Steinberg WaveLab 7 Operation Manual

							3.11 Sliders 17
Adding menu items to a Command bar button
Each Workspace has a number of default Command bars defined, but you can add further
menu items to customize Command bars.
Each menu command with an icon can be potentially added to a Command bar. Commands
are internally grouped by functionality, so the button always appears in its related command
bar (File commands appear in the File command bar, for example).
Add a menu command using the
Customize commands dialog . Each command has a check-
box in the "Bar" column.
Other shortcuts
There are many other shortcuts in WaveLab that are accessed using the mouse. These are
described in
Double clicking , Dragging operations and Tab Groups . Clicking the right button
on the mouse in certain places will produce a Context menu which offers quick access to
relevant commands.
Related topics
Customize Commands
Definition of shortcut(s)
Double clicking
Dragging operations
Tab Groups
Context menus
3.11 Sliders
At various places in WaveLab, slider controls are available to change parameters. There are
a number of ways to change a slider's value:
ˆ Turn the mouse wheel over the slider (no click is required). Press [Ctrl]/[Command]
simultaneously to scroll faster. This modifier also applies to the zoom wheels.
ˆ Left click on the button to move it.
ˆ Left click outside the button to move the button directly to that position.
ˆ Right click before or after the button, to move the button step by step. Keep the mouse
button pressed to automatically step to the next value.
ˆ Middle click anywhere to reset the slider to the default value (if a default is available).
ˆ Left click and press [Ctrl]/[Command] anywhere to reset the default value (if a default
value is available).
ˆ Double click on the button to reset the default value (if a default value is available).
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							18 Using the interface
Related topics
Adjusting Envelopes
3.12 Status Bar
The Status bar is normally displayed at the bottom of the screen and shows information about
the active window using the units specified in the rulers.
The Wave and Mouse cursor time positions are shown using the same units of time as in the
rulers and dialog boxes. Level positions are always shown in dB. This information is updated
depending on the cursor position and whether you have a region of audio selected. In the
case of the Audio File Workspace it gives the following information about the Audio File.
From left to right:
ˆ Time/Level (dB) - at the mouse cursor position.
ˆ Wave cursor Time - displays the time at the position of the Wave cursor. This infor-
mation changes when you click to reposition the cursor. Click on this status bar field to
show the Cursor position dialog, which you can use to accurately position the cursor.
ˆ Audio selection indicator - displays the length of the current selection, or the total
length of the Audio File if there is no selection. Right-click on this to display the entire
audio range.In WaveLab Left-click also opens the
Audio Range dialog , so you can
define or refine a selection.
ˆ Zoom indicator - displays the current zoom factor. Click this to edit the zoom factor;
right-click to display a pop-up menu (equivalent to selecting View>Zoom ).
ˆ File format details - displays the number of audio channels, bit resolution and sample
rate; Click to display
Audio properties dialog .
ˆ Document button -
allows you to click and drag the current Audio File into an-
other document (for example, in the Audio Montage Workspace). This is equivalent to
dragging the file Tab.
ˆ Sample Key indicator - indicates the key of the current Audio File (if defined) and
opens the
Sample Attributes window. The status bar also indicates the progress
of some background operations, such as rendering an effect. The operation can be
paused or canceled using the buttons provided.
The "Play through Master Section" buttons
and allow you to completely bypass the
Master Section for playback, or not, with a setting for each file (Audio File and Montage).
There are also the Save/Restore Master Section presets buttons, which allow you to store/re-
store these settings for each file. See
Save Master Section Preset .
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
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							3.13 Switcher window 19
Related topics
Time Format dialog
Zoom factor
Audio properties dialog
3.13 Switcher window
This small floating window allows you to switch between each of the main Workspaces in
WaveLab, and also to open and create documents.
It is visible at all times and floats above all other windows. You can choose which Workspace
buttons are visible and adjust its transparency in
Global Preferences . You can resize, rotate
and move the Switcher window anywhere on your monitor(s).
ˆ It is useful to use a file in a different Workspace. For example, you can drag an Audio File
from the Audio File Workspace over the Audio Montage icon in the Switcher window
and wait until the Audio Montage Workspace becomes active before inserting the file
in a montage.
ˆ To switch between Workspaces: click on a Workspace button and if the Workspace is
not already open, a menu opens and offers several options.
ˆ If two instances of the same Workspace are open, you can toggle between them by
repeatedly clicking on the appropriate icon.
ˆ To create a new document in any Workspace: click + [Ctrl]/[Command]on a
Workspace button.
ˆ To open a document in any Workspace: click + [Shift]on a Workspace button.
