Apple Using WaveBurner Pro 1.0 User Manual

Using WaveBurner Pro

Using WaveBurner Pro, you can master and burn professional-quality audio CDs that are compliant with the Red Book standard. You can also create premasters for CD production.

Table of Contents

“What Is WaveBurner Pro?” on page 2

“Creating a CD With WaveBurner Pro” on page 2

“Quick Start” on page 3

“The WaveBurner Pro Interface” on page 4

“Getting Started With WaveBurner Pro” on page 12

“Working With Regions” on page 17

“Working With Tracks” on page 22

“Working With Markers” on page 24

“Working With Effects” on page 26

“Burning a Project to a CD” on page 39

“WaveBurner Pro Keyboard Shortcuts” on page 42

What Is WaveBurner Pro?

WaveBurner Pro is an application that lets you assemble, master, and burn audio CDs using a SuperDrive or CD burner supported by Mac OS X. Audio CDs created with WaveBurner Pro can be played back on any audio CD player, and can be used as premasters to produce CDs in quantity.

WaveBurner Pro supports all Red Book options for CD audio data storage. You can add up to 99 tracks and 99 subindexes per track, include ISRC codes for each track, set copy prevention and pre-emphasis for each track, and add UPC/EAN codes for the CD. WaveBurner Pro also supports the CD TEXT standard, allowing you to add text information readable on any CD TEXT-compatible CD player.

You create a CD by adding audio files to a WaveBurner Pro project. The audio files appear as regions in the project window, where you can edit and arrange them graphically or numerically. You can add effects to both individual regions and the overall project using the included plug-ins or using Audio Units plug-ins you install on your computer. You can edit pauses between tracks and add fade-ins, fade-outs, and crossfades. When your project is complete, you can burn the project to a CD.

Creating a CD With WaveBurner Pro

WaveBurner Pro makes it easy to create professional-quality audio CDs using a straightforward workflow. The following steps outline a typical WaveBurner Pro project workflow.

Step 1: Add audio files

You start by creating a new project and adding audio files to the project. When you add an audio file it is imported as a region, which you can arrange and edit in the Wave View area and the Region list. A track is created for each new region, and you can edit the track in the Wave View area and the Track list.

Step 2: Edit regions and tracks

You can edit regions and tracks in a variety of ways, working either graphically in the Wave View area or numerically in the Region list and Track list. You can copy, reorder, trim, split, adjust gain, and normalize regions. As you work, you can play the project or any part of the project to hear the results of your edits immediately.

Step 3: Preview the project and adjust crossfades

When you add a region, WaveBurner Pro creates a track and adds track markers to define the pause between tracks. You can create crossfades between overlapping regions, and adjust the crossfades in the Wave View area. You can also insert index markers to create index points within a track.

Step 4: Add effects

You can add effects to individual regions and to the overall project mix to enhance and shape the sound. A set of professional-quality mastering effects is bundled with WaveBurner Pