Steinberg WaveLab 7 Operation Manual

							11.1 Dialogs 287
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
DDP files
Authoring CDs and DVDs
11.1.99 WMA encoding
This dialog allows you to specify the encoding options when you save a WMA Audio File.
You can select which encoder to use and adjust the output sample rate and bit resolution.
Depending on the encoder chosen, you can also define various quality options and whether
the resulting file is stereo or mono.
You can access this dialog by choosing Save as...>Output Format (select type Win-
dows Media Audio) >Encoding >Edit... , and from most places where you can select
an output file format, like the Render dialog.
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
WMA files
11.1.100 Workspace layout
This dialog allows you to define options when saving the layout of a Workspace.
You can choose to save the placement of the Workspace and all its windows and/or the layout
of tabbed windows. It allows you to choose whether to retain or discard these elements of
your current layout arrangement when saving a new layout.
You can access this dialog from all Workspaces via Workspace>Layout >Save as... .
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
Workspaces
11.1.101 Write Data CD/DVD
This dialog allows you to write a data CD/DVD to either a physical DVD/CD-ROM disk using
your computer's CD-R or DVD-R drive, or burn an ISO disk image. The dialog has controls
for refreshing the list of attached devices, opening the CD/DVD drive and erasing a CD-
RW/DVD-RW disk.
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If you choose to burn an ISO disk image the dialog allows you to select a filename for the
resultant ISO file. Choosing a CD-R or DVD-R drive displays choices for setting the speed
or to try a test burn.
Important note for Mac OSX users
When using CD-R/DVD-R drive on Apple OSX computers for importing or burning it is
important to note the following. If you insert a optical CD or DVD disk in the drive while the
drive is not selected in WaveLab for import or burning, WaveLab will not be able to "see" the
drive. The disk drive is "taken over" by other applications under Mac OSX and is not seen by
WaveLab when this happens. To avoid this occurring, make sure there is no disk in the drive
when opening any CD window within WaveLab.
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
Authoring CDs and DVDs
11.1.102 Loop Tweaker
This dialog allows you to refine a region of audio to loop seamlessly.
The Loop Tweaker can just be used to "tweak" an existing loop selection so that it loops
perfectly or you can also use it to create a loop from material which does not naturally repeat.
To use the Loop Tweaker you must first have a loop defined using a pair of loop markers
.
The Loop Tweaker consists of the following tabs:
Loop points adjustment
This is a visualization of the beginning and end of the waveform between the loop markers.
You use this dialog to manually refine a loop selection by dragging on the waveform left/right
or using the automatic search buttons to find the nearest "good" loop point. The aim is to
align the waveforms so they meet in the middle at a
zero-crossing point with the waveforms
matching as closely as possible, being "in phase". When you adjust your loop start and end
points within the dialog the start and end loop markers in the main waveform window will
adjust accordingly. Note that this movement may or may not be visible depending on the
amount you move the markers and the zoom factor you have selected.
It is helpful to have the transport looped during playback so you can hear the difference when
you adjust the loop markers within the dialog. Use the Display options to adjust how the Loop
Tweaker waveform is visualized. You can also use the temporary memory buttons to capture
a number of different loop "candidates" and audition them one by one. Note that if you are
not using a cross fade or post cross fade you do not need to click Apply when just tweaking
loop points. You can also leave this dialog window open and manually adjust the position of
the markers in the main waveform windows if you need to make large adjustments.
Cross fade
This tab allows you to apply a cross fade at the end of a loop by mixing a copy of the beginning
of the loop with it. This can be useful to smooth the transition between the end of a loop and
its beginning - especially when using material that doesn't naturally loop. Use the envelope
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drag points or value sliders to adjust the cross fade envelope. Click Apply to process the
cross fade.
Post cross fade
This tab allows you to cross fade the loop back into the audio after the end of the loop. This
is done by mixing a copy of the loop back into the audio. Use the envelope drag points or
value sliders to adjust the cross fade envelope. Click Apply to process the post cross fade.
Using the "Copy" button you can insert multiple copies of the loop into the active Audio File,
creating a smooth audio sequence, since copies will loop without an audible transition.
You can access this dialog by choosing Process>Loop Tweaker... .
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
Markers
Adjusting Envelopes
Zero crossing
11.1.103 Zoom factor
This dialog allows you to set the level of magnification of the waveform in the main wave view
with precision.
Choose the zoom factor unit and enter an amount using the spin control box, or change the
amount by dragging up or down with the mouse or use the mouse wheel without clicking -
see
Value editing .
You can access this dialog by left-clicking on the zoom factor box in the
Status Bar . A right-
click on the zoom factor box gives you various zoom options.
See
Zooming and scrolling for other methods of zooming - for example, you can press [arrow
up] or [arrow down] to zoom in or out.
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
Zooming and scrolling
Value editing
Status Bar
11.2 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.
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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
11.2.1 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).
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.
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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
11.2.2 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.
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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
11.2.3 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.
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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
11.2.4 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.
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.
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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 .
Related topics
Metering
Dithering
11.2.5 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
11.2.6 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.
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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.
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
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"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
11.2.7 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.
It can be used either as a floating window, or docked in the Workspace or the
Control Win-
dow
.
Related topics
Metering
11.2.8 Timecode
This shared tool window displays the current time of the playback head (or the cursor position
if not playing back), in the timecode format currently selected in the Time Format dialog.
The current time can be in a range of standard SMPTE formats, CD or DVD specific formats,
or a custom one - see
Time Format dialog .
The most common use for this window is for working with video or film. You can use it to
display the playback head position of the current Audio File in a SMPTE format to frame level
resolution (i.e. hours:minutes:seconds:frames). You can also use it to display CD frames
(minutes:seconds:frames) when you are authoring CD or DVDs.
WaveLab 7