Steinberg Wavelab Le 8 Manual

							 101
Offline Processing
Offline processes are useful for a variety of editing purposes and 
creative effects. For example, when the computer is too slow for 
real-time processing or when the editing requires more than one pass.
After the processing the audio file is permanently altered.
Applying Processing
Processing can be applied to a selection or to a whole file. For certain 
operations processing the entire file is necessary.
NOTE
If Process whole file if there is no selection is activated in the 
Options > Audio file editing preferences > Editing tab, the whole file 
is automatically processed if no selection exists.
PROCEDURE
1. In the wave window, make a selection
2. Select the type of processing that you want to apply from the 
Process menu.
3. If a dialog appears, make the settings.
4. Click Apply to render the effect to file. 
						

							Offline Processing
Gain Dialog
102
Gain Dialog
In this dialog, you can apply a gain to change the level of an audio file.
In the Audio Files workspace, select Process > Gain.
Click Find current peak level to obtain a report on the peak level of the 
audio selection, or the whole file if there is no selection. This is useful if 
you want to calculate how much you can increase the overall gain of a 
file without clipping (exceeding 0
 dB), for example.
This processor also lets you add clipping. Clipping is when the gain is 
raised to a point where distortion is added. While this is normally not 
wanted, mild clipping can add some punch, for example, to accentuate 
the attack of a drum sound.
Normalize Level Dialog
In this dialog, you can change the peak level of an audio file.
In the Audio Files workspace, select Process > Level Normalizer.
Peak level
Enter the peak level (in dB) that you want the audio selection to 
have.
Stereo Link
Applies the gain to both channels. 
						

							Offline Processing
Normalize Level Dialog
103
Mix to Mono
Mixes the left and the right channel. The resulting mono file will 
have the specified peak level. This ensures a mix without clipping.
Find current peak value
Creates a report on the peak level of the current audio selection, 
or the whole audio file if there is no selection.
Basic Envelope Operations
By adding points to the envelope curve you can create an envelope 
curve that changes the volume of the material over time. When you point 
the mouse in the display or move a point, the current position and level 
change is shown in the field above the display.
•To add a point, double click the envelope curve.
• To select a point, click it.
• To select several points, click and drag the selection rectangle.
• To move a point, click and drag it. If more than one point is 
selected, all points are moved.
• To move the whole curve up or down, click the envelope curve, and 
drag up or down.
• To move the curve segment between selected points, select the 
points, click the envelope curve between the points, and drag up 
or down.
• To move two points horizontally, press [Shift], click the curve 
segment between two points, and drag left or right.
• To move the segment between 2 points vertically, press 
[Ctrl]/[Command], click the segment, and drag up or down. 
						

							Offline Processing
Fades in Audio Files
104
Fades in Audio Files
A fade-in is a gradual increase in level and a fade-out is a gradual 
decrease in level.
You can create fades by selecting an individual fading type for each 
fade-in/fade-out, or by using the Easy Fade function.
Creating a Fade-In and Fade-Out
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, make a selection.
2. Depending whether you want to create a fade-in or a fade-out, 
select one of the following:
• To create a fade-in, select Process > Fade-in.
• To create a fade-out, select Process > Fade-out.
3. Select the type of fade that you want to create.
A graph in the waveform indicates the resulting shape.
Applying Easy Fades
The Easy Fade function allows you to quickly apply a default fade-in or 
fade-out to an audio file.
The shape of the fade is governed by the default fade/crossfade setting 
in the Options > Audio file editing preferences > Editing tab, in the 
Default fade/crossfade section.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, make one of the following selections:

						

							Offline Processing
Crossfades
105
Crossfades
A crossfade is a gradual fade between two sounds, where one is faded 
in and the other faded out. You can automatically create a crossfade 
when pasting an audio section into another.
Creating Crossfades
The material that you want to crossfade can either be in two different 
sections of the same audio file, or in two different audio files.
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, select the section that you want to 
fade-in.
2. Select Edit > Copy, or press [Ctrl]/[Command]-C.
3. Select the section that you want to fade-out.
The length of this selection determines the length of the actual crossfade 
(check the length on the status bar). The section can be within the 
selected audio file or in another wave window. However, the selection 
must not be longer than the selection that you just copied.
4. Select Edit > Paste and crossfade, and select one of the 
crossfade types.
5. Play back the file and adjust the crossfade if necessary.
RESULT 
The crossfade is created. Any material that originally appeared after the 
selection in the file into which you paste, is moved so that it now appears 
after the pasted material.
Any excess material in the copied selection appears after the fade at full 
level.
NOTE
If both files already have full level sections in the crossfade area (for 
example, if you have normalized both files), clipping and distortion might 
occur. If this happens, reduce the amplitude of both files by 3 to 6
 dB 
and try again. 
						

