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							5.2 Analysis 107
starts or ends in a file, for example, it doesn't tell you anything about the timbral contents
of the file. A frequency graph (frequency domain) allows you to investigate the individual
frequency components of an Audio File. With the addition of the time dimension you can
follow these frequencies in your Audio File over time and pick out individual snare hits or
vocal notes in a song, for example. The graph used in WaveLab is sometimes called a 3D-
Spectrogram.
Displaying and viewing the graph
You can choose to analyze a selection of audio or an entire file. If you select a stereo record-
ing, a mix of the two channels will be analyzed. Once you have your region selected or no
region (in the case you wish to analyze the whole file) choose Analysis>3D Frequency
Analysis... . The graph window will appear.
There is a scrub wheel that allows you to rotate the view around and a settings button that
displays the range of frequencies currently displayed. Click on this button to open the
set-
tings dialog
and edit the frequency range displayed, as well as to access other options.
Tip: The length of the selection affects the accuracy of the analysis. For short selections
the result will be very detailed. For longer selections (over a minute or so) the results are
generally less detailed as the harmonic content may vary between "measuring points", and
as such are not included in the graph. You might for example make a separate analysis of
the attack (beginning) of a sound, since the most drastic variations usually occur there.
Some example uses for 3D Frequency Analysis
The 3d Frequency Analysis graph in WaveLab can be used for many purposes, for example:
ˆ to see how the frequency spectrum is distributed in a mix.
ˆ as a basis for EQ-ing, so that you know which frequencies to reduce or boost.
ˆ to see which parts of the audio spectrum a certain background noise occupies (for
removing by filtering).
ˆ for educational purposes - these graphs tell you a lot about how different sounds are
"built".
For detailed spectrum analysis, the 2D Spectrometer remains the best choice, as it provides
more accurate viewing and more options.
Related topics
Frequency range
Metering
5.2.4 Loudness distribution
This dialog allows you to measure the most frequent loudness values found in an Audio File
(this is not the same as average loudness). The graphic peaks found by the analysis represent
these values.
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The tool gives an answer to the question: "How often does a given loudness (vertical scale,
in dB) appear in the whole file?". The percentage figure is relative to other peaks. Some
simple examples:
ˆ 1. If, for instance, you have a sine of 0 dB / 2 second followed by a sine of -6 dB /
2 seconds. This means the global audio material has as much 0 dB material as - 6dB
material: you will see 2 peaks (0 / -6 dB), each at 100%.
ˆ 2. If, for instance, uou have a sine of 0 dB / 1 second followed by a sine of -6 dB / 3
seconds. This means there are 3 times more -6 dB material than 0 dB material. You
will see a peak of about 33% at 0 dB, and another peak of 100% at -6 dB.
This analysis is useful for learning about how the loudness of your music is distributed.
You can access this dialog in the Wave File Workspace via Analysis>Loudness distri-
bution... .
For an explanation of each parameter and interface feature, click on , or the 'What's this?'
question mark icon. For more information see
Getting Help
Related topics
Loudness
5.3 Metering
WaveLab contains a variety of audio meters to help in monitoring and analyzing audio.Meters
can be used to monitor audio during playback, rendering, recording and also to analyze a
specific selection of audio. There are seven different audio meters in WaveLab, each with
its own separate window. The meters are accessed via the Meters menu, the Shared Tool
windows menu, or from the Meters control bar.
Monitor Modes
You can choose the audio source and the mode for displaying information in the meters.
You can access the following monitoring functions from the Meters menu or via the Meters
command bar:
ˆ Monitor Playback - the meters display the audio output of the Master Section
after the dithering section, unlike the Master Section's own meter .
ˆ Monitor Audio Input - the meters display the audio input you have chosen in the
Audio Streaming Settings . This is useful for monitoring audio while recording.
ˆ Monitor File Rendering - the meters display what is being written to disk during
file rendering, taking into account Master Section settings, with average, minimum and
maximum peak values computed. After rendering, the meter(s) freeze, and remain frozen
until you refresh or change the monitor mode.
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ˆ Monitor Edit cursor position - the meters display static information about the
audio beneath the edit cursor. Note that the Master Section settings are not taken into
account in this mode.
ˆ Analyze audio selection - this allows you to make a selection and have the
meters display the average values over the selected range as a static display. The
Master Section settings are not taken into account in this mode. When you change the
selection, you need to update the meter displays by selecting
"Refresh selection
analysis" from the Meters menu (or by clicking the Refresh button on the Meters control
bar).
If you have one of the continuous display modes chosen, you can also select to freeze the
meters at any time using the
"Freeze meters" command.
