Steinberg WaveLab Elements 7 Operation Manual

							13.28 ECMAScript 183
13.28 ECMAScript
WaveLab's scripting language is based on the ECMAScriptscripting language, as defined
in "Standard ECMA-262 - ECMAScript Language Specification".
Microsoft's JScript, Netscape's JavaScript and Adobe's Actionscript are also based on the
freely-available ECMAScript standard.
Glossary contents
13.29 Ensoniq Paris files
Ensoniq Paris is an Audio File format used by the old Ensoniq Paris™ system. It has 16-bit
and 24-bit resolution.
The file extension is .paf.
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13.30 Equalization
Equalization (EQ) is a process by which certain frequency bands in an Audio File are
increased or lowered in level to compensate for recording or playback inadequacies.
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13.31 FFT
FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis is a mathematical method to convert a waveform
from the Time Domain to the Frequency Domain.
FFT uses various mathematical shortcuts to carry out a spectral analysis, trading compu-
tational speed for limitations in the number of samples and frequency bands used in the
analysis.
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13.32 Focused Clip
There can be no more than one Focused Clip. See
Clip
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13.33 Formant
Formants are the distinguishing frequency components of a sound.
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13.34 FTP Site
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a network protocol used to copy a file from one host to another
over a TCP/IP-based network such as the Internet. An FTP sitemay require user-based
password authentication or it may allow anonymous user access. Podcasts are published to
FTP sites.
Publish menu
FTP site
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13.35 Headroom
Headroom is the amount by which the signal-handling capabilities of an audio system ex-
ceeds a designated level - the Permitted Maximum Level (PML). Headroom can be thought
of as a safety zone allowing transient audio peaks to exceed the PML without exceeding the
signal capabilities of an audio system.
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13.36 ISO image
An ISO image is an archive file or "disk image" of an optical disk in a format defined by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
"ISO image" derives from the ISO 9660 file system used with CD-ROM media. ISO image
files are supported by WaveLab Elements and typically have a file extension of .iso.
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13.37 ISRC
ISRC - the "International Standard Recording Code" - is a code for identifying sound record-
ings (and music video recordings) on CDs intended for commercial distribution. WaveLab
allows you to specify an ISRC code for each audio track.
The code contains the following elements:
ˆ Country Code (2 ASCII characters)
ˆ Registrant Code (typically, a record label - 3 ASCII characters or digits)
ˆ Recording Year (2 digits or ASCII characters)
ˆ Serial Number (unique number identifying the recording - 5 digits or ASCII characters).
The groups of characters are often presented with hyphens to make them easier to read, but
hyphens are not part of the code.
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13.38 Loops
Loops are short audio Clips that create a repeating beat or pattern.
Loop Tone Uniformizer
Loop Tweaker
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13.39 Loudness
Loudness is a subjective measure, the perceptual correlate of amplitude of sound. There
are objective measures of sound strength, such as SPL (sound pressure level in dB), but
Loudness is affected by other factors, principally frequency (the sensitivity of the human ear
changes as a function of frequency) and duration.
The perception of Loudness varies from one person to another, so it cannot be measured
with a single metric.
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13.40 Markers
Markers are symbols identifying a reference points in an Audio File, like tab markers in word
processing. There are several marker types in WaveLab Elements, which may be used for
quick navigation or more specialist uses. Some markers must be used in pairs.
Markers
Marker types
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13.41 Media Catalog Number
The MCN (Media Catalog Number) is a 13-digit code for an optical disk intended for
commercial distribution - there is one such code per disk. See
UPC/EAN .
You can read the Media Catalog Number (EAN) from a CD by choosing Utilities>Import
Audio CD tracks... >Functions >CD Info... .
Import Audio CD Glossary contents
13.42 MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry standard that allows devices
such as synthesizers and computers to communicate with each other through a system of
channels and triggers.
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13.43 MIDI Channels
MIDI provides 16 channels for sending data. When processing MIDI triggers, WaveLab
Elements needs to know which MIDI channelto monitor to receive a trigger.
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13.44 Mixing
Mixing is the process of blending multiple sound files into a single file, with control over the
relative levels of each incoming file,
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13.45 Mobile phone Audio Files
3GP and 3G2 file formats are multimedia container formats designed to minimize storage
and bandwidth requirements for use with mobile phones.
ˆ 3GP(3GPP file format) is defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
for GSM-based (UMTS) mobile phones.
ˆ 3G2(3GPP2 file format) is a multimedia container format defined by the 3GPP2 for
CDMA2000-based mobile phones.
Tyoical file extensions are .3gp, .3g2
Glossary contents
13.46 MP2 files
MP2 (MPEG-1, audio layer 2) is an audio encoding format defined by ISO/IEC 11172-3,
alongside MPEG-1 and MPEG-3, using lossy audio compression. The three audio "layers"
(MP1, MP2 and MP3) are different perceptual encoding techniques.
MP2 remains an important format for broadcast audio and is part of DAB digital radio and
DVB digital television standards. It is also the audio format used in HDV camcorders. MP2
files are sometimes referred to "Musicam files".
Typical filename extensions are .mp2, .mpa, .mpg, .mus, .m32, .m44 and .m48.