							Offline Processing
Inverting the Audio Phase
106
Paste and Crossfade Options
These options allow you to select a crossfade type for pasting.
In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Paste and crossfade.
Linear (equal gain)
Level changes linearly.
Sinus (equal power)
Level changes according to a sine curve, the power of the mix 
remains constant.
Square-root (equal power)
Level changes according to the square-root curve, the power of 
the mix remains constant.
Inverting the Audio Phase
Inverting the phase turns the signal upside down. The most common use 
for this function is to fix a stereo recording where one of the channels 
has been recorded out of phase with the other.
PROCEDURE
1.Optional: If you only want to invert the phase for a certain time 
range of the audio file, create a selection range in the wave 
window.
2. In the Audio Files workspace, select Process > Invert phase.
An inverted phase is indicated by an icon in the wave window. 
						

							Offline Processing
Reversing Audio
107
Reversing Audio
You can reverse an audio file or a part of an audio file as if playing a tape 
backwards.
PROCEDURE
1.Optional: If you only want to reverse a certain time range of the 
audio file, create a selection range in the wave window.
2. In the Audio Files workspace, select Process > Reverse.
DC Offset
A DC offset is when there is too large a DC (direct current) component 
in the signal. This most often appears due to mismatches between 
various types of recording equipment.
A DC offset is problematic for the following reasons:
• It affects where the zero crossing positions.
• Certain processing options do not give optimal results when 
performed on files with a DC offset.
Removing DC Offset
PROCEDURE
1.In the Audio Files workspace, open the audio file that you want to 
check for DC offset and fix.
2. Select Process > Remove DC offset.
A dialog appears, stating the amount of DC offset in the audio file. You 
can also create a selection range in the wave window and then select 
this option, to only show the DC offset in the selection range.
NOTE
This function should be applied to whole files, since the problem is 
normally present throughout the entire recording.
3. Click OK to remove the DC offset. 
						

							Offline Processing
Resample
108
Resample
You can change the sample rate of a recording. This is useful if the file 
that you want to use in a certain audio system was recorded at a sample 
rate that this system does not support.
Note the following:
• Sample rate conversion from a low frequency upwards does not 
improve the sound quality. The high frequencies that were lost 
cannot be restored by a conversion.
• When you resample to a lower frequency, high frequency material 
is lost. Therefore, converting down and then up again leads to a 
degradation in sound quality.
Converting a Sample Rate
NOTE
Sample rate conversion is always applied to the entire file.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Audio Files workspace, select Process > Resample.
2. In the Sample Rate dialog, select a sample rate from the pop-up 
menu.
3. Click OK. 
						

							 109
Audio Montage
The audio montage is a multitrack non-destructive editing environment, 
which allows you to arrange, edit, play back, and record audio clips on 
multiple tracks.
Non-destructive means that when you delete or change a part of an 
audio file, the audio is not deleted or permanently changed. Instead, a 
set of pointers keeps track of all the edits, so these can be readily 
reversed. WaveLab LE provides comprehensive facilities for 
non-destructive editing.
The audio montage is a great tool for mastering, multimedia work, radio 
spot production, etc.
Basic Terminology
Audio montages can contain up to 2 stereo or mono audio tracks. You 
can use them to structure the work graphically, but do not see them 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 envelope 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. 
						

							Audio Montage
Montage Window
110
Montage Window
The montage window in the Audio Montage workspace is where you 
assemble your audio montage. This is where you view, play back, and 
edit audio montages.
The montage window gives you a graphical representation of the tracks 
and clips.
Track Control Area
The track control area offers several options regarding the track.
Track menu
Opens the track menu that contains track-related options.
Track gain sliders
Allows you to set the gain for the track.