ˆ To display a menu listing the files used recently in a particular Workspace, click on any
Workspace icon and hold the button down. This means that with just one click you can
access the history of a document from any Workspace. From the same menu, you can
also create a new document or open the file selector box. If you click on the icon of the
active workspace, you don't need to hold the button down. Alternatively, you can right
click to show a menu instantly.
Related topics
Workspaces
Docking windows
3.14 Tab Groups
A tab group is a region within a Workspace that contains windows that can be activated by
a tab, each with its own content and title bar. Only one tab can be active at a time.
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							20 Using the interface
In an editing Workspace, a tab group contains one or more documents (e.g. Audio Files).In
the Control Window, a tab group contains one or more shared tool windows. In WaveLab it
is possible to create more than one tab group.To activate a tab, simply click on the title bar
of the tab you wish to work on.
Tip: Because it can be useful to quickly display multiple files side by side, the Audio File
Workspace has a Tilemode that can be activated from the Tabsmenu. To make this possible,
a single tab group must exist.
Using Tabs for editing audio
Tabs have a variety of useful behaviors depending on the type of window contained by the tab
group.Tabs that display meters and other tool windows can be dragged and moved around
in the Control window.Tabs that contain Audio Files (in the Audio File Workspace) symbolize
a whole Audio File and where applicable allow you to perform many other useful functions:
ˆ Reorder the tab bar - by dragging and dropping the tab at a new position on the tab
bar.
ˆ Move it to another Workspace - by dragging and dropping the tab in the editing
window of another Workspace.
ˆ Paste it into an Audio File - by dragging and dropping the tab onto the waveform
display at the cursor position you want to insert the copied audio.
ˆ Paste it into another application - by dropping the tab into the relevant window of
the other application. The result depends on the target aplication.
Tip: You can also achieve the same actions by dragging the Audio File from the document
button
on the status bar at the bottom right of each window.
Other useful functions can be accessed using tab groups:
ˆ Create a new empty document - by double clicking on an empty part of the tab bar
(on the right normally). The new file is created by using the active file as template (for
example, Sample rate).
ˆ Display the document file path - by keeping the mouse over a tab for a small mo-
ment. This displays a popup that indicates the full file path of the associated document.
ˆ Access additional tab functions - by right clicking on a tab.
ˆ Access the Recent file list - by Right-clicking in the empty tab area.
ˆ Move a file between tab groups - by dragging a tab from one tab group to another.
ˆ Copy a file - by holding down [Ctrl]/[Command] to create a copy by dragging the
file elsewhere in the tab area.
ˆ Mix to Mono - (Audio File Workspace) by holding down [Control + Alt]/[Command +
Alt] to mix a stereo file to mono while dragging the file to a new tab.
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							3.15 Transport controls 21
ˆ Convert from Mono to Stereo - (Audio File Workspace) by holding down [Control
+ Alt]/[Command + Alt] to convert a mono file from mono to stereo while dragging the
file to a new tab.
ˆ Quickly switch between tabs - by moving the mouse wheel while over the tab bar.
This switches the focus between the different tabs.
Tip: An option in global preferences allows you to hide the title bar if there is only one tab
open Global preferences >User Interface >Show tab if there is a single window .
Related topics
About Tool Windows
Docking windows
3.15 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.
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							22 Using the interface
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
Related topics
Playback speed
Recording Dialog
Command bars
3.16 Value editing
At various places in WaveLab, numerical values can be edited using a combination of text
fields and spin controls.
These values are sometimes made of several parts, for example, 12 mn 30 sec 120 ms. Each
value can be edited using the following methods:
ˆ With the value selected, type a new value.
ˆ Use the up and down arrow keys to change the value by one unit at a time.
ˆ Use the page up and page down keys to change the value by several units.
ˆ Use the home and end keys to jump to the maximum and minimum values.
ˆ Use the left and right arrow keys to move from one part to another.
ˆ Click on the small button arrows (the spin controls), to change the value.
ˆ Move the mouse cursor over the desired section. Now use the mouse wheel to change
the value, withoutclicking. The hovered section will be highlighted when the wheel
spins.
ˆ Move the mouse cursor over the part you wish to change. Click and drag up and down
to change the value.
Tip: Right clicking on the edit control may display a context menu, where additional functions
are available.
Related topics
Sliders
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							3.17 Workspaces 23
3.17 Workspaces
A Workspace is a window that provides an editing and playback environment for a particular
audio document type. Each type of Workspace presents the functions related to the specific
file types it is made for; this reduces clutter in the user interface.
In WaveLab there is a Workspace for each main type of file to edit:
ˆ Audio File Workspace - for viewing and editing Audio Files. See
Audio File editing
ˆ Audio Montage Workspace - for assembling and editing audio montages. See
Audio Montages
ˆ Batch Processing - allows you to process a list of Audio Files with offline effects,
VST-plug-ins and Master Section presets. Each file is processed and then outputted
to a folder of your choice. You can run batches repeatedly if required. See
Batch
Processing
.
