Steinberg WaveLab 7 Operation Manual

							7.1 Specific tool windows 187
To remove a plug-in: Right-click on the plug-in to use the pop-up menu "Remove" option,
or drag it back onto the plugin window.
Master Section presets
These are Master Section presets (not to be confused with individual plugin presets, so it's
always a chain, even if it's a chain with one member). As these presets can contain multiple
effects, they can be put to powerful use in batch processing.
Master Section Plug-ins
These are all the plug-ins available from the Master Section, sorted in the same manner.
Monopass Plug-ins
Monopass plug-ins only require one pass when processing. A Monopass plug-in effect
processes the signal then outputs it to any subsequent plug-in. This is like real-time plug-
ins.
The following Monopass plug-ins are available in the Batch Processor Workspace:
Audio Injector
Trimmer
Resizer
Fade-In
Instructor
Time Stretch
Pitch Correction
Multipass Plug-ins
Multipass plug-ins require two or more passes (an analysis pass followed by a process pass)
before processing the audio. Some are unique to the Batch Processor while others are also
found as Offline Processors in the Audio File Workspace.
The following Multipass plug-ins are available in the Batch Processor Workspace:
Normalize Level
Stereo to Mono
Pan Normalizer
Loudness normalizer
Fade-out
DC Remover
Loudness Restorer
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Metapass Plug-ins
Metapass plug-ins are unique to the Batch Processor and require several passes before
processing the audio. After analyzing the audio, a metapass plug-in takes into account all
other plug-ins in the effects chain before processing the audio.
The following Metapass plug-ins are available in the Batch Processor Workspace:
Meta-Normalizer
Meta-Leveler
Related topics
Audio Plug-ins
Offline processing
7.1.2.1 Audio Injector
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to insert an Audio
File at the beginning and/or end of the Audio File being processed. The inserted file can also
be cross faded with the original Audio File, if required.
You can access this dialog from from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window
> Monopass Plug-ins >AudioInjector .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.2 Trimmer
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to remove a spec-
ified duration (from 0ms to 60s) of audio from the head and/or tail of an Audio File.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Monopass Plug-ins >Trimmer .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
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							7.1 Specific tool windows 189
7.1.2.3 Resizer
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to adjust the
duration of an Audio File.
You can set a desired length of file and choose whether to insert silence after the end of the
chosen duration.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Monopass Plug-ins >Resizer .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.4 Fade-In/Out
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to fade the be-
ginning (Fade-In) or the end (Fade-Out) of a batch audio file. You can choose the length and
shape of the fade, its duration and the gain you wish it to start/end at.
You can access the fade out dialog from Batch Processing Workspace>Plug-ins win-
dow >Multipass Plug-ins >Fade-Out .
You can access the fade in dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins win-
dow >Monopass Plug-ins >Fade-In .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.5 Instructor
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and is a special utility plug-in
that allows you to "instruct" the next plug-in in the batch with information about the audio it
needs to process. This is useful for situations where you want to use plug-ins that require
an analysis stage. In effect, the Instructor plug-in turns a monopass plug-in into a dual pass
one.
Some Monopass plugins, such as Denoisers or DeBuzzer, need to learn about the audio they
are to process before they can begin processing correctly. The "Instructor" plugin can help
in this situation, since it can "teach" the next plug-in in the audio chain about the audio it is
about to process.
The Instructor plugin mustbe used as a pair:
1. The first instance replicates the start of the audio stream. This means the next plug-in
in the chain will receive the start of the audio stream twice.
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2. The second instance of the plug-in comes after the plugin being "instructed". It simply
cuts out the extra audio injected by the first instance of the Instructor plug-in.
This means, for example, that the Denoiser plug-in has time to sufficiently analyze the audio
stream before the second stream start is injected. The "badly" processed first part of the
stream is skipped by the second instance of the Instructor plug-in.
You can set the Instructor plug-in to replicate up to 20 seconds of audio. Be careful not to
set a value that is longer than the shortest file in the batch, otherwise a short file will be over
truncated by the second instance of the plug-in.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Monopass Plug-ins >Instructor .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.6 Time Stretch
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to change the
duration of an audio selection (usually without changing its pitch). For more information on
the Time Stretch dialog parameters see
Time stretching .
You can access this dialog from Batch Processing Workspace >Plug-ins window >
Monopass Plug-ins >Time Stretch .
