Steinberg WaveLab 3 Operation Manual

							WAVELAB
Troubleshooting 35 – 801
There is too much noise in my recordings
• Have you adjusted your recording levels properly?
• Is the source connected to the proper input?
• Have you specified 8 bits as the bit resolution for the recording? Try 16 bits in-
stead.
• Keep in mind that microphones provided with sound cards are very low quality.
The mixer can't be “created”
• Have you specified your audio card in the Preferences dialog? A mixer can't be 
created if “Microsoft Sound Mapper” is selected.
• Do you have the latest and correct drivers for your card? We have noted that 
some card drivers contain “bugs” that prevent a mixer from being created.
Playback problems
No playback at all
• Is the card really installed correctly? Try using some application included with the 
card to see if that works. Also try the “Media Player” included with Windows. If 
that doesn't work, there's something wrong with the card or the installation.
Playback is choppy
• Are you using a compressed hard drive? You should not use WaveLab on such 
drives because they eat up too much processor power!
• To play a quality wave (e.g. 16 bit Stereo 44,1 kHz file) from a CD-ROM, your 
CD-ROM reader must be at least of a “Double Speed” type.
A file can't be played
• Is the file really in a format (sample rate, bit resolution mono/stereo) supported by 
your audio card? The format of the file is indicated on the status bar.
Playback can’t be heard
• Do you have an application for the audio card that allows you to adjust playback 
volumes? Are these settings correct?
• Check the cables and the other audio equipment you use. 
						

							WAVELAB
35 – 802 Troubleshooting
Editing problems
After editing I get clicks and pops
• Are you making “splices” in the middle of an audio section? If you do, we recom-
mend that you make all cuts at zero crossings, to avoid clicks and pops.
After crossfading, I get distortion
• If both sections play at full level during the crossfade, it is possible that clipping 
will occur (although it is unlikely). If this happens, undo the crossfade, lower the 
gain of both sections (by 3 or 6 dB for example) and try again. The problem can-
not occur if you check the “Inverse of Fade In” or “Inverse of Fade Out” options.
Audio database and workspace problems
Where are my files in the database?
• See topics related to databases.
• Do you have the Global Filter activated? Turn it off.
A new Audio Database/Workspace can't be created
• Is the volume where you try to store the file write protected? For example, you 
cannot create databases and workspaces on CD-ROMs.
• Is the disk full?
A file can't be found, opened or played
• Has the name or the extension of the file been changed since you last used the 
workspace/database? Please try to open the file from the Open dialog.
• Have you moved the file to another folder?
• Have you renamed the folder (in the database)?
• Is the drive on which the file was residing currently accessible? If you use remov-
able hard disks or CD-ROMs, make sure the right disk is in the drive.
Not all files are added to the database as expected
• When performing a “Scan folder” operation, the list will not display all files just reg-
istered, but only those from the last scanned folder. Also check the setting for “Max-
imum size of result list” in the Audio Database part of the Preferences dialog.
A file can't be renamed or deleted
• Is the volume on which the file is residing write protected? 
• Is the file on a CD-ROM? Files on CD-ROMs cannot be deleted or renamed.
• Is the drive to which the file was last saved currently accessible? If you use re-
movable hard disks or CD-ROMs, make sure the right disk is in the drive. 
						

							WAVELAB
Troubleshooting 35 – 803
Troubleshooting and precautions
The following sections provide information concerning Sampler communi-
cation problems, problems relating to CD/DVD burning, hardware devices, 
precautions for trouble-free CD writing as well as hardware and setup is-
sues.
Please note that Steinberg cannot make any guarantees about the validity 
of your recorded audio CDs.
Sampler communication problems
General precautions
• Not all samplers require or even support MIDI transfers. However, in some cases, 
where SCSI is supported, MIDI is required anyway! See the chapter Sampler De-
tails in the on-line documentation for details!
• If you use MIDI, remember that two way communication is always required!
• Some MIDI cards and drivers have problems with the heavy MIDI SysEx commu-
nication required when transferring audio data. Serial port interfaces are not re-
commended for sampler communication.
Sampler Transfer doesn't work at all, or not reliably
• Does the sampler have the required OS?
• Does it require MIDI? In some cases, where SCSI is supported, MIDI is required 
anyway!
• Does it require SCSI? Some samplers are not supported via MIDI at all.
• If the sampler supports MIDI, try only MIDI first. When this works correctly, switch 
to, or add SCSI and try again. 
• If MIDI is required, is two way communication really established? Check patcher, 
MIDI interfaces etc. Try with a simpler connection and/or MIDI interface.
• If MIDI is required, is the interface connected and set up correctly?
• Is the MIDI driver installed correctly? Do other programs work?
• If MIDI is required, is some other program blocking MIDI? Is Cubase running with 
Play in Background active?
• Recheck your MIDI SysEx ID settings. If these are not in accordance with the set-
tings in WaveLab, transfers won't work.
• If SCSI is used (or required), are IDs, terminators and everything else set up as 
they should be? Does the sampler appear on the SCSI bus at all? See the instal-
lation chapter in the printed documentation.
• Is some other program using MIDI at the same time? Make sure WaveLab has the 
MIDI connectors to itself during transfers. 
						

							WAVELAB
35 – 804 Troubleshooting
• For SCSI, check termination, SCSI card driver versions and everything else re-
lated to the SCSI setup.
Problems and solutions
General instructions
The following text is written for problems relating to CD burning, but ap-
plies to DVD as well.
• If you run into problems, the first thing to check is your hardware and software 
setup. To isolate the problem, you could try using other CD burning software (for 
example a program supplied with the CD-R unit). If this doesn't work either, the 
problem isn't with WaveLab, but with some other component in the system.
• When you insert a disk into the recorder, make sure you wait long enough before 
you start using it. You might have to wait several seconds. Watch any possible 
LEDs on the front panel. They will indicate when the unit is ready for use (see the 
operation manual for the unit for details).
• If your CD recorder doesn't respond, the first thing to do is to eject the disc and 
insert it again. This will reinitialize the recorder.
• If this doesn't work, you might try switching off the recorder (even if the computer 
is still on), wait three seconds and then turn it back on again. Often, only reboot-
ing the computer is not enough. 
						

							WAVELAB
Troubleshooting 35 – 805
Questions and Answers
• I have problems with a Phillips CDD-2000 unit.
If you have a real Phillips drive or a drive that contains this Phillips mech-
anism, you must make sure that the firmware version is 1.25 or later. A 
firmware update can be found at http://www.philips.com/sv/pcaddon.
• I have other problems writing a CD and/or importing CD audio tracks.
Well of course there could be many reasons for this. Check the “Day to 
day precautions for trouble free CD writing” section below. But, here are 
two more things to try:
Open the Control Panel, and double click on System. Select the Device 
Manager tab, select CD-R in the list (if this entry exists, which is not man-
datory) and click on the Properties button and then select Settings. Dis-
able the “Insert auto notification” to prevent Windows from reading from 
the CD-R during the writing process.
If you have problems at higher speeds, try lowering it. Even if your system 
writes correctly at 8x most of the time, it's safer to write at lower speeds.
• I have problems writing CDs when I specify ISRC and EAN/UPS codes, but oth-
erwise things work fine.
If you try to write a ISRC code or EAN/UPC code, WaveLab might return 
an error if: a) the CD recorder does not support this (not all do, or not all 
firmware versions do). b) the codes are not properly formatted: UPC/
EAN: 13 numeric characters. ISRC: 5 alphanumeric followed by 7 nu-
meric characters.
• A CD disc that I have created doesn't play correctly on my CD player.
The reflections of a “normal” CD and a CD-R are different (a CD-R re-
flects less light). A dirty lens on the CD player might disturb playback. 
This is more common on old CD players because their lasers do not prop-
erly calibrate for recordable CDs. Sometimes, the combination of disc 
brand and CD recorder brand can make a difference.
• I can't write track Sub-Indexes.
Some CD recorders are simply not capable of this. Some others can only 
write 50 Sub-Indexes per track for example, and some others only 100 
Sub-Indexes per CD. This depends on the CD-R firmware. 
						

							WAVELAB
35 – 806 Troubleshooting
Day to day precautions for trouble free CD 
writing
The most important thing to remember is that CD writing is a real-time op-
eration where a laser burns depressions into the surface of the CD. This 
is done at a speed which cannot be slowed down or interrupted. Any in-
terruption will most likely be fatal, rendering the CD-R disk useless. For 
these reasons you should make sure your system does not interrupt the 
CD-R writing once it's under way. Read the following points:
• Keep the CD-recorder on a vibration-free surface. Sudden “shocks” could cause 
writing interruptions.
• Do not read files directly from a CD, copy them to a fast hard disk first.
• Do not read files over a network. Networks usually are far too slow for CD-R writing.
• Turn off networking, at least for the hard disk drive from which you are reading, 
since the CD writing may be interrupted by anyone trying to access this drive.
• It is best to store the files on a hard disk partition that is 1 gigabyte in size, or 
smaller (since this means the sectors will be 16kByte rather than 32kByte).
• Do not read files from a hard disk with compression enabled!
• It is highly recommended that you keep your hard disk(s) defragmented at all 
times. Windows includes an application for this. 
• If you have multiple hard drives in your system, put the audio files on your fastest 
drive! Also use a fast drive for WaveLab's “temp” files.
• Turn off any screen savers, anti-virus, schedulers, animated icons and alarm or re-
minder programs that might interrupt the CD burning operation.
• Make sure any fax reception or background e-mail software is disabled.
• If you use the System Agent, make sure no activities are scheduled for the time 
you write to the CD. Do no use the “When Idle” option in the System Agent.
• Disable any System Monitoring programs.
• If you use the CD-R unit as a CD-ROM reader, make sure you quit the Explorer 
and close any “My Computer” windows before writing.
• Stop audio playback in WaveLab before writing. 
						

							WAVELAB
Troubleshooting 35 – 807
Hardware and setup issues
CD-R Drivers
• If you have previously installed another CD-R software product, you may run into 
driver conflicts. Normally this should not happen since WaveLab has built-in driv-
ers that are loaded as needed, and which usually override any other installed dri-
vers. However, if you do have problems writing to CD-R, this is a point to check.
• If it isn't absolutely required, don't install any other driver for your CD-R unit (for 
example a driver that allows you to use the CD-R as a CD-ROM drive). The dri-
vers might make Windows try to access the drive during writing, which can cause 
system interruptions.
• In the advanced BIOS settings of your SCSI host adapter, the following should 
normally be disabled:
- Plug and Play SCAM Support
- Support Removable Disks Under BIOS as Fixed Disks
- BIOS Support for Bootable CD-ROM
- BIOS Support for Int 13 Extensions 
Networking Cards
Network cards can produce hardware interrupts which momentarily halt 
operation of all software. This can cause various problems. For CD writ-
ing, a non-networked machine is more stable than a networked one.
• If you need to keep your machine connected to a network try to not load the net-
work card drivers when you plan to write CDs.
About Hard disks
• Many hard disks automatically perform something called thermal calibration at 
regular (but unpredictable) intervals. For this reason, drives sold as “A/V drives” 
are recommended, since they have built-in “intelligence” which delays any recali-
bration to times when the disk is not being used. Some drives not marketed as 
“A/V Drives” also have this capability, check with the vendor if in doubt.
CD-R disks
• There are many brands of CD-R disks. Always use one that has been tested and 
recommended by your CD-R drive manufacturer.
• CD-R discs are not as solid as real CDs. Handle them with care! Do not expose 
discs to sunlight for long periods, and avoid heat and humidity.
• The top (label) side of a CD-R disc is also vulnerable. Don't use alcohol-based 
pens to write on discs and don't put labels on unless they are specifically de-
signed for CD-Rs (otherwise the glue on the label might eat through the surface). 
						

							WAVELAB
35 – 808 Troubleshooting
Links and sources for more information
• A general CD-R site that might be of interest: http://www.osta.org/technology/
cdqa.htm 
						

							36
Key commands 
						

							WAVELAB
36 – 810 Key commands
File handling
Wave display mode
The following keys on the alphanumeric part of the keyboard (not on the 
numeric keypad) are used for these commands:
Key Command Function
[Ctrl]-[O] Open wave file
[Alt]-[Enter] Open wave file information window
[Shift]+[O] Open Recently used Wave Files selection box
[Ctrl]-[F2] Open Audio Montage
[Ctrl]+[Shift]+[O] Open Recently used Wave Files selection box
[Ctrl]-[S] Save current document
[Shift]-[S] Save current document under new name and/or in a new location
[Ctrl]-[Shift]-[S] Save all currently open documents
[Ctrl]-[N] Create new wave
[Ctrl]-[W] Close current document (and all its related windows)
[Ctrl]-[E] Convert Wave to MP3 (Save special – Encode (MP3))
[Ctrl]-[Shift]-[E] Convert Wave to MP2 (Save special – Encode (MP2))
[Shift]-[E] Save current wave selection as a new wave file
Key Command Function
[1] Wave display
[3] Spectrum display
[4] Open spectrum options dialog
[5] Loudness envelope display
[6] Open envelope options dialog
[0] Sync top and bottom views