Steinberg Wavelab Elements 7 Manual

							5.6 Shared tool windows 73
5.5.4 File Browser
This dialog allows you to browse files directly from within WaveLab Elements rather than
using your operating system's file browser.
It provides you with all the standard browsing functions (such as List and Icon views)You can
use it to open or insert an entire file or a specific region of a file by dragging and releasing
the file in the location you wish to insert the file. In the Audio Montage Workspace you can
also choose to only view certain types of WaveLab Elements specific files. The File Browser
can be very useful in speeding up the process of auditioning a long list of sound files. It can
also be used to drag to windows such as Data CD/DVD, including dragging folders.
The playback functions
Play file
Once you have selected a file in the File Browser list, you can audition it by
clicking Play in the File Browser's toolbar. Click again to stop.
Auto-play
You can also have files play back automatically as soon as they are selected.
To do this, activate Auto-Play mode.
Tip: To audition a long list of Audio Files, enable Auto-play and use the UP and DOWN
cursor keys to step through each Audio File in quick succession.
Opening and inserting a file or region
Once you have chosen a file you wish to open, double-click it to open the file in the current
Workspace. You can also open it by dragging it onto an empty tabbed group, or onto the
tab bar of a tabbed group.
You can also drag the file over a wave view to insertit at a given point. When you drag a file
over a wave view, a beam is displayed so as to clearly display the insertion point.
You can access this dialog via Workspace>Specific tool windows >File Browser .
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
Specific tool windows
5.6 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
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Related topics
About Tool Windows
Metering
Docking windows
5.6.1 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
5.6.2 Oscilloscope
The Oscilloscope offers a highly magnified view of the waveform around the playback cursor
position.
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							5.7 Peak Files 75
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
5.6.3 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
5.7 Peak Files
A peak file is a small file with the extension ".gpk" that is automatically created by WaveLab
each time a file is modified or opened in WaveLab for the first time.
The peak file contains information about the waveform and determines how it is drawn in the
wave window. The purpose of the peak file created by WaveLab Elements is to speed up
the time it takes to draw a file's waveform.
By default, the peak file is stored in the same location as the Audio File whose waveform it
represents. You can choose to store a peak file in another location and/or delete it when you
close an Audio File. These settings are found in the
Audio File editing preferences .
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							76 Audio File editing
WaveLab Elements 7 
						

							Chapter 6
Audio Montages
The WaveLab Elements Audio Montage Workspace is a non-destructive editing environment
that allows you to arrange, edit, play back audio Clips. Features include both track effects,
volume and pan automation, and wide-ranging fade and cross fade functions. The Audio
Montage is a great tool for creating music CDs, mastering, multimedia work, radio spot
production, etc. You can create intricate multi-track compositions and author professional
audio CDs.
Basic terminology
The Audio Montage window is where you assemble audio "Clips" into a montage. Once
imported, you can arrange, edit and play back Clips on up to two stereo or mono tracks.
These provide a way for the user to structure the work graphically, but they should not be
viewed as "virtual tape tracks".
On an audio track, you can place any number of Clips. These are "containers" for the audio,
and include a number of settings and functions such as volume and pan curves, fades, etc.
A Clip contains a reference to a source Audio File on your hard disk, as well as start and end
positions in the file (allowing Clips to play back smaller sections of their source Audio Files).
Any number of Clips can reference the same source file.
Creating a Montage
To create a blank new montage file choose File>New... and choose the sample rate to
use for your new montage. The default setup is a stereo 44.1kHz montage. If you wish to
change the sample rate at a later stage you can by opening this dialog again via Edit>
Audio Montage properties... .
You can also generate a new montage automatically. If you are working in the Audio File
Workspace you can choose Edit>Create Montage from Audio File... to create a new
Audio Montage from an Audio File.
Tracks and Clips
The main montage window is divided in up to two horizontal "tracks" which you can add and
remove. Tracks can be mono or stereo audio tracks. You layout your Clips on audio tracks 
						

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to create your montage. Each Clip corresponds to a CD track and as you add Clips, their
corresponding CD tracks appear in the
CD window. (See "CD Preparation" below for a
further explanation on creating CDs in the Audio Montage Workspace). Before you begin
importing audio Clips and laying them out you need to first create at least one mono or stereo
audio track.
