Steinberg Nuendo 3 Operation Manual

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Audio processing and functions 15 – 371
Dry/Wet mix
Allows you to specify a mix ratio between “dry” and processed sound.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 362.
Normalize
The Normalize function allows you to specify the desired maximum 
level of the audio. It then analyzes the selected audio and finds the 
current maximum level. Finally it subtracts the current maximum level 
from the specified level, and raises the gain of the audio by the result-
ing amount (if the specified maximum level is lower than the current 
maximum, the gain will be lowered instead). A common use for Nor-
malizing is to raise the level of audio that was recorded at too low an 
input level. The dialog contains the following settings:
Maximum
The desired maximum level for the audio, between -50 and 0dB. The 
setting is also indicated below the Gain display as a percentage.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 362.  
						

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Phase Reverse
Reverses the phase of the selected audio, turning the waveform “up-
side down”. The dialog contains the following settings:
Phase Reverse on
When processing stereo audio, this pop-up menu allows you to spec-
ify which channel(s) should be phase reversed.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 362.
Pitch Shift
This function allows you to change the pitch of the audio with or with-
out affecting its length. You can also create “harmonies” by specifying 
several pitches, or apply pitch shift based on a user specified envelope 
curve.  
						

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When the “Transpose” tab is selected, the dialog contains the follow-
ing parameters:
Keyboard display
This offers a way to specify the transpose interval in semitones, and 
gives a graphic overview of the transposition setting.
•The “root note” is indicated in red.
This has nothing to do with the actual key or pitch of the original audio, it just provides 
a way to display transpose intervals. If you like, you can change the root note by using 
the settings to the right below the keyboard display, or by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and 
clicking in the keyboard display.
•To specify a transpose interval, click on one of the keys.
The key is indicated in blue, and the program plays test tones in the base pitch and 
transpose pitch, to give you an audible confirmation.
•If “Multi Shift” is activated (see below), you can click on several keys 
to create “chords”.
Clicking on a blue (activated) key removes it.
Pitch Shift settings
The “Semitones” and “Fine tune” settings allow you to specify the 
amount of pitch shift. You can transpose the audio ±16 semitones, 
and fine tune it by ±+ cents (hundredths of semitones).
Volume
Allows you to lower the volume of the pitch shifted sound.
Multi Shift
When this is activated, you can add more than one transpose value, 
creating multi-part harmonies. This is done by adding intervals in the 
keyboard display, as described above.
•If the intervals you add make up a standard chord, this chord is dis-
played to the right.
Note however, that to include the base pitch (the original, untransposed sound) in the 
processed result, you need to click the base key in the keyboard display as well, so 
that it is displayed in blue. 
						

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Listen Key/Chord button
Clicking this button plays a test tone, pitched according to the acti-
vated interval key on the keyboard display. If “Multi Shift” is activated, 
this button is called “Listen Chord”, and plays all activated intervals, 
as a chord.
Pitch Shift Base
This allows you to set the root note (the red key in the keyboard dis-
play). This has no actual relation to the pitch of the audio material, but 
should be viewed as an aid for easily setting up intervals and chords.
Algorithm
Allows you to select one of two algorithms: Timebandit Standard and 
MPEX. Timebandit Standard gives lower audio quality but is faster 
while MPEX is slower and gives higher audio quality. 
The MPEX mode has 4 quality settings, 1 to 4, which can also be set 
using the Mono-Poly slider: 1 should be used for single voices/instru-
ments, 2 for polyphonic material (fast), three for polyphonic material 
(medium) and 4 for polyphonic material with highest quality results 
(slow). 
You cannot use the Preview function in MPEX mode, since the MPEX 
algorithm isn’t designed for real time processing.
Formant Mode (MPEX only)
If you are processing vocal material, you should activate this option in 
order to preserve the vocal characteristics of the pitch shifted audio.
Time Correction
When this is activated, the pitch shift process will not affect the length 
of the audio. When this is deactivated, raising the pitch will shorten 
the audio section and vice versa, much like changing the playback 
speed on a tape recorder. 
						

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Using envelope based Pitch Shift
When the “Envelope” tab is selected, you can specify an envelope 
curve on which the pitch shift should be based. This allows you to cre-
ate pitch bend effects, pitch shift different sections of the audio by dif-
ferent amounts, etc.
Envelope display
Shows the shape of the envelope curve, over the waveform image of 
the audio selected for processing. Envelope curve points above the 
center line indicate positive pitch shift, while curve points below the 
center line indicate negative pitch shift. Initially, the envelope curve will 
be a horizontal, centered line, indicating zero pitch shift.
•You can click on the curve to add points, and click and drag existing 
points to change the shape. To remove a point from the curve, drag it 
outside the display.  
						

