data inside the loop.
When the cursor is in the Soundview of the Crossfade Looper, this field
reads either “Side: Loop Start” or “Side: Loop End” depending on which
side the cursor is located.
THE ACTION ICONS
Speaker: The Speaker icon is used to play the soundfile. If a region is
selected, only that region will play.
Display Scale: The Display Scale icon is used to change the display resolu-
tion of the Mainview.
Fit Selection: The Fit Selection icon fills the Mainview completely with the
currently selected region.
Loop Points: The Loop Points icon creates or deletes loop points in a
soundfile.
Loop Start: The Loop Start icon scrolls the Mainview so that the Loop Start
point is in the center of the screen.
Loop End: The Loop End icon scrolls the Mainview so that the Loop End
point is in the center of the screen. 
						

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GET INFO…
Keyboard Equivalent Command: 
x-I. Selecting Get Info will cause the
Information dialog shown above to appear. It contains information on the
currently active soundfile. Data cannot be edited in the Information dialog.
Sound File refers to the title of the active soundfile.
File Type refers to the file format in which the soundfile is stored.
Tracks refers to the number of data channels that exist in the file: one track
for mono files, two tracks for stereo files.
Duration of the file is given in the current time format.
Sample Rate refers to the sample rate of the soundfile.
File Size of the soundfile is shown in kilobytes.
Unused HD states the amount of empty space that is currently available on
the hard disk of the currently active soundfile.
DISK BASED FILES
Unlike most Macintosh applications which store their open files in RAM,
Infinity uses disk based files. Changes made to the soundfile are automati-
cally written to the disk when the change is made. Soundfiles, however, are
played and processed from RAM. If a file is too large to fit in RAM, you can
select and play a smaller portion. 
						

							13
ENVELOPE FILES
In order to display a soundfile, Infinity creates an envelope file. These files
are stored in a folder called “Envelope Files” in the same folder as the
sound file. Envelope files are used to store information which allows
Infinity to quickly draw the soundfile on the screen. They occupy about one
tenth the disk space that the soundfile uses and are stored in a special
Envelope Folder which Infinity creates. Envelope files are saved in the
Envelope Folder after the soundfile is closed.
When data in the soundfile is shifted as a result of an edit, the envelope is
also shifted, hence avoiding more lengthy computations involving the
soundfile. Unfortunately, the envelope can only be shifted to an accuracy
of ±10 samples. Hence, the envelope may be slightly inaccurate. In this
circumstance a “stale” flag is set in the envelope file.
Only the first envelope is shifted. The remaining envelops are recomputed
from the first envelope. This means the remaining envelopes will have
fewer errors. Specifically, each envelope frame (sample) will contain errors
of up to ten sound samples, however the second, third, fourth, etc. enve-
lopes represent 400, 8000, 160,000, etc. sound frames each. Thus, the worst
error will be 10 out of 400, 10 out of 8,000, 10 out of 160,000, etc.
The next time the soundfile is opened, the “stale” flag is checked, and if
the file is sufficiently large, the following message appears:
Choosing either command button will reset the “stale” flag and the
message will not reappear until the next edit.
When a soundfile is opened, if the envelope file is not found or if the
sample counts don’t agree with the envelope frame count, then the
envelope file is recomputed automatically. If the soundfile has been
modified by some other sample editing program, the envelope is consid-
ered to be “out of date”. If this “out of date” condition exists, and the file
is sufficiently large, the dialog shown above is posted. If “Recompute” is
chosen, the envelope is recomputed. If “Use Old” is chosen, then the
envelope file is touched so the condition does not reoccur, and no prompt
will occur for the “stale” condition, even though the envelope file may be
stale. 
						

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BACKUP FILES
If the Create Backup Files function in the Preferences dialog is enabled, a
backup file is created when a soundfile is opened. Upon closing a soundfile,
the backup file is deleted. Note that other temporary files are created as a
result of edit operations involving the Clipboard and undo-able edits. These
are automatically managed by Infinity.
BALLOON HELP
Infinity incorporates on-line help using the Balloon Help feature. Choose
Show Balloons in the menu to turn on Balloon Help.
BALLOON HELP IS
AVAILABLE FOR EVERY
ITEM IN INFINITY’S
USER INTERFACE.
SOME ITEMS HAVE
GRAPHICS TO EXPLAIN
COMPLEX PROCESSES. 
						

