Steinberg Wavelab Le 8 Manual

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
91
Converting From Stereo to Mono and From Mono to Stereo
You can convert audio files from mono to stereo and from stereo to 
mono. Converting a mono file into a stereo file produces an audio file 
that contains the same material in both channels, for example for further 
processing into real stereo.
Converting a Selection From Stereo to Mono Using the Menu
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, make a stereo selection in the wave 
window.
2. Select one of the following options:.
• To mix the left and right stereo channels when converting to mono, 
select Edit > Copy selection to new window > Convert to Mono 
(Mix).
• To mix the left channel with the inverse of the right channel when 
converting to mono, select Edit > Copy selection to new window 
> Convert to Mono (Subtract right channel from left channel). 
The resulting mono wave contains the difference between the 
channels. For example, this allows you to verify that a wave file 
really is a true stereo file rather than a mono file converted to stereo 
format.
RESULT 
The selection appears in a new stereo window.
Converting From Stereo to Mono While Saving
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, select File > Save as.
2. Click in the Output Format field.
The Audio File Format dialog opens.
3. From the Channels menu, select one of the mono settings.
For example, when selecting Mono (Mix -3 dB), the resulting audio file is 
attenuated by 3
 dB. Because mixing two channels into mono can 
introduce clipping. These two settings can be used to remedy this.
4. Click OK.
5. Click Save. 
						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
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Converting a Selection From Mono to Stereo
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, make a mono selection in the wave 
window.
2. Select Edit > Copy selection to new window > Convert to 
Stereo.
RESULT 
The selection appears in a new stereo window.
Swapping Channels in a Stereo File
You can move the audio in the left channel to the right channel, and vice 
versa.
•To swap the channels of the whole audio file in the Audio Files 
workspace, select Edit > Swap stereo channels.
• To swap only a selected range of the audio file, make a selection 
range in the wave window, and select Edit > Swap stereo 
channels.
Special Paste Operations
On the Paste special menu, you find additional paste options.
In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Paste special.
Overwrite
Overwrites data in the destination file, rather than moving data to 
make room for the inserted audio. How much is overwritten 
depends on the selection in the destination file:
• If there is no selection in the destination file, a section with the 
same length as the pasted selection is overwritten.
• If there is a selection in the destination file, the pasted selection 
replaces that selection.
Append
Adds the pasted audio after the end of the file.
Prepend
Adds the pasted audio before the beginning of the file. 
						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
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Multiple copies
Opens a dialog in which you can enter the number of copies that 
you want to create.
Mix
Blends two files into each other, starting at the selection or, if there 
is no selection, at the cursor position.
• When you select the Mix option, a dialog opens, allowing you to 
specify the gain for the audio on the clipboard and at the 
destination.
• All the data on the clipboard is always mixed in, regardless of the 
length of the selection.
Moving Audio
You can rearrange the order of audio in a file by dragging, and cutting 
and pasting.
Moving Audio by Dragging
PREREQUISITE 
Decide whether you want to use Snap selection to zero-crossing.
PROCEDURE
1. In the wave window, make a selection.
2. Click in the middle of the selection.
3. Drag to a position outside the selection in the same file, or to 
another wave window.
4. Release the mouse button. 
						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
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Moving Audio Using Cut and Paste
PREREQUISITE 
Decide whether you want to use Snap selection to zero-crossing.
PROCEDURE
1. In the wave window, make a selection.
2. Use one of the following copy methods:

						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
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3. Click the selection.
Pressing [Shift] switches nudge left to nudge right and vice versa.
4. To exit the nudge tool mode, click anywhere outside of the 
selection.
RESULT 
The audio is moved one pixel. Exactly how much this is depends on how 
far you are zoomed in. For example, if the status bar displays x1:256, the 
selection is moved 256 samples. The moved section overwrites the 
audio at that position.
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. 
						

							Audio File Editing
File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace
96
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
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3. Select how you want to insert the selection:
• If you want to insert the audio, click once at the position in the same 
file or in another file.
• If you want to replace a section of audio, select it.
4. Select Edit > Paste, or press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V].
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
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• If you change the sample rate, the file plays back at a new pitch.
• If you change the bit resolution, the file is converted to the new 
resolution the next time you save it.
NOTE
There is no undo for this. If you save with a lower bit resolution, the file 
is converted permanently.
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
Silence Generator Dialog
99
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.
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. 
						

							Audio File Editing
Silence Generator Dialog
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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.
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