Steinberg WaveLab Elements 7 Operation Manual
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9.2 Shared tool windows 133 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 9.1.58 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 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 the active Workspace. They can be docked and un-docked. VU Meter Oscilloscope Spectroscope Master Section WaveLab Elements 7
134 Interface Elements Related topics About Tool Windows Metering Docking windows 9.2.1 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 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. The VU meter can be found in the Metersmenu of the Audio Files and Audio Montage Workspaces. Related topics Metering 9.2.2 Oscilloscope The Oscilloscope offers a highly magnified view of the waveform around the playback cursor position. WaveLab Elements 7
9.3 Specific tool windows 135 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. Related topics Metering 9.2.3 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 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. Related topics Metering 9.3 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. Related topics About Tool Windows WaveLab Elements 7
Chapter 10 Audio Plug-ins Steinberg created Virtual Studio Technology (VST) to allow effect plug-ins to be integrated with audio editors (such as WaveLab Elements). VST uses Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to closely simulate in software the effects of familiar recording studio hardware. A vast num- ber of plug-ins are available - from freeware to high-end commercial products - and can greatly extend the functionality of programs such as WaveLab Elements. The order of processing is significant. You can change the order in which effects are pro- cessed by moving the effects icons by dragging them between slots. See Dragging operations for more information. WaveLab Elements provides slots for up to four plug-ins. The more complex plug-ins provide a custom GUI, often displaying controls similar to the physical switches and knobs on audio hardware; other plug-ins rely on the host application for their UI. The following plug-ins are supplied with WaveLab Elements: Legacy plug-ins Under Windows, a set of plug-ins is provided for compatibility with audio projects that ref- erenced these effects when using earlier versions of WaveLab. An Audio Montage which referenced these plug-ins would otherwise require cumbersome user intervention to open, for instance. Their use with new audio projects is not recommended and they are not docu- mented. Sonnox Ltd VST-3 plug-ins Sonnox DeClicker Sonnox DeNoiser Steinberg VST-3 plug-ins Steinberg Autopan Steinberg Chorus
138 Audio Plug-ins Steinberg Compressor Steinberg Mono Delay Steinberg Distortion Steinberg Gate Steinberg Limiter Steinberg Roomworks SE Stereo Delay Steinberg Stereo Enhancer Steinberg Studio EQ Steinberg VST Dynamics Built-in plug-ins Crystal Resampler Leveler Peak Master Silence Dithering plug-in Internal Dithering 10.1 Sonnox DeClicker Sonnox DeClicker is one of three plug-ins that form the Sonnox Restoration Toolkit. The WaveLab Elements 7
10.1 Sonnox DeClicker 139 tools are not just for restoring old material, but also for removing the clicks, pops, buzzes and background noise that can sometimes accidentally occur in new recordings. A note on Touch Pad controls Several controls in these plug-ins are Touch Pads. These controls give a clear display of the numeric value of a control, and respond to the following actions: ˆ Left-Click and drag up/down: Increase/decrease the value ˆ Right-Click and drag up/down: Fine adjustment of value ˆ Double Click: Directly edit value ˆ Shift + Left-Click and drag up/down: Fine adjustment of value ˆ Control + Left-Click (Windows), Cmd + Click (Mac): Set to default Additionally, for all controls (including faders and knobs, not just Touch Pads) ˆ Control + Left-Click (Windows), Cmd + Click (Mac): Set to default DeClicker screen controls ˆ Sonnox Menu Options Button Clicking this button brings down a menu of options and preferences. It allows choice of: the input/output meter clip light hold duration (permanent, 2s, 5s), and the splash screen to examine the version number and build date. ˆ Input Level Meter The Input Meter is designed to give exactly 1dB per LED for the top 18dB of dynamic range, and 2dB per LED thereafter. This gives a clear and intuitive impression of the working headroom. ˆ Input Gain Trim Touch Pad (dB) This allows you to adjust the input signal level by up to ±12dB. ˆ Sensitivity Fader and Touch Pad (%) (Pop; Click; Crackle) This controls the sensitivity of the detection circuits. Fully sensitive might allow the detection circuit to react to low level signals and possibly mis-classify programme as pops or clicks. Stronger pops and clicks will require a less sensitive setting. ˆ In Button (Pop; Click; Crackle) This button enables the pop, click or crackle removal processing. It is important to note that with this button "off" (i.e. the repair processing is disabled), the pop, click or crackle detection circuit is still enabled and the detect display will still show the degree of event detection. WaveLab Elements 7