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15 – 376 Audio processing and functions
Curve Kind
These buttons determine whether the envelope curve should consist 
of spline curve segments (left button), damped spline segments (mid-
dle button) or linear segments (right button).
Spline curve segment envelope.
The same envelope with damped spline segments selected
The same envelope with linear segments selected.    
						

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Range
This parameter determines the vertical pitch range of the envelope. If 
set to “4”, moving a curve point to the top of the display corresponds 
to pitch shifting by + 4 semitones. The maximum range is +/- 16 
Semitones. 
Transpose and Fine Tune
Allows you to adjust the value of a curve point numerically:
1.Click on a curve point to select it.
The selected point is shown in red.
2.Adjust the Transpose and Fine Tune parameters to change the pitch 
of the curve point in semitones and cents, respectively.
Pitch Shift Mode
These are the same parameters as on the Transpose tab.
Example
Let’s say that you wish to create a pitch bend effect, so that the pitch 
is raised linearly by exactly 2 semitones in a specific part of the se-
lected audio.
1.Remove all curve points by clicking the Reset button.
2.Select a linear curve by clicking the right Curve Kind button.
3.Create a point where you want the pitch bend to start by clicking on 
the envelope line.
Since this is the starting point for the pitch bend, you want its pitch to be zero (the en-
velope line should still be straight). If necessary, use the Fine Tune parameter to set the 
curve point to 0 cents, because this point governs the start point, where you want the 
pitch transition to begin.
4.Create a new curve point at the horizontal position where you want 
the pitch bend to reach the full value.
This curve point determines the rise time of the pitch bend effect, i.e. the further away 
from the starting point the new point is positioned, the longer it will take for the pitch 
bend to reach the full value, and vice versa.
5.Make sure the Range parameter is set to 2 semitones or higher. 
						

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6.With the second point still selected, use the Transpose and Fine Tune 
parameters to set the pitch to exactly 2 semitones.
7.Create a new curve point to set the duration of the pitch bend, i.e. the 
time the pitch should remain transposed by 2 semitones.
8.Finally, create a point where you want the pitch bend to end.
You don’t need to create a new point if this should be the end of the audio file being 
processed. There is always an end point at the right side of the waveform display.
9.If necessary, make additional settings in the Pitch Shift Mode section.
10.Click Process.
The pitch bend is applied according to the specified settings.
Remove DC Offset
This function will remove any DC offset in the audio selection. A DC 
offset is when there is too large a DC (direct current) component in 
the signal, sometimes visible as the signal not being visually centered 
around the “zero level axis”. DC offsets do not affect what you actually 
hear, but they affect zero crossing detection and certain processing, 
and it is recommended that you remove them.
It is recommended that this function is applied to complete audio clips, 
since the DC offset (if any) is normally present throughout the entire re-
cording.
There are no parameters for this function. Note that you can check for 
DC Offset in an audio clip using the Statistics function (see page 398). 
						

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Resample
The Resample function can be used for changing the length, tempo 
and pitch of an event.
The original sample rate of the event is listed in the dialog. Resample 
the event to a higher or lower sample rate by either specifying a sam-
ple rate or by specifying the difference (in percentages) between the 
original sample rate and the desired new one.
• Resampling to a higher sample rate will make the event longer and cause the 
audio to play back at a slower speed with a lower pitch.
• Resampling to a lower sample rate will make the event shorter and cause the 
audio to play back at a faster speed with a higher pitch.
•You can audition the result of the resampling by entering the desired 
value and clicking “Preview”.
The event will then be played back as it will sound after the resampling.
•When you are satisfied with the preview result, click “Process” to 
close the dialog and apply the processing.
Reverse
Reverses the audio selection, as when playing a tape backwards. 
There are no parameters for this function.
Silence
Replaces the selection with silence. There are no parameters for this 
function.  
						

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Stereo Flip
This function works with stereo audio selections only. It allows you to 
manipulate the left and right channel in various ways. The dialog con-
tains the following parameters:
Mode
This pop-up menu determines what the function does:
Option Description
Flip Left-Right Swaps the left and right channel.
Left to Stereo Copies the left channel sound to the right channel.
Right to Stereo Copies the right channel sound to the left channel.
Merge Merges both channels on each side, for mono sound.
Subtract Subtracts the left channel information from the right and vice 
versa. This is typically used as a “Karaoke effect”, for removing 
centered mono material from a stereo signal.