MP3 files
MP2 encoding
Glossary contents
13.47 MP3 files
MP3 (MPEG-1, audio layer 3) is a patented digital audio encoding format using lossy
audio compression, designed by the Moving Picture Experts Group as part of its MPEG-1
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standard, and derived from MP2. MP3 is popular for PC and internet applications - data
compression ratios of 10:1 are typical.
Note that when you open an MPEG compressed file in WaveLab, the file is converted to a
temporary wave file that is much larger than the original compressed file, so make sure that
you have enough free space on your hard disk when opening MPEG compressed files. On
saving, the temporary wave file is converted back to MP3, so from a user perspective the file
handling is transparent apart from the size difference mentioned above.
The filename extension is .mp3
MP2 files
Audio File Format Dialog
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13.48 Non-destructive editing
Non-destructive editing When you delete or change a part of an Audio File in a non-
destructive system, the audio is not deleted or permanently changed - instead a set of point-
ers keeps track of all the edits, so these can be readily reversed. WaveLab Elements provides
comprehensive facilities for Non-destructive editing.
Glossary contents
13.49 Normalize
To Normalize is to raise the volume so that the sample with the highest level is set to the
maximum user-defined level. This ensures that you are using all of the dynamic range available
to you.
Steinberg Limiter
Glossary contents
13.50 NTSC
NTSC (from the US "National Television System Committee") is the analog television system
used in North America, parts of South America, Japan and some Pacific territories.
NTSC has 29.97 interlaced frames of video per second - a field refresh frequency of 59.94Hz
(actually 60Hz/1.001). Each frame consists of a total of 525 scanlines, 486 of which are
visible.
The digital terrestrial television (DTT) replacement for NTSC is ATSC ("Advanced Television
Standards Committee").
PAL/SECAM
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13.51 Ogg Vorbis files
Ogg Vorbis is a lossy compressed audio format and codec that produces files about the
same size as MP3 files but with objectively higher fidelity and no patent restrictions.
Vorbis is intended for sample rates from 8kHz telephony to 192kHz digital masters and a
range of channel representations that includes monaural, stereo, surround 5.1, ambisonic,
or up to 255 discrete channels. Vorbis is open source (free) software maintained by the
Xiph.Org Foundation.
The file extension is .ogg.
Audio File Format Dialog
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13.52 OSQ files
Original Sound Quality (OSQ) is WaveLab's proprietary lossless compressed audio for-
mat. By saving files in this format, you can save considerable disk space without compro-
mising audio quality.
The filename extension is .osq
Glossary contents
13.53 PAL/SECAM
PAL is short for "Phase Alternate Line"; SECAMis short for Séquentiel couleur à mémoire
("Sequential Color with Memory"). They are related analog television encoding systems used
in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world. NTSC is a another analog system
used in North America and parts of South America.
In digital applications PAL video mode is usually referred to as "576i" (i.e. a vertical resolution
of 576 scan lines, interlaced), in analogue contexts it is often quoted as "625 lines". SECAM
Digital video uses its own colour space, so (in the digital domain) the minor colour space
differences that used to exist between PAL and SECAM are no longer present.
In digital video applications such as DVDs and digital broadcasting, PAL/SECAM video is
based on 576 frame lines with two interlaced video fields per frame (i.e. 50 fields per second,
yielding 25 frames per second). Audio is pulse-code modulated.
NTSC
Glossary contents
13.54 Pan
Pan is short for panoramic. Pan is perceptually "placing" a mono or stereo sound source
between two or more speakers. We sense stereo position from a difference in loudness
when the sound strikes each ear, taking into account the time delay, spectrum, reverberation
and other cues.
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Steinberg Autopan
Glossary contents
13.55 Peak level
Peak level is a measure of maximum sound level. Peak Level Meters should go as high as
possible without ever reaching 0dB! The Peak Level meters display the peak levels of each
channel, graphically and numerically.
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.
If the level is set too low, noise levels will be high relative to the recorded sound; if peak level
exceeds 0dB by a significant amount, clipping effects can occur.
Peak Master
Glossary contents
13.56 Plug-ins
A vast number of specialist audio software Plug-insare available, ranging from freeware to
expensive high-end commercial products, and these can greatly extend the functionality of
WaveLab Elements.
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 emulate in software the effects of familiar recording studio hardware.
Audio Plug-ins
Glossary contents
13.57 Pre-roll and Post-roll
Pre-roll is the time elapsed before an event occurs; Post-rollis the time after an event.
Pre-roll can give a brief context if you are auditioning a Clip.
Glossary contents
13.58 Preset system
WaveLab Elements provides a sophisticated Preset system, which allows you to store a
range of individual or bulk settings and recall them for later use.
Presets
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13.59 Processor cores
Processor cores Modern computers are often designed with a multi-core processor, with
two or more "cores" (i.e. independent processors) in a single physical package. A dual-core
processor contains two cores, and a quad-core processor contains four cores, with the aim
of improving computational performance.
The performance gains of multi-core processors depend on whether the software has been
implemented to take advantage of this architecture.
