Steinberg Wavelab Elements 8 Manual

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
121
Copying Audio
You can copy sections of audio within the same file or between audio 
files.
Stereo/Mono Handling
Stereo/mono is handled as follows when you drag between files:
Stereo/mono is handled as follows when you copy and paste files:
Dragged 
section Drop wave Action
Stereo Stereo The dragged audio is always inserted into 
both channels.
Stereo Mono Only the left channel is inserted.
Mono Stereo What happens depends on the vertical 
drop position. This is indicated by the 
cursor shape. The selection can be 
inserted into only one of the channels, or 
the same material can be inserted into 
both channels.
Copied section Paste wave Action
Stereo Stereo If the wave cursor extends across both 
channels of the destination file, the 
material is inserted into both channels.
Stereo Stereo If the wave cursor is only in one channel, 
the audio is only pasted in that channel. 
Material from the left channel is pasted in 
the left channel and vice versa.
Stereo Mono Only the left channel is pasted.
Mono Stereo What happens depends on whether the 
wave cursor is in one channel or both. The 
audio is either pasted in one of the 
channels, or the same material is inserted 
into both channels. 
						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
122
Sample Rate Conflicts
If you copy or move audio from one window to another, and the sample 
rates of the two files are not the same, the copied/moved sound plays 
back at the wrong pitch (speed). The program warns you if this is about 
to happen.
While mixing sample rates can be used as an effect, it is most often not 
intended. There are two ways to get around this:
• Convert the sample rate of the source file to the same rate as the 
destination file before editing.
• Convert the sample rate of the destination file to the same rate as 
the source file before adding the audio.
Copying Audio Using Copy and Paste
PREREQUISITE 
Decide whether you want to use Snap selection to zero-crossing.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, make a selection.
2. Use one of the following copy methods:

						

							Audio File Editing
Changing the Audio Properties
123
Copying Audio by Dragging
PREREQUISITE 
Decide whether you want to use Snap selection to zero-crossing.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, make a selection.
2. Click the middle of the selection, and drag it to a position outside 
the selection in the same file, or to another wave window.
3. Release the mouse button.
RESULT 
The selection is inserted at the indicated point. The audio that previously 
began at that point is moved to the right.
Information About the Active Audio File
You can open a dialog that shows the name, file location, size, date, and 
file format of the active audio file.
PROCEDURE

						

							Audio File Editing
Changing the Audio Properties
124
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, open an audio file.
2. Select Edit > Audio properties.
3. Specify a new Sample rate and/or Accuracy.
4. Click OK.
Audio Properties Dialog
This dialog reports the audio properties of the active audio file. It allows 
you to change the number of audio samples per second (sample rate) 
and the accuracy of samples in the audio stream (bit rate).
In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Audio properties.
Channels
The number of audio channels (mono/stereo).
Sample rate
The number of audio samples per second.
Accuracy
The accuracy of samples in the audio stream. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Meta-Data
125
Meta-Data
Meta-data consists of attributes that describe the audio contents, for 
example, the title of the track, the author, and the date the track was 
recorded. Depending on the file format of the selected audio file, this 
data varies.
When opening an audio file or audio montage, the meta-data found in 
the file is loaded. You can also create different meta-data presets for 
audio files and audio montages. When creating a new file from a 
template, this file can inherit the meta-data of the preset, if available.
A preview of the meta-data is displayed in the Meta-data window. To 
view the complete meta-data of the file and edit the meta-data, select 
Edit > Meta-data, or click the Edit button in the Meta-data window.
Not all file formats can store meta-data. Depending on the output file 
format, all meta-data or only part of the meta-data will be stored in the 
audio file. The following file formats can contain meta-data:
• .wav
•.mp3
•.ogg
• .wma
•.flac
For MP3, the following meta-data types are available:
• ID3 v1 and ID3 v2, including picture support
For WAV, the following meta-data types are available:
•RIFF
•BWF
• CART (AES standard, dedicated to broadcast needs)
• ID3 v2, including picture support 
						