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
Time stretching
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.7 Pitch Correction
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to detect and
change the pitch of a sound without affecting its length. For more information on the Pitch
Correction dialog parameters see
Pitch correction .
You can access this dialog from Batch Processing Workspace >Plug-ins window >
MonoPass Plug-ins >Pitch Correction .
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
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							7.1 Specific tool windows 191
Pitch correction
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.8 Normalize Level
This dialog allows you to change the peak level of your Audio File.
Enter the desired peak level (in dB) that you wish the audio selection to have. You can also
use "Find current peak level" to obtain a report on the peak level of the current audio selection
(or the peak level in the whole file, if "Process whole file if there is no selection" is selected
in the preferences). You can choose to apply the same gain to both stereo channels (Stereo
Link) or mix down to a mono file (Mix to Mono) with the assurance that no clipping will occur
when both channels are mixed together.
To normalize the selected audio, enter the desired peak level and click Apply.
You can access this dialog by choosing Process>Level Normalizer... in the Audio File
Workspace.
This function is also available as a batch processing plug-in. You can access it from Batch
Processing Workspace >Plug-ins window >Multipass Plug-ins >Normalizer .
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
Audio File editing
Value editing
7.1.2.9 Stereo to Mono
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to mix a stereo
signal down to a mono one while being certain not to clip while mixing channels.
You can choose to use the same peak level that the stereo file contains, or set the gain to be
applied and/or the maximum level to be reached in the resulting mono file.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Multipass Plug-ins >Stereo to Mono .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.10 Pan Normalizer
This dialog allows you to ensure that both channels of a stereo file have the same level or
loudness. Since loudnesss is more important than peak volume in the perception of sound,
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this is a powerful tool to get the best possible stereo balance.
This process uses two passes to first analyze the audio and then render any level changes
required.
You must have a stereo selection in a stereo file to apply this process.
You can access this dialog from the Audio File Workspace via Process>Pan Normalizer... .
This function is also available as a batch processing plug-in. You can access it from the Batch
Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>Multipass Plug-ins >Pan Normalizer .
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
7.1.2.11 Loudness normalizer
This dialog allows you to adjust the loudness of a file. Because it relates to loudness as
opposed to maximum peak level, this tool works quite differently from the Level Normalizer. A
typical application is to specify a loudness, for example -12dB, and the Loudness Normalizer
processes the audio to match this level of loudness.
Like Gain Change, increasing the loudness to a certain value can introduce clipping. To avoid
this occurring, a peak limiter (the Peak Master plug-in) can be used as part of the process.
The Loudness Normalizer raises the loudness and limits peaks in the signal at the same time
(if needed), to achieve the target loudness.
In the case of stereo files, both channels are processed independently. This process happens
over several stages; analysis precedes the final rendering. The Loudness Normalizer dialog
gives access to useful statistics about the file and the
Loudness distribution tool, and you
can choose to remove any DC offset in the file.
You can access this dialog from the Audio File Workspace via Process>Loudness nor-
malizer... .
This function is also available as a batch processing plug-in. You can access it from Batch
Processing Workspace >Plug-ins window >Multipass Plug-ins >Loudness Nor-
malizer .
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
DC Offset
Loudness distribution
7.1.2.12 DC Remover
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to eliminate any
DC Offset from an Audio File.
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It can be useful to apply this plug-in first in a batch before other plug-ins to avoid further
processing a file containing any DC Offset. For example, an Audio File that has a DC offset
will not be at its loudest possible volume when normalized, because the offset consumes
headroom .
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Multipass Plug-ins >DC Remover .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
DC Offset
7.1.2.13 Loudness Restorer
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to restore the
loudness of an Audio File.
The Loudness Restorer plug-in mustbe used as a pair - the first instance is used to read
the audio signal, the second instance uses this information to adjust the loudness or peak
level of the file.
To use the plug-in:
1. Place an instance of the plug-in in the batch chain and choose "Capture" as the mode.
2. Place a second instance of the plug-in after the first one and choose either "Restore
peak level" or "Restore loudness (RMS)".
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Multipass Plug-ins >Loudness Restorer .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.14 Meta-Normalizer
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to normalize a
batch of files all to the same level.
The core purpose of this plug-in is to achieve the sameloudness in all files (the highest
loudness found, if possible), while being certain that no file will clip. For each file, a specific
gain is computed by the plug-in once all files have been analyzed and prior to actually applying
any gain to achieve the common loudness. If it is not possible to match the highest found
loudness, the level of the file with the highest loudness is reduced, so that other files can get
the same loudness.
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You can choose between peak level or loudness (RMS) as a method of determing the "equal"
level between all files in the batch. This "equal" level is then used to apply a gain to each file
in the batch.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Metapass Plug-ins >Meta-Normalizer .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.1.2.15 Meta-Leveler
This dialog is exclusive to the Batch Processor Workspace and allows you to match the level
of a batch of files.
The core purpose of this plug-in is to to apply the samegain to all files, while being certain
that a specific peak level will never be exceeded in any file. The unique gain that you wish
to apply is (possibly) reduced by the plug-in, once all files in the batch have been analyzed,
and prior to actually applying the gain across the batch.
You can access this dialog from the Batch Processor Workspace via Plug-ins window>
Metapass Plug-ins >Meta-Leveler .
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
Batch Processing Plug-ins
7.2 Shared tool windows
Shared tool windows are windows that can only exist in one place at a time and are shared
between Workspaces. They perform useful tasks in the active Workspace.
They can be docked and un-docked, and saved in your custom layouts.
Shared tool windows:
Background task monitor
Log window
Related topics
About Tool Windows
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Docking windows
7.2.1 Background task monitor
This specific tool window allows you to view all background rendering processes that are in
progress.
You can adjust the priority with which they are processed, pause or cancel them. It is useful
if you have a number of lengthy processes underway and want to free up some processing
power to focus on editing. You can either lower the priority of a task so it does not use as
much of the computer processor's capacity, or pause the task temporarily.
You can access this window by choosing Workspace>Shared tool windows >Back-
ground task monitor . It is available in the Control Window, Audio File Workspace and
Audio Montage Workspace. You can also access this window in the Control Window by
choosing Utilities>Background task monitor .
You can choose to automatically open the Background task monitor when a rendering pro-
cess begins. To enable this option, select the checkbox via Options>Global Preferences
> Options >Make the Background Task Monitor visible when a task starts . Since
this window is a Shared
tool window, the location where it opens may vary.
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
Specific tool windows
Control Window
Rendering
7.2.2 Log window
This shared tool window allows you to view log messages that have been issued by WaveLab.
When using WaveLab's scripting language for example, the logWindow( )function outputs
messages to this window. There are a number of toggle buttons and these allow you to filter
the types of messages displayed.
Note: When using the logWindow( ) method you need to have the
"Show informal notes"
button selected for the messages to be visible. If no log messages are displayed, make sure
all the toggle buttons are selected -
.
You can access this window via Workspace>Shared tool windows >Log . It is available
in the Control Window, Audio File Workspace and Audio Montage Workspace. You can also
access this window in the Control Window via Utilities>Log .
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
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							196 Batch Processing
Control Window
Specific tool windows
Scripting
7.3 Batch Processing Plug-ins
The Batch Processor Workspace allows you to add a sequence of plug-ins that can be used
to process a batch of Audio Files. Some of these plug-ins are standard plug-ins available
from the Master Section; others are offline processes available in the Audio File Workspace,
and there are others that are only available within batch processing.
To add a plug-in: First create a new Audio Plug-in chain window: click on the Create an
empty document icon in the Batch Processors Workspace. Select a category of plug-ins
from the Plug-ins accordion (Double-click to add the plug-in at the end, or drag the plug-in
into position in the batch processor chain).
To remove a plug-in: Right-click on the plug-in to use the pop-up menu "Remove" option,
or drag it back onto the plugin window.
Master Section presets
These are Master Section presets (not to be confused with individual plugin presets, so it's
always a chain, even if it's a chain with one member). As these presets can contain multiple
effects, they can be put to powerful use in batch processing.
Master Section Plug-ins
These are all the plug-ins available from the Master Section, sorted in the same manner.
Monopass Plug-ins
Monopass plug-ins only require one pass when processing. A Monopass plug-in effect
processes the signal then outputs it to any subsequent plug-in. This is like real-time plug-
ins.
The following Monopass plug-ins are available in the Batch Processor Workspace:
Audio Injector
Trimmer
Resizer
Fade-In
Instructor
Time Stretch
Pitch Correction
WaveLab 7