Using meter windows
There can only be one instance of each Audio Meter. For example, if you dock one meter in a
Workspace, it will be automatically removed from the place where it was previously located.
Audio Meters can appear in the Audio File, Audio Montage Workspaces as well as the Con-
trol Window. They can be used:
ˆ as a docked window in a Workspace
ˆ as a tabbed window in the control window
ˆ as an independent floating window. In this mode, it can be useful to make the window
"frameless" from Window>Hide frame , to save screen space. In this case, the whole
menu is accessed by right-clicking.
The axis of most Audio Meters may be rotated, to view the graphics horizontally or vertically.
Some meters can also have their visual style and display parameters customized via their
corresponding settings dialog. This can be accessed through the Functions>Settings...
menu in each meter window, or by using the
icon.
Related topics
VU Meter
Spectroscope
Oscilloscope
Bit Meter
Phasescope
Spectrometer
Wavescope
5.3.1 VU Meter
The vu-meter is used to display the peak and average loudness/decibel level of your Audio
File. It also displays the pan, or the balance between the left and right channels in a stereo
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file.
The upper part of the level/pan meter window shows the peak level and average loudness,
in the following way:
ˆ The Peak Level meters display the peak levels of each channel, graphically and numeri-
cally. By default, the meter segments and numerical peak values are displayed in green
for low levels, yellow for levels between -6dB and -2dB, and red for levels above -2dB.
You can change both the colors and the range boundaries if you wish via the Level/Pan
Meter Settings dialog. This can be accessed through the Functions>Settings...
menu, or by using the
icon.
ˆ The VU (Volume Unit) meters measure the average loudness (RMS) of each channel.
These meters have a built-in inertia, evening out loudness variations over a user-defined
time span. If you are monitoring playback or audio input, you will also note two vertical
lines following each VU meter bar, seemingly "trying to reach" the current RMS value.
These lines indicate the average of the most recent minimum RMS values (left line)
and the average of the most recent maximum RMS values (right line). To the left, the
difference between the minimum and maximum average values is displayed (the level
value in brackets) - this gives you an overview of the dynamic range of the audio material.
ˆ If you are monitoring real-time audio (playback or input), the maximum peak and loud-
ness values are displayed numerically to the right of the meter bars. Numbers in brack-
ets to the right of the Maximum Peak values indicate the number of successive clips
(0dB signal peaks). Recording levels should be set so that they only rarely clip. If the
master level is set too high, the sound quality and frequency response will be compro-
mised at high recording levels, with unwanted clipping effects. If the level is set too
low, noise levels may be high relative to the main sound being recorded.
Pan meters
The lower part of the window shows the pan (the difference in level between the left and
right channel, only applicable when monitoring stereo audio):
ˆ The upper pan meters show the peak level difference between the channels, graphically
and numerically. Note that the pan meters are "two-sided"; the level bars can go to the
left or right, indicating which channel is the loudest. The two sides are shown in different
colors (which can be changed via the Settings dialog as explained previously).
ˆ The lower pan meters show the average difference in loudness between the channels,
in a similar way. This gives you a visual indication of whether a stereo recording is
properly centered, for example.
ˆ If you are monitoring real-time audio (playback or input), the maximum balance differ-
ence value (peak and loudness) for each channel is displayed numerically to the left and
right of the meter bars. The VU meter can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio
Files and Audio Montage Workspaces.It can be used either as a floating window, or
docked in the Workspace or the
Control Window .
Related topics
Metering
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5.3.2 Spectroscope
The Spectroscope shows a continuous graphical representation of the frequency spectrum,
analyzed into 60 separate frequency bands, represented as vertical bars. Peak levels are
shown as a short horizontal lines above the corresponding band, indicating recent peak/-
maximum values. The Spectroscope offers a quick spectrum overview. For a more detailed
analysis of the audio spectrum, use the
Spectrometer . The Spectroscope can be found in
the Meters menu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage Workspaces. It can be used ei-
ther as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace.It can also be docked in the
Control
Window
.
Related topics
Metering
Spectrometer
5.3.3 Oscilloscope
The Oscilloscope offers a highly magnified view of the waveform around the playback cursor
position.
If you are analyzing a stereo file, the Oscilloscope normally shows the separate levels of
the two channels. However, if you activate the option "Show Sum and Subtraction" on the
Functions menu (or click the +/- icon), the upper half of the Oscilloscope shows the sum of
the two channels and the lower half shows the subtraction.
Making settings
By opening the Settings dialog you can adjust the display colors, and choose to activate
Auto-zoom or not. With Auto-zoom activated, the display is optimized so that the highest
level reaches the top of the display at all times. The Settings dialog can be accessed through
the Functions >Settings... menu, or by using the
icon.