							Audio File Editing
Meta-Data
126
When saving or recording an audio file in the Audio File Format dialog, 
you can specify whether not to use any meta-data, inherit the meta-data 
from the source file, or edit the meta-data of the file.
Meta-data can be entered manually or generated automatically.
The following options can be generated automatically:
• Time markers (CART)
•USID (BWF, Basics tab)
(*) These options cause a file analysis while the file is written, which 
means that the file writing process can take longer.
WaveLab Elements includes several meta-data presets. They are used 
as examples and can be customized for your needs. You can load 
meta-data presets from the Meta-data presets pop-up menu in the 
Audio File Format dialog, or from the Meta-data dialog.
RELATED LINKS:
“Audio File Format Dialog” on page 104
Meta-Data Dialog
This dialog allows you to define the meta-data to be embedded in your 
audio file.
In the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select 
Edit > Meta-data. Depending on the workspace, the meta-data is 
handled differently.
When opening the Meta-data dialog in the Audio Files workspace, you 
can edit the meta-data that is stored in the audio file. This meta-data is 
saved to disk later. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Meta-Data
127
When opening the Meta-data dialog in the Audio Montage workspace, 
you can edit the meta-data for the audio files when rendering the audio 
montage. If you render to WAV or MP3 formats, the meta-data will be 
be associated to these files.
Meta-data dialog for a WAV file
Meta-data dialog for a WMA file
Meta-Data Presets
In the Meta-data dialog, you can save meta-data presets and apply 
these presets to other files. Meta-data presets can be applied to WAV 
and MP3 files.
The Use as default for new .wav files option allows you to define a set 
of meta-data as default. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Silence Generator Dialog
128
When you create a new file, and do not add any meta-data, this default 
meta-data is applied to the file when saving it. For example, you can save 
or record WAV files with BWF meta-data and automatically add a 
Unique Material Identifier.
To edit the default meta-data preset, select Load default, and edit the 
preset.
About CART and Markers
WaveLab Elements reads the CART markers, if any, and merges them 
with the existing markers of the file.
The CART standard can contain up to 8 markers. WaveLab Elements 
stores them if their names obey the CART standard.
When Generate time markers is activated in the CART tab of the 
Meta-data dialog, the markers are generated if at least one CART text 
field has content. Otherwise the CART data is meant to be unused.
When rendering a file, the render option Copy markers must be 
activated in the Render dialog.
Silence Generator Dialog
This dialog allows you to insert silence or background noise in an audio 
file.
In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Silence (advanced).
Silence Duration - As selection
Uses the duration of the active audio selection as the duration of 
the silent section. Specify the duration of the silent section in the 
value field below. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Silence Generator Dialog
129
Edges - Fade-in/out
Performs a crossfade at the start and end of the silent section for 
smoother transitions. Specify the fade time in the value field below.
Destination - Replace selection
Replaces the current audio selection with the silent section.
Destination - Insert at cursor
Inserts the silent section at the cursor position.
Destination - From end of file until cursor
Extends the audio file with silence up to the cursor position. 
Activating this option also defines the silence duration and ignores 
the Silence Duration setting.
Replacing a Selection with Silence
You can replace a section of an audio file with silence.
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, make a selection.
2. Select Edit > Silence (advanced).
3. Set the silence duration to As selection, and the destination to 
Replace selection.
4. Click Apply.
Inserting Silence
You can insert a specified length of silence at any position of the audio 
file.
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, set the cursor where you want the 
inserted silence to begin.
2. Select Edit > Silence (advanced).
3. Deactivate As selection, and specify the length.
4. Set the destination to Insert at cursor.
5. Click Apply. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Waveform Restoration with the Pen Tool
130
Fast Muting a Selection
The Fast mute function replaces the selection with true silence without 
needing to write any audio sample to the media.
PROCEDURE