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Chapter 3: The Basics of Infinity
his chapter introduces you to the basic functions of Infinity. We recommend
that you read it through once and then refer to it as needed while becom-
ing familiar with Infinity.
USING COMMANDS
USING KEYBOARD COMMAND EQUIVALENTS
The keyboard can be used to choose many commands. If a command has a
keyboard equivalent, it usually appears on the menu or on the Palette.
PRESSING SHIFT+ OPTION  
WILL TEMPORARILY    
PUT INFINITY INTO    
SELECTION MODE    
PRESSING THE  
SPACE BAR    
ACTUATES THE    
SPEAKER ICON    
T 
						

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The shift, option, command (x) and control keys are called modifier keys.
They don’t do anything by themselves, but they can modify the next
keystroke or mouse click. In Infinity, they are also used in combination to
momentarily put the program in either Selection Mode or Zoom Mode. For
details of how this is done, see “Using Momentary Selection Mode” on
page 23 and “Using Momentary Zoom Mode” on page 18.
The following are examples of keyboard command equivalents and instruc-
tions on how to execute them. For a full listing of all the keyboard com-
mand equivalents, see page 67.
TO EXECUTE: DO THIS:
x-X Hold down the Command key and
press the x key.
Shift-Option Press the Shift and Option keys at the
same time.
x-Shift-[ Hold down the Shift and Command
keys and press the [ key.
UNDOING A COMMAND
Commands which change the soundfile can be undone by choosing Undo
from the Edit menu. The keyboard command equivalent is 
x-Z.
This function is possible only if Enable Undo is checked in the Preferences…
dialog. See “Enable Undo” on page 36.
VIEWING THE SOUNDFILE
After you open or create a soundfile, Infinity allows the soundfile to be
viewed in a variety of ways designed to increase the speed and ease of
editing the data. This section explains how to scroll the data, change the
magnification of the display, and manage multiple windows.
SCROLLING THE SOUNDFILE DATA
Infinity provides several convenient options for scrolling the soundfile data
in the Mainview. The soundfile data can be scrolled both horizontally and
vertically.
TO: DO THIS:
Scroll by small increments Click on an arrow in a scroll bar, or
press the appropriate arrow key.
Scroll by one window increments Click on a grey area in a scroll bar, or
press Shift and the appropriate arrow
key.
Scroll full left and center vertically. Press the Home key. 
						

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CHANGING THE DISPLAY RESOLUTION
USING THE DISPLAY SCALE ICON
The display resolution of the Mainview can be changed by using the Display
Scale icon on the Palette or the keyboard command equivalents.
To double the vertical display resolution, click on the up arrow or press
x-up arrow
To halve the vertical display resolution, click on the down arrow or
press 
x-down arrow
To double the horizontal display resolution, click on the right arrow or
press 
x-right arrow
Halve the horizontal display resolution, click on the left arrow or press
x-left arrow
Zoom to the extreme setting, press Option and click on the appropriate
arrow or press the appropriate arrow key.
USING THE FIT SELECTION ICON
Clicking on the Fit Selection icon will cause a selected region to fill the
Mainview Display. The keyboard command equivalent is 
x-F.
USING ZOOM MODE IN THE OVERVIEW
When a soundfile is opened, the Overview is in Zoom Mode. In Zoom
Mode, a view indicator can be dragged around the area of the soundfile
you want to see in the Mainview. This area then fills the Mainview display.
To chose an area of the soundfile for viewing in the Mainview:
1. Move the cursor into the Overview display.
The cursor turns into a cross. The Zoom icon on the Palette video-
reverses to show that this display is in Zoom mode.
2. Place the cursor at the corner of the area you want to display and then
click-drag the mouse over the area.
A view indicator box appears around the area you have chosen.
3. Release the mouse.
The view indicator remains around the area you have chosen. The
Mainview now displays the selected area. 
						