ˆ Control Window - for hosting and organizing tool windows (e.g. meters), especially
in a multi-monitor setup. You can choose not to use it if you do not find it convenient,
since removing the Control Window does not remove any features of WaveLab. See
Control Window .
ˆ Podcast Workspace - for preparing and uploading Podcasts. See
Podcasts
A Workspace is highly customizable, to match your workflow, experience and screen setups
(which may vary from a studio-based multi-screen DAW to a single-screen laptop on the
road). A Workspace can appear in a wide variety of styles, from a simple window with a
single menu in its most uncluttered form, to a sophisticated arrangement of Command bars,
tool windows, Tab groups and active meters.To meet the varied needs of users, custom
layouts can be saved (using Global>General window layout >Save as... ) and restored
from a menu or shortcut. When a file is opened from a given Workspace, it is added to the
active tab group of this Workspace.If a file is opened from the application Workspace, a new
Workspace is created for it. You can have several instances of the same Workspace type
open simultaneously (for example, you could have two Audio File Workspaces open with
different layouts). However, for performance reasons it is generally better to have just one
instance of a Workspace type open at a time. You can drag files between Workspaces if
they both share compatible formats. For example, you can drag an Audio File from the Audio
File Workspace and drop it into the Audio Montage Workspace by using its tab bar or its
document button
(this is located on the status bar at the bottom right of the Workspace).
For more information on using shortcuts to speed up your workflow in different Workspaces
see
Dragging operations and Tab Groups .
Elements of a Workspace
Each Workspace is comprised of:
ˆ AMenu bar . Each Workspace has a different Menu bar, but certain menus are
shared among all Workspaces and each menu can be customized in various ways.
The Workspace menu has a sub-menu to show/hide the available Command bars and
tool windows. Alternatively, you can right-click in the menu (Windows) or caption bar
(Mac) area to access the Peripheral Windows Context menu.
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							24 Using the interface
ˆ One or more Command bars , for quick access to functions via buttons. Command
bars can be customized extensively. See
Customize Commands .
ˆ Tab groups , to host the document(s) to edit. This is a central part of the Workspace:
you can reorder the tab bar, move it to another Workspace, create a new empty docu-
ment, display the document filepath and access other functions by right-clicking. See
Tab Groups .
ˆ A set ofSpecific tool windows . The specific tools offered vary according to the
Workspace; their display can be turned on or off individually, and the windows can float
or be docked. See
Specific tool windows .
ˆ A set of Shared tool windows . The shared tools offered vary according to the
Workspace; their display can be turned on or off individually, and the windows can
float or be docked. See
Shared tool windows .
Tip: To switch easily between different Workspaces use the floating
Switcher window .
Related topics
Audio File editing
Audio Montages
Podcasts
Control Window
Batch Processing
Customize Commands
Specific tool windows
Shared tool windows
Command bars
Tab Groups
Docking windows
Switcher window
3.18 Zooming and scrolling
In WaveLab you can use several mouse and keyboard shortcuts for scrolling and zooming in
the Audio File and Audio Montage Workspaces.
Scrolling with the Mousewheel
ˆ With the cursor in the wave window you can scroll the view horizontally using the mouse
wheel.
Zooming with the Mousewheel
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							3.18 Zooming and scrolling 25
ˆ With the cursor in the wave window hold down [Ctrl]/[Command]while rotating the
mouse wheel. The view will zoom horizontally; if you hold down [Shift]the view will
zoom vertically.
Activating the zoom tool
ˆ Activate the zoom tool by holding down [Ctrl]/[Command]and click on the waveform
( [Ctrl]/[Command] must be pressed first).
Zooming with the Mouse
ˆ Holding your cursor over the Time Ruler and moving the mouse up and down also zooms
the view horizontally. Hold down the [Shift]key to do the same thing while maintaining
the edit cursor in the same position.
ˆ Zoom by dragging the thumb edges of the scroll bars in the Audio File and Montage
windows.
ˆ Zoom by acting on the wheel controls in the bottom right corners of the Audio File and
Montage windows, by click and drag or using the mouse wheel.
ˆ Zoom and scrolling can be undone or redone by the View>Navigate backwards/-
forwards commands.
Changing the Zoom level
ˆ you can make quick changes to the zoom level using the View All or Zoom In
buttons in the control bar. Scrubbing the vertical or horizontal Zoom Wheel (located
in the bottom right hand corner of Main wave window) also alters the zoom level.
Related topics
Shortcut system
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							26 Using the interface
WaveLab 7