Adding new tracks
You can add new tracks of any type:
ˆ by using the Track>Add [track type] menu, or
ˆ by clicking on a track's number button to bring up the Track context menu and choosing
"Add [track type] track".
See "Managing tracks" below for more information on working with tracks.
Adding new Clips
You then import audio to your audio tracks to begin assembling them as Clips in your mon-
tage. You can create Clips by copying audio selections from the Audio File Workspace into
the Audio Montage as well as importing external files directly. Add an Audio File/s to a track:
ˆ by using drag and drop from the Audio File Workspace (via a tab or the document icon).
ˆ by dragging an Audio File directly from your operating system's file browser.
ˆ by copying and pasting audio from an Audio File in the Audio File Workspace and
pasting it into a track.
ˆ by dragging from the File Browser window.
ˆ by dragging a track from the CD window.
Editing a Montage
Editing/arranging Clips
Once you have imported your audio Clips you can begin laying them out and editing them in
a multitude of ways. Most of the functions for editing Clips are accessible via the
Focused
Clip window
and via right-clicking on a Clip to reveal the Clip context menu. You can cut,
copy, paste, delete, move, and split any Clip in your montage. By dragging the edges of two
Clips on the same track up against other you can automatically add a cross fade. The cross
fade type can be adjusted and you can also add envelope points for volume and pan. See
the
Focused Clip window for more information.
Modes
The Modes menu provides you with an array of options to help you when moving and cross-
fading Clips. You can choose how you wish Clips to be handled when moving and adjust
whether automatic fades are created or not and how they react when moving Clips.
Editing context menus
There are many context menus in the Audio Montage Workspace to help you while editing
your montages. They exist for managing tracks (Track) , Clips (Clip) and inserting Audio
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Files into your montage (Insert). Dragging can be used with several editing functions in the
Montage Workspace. See
Dragging operations for more information.
Tip: Editing multiple envelopes
When editing a cross fade length with the mouse, or the envelope level, you can press
[Alt]/[Option] at the same time, and this will adjust the fade of all selected Clips.
Getting around the Audio Montage window In addition to some of the standard zooming
and playback controls present in the Audio File Workspace there are some that are unique to
the Audio Montage Workspace. There are two magnifying glass icons near the scroll wheel
which allow you to zoom in and out in the track window. Clicking each icon will display more
or less tracks. The active track is zoomed in while the remaining tracks shrink down to allow
you to concentrate on one track. See
Zooming and scrolling for more information.
Focused Clip versus Select Clips
It is important to note that there is a difference between a "focused" Clip and a "selected"
Clip. Some editing functions can only be executed on an individual Clip or "focused Clip",
while some others can be executed on multiple Clips or "selected Clips".
ˆ Focused Clip - there can only ever be one or no focused Clip at a time. The focused
Clip's name is displayed in red. It's necessary to identify the Clip as focused because
there are certain functions that can only be executed on a single Clip. You use the
Focused Clip window to perform these functions.
ˆ Selected Clip - there can be many selected Clips. This allows you to edit multiple
Clips at the same time. You can perform functions such as copy, delete, move, etc.
Selected Clips have a different background color.
Managing tracks
Managing tracks is done mainly in the area to the left of each track in the main window. In the
middle of this area is a button with the number of the track. Clicking this button brings up
the track pop-up menu, which contains most of the track functions. There are also controls
for:
ˆ Minimizing/folding a track - use the small drop-down arrow to save screen space
by toggling the track between a zoomed to closed "folded" view.
ˆ Soloing a track - the small diamond-shaped button allows you to solo a track so that
all other tracks are muted but it is heard.
ˆ Muting a track - the small round shaped button allows you to mute/unmute a track.
Gray means the mute button is engaged and the track is not audible. Green means that
mute is off and the track is audible.
ˆ Adjust track's volume - the two small channel faders allow you to adjust that
track's volume on both left and right channels (for a stereo track). Holding down
[Ctrl]/[Command] will reset the sliders to 0dB. In a stereo track holding down [Shift]
or right-clicking and dragging on either the left or right fader will allow you to adjust the
balance of one channel at a time. Use [Shift]or right-click and [Ctrl]/[Command] to
reset a single fader to 0dB.
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Playing back and using effects
Playback in the Audio Montage works in much the same way as in the Audio File Workspace.
