Operation Manual Operation Manual by Anders Nordmark, Revision for WaveLab Studio by Stefan Zachau The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publica- tion may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The Mac logo is a trademark used under license. Macintosh and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks. © Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2006. All rights reserved. Table of Contents 7 Introduction 40 Selecting 8 Welcome! 44 Basic editing commands 8 Key command conventions 49 File handling in Wave windows 8 How you can reach us 56 Editing audio properties and file attributes 9 Installing and setting up 57 Playback and recording 10 Setting up the computer 58 Playing back 10 Installation procedure 63 Recording 11 Register your software! 68 Metering 11 Launching WaveLab Studio 69 Introduction 11 Program settings 69 The meters 13 Installing a CD/DVD recorder 14 Installation done! Where do I go next? 76 Off-line processing 14 About the Tracer application 77 Introduction 15 Overview 77 Applying processing 77 Level Normalizer 16 Get to know WaveLab Studio 78 Gain Change 16 The windows and what you can do with them 78 Loudness Normalizer 18 Find your way around in WaveLab Studio 80 Dynamics 19 Basic methods 82 Level envelope 20 Why you should read this chapter 83 Fade-in and fade-out 20 Getting help 83 Crossfade 20 Undo and Redo 85 Invert Phase 21 Working with windows 85 Reverse 23 Dockable control bars 85 Eliminate DC Offset 25 The status bar 85 Waveform Restorer 25 Speed menus 85 Time Stretch 26 Units of time and level 87 Pitch Correction 26 Setting values 88 Pitch Bend 28 Presets 89 Harmonization 29 About non-modal dialogs 90 Hi-fi Chorus 29 Using the computer keyboard 90 EQ 91 Convert sample rate 30 Editing in the Wave window 91 Support for reNOVAtor™ 31 About this chapter 31 Creating new empty documents 92 Master Section 31 Opening Waves 93 Introduction 33 Window overview and adjustments 93 The Master Section window 35 Setting the zoom factor 94 About the signal path 38 Navigating through the file 94 The Master level pane 38 Snapshots 96 The Effects pane 39 Setting the ruler start position 99 The Dithering pane 39 Working with a meter based display 101 Master Section presets 39 Setting the wave cursor position 102 Rendering 104 The Monitor window 107 Spectrum Display 108 Selecting Spectrum display mode 4 Table of Contents 110 Batch processing 181 Managing effects in the Plug-ins view 111 Introduction 182 The Meta Normalizer 112 Opening the Batch Processor 183 Groups 112 Overview of the Window 185 Using markers in the Montage 113 The Input tab – Assembling a list of files 187 Undo/Redo and History 116 Setting up the processing tasks to be performed 188 File handling in the Audio Montage 120 The Output tab – Settings for created files 191 Using video tracks 123 Scheduling 192 Mixing down – The Render function 124 Running and stopping the batch(es) 193 Preparing the Audio Montage for CD burning 124 Using presets for batch processing 196 Creating an Audio CD report 125 Batch file encoding 199 Burning an audio CD 126 Basic procedure 200 Introduction 200 Selecting a CD-R unit 127 Markers 200 Testing an audio CD before burning 128 Introduction 201 Writing a CD 129 Creating markers 202 The audio CD format – Background information 130 About the marker list 130 Marker appearance and visibility 204 Data CD/DVD Projects 130 Editing, converting and naming markers 205 Introduction 131 Moving and duplicating markers 205 Creating a new Data CD/DVD Project 131 Deleting markers 205 Source window settings 131 Operations involving markers 206 Destination window settings 207 The Write dialog for the Data CD/DVD 134 Using Auto Split 135 Introduction 208 Importing audio CD tracks 135 The Auto Split dialog 209 Importing audio CD tracks into WaveLab Studio 136 The Audio Montage 212 Creating labels 137 Introduction 213 Introduction 137 The Audio Montage window 213 Using the Label Editor 139 Assembling the Montage 215 Positioning objects 144 Zooming and navigating 217 Defining user variables 147 Playing back 218 Printing labels 150 Recording 220 Analysis 151 Rearranging clips 221 Global analysis 160 Editing in the Clips view 225 3D Frequency Analysis 162 Managing clips and source files 164 The volume envelope 228 Generating signals 170 Using fades and crossfades in the Montage 229 Audio Signal Generator 174 The pan envelope 230 DTMF Generator 175 Transforming clips 177 Adding effects to tracks and clips 5 Table of Contents 231 Synchronizing WaveLab Studio to ex- 276 Troubleshooting ternal devices 277 General problems 232 Introduction 277 Problems with opening files 232 MTC sync 277 Problems with saving files 278 Recording problems 235 Sampling and creating loops 278 Playback problems 236 Introduction 279 Editing problems 236 Using WaveLab Studio with Steinberg HALion 279 Troubleshooting and precautions 236 Editing sample attributes 279 Problems and solutions 237 Basic looping 279 Questions and Answers 238 Using the Crossfade Looper 280 Day to day precautions for trouble-free CD writing 242 Using the Loop Tone Equalizer 280 Hardware and setup issues 244 Requirements 282 Key commands 245 This is what you need… 283 File handling 245 Computer requirements 283 Wave display mode 246 About audio cards 283 View 246 About the System Information feature 283 Zooming 247 Customizing 283 Processing 284 Playback and cursor position 248 What is customizing? 284 Selecting 248 Preferences 285 Editing and Recording 248 Folder editing 285 Markers 249 Saving the window layout 285 Miscellaneous 249 Styling WaveLab Studio – Wave windows 251 Styling WaveLab Studio – Audio Montage win- 286 Index dows 254 Working with window layouts 254 Setting default size and position for windows 255 Creating a Favorites menu 255 Customizable key commands 257 Organizing plug-in processors 260 Plug-in processor reference 261 About WaveLab Studio plug-ins 264 VST Plug-ins 6 Table of Contents 1 Introduction Welcome! Congratulations on your choice of WaveLab Studio, which is the audio editor of choice, not only in top-of-the- line mastering and restoration facilities, but also for any serious engineer or musician. WaveLab Studio is continuously developed and refined, in collaboration with our users – from professional audio en- gineers to hobbyists. Your input helps making this pro- gram one of the most flexible and user-friendly ever! Find out about the ease of use and workflow that makes working with WaveLab Studio so effective. Steinberg has always shown a strong commitment to pro- tect the investment of loyal customers. WaveLab Studio follows this route by making use of the Steinberg key to preserve your competitive advantage. Your Steinberg Team. Key command conventions Many of the default key commands in WaveLab Studio use modifier keys. For example, the default key command for Undo is [Ctrl]-[Z] under Windows. When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with the Windows modifier key first, in the following way: [Win modifier key]-[key] For example, [Ctrl-[Z] means "press [Ctrl] , then press [Z]". Similarly, [Alt]-[X] means "press [Alt] then press [X]". How you can reach us After having installed and launched the program, you will find a number of useful Steinberg Web links on the Help menu (“Steinberg on the internet” submenu). These allow you to get online support, check for updates, get answers to frequently asked questions, etc. ! These features require that you have a working Inter- net connection. 8 Introduction 2 Installing and setting up Setting up the computer The Steinberg Key is, in fact, a little computer on which your Steinberg software licenses are stored. All hardware- Before proceeding, your computer should be set up and protected Steinberg products use the same type of key, the following items should be installed: and you can store more than one license on one key. Also, licenses can (within certain limits) be transferred between •Windows (see “This is what you need…” on page 245 for de- keys – which is helpful, e.g. if you want to sell a piece of tails on which version to use). software. • The audio card and its driver. • If you already own copy-protected Steinberg software, Checking the audio card you must remove any existing Steinberg Keys from the computer’s USB port before starting the WaveLab Studio To make sure the audio card will work as expected, you installation routine. can perform the following two tests: • If you are using other copy-protected Steinberg prod- • Use the software included with the audio card to make ucts, you may want to transfer all licenses for your applica- sure you can record and play back without problems. tions to only one Steinberg Key, thus using only one USB • Use the Media Player application (included with Win- port of your computer. More information on the transfer of dows and described in the Windows documentation) to licenses between keys can be found in the help for the record and play back audio. Syncrosoft License Control Center (which can be found in the Start/Programs menu of your computer). Colors ! The Steinberg Key must not be plugged in before the At this point you might want to check and for example installation of WaveLab Studio.