Glossary contents
13.60 Quantization
Quantization is the process by which measurements are rounded to discrete values. In
digital audio, the continuously varying voltages of an analog signal are quantized to discrete
digital values, represented in binary numbers. In 8-bit audio, sample values range from -128
to 127; in 24-bit audio, sample values range from -8288608 to 8288607.
In analog-to-digital conversion and compression, differences between the actual analog
value and the quantized digital value is called "quantization error". This error is due either
to rounding or truncation and can give rise to "quantization noise" which may be reduced by
using "dithering" techniques.
Dithering
Glossary contents
13.61 Raw PCM files
Raw PCM files is an Audio File format that includes no information about bit resolution
or sample rate. If you open a file in this format, WaveLab prompts you to specify the bit
resolution and sample rate. If this is not done correctly, the file will not play back as intended.
Note that the " $$$" file type is WaveLab’s own temporary file format. If you experience a
computer crash you can try opening any stray " $$$" files on your hard disk(s) to restore them.
Tyical file extensions are .raw, .bin, .pcm, . $$$
Glossary contents
13.62 Red Book CD-DA
Red Book is the standard for audio CDs (Compact Disc Digital Audio, or CD-DA). Other
"Rainbow Books" in the series, known by the color of their covers, define the formats of
CD-ROMs, VCD, SACD and other compact disc formats. DVD and Blu-ray formats are not
defined in a Rainbow Book.
The first edition of the Red Book was released in 1980 by Philips and Sony and ratified as
IEC 60908. The standard is not freely circulated - from 2009 the IEC 60908 document
has been available as a PDF download for US $260. The Red Book specifies a compliant
CD-DA in great detail, including the physical properties of the CD, the digital audio encoding
(2-channel, signed 16-bit Linear Pulse Code Modulation, sampled at 44.1kHz), the modu-
lation system, the CIRC error-correction scheme and subcode channels. Data are stored in
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sectors of 2352 bytes ("frames"), read at 75 frames/s. The bit rate is 1411.2kbits/s. Other
considerations are that the maximum number of tracks is 99, the minimum duration of a track
is 4 seconds (including a 2-second pause), the maximum playing time is 79.8 minutes, and
the ISRC should be included.
WaveLab Elements provides Red Book-compliant CD mastering.
CD Frame
ISRC
Glossary contents
13.63 Regular Expressions
A Regular Expression (regex for short) is a formula composed of characters that have a
special meaning (called "operators"). A simple example is in using " .doc" to search for all
text documents in a file manager. In this case, the asterisk (star) character is an operator that
matches any string before the ".doc" in a filename. In addition to WaveLab Elements, many
software applications, text editors (like EditPad Pro) and programming languages support
regular expressions.
The characters ". [ ] ( ) f g?+ - j! / ^
$" are operators in WaveLab Elements's regular
expression engine. You can submit regular expressions in a WaveLab Elements text box
wherever you see the
icon. Clicking on the light bulb icon gives a fly-out menu listing
special characters and short cuts, to help you build a precise and well-formed expression.
There are many helpful web-based tutorials that explore the topic of regex.
Glossary contents
13.64 RF64 files
RF64 is an audio file format. You have an option (set in Options>Audio File editing
preferences >Files tab) to support the RF64 file format. If this is activated, the standard
Wave file format switches automatically to the RF64 file format as soon as the file size ex-
ceeds 2GB, without any performance loss or interruption. This is especially useful when
recording very long sessions as there is no need to worry about file size limit (apart from disk
space availability).
An RF64 file uses the ".wav" extension but it can only be opened with an application that
supports the RF64 standard.
WAV files
Glossary contents
13.65 RMS
RMS (Root Mean Square) can be used as a measurement of intensity of sound (or AC
voltage, etc.) over a period of time. The RMS measurement calculates a practical average
value of all the points on a waveform as a single number over a variable period that could be
1 ms, 20 ms, or 1 hour.
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RMS is often a good basis for determining an "equal level" when equalizing Clip volumes,
producing more natural results than using Peak levels, since RMS offers a more realistic
measure of the perceived "loudness" of a sound.
Glossary contents
13.66 Sample rate
The Sample Rate , or sampling frequency, is the number of samples per second used to
store a sound. High sample rates are better able to approximate the original continuous
waveform, but require more storage space.
Glossary contents
13.67 SMPTE timecode
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers devised a code to synchro-
nize time between devices, the SMPTE time code. The time code is composed of
hours:minutes:seconds:frames.
Frames are fractions of a second based on the frame rate (which can take the values 24, 25,
29.97 and 30 frames per second).
Time Format dialog
Glossary contents
13.68 Sound Designer II files
Sound Designer II is an audio file format used by Digidesign applications (such as Pro
Tools). 8-, 16- or 24-bit resolutions are supported.
The filename extension is .sd2
Glossary contents
13.69 Spectrogram
A Spectrogram is an image that shows how the spectral density of a signal varies over time.
Glossary contents
13.70 Sun/Java files
Sun/Java is an Audio File format used on Sun and NeXT computers. Files in this format can
often be found on the Internet. 8-, 16- or 24-bit resolutions are supported.
Typical file extensions are .snd, .au
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