There are however some additional points to note:
Audio tracks are routed through the Master Section
This allows you to add global effects to the Audio Montage or use the Render function to
create a mixdown Audio File.
Effects can be added to Clips
Each independent Clip in the Montage can be independently processed by up to two VST
effect plug-ins. Effects are configured as Inserts, when all sound is processed by the effect.
Using markers in the montage
Markers work in much the same way as in the Audio File Workspace however there are some
additional functions available that are useful for working with Clips. You can for example, bind
a marker to a Clip so that it moves with the Clip. For more information use "What's this?" or
see "Using markers in the Audio Montage Workspace" in
Markers for more details.
Mixing down – The Render function
The Render function in the Master Section allows you to "mix down" the whole Montage
(or sections of it) to a single Audio File. This can be useful for example when you wish to
"print" any effects to file. The Render function is useful if you want to burn a CD from a
CPU-intensive Montage, as it allows you to first render all track and Clip effect processing
and then burn the CD in a second pass.
For more information see
Rendering and Render Montage window .
CD Preparation
The Audio Montage Workspace is an especially powerful tool when it comes to authoring
professional Audio CDs. Each Clip in WaveLab Elements corresponds to a CD track, so to
create a new CD track simply create or add an audio Clip to your Montage - the CD tracks
will appear as a list of tracks in the
CD window. This window contains a variety of tools
for authoring and burning CDs, including the ability to
add and edit CD-Text , and check the
conformity of your disk to common standards. You can use the
CD to precisely edit track start
and end times, audition each track using the track audition buttons, and add ISRC codes.
Once you are happy with your CD layout you can burn a CD directly from the CD window
using the
Write Audio CD window.
For more information on burning CDs see
Authoring CDs and DVDs and the CD window.
Related topics
Metering
Transport controls
Specific tool windows
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							6.1 Metering 81
Shared tool windows
Utilities
Audio Montage Colors
Clip
6.1 Metering
WaveLab Elements contains a variety of audio meters to help in monitoring and analyzing
audio.Meters can be used to monitor audio during playback. There are three different audio
meters in WaveLab Elements, each with its own separate window. The meters are accessed
via the Analysis menu, the Shared Tool windows menu, or from the Meters control bar.
Monitor Modes
You can choose the audio source and the mode for displaying information in the meters.
You can access the following monitoring functions from the Meters menu or via the Meters
command bar:
ˆ Monitor Playback - the meters display the audio output of the Master Section
after the dithering section, unlike the Master Section's own meter .
ˆ Monitor Audio Input - the meters display the audio input you have chosen in the
Audio Streaming Settings . This is useful for monitoring audio while recording.
ˆ Monitor File Rendering - the meters display what is being written to disk during
file rendering, taking into account Master Section settings, with average, minimum and
maximum peak values computed. After rendering, the meter(s) freeze, and remain frozen
until you refresh or change the monitor mode.
ˆ Monitor Edit cursor position - the meters display static information about the
audio beneath the edit cursor. Note that the Master Section settings are not taken into
account in this mode.
ˆ Analyze audio selection - this allows you to make a selection and have the
meters display the average values over the selected range as a static display. The
Master Section settings are not taken into account in this mode. When you change the
selection, you need to update the meter displays by selecting
"Refresh selection
analysis" from the Meters menu (or by clicking the Refresh button on the Meters control
bar).
If you have one of the continuous display modes chosen, you can also select to freeze the
meters at any time using the
"Freeze meters" command.
Using meter windows
There can only be one instance of each Audio Meter. For example, if you dock one meter in a
Workspace, it will be automatically removed from the place where it was previously located.
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Audio Meters can appear in the Audio File, Audio Montage Workspaces as well as the Con-
trol Window. They can be used:
ˆ as a docked window in a Workspace
ˆ as a tabbed window in the control window
ˆ as an independent floating window. In this mode, it can be useful to make the window
"frameless" from Window>Hide frame , to save screen space. In this case, the whole
menu is accessed by right-clicking.
The axis of most Audio Meters may be rotated, to view the graphics horizontally or vertically.
Some meters can also have their visual style and display parameters customized via their
corresponding settings dialog. This can be accessed through the Functions>Settings...
menu in each meter window, or by using the
icon.
Related topics
VU Meter
Spectroscope
Oscilloscope
6.1.1 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
WaveLab Elements 7