140 Audio Plug-ins ˆ Detect Meter Display (Pop; Click; Crackle) The Detect meter display combines two indications. The main rising column indicates the sum of the energy of events that have been detected. With the "In" button de- selected (i.e. the repair circuit disabled), this column is colored orange/red. With the repair circuit active the column is colored blue. The bottom segment of the meter is an indication of each individual detected event. ˆ Output Level Meter (dB) The output meter is designed to give exactly 1dB per LED for the top 18dB of dynamic range, and 2dB per LED thereafter. There is a peak-hold feature that holds the highest peak, helping to give a better impression of the working dynamic range. ˆ Output Gain Trim Touch Pad (dB) This allows you to reduce the output level by up to 12dB. Dithering is applied after output gain control, so it may be necessary to reduce this value by a small amount to avoid clipping. Quick-Start Guide for the De-Clicker The De-Clicker is very simple and intuitive to use. It is generally wise to repair the larger and more energetic events first. 1. If there are large displacement events in the programme material, enable the DePop section and raise the sensitivity fader until the largest events are detected and repaired. 2. For clicks, enable that section and raise the sensitivity fader until they are detected and repaired. 3. Finally if there is crackle left, enable that section and raise its fader to remove the crackle. Tip: There is necessarily some degree of overlap in the detection circuits of clicks and crackle. Decreasing the DeClick sensitivity might increase the apparent detection of crackle; and increasing the DeClick sensitivity might indicate less crackle. Best results are likely if the two controls are balanced. Related topics Audio Plug-ins Master Section How do I add effects? Presets WaveLab Elements 7
10.2 Sonnox DeNoiser 141 10.2 Sonnox DeNoiser Sonnox DeNoiser is one of three plug-ins that form the Sonnox Restoration Toolkit. The tools are not just for restoring old material, but also for removing the clicks, pops, buzzes and background noise that can sometimes accidentally occur in new recordings. A note on Touch Pad controls Several controls in these plug-ins are Touch Pads. These controls give a clear display of the numerical value of a control, and respond to the following actions: ˆ Left-Click and drag up/down: Increase/decrease the value ˆ Right-Click and drag up/down: Fine adjustment of value ˆ Double Click: Directly edit value ˆ Shift + Left-Click and drag up/down: Fine adjustment of value ˆ Control + Left-Click (Windows) Cmd + Click (Mac): Set to default For circular controls: ˆ the default action is Circular mode, but if the Alt key is held, the action is Linear mode. Additionally, for all controls (including faders and knobs, not just Touch Pads) ˆ Control + Left-Click (Windows), Cmd + Click (Mac): Set to default DeNoiser screen controls ˆ Sonnox Menu Options Button WaveLab Elements 7
142 Audio Plug-ins Clicking this button brings down a menu of options and preferences. It allows choice of: the input/output meter clip light hold duration (permanent, 2s, 5s), and the splash screen to view the version number and build date. ˆ Graphical Display The graphical display shows the real-time frequency/gain curve of the programme ma- terial. It is graduated from 0 to 20kHz and from 0 to -144dB. The yellow line is the calculated noise spectrum level, and in Auto mode will continually follow the noise in real time. Everything below this contour is assumed to be noise, and everything above the line is programme signal. ˆ Input Level Meter The Input Meter is designed to give exactly 1dB per LED for the top 18dB of dynamic range, and 2dB per LED thereafter. This gives a clear and intuitive impression of the working headroom. ˆ Input Gain Trim Touch Pad (dB) This allows you to adjust the input signal level by up to ±12dB. ˆ Sensitivity Fader and Trim Touch Pad (dB) The sensitivity fader defaults to 0.0dB, which is the midpoint of its travel. It will adjust the sensitivity of the noise detection circuit, and the visible effect of this is to move the yellow noise contour line up and down. The sensitivity level can be changed by up to ±18dB. To reduce the sensitivity and make the De-Noiser less reactive to the noise component, move the fader down. The noise contour will displace downwards, showing less noise component in the detection circuit. If the sensitivity is set too low, little noise reduction will occur. Conversely, to increase the sensitivity and make the De- Noiser more reactive to the noise component, move the fader up. The noise contour will displace upwards, showing more noise component in the detection circuit. The default setting is for the noise contour to lie just below the peaks of the signal. Making the detection circuit more sensitive to noise will decrease the signal component, possibly pushing the contour up towards the peaks of the signal. In this case, it is likely that processing artifacts will be heard, as the noise removal circuit will be acting on the signal component as well as the noise component. ˆ Adapt Button This button enables Adapt mode for the noise detection circuit. In this mode the noise fingerprint is continually calculated and updated. This mode is useful for material with a time-varying noise component. ˆ Freeze Button This button enables Freeze mode for the noise detection circuit. In this mode the noise fingerprint is calculated once (when the Freeze button is pressed). This mode is useful for material with a constant noise component, and would typically be sampled when the signal is absent and only the noise component is present. ˆ In Button This button enables the noise removal processing. It allows glitch-less comparisons with and without the noise reduction. It is important to note that with this button "off" WaveLab Elements 7