The Oscilloscope can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage
Workspaces. It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace.It can
also be docked in the
Control Window .
Related topics
Metering
5.3.4 Bit Meter
The Bit Meter shows the resolution or the number of bits used in the digital audio being
monitored. Normally the maximum number of bits in an Audio File is the same as the resolution
of the Audio File (e.g. a 16 bit Audio File shows that up to 16 bits are used), but sometimes
this is not the case.
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As soon as you perform any kind of real-time processing on an Audio File, the audio data is
treated at a much higher resolution (32 bit floating point), to allow for pristine audio quality.
Examples of such processing include level adjustments, effects, the mixing of two or more
files, etc. In fact, the only time when a 16 bit file is played back at 16 bit resolution is if
you play it without any fades or effects, and with the Master Faders set to 0.00 (no level
adjustment). You can try this out for yourself by playing back a 16 bit Audio File and viewing
the Bit Meter - as soon as you adjust the Master Faders, note that 24 bits are used and the
"inter" indicator is lit (more on this below).
How to read the Bit Meter
ˆ The innermost meters (closest to the bit scale) show the number of bits in use. You can
adjust this display in the Settings dialog.
ˆ The outer meters are "history" meters, showing how many bits were recently in use. You
can adjust the hold time in the Settings dialog.
ˆ The "over" segment indicates clipping, similar to a clip indicator.
ˆ If the "below" segment is lit, there are more than 24 bits. The bit meter will show the 24
higher bits, and the "below" segment indicates the existence of extra, lower bits. Note
that audio is always processed with more than 24 bits internally.
ˆ If the "inter" segment is lit, this indicates that the audio data cannot really be expressed
on a regular 24 bit scale (there are floating point values "in between" bits, thus the label
"inter"). This is typically the case if you apply effects; thus the "inter" segment allows
you to differentiate processed from non-processed 24 bit PCM files.
When to use the Bit Meter
ˆ To check whether dithering is necessary or not. As a rule, if you're playing back or
mixing down to 16 bits, and the Bit Meter shows that more than 16 bits are used, you
should apply dithering.
ˆ To see the "actual" resolution of an Audio File. For example, even though a file is in 24
bit format, only 16 bits may be used. Or, a 32 bit file may only use 24 bits (in this case,
the "below" segment would not be lit). For this purpose, the Bit Meter is best used in
"Analyze selection" mode.
ˆ To see whether a "zeroed" plug-in still affects your signal, or whether a plug-in uses
16 bit internal processing, or more generally, to detect any signal modifier stage in the
audio chain between reading and playing.
To adjust the Bit Meter settings, select "Settings..." from the Options pop-up menu or by
using the
icon.
The Bit meter can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage
Workspaces. It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace or the
Control Window .
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Related topics
Metering
Dithering
5.3.5 Phasescope
The Phasescope indicates the phase and amplitude relationship between two stereo chan-
nels. It is only really relevant when monitoring stereo audio material.
Reading the Phasescope
It can be interpreted as follows:
ˆ A vertical line indicates a perfect mono signal (the left and right channels are the same).
ˆ A horizontal line indicates that the left channel is the same as the right, but with an
inverse phase.
ˆ A random but roughly elliptical shape indicates a well balanced stereo signal. If the
shape "leans" to the left, there is more energy in the left channel and vice versa (the
extreme case of this is if one side is muted, in which case the Phasescope will show a
straight line, angled 45 degrees to the other side).
ˆ A perfect circle indicates a sine wave on one channel, and the same sine wave shifted
by 90 degrees on the other.
ˆ Generally, the more you can see a "thread" shape, the more bass there is in the signal;
the more "spray-like" the display, the more high frequencies are in the signal.
Phase Correlation meter
At the bottom of the display, you will find a Phase Correlation meter, which shows the same
information but in a different way:
ˆ The green line shows the current phase correlation, while the two red lines show the
recent peak minimum and maximum values, respectively (these are the default colors,
which you can change).
ˆ With a mono signal, the meter would show +1, indicating that both channels are per-
fectly in phase.
ˆ Similarly, -1 indicates that the two channels are the same, but one is inverted.
ˆ Generally, for a "good" mix, the meter should show a value between 0 and +1.
Unlike the main Phasescope, the Phase Correlation meter is also available in "Analyze audio
selection" mode, showing an average value for the selected range.
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Changing settings
You can define display colors, peak hold time, and the resolution or number of samples to
display from the Functions>Settings... menu.
The Phasescope meter can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Mon-
tage Workspaces. It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace
or the
Control Window .
Related topics
Metering
5.3.6 Spectrometer
The Spectrometer uses FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) techniques to display a continuous
frequency graph, providing a very precise and detailed real-time frequency analysis.