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USING ZOOM MODE IN THE MAINVIEW
The view indicator can be used directly in the Mainview itself, by placing
the Mainview in Zoom Mode.
To put the Mainview in Zoom Mode:
1. Click on the Zoom Mode icon in the Palette.
The icon begins to blink and the message “Choose a Window for Zoom
Mode” appears in the Status Display area of the Palette.
2. Move the cursor into the active window and click in the Mainview.
The cursor becomes the cross cursor. The Zoom Mode icon on the
Palette video-reverses to show that the Mainview is in Zoom Mode.
You may now drag a view indicator around any region in the
Mainview. The display will automatically scroll if the view indicator is
dragged past the edge of the display. The view indicator can also be
dragged from the first click inside the Mainview.
To put the Mainview back into Selection Mode,
1. Click on the Selection Mode icon in the Palette.
The icon begins to blink and the message “Choose a Window for
Selection Mode” appears in the Status Display area of the Palette.
2. Move the cursor into the active window and click in the Mainview.
The cursor becomes the I-beam cursor. The Selection Mode icon on the
Palette video-reverses to show that the Mainview is in Selection Mode.
You may now select data in the Mainview as before.
USING MOMENTARY ZOOM MODE
Infinity can be put into Zoom Mode temporarily by pressing .
This is useful for quickly zooming a region in the Mainview. The cursor will
become the cross cursor and all active displays will remain in Zoom Mode as
long as this key combination is pressed. When the key combination is
released, all displays go back to their previous modes.
USING FULL ZOOM IN AND FULL ZOOM OUT
The horizontal display resolution of the Mainview can be set to its extreme
in one step.
TO: DO THIS:
To zoom to minimum resolution Select Full Zoom Out from the Display
menu, or double-click on the Mainview
in Zoom Mode.
To zoom to maximum resolution Select Full Zoom In from the Display
menu. 
						

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CHANGING SEPARATORS, UNITS AND SCALES
SHOW ZERO CROSSING
This item places dotted lines at the zero crossing of tracks in the Overview
and Mainview.
SHOW TRACK DIVIDERS
When checked, this item places solid lines between the tracks in the
Overview and Mainview.
VERTICAL SCALE UNITS
This item allows either percentage of full scale or sample value to be
displayed on the Vertical Annotation in the Mainview and the Status
Display Area of the Palette.
HORIZONTAL SCALE UNITS
This item allows the units shown on the Horizontal Annotation of the
Mainview and all other time displays to be chosen. The pop-up menu
choices are Samples, Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Milliseconds, SMPTE 24 FPS,
SMPTE 25 FPS, SMPTE 30 FPS, and SMPTE 30 FPS Drop.
MANAGING MULTIPLE WINDOWS
Windows can be arranged by using the Tile Windows and Stack Windows
commands in the Windows menu.
To show all open windows without overlapping, select Tile Windows.
To stagger all open windows at maximum size, select Stack Windows.
HIDING THE OVERVIEW
More space in the active soundfile window can be created by using the
Hide Overview command in the Display Menu. Selecting this command
causes the Overview of the active window to disappear. When the active
window has its Overview hidden, the menu item reads “Show Overview”.
Selecting Show Overview will put the Overview back in the active window. 
						

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LISTENING TO THE SOUNDFILE
SETTING-UP SOUND PLAYBACK
The Sound Playback menu contains a list of the devices which are currently
installed. Choosing an item will direct the soundfile playback through the
selected device. Choosing Mac 8, or Mac 16 connects Infinity the Apple
Sound Manager. ‘Mac 8 bit’ presents 8 bit data to the Sound Manager and
‘Mac 16 bit’ presents 16 bit data to the Sound Manager. (The Sound
Manager 3.0 or later must be present. If not, ‘Mac 16 bit’ will present 8 bit
data to the Sound Manager.) Interpolation of data occurs when the sample
rate of the Mac is different than the sample rate of the data. The Sound
Manager distorts the sound when there are not enough machine cycles to
interpolate the data. If this occurs, there are two things to try. The first is to
use ‘Mac 8 bit’, since the Mac is faster at interpolating 8 bit data. The
second is to set the sample rate of the Mac to the Sample rate of the data.
See the Sound control panel to adjust Sound Manager sample rates.
USING THE SPEAKER ICON
The soundfile can be played by clicking on the Speaker icon in the Palette.
Click the icon again to stop playback. Pressing on the  is the
keyboard command equivalent for the Speaker icon. Playback in the active
soundfile window is determined by the following conditions:
IF: THEN:
No data is selected The track(s) containing the insertion
point play from the beginning of the
soundfile.
The soundfile has loop points The track(s) containing the insertion
point are played from the beginning
and continue to loop until the Speaker
icon is clicked again.
Data is selected Just the selected region is played. The
selection contains both loop points
The selection is played and loops until
the Speaker icon is clicked again.
Only the loop data is selected Just the loop will play until the
Speaker icon is clicked again.
A looping tool is the active window Both tracks of the soundfile are played
from the beginning regardless of any
insertion point or selection.
Note: In a stereo soundfile, data is played back through the audio
channel that corresponds to the track number. Data on Track 1 plays
through the Left channel; data on Track 2 plays through the Right
channel.