Steinberg WaveLab 7 Operation Manual
Have a look at the manual Steinberg WaveLab 7 Operation Manual online for free. It’s possible to download the document as PDF or print. UserManuals.tech offer 523 Steinberg manuals and user’s guides for free. Share the user manual or guide on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
8.1 FTP site 207 8.1 FTP site This dialog allows you to enter information for uploading your Podcast and all related files to an online FTP server. You must specify all log-in details for your FTP site, the relative path to your podcast XML file and the web site address where the link to your Podcast is found, including the path to the feed. If in doubt about your FTP settings they can normally be supplied by your ISP. You can access this dialog via Publish>FTP Site... in the Podcast Workspace. 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 Podcasts 8.2 Episodes menu This menu provides commands for managing individual Episodes within a Podcast. ˆ New This adds a new untitled episode without any information being present. ˆ Duplicate selected This adds a new episode, copying all information from the existing episode to the new one. ˆ Delete selected To delete an episode, select it in the item list and use this function. Alternatively, you can exclude an Episode from the Podcast by unchecking the "Enabled" box. ˆ Move up/down Episodes can be re-ordered using this function, or by dragging them to a new position in the item list. 8.3 Publish menu This is where you define where your Podcast is going to be uploaded to via FTP. FTP site The WaveLab's FTP site manager stores all information required for the Podcast upload process. Selecting "FTP site..." from the Podcast window's Publish menu brings up the FTP site dialog. See FTP site for more information. WaveLab 7
208 Podcasts Uploading the Podcast Once you have specified the FTP site settings, uploading the Podcast is rather simple by using the functions in the Podcast window's Publish menu. ˆ Update all items on FTP This uploads/updates the XML Podcast file on the FTP; it also uploads all items' media files, but only if they are not already present on the FTP. This is the most common function to upload and update your Podcast. ˆ Upload/Replace all items on FTP This is the same as above, but it always uploads/replaces all of the media files belonging to the item. This is useful if you have changed the audio data, for example. ˆ Update selected item on FTP This uploads/updates the XML Podcast file on the FTP. It also uploads the media file of the currently selected item in the list, but only if it is not already present on the FTP. ˆ Upload/Replace selected item on FTP This is the same as above, but it always uploads/replaces the media file of the currently selected item in the list. This is useful if you have changed the audio data, for example. ˆ View published Podcast This opens your Podcast (from the URL specified in your FTP site settings), using your default browser. FTP site This is where you specify your Podcast FTP settings. See FTP site . Tip Please note that "all items" in fact means all items that have their "Enabled" box in the item list checked. If not enabled, these episodes are simply omitted from the Podcast. Related topics FTP site 8.4 Specific tool windows Specific tool windows are windows that are specific to the current Workspace. They perform useful tasks in the active Workspace. They can be docked and un-docked, and saved in your custom layouts. WaveLab 7
8.4 Specific tool windows 209 Podcast Workspace specific tool windows The following specific tool windows are available within the Podcast Workspace: Master Project File Browser 8.4.1 File Browser This dialog allows you to browse files directly from within WaveLab rather than using your operating system's file browser. It provides you with all the standard browsing functions (such as List and Icon views)as well as additional controls to audition Audio Files and any marker defined regions.You can use it to open or insert an entire file or a specific region of a file by dragging and releasing the file in the location you wish to insert the file. In the Audio Montage Workspace you can also choose to only view certain types of WaveLab specific files. The File Browser can be very useful in speeding up the process of auditioning a long list of sound files. It can also be used to drag to windows such as Data CD/DVD, including dragging folders. The playback functions Play file Once you have selected a file in the File Browser list, you can audition it by clicking Play in the File Browser's toolbar. Click again to stop. Auto-play You can also have files play back automatically as soon as they are selected. To do this, activate Auto-Play mode. Tip: To audition a long list of Audio Files, enable Auto-play and use the UP and DOWN cursor keys to step through each Audio File in quick succession. Opening and inserting a file or region Once you have chosen a file you wish to open, double-click it to open the file in the current Workspace. You can also open it by dragging it onto an empty tabbed group, or onto the tab bar of a tabbed group. You can also drag the file over a wave view to insertit at a given point. When you drag a file over a wave view, a beam is displayed so as to clearly display the insertion point. When browsing Audio Files, the file browser also has a region panel. When you select an Audio File, its related regions are listed in this panel. You can then drag the region from the list, to insert only that part of the audio. Double-clicking on a region has the effect of opening the file in the Workspace and selecting that region. You can access this dialog via Workspace >Specific tool windows >File Browser . 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 WaveLab 7
Chapter 9 Control Window This is a special Workspace that allows you to create your own control window layout. This window does not edit any files, but is used as a placeholder to organize certain tool windows (for example a selection of meters). This is especially useful if you have multiple monitors: you can place the Control Window on your secondary display and use it to manage all the tool windows you commonly refer to. This window has some special features: ˆ the ability to host sub-windows that monitor events happening in other windows. You can dock the following windows: All Meters , Master Section , Master Project , Log win- dow , Background task monitor , Import Audio CD and Data CD/DVD . ˆ if you work with multiple monitors, the Control Window can occupy a dedicated screen. ˆ the ability to organize all your audio meters in one place, as an assembly of tabbed sub-windows. Adding Tabbed Groups The Control Window uses the tab group system to allow for sophisticated panel arrange- ments. You can arrange tabs horizontally or vertically, split and divide them. For setups with a single monitor, independent floating windows are recommended for small screens, and docked windows for large screens. To setup a number of tab groups in the Control Window: ˆ Choose a predefined arrangement of tabs from Workspace>Tab Group Shortcuts > ˆ Add an individual Tab Group using the menu commands Workspace>Add Tab Group at right orWorkspace >Add Tab Group at left ˆ or to sub-divide a window, right-click on any empty pane and choose either "Split hor- izontally" or "Split vertically"
212 Control Window Docking/Undocking windows The process for docking/undocking windows in the Control Window is slightly different to that in other Workspaces. To dock a window in the Control Window: 1. Undock the window so it is floating as an independent window. 2. Choose a pane in which you want to place the window. This is done by clicking on an empty pane; an arrow icon will appear to indicate it is selected. 3. Choose the following command from the floating window's menu: Window>Place in Control window . You can also simply drag a tab from one tab group to another, to move it there. Once docked in the Control Window you can move a window around by dragging it to any other free space in the control window. To undock a window from the Control Window either: ˆ right click on the tab title bar or the window itself and choose "Set as independent floating window" from the context menu or, ˆ click on the button at the top right of the Control Window For more information on docking/undocking windows see Docking windows . Related topics Specific tool windows Shared tool windows Metering Master Section Master Project Scripting Tab Groups 9.1 Specific tool windows Specific tool windows are windows that are specific to the current Workspace. They perform useful tasks in the active Workspace. They can be docked and un-docked, and saved in your custom layouts. Control Window specific tool window The following specific tool window is available within the Control Window: Master Project WaveLab 7
9.2 Shared tool windows 213 Related topics About Tool Windows Docking windows 9.2 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 relationship to the active Workspace. They can be docked and un-docked, and saved in your custom layouts. Shared tool windows: Phasescope VU Meter Oscilloscope Bit Meter Spectroscope Spectrometer Wavescope Timecode Background task monitor Log window Master Section Related topics About Tool Windows Metering Docking windows 9.2.1 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). WaveLab 7
214 Control Window 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. 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 WaveLab 7
9.2 Shared tool windows 215 9.2.2 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 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 . WaveLab 7
216 Control Window Related topics Metering 9.2.3 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 9.2.4 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. 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. WaveLab 7