ˆ The current frequency spectrum is shown as a linear graph.
ˆ Spectrum "peaks" are shown as a short horizontal lines, indicating recent peak/maxi-
mum values.
Snapshots
By using the "Add snapshot" and
"Erase last snapshot" buttons, you can take and erase
snapshots of the current spectrum. These will be superimposed over the current peak spec-
trum graph, in a color you can customize, until you click the icon again to take a new snapshot.
One use for this is to check the effects of adding EQ, for example. Up to five snapshots can
be superimposed on the display; the sixth snapshot replaces the earliest one in the display,
and so on. (Don't confuse the order of snapshots with the numbered buttons - these are
Spectrometer presets, see below.)
Zooming
You can adjust the frequency scale and range in the Settings dialog as described below,
but it's also possible to temporarily zoom in on a frequency area of interest. This is done by
clicking and dragging a rectangle in the Spectroscope display. When you release the mouse
button, the display is zoomed in so that the enclosed frequency range fills the window. To
return to full-scale display, select "Zoom-out fully" from the Functions menu, or double-click
anywhere on the display.
Making settings
You can adjust the behavior and display of the meters as desired, and assign up to five sets
of Spectrometer settings to the Preset buttons, for instant access. Open the Settings dialog
by selecting "Settings" from the Functions menu or clicking the
"tool" icon. Note that you
can apply your settings without closing the dialog, by clicking the Apply button.
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If you want to store your settings for later use (or assign them to a Preset button), select "Save
as..." from the pop-up menu in the lower part of the dialog, and specify a name for the preset
in the file dialog that appears. Now, you can choose to make the settings instantly available
for selection in the FFT Meter window, by using the "Assign to preset button" submenu on
the pop-up menu.
ˆ When you are finished, click OK to close the dialog.
Selecting Spectrometer presets
If you have assigned your settings to the Preset buttons in the Settings dialog, you can quickly
switch between different level scales and display modes, by clicking one of the Preset icons
[1]-[5], or selecting the desired preset from the Options pop-up menu.
Exporting FFT data as ASCII text
When using the Spectrometer in off-line mode ("Monitor Edit cursor Position" or "Analyze
audio election" mode) you can export the displayed FFT data as a text file, by selecting
"Export FFT data as ASCII" from the Options pop-up menu. The resulting text file can then
be imported into applications that allow graph plotting from text files (Microsoft Excel, for
example).
The Spectrometer can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage
Workspaces. It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace or the
Control Window .
Related topics
Metering
Spectroscope
5.3.7 Wavescope
The Wavescope meter displays a real-time waveform drawing of the audio signal being mon-
itored.
It can be useful when recording or rendering a file if "Monitor File rendering" mode is active.
Making settings
You can adjust settings for the display via the Wavescope Settings dialog. This can be
accessed via Functions>Settings... menu, or by using the
icon. Here you can set
various color options for the background, grid and waveform display, as well as setting the
waveform rendering speed and vertical zoom. If "Clear waveform when reaching right of
pane" is checked the waveform display is cleared each time the cursor reaches the right end
of the display. If unchecked, the previous waveform is overwritten.
Tip: Wavescope is a useful meter for visualizing audio during recording. The Wavescope
meter can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage Workspaces.
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It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace or the Control Win-
dow
.
Related topics
Metering
5.4 Transport controls
The transport controls allow you to control playback within an Audio File or montage, and to
open the record window. It can be accessed via the Transport menu or the Transport toolbar.
See
Command bars for more information.
The Transport menu gives access to (and shows keyboard shortcuts to) the same functions
that are available in the transport toolbar.
The Transport toolbar gives quick access to most of these functions. If the toolbar is hid-
den, select Workspace >Command bars >Transport commands . Transport functions
operate on the current Audio File.
The basic transport functions are:
ˆ Loop On/Off
- Toggles looping on/off for the currently selected Audio File or montage.
ˆ Start of file / End of File
- Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the currently selected Audio File.
ˆ Skip forward / Skip backward
- Skip the cursor forwards or backwards within the currently selected Audio File.
ˆ Play
- Begin playback of the current Audio File.
ˆ Stop
- Stop playback of the current Audio File. A second click moves the cursor to the
beginning of the last start position. A further click returns the cursor to the start of the
file.
ˆ Record
- Opens the recording window from which you can start recording.
Additional transport functions such as start, skip and stopping playback options are also
available from the transport command bar. In WaveLab additional playback speed and
jog/shuttle shortcuts are also provided.
For an explanation of each parameter and interface feature, click on , or the 'What's this?'
question mark icon. For more information see
Getting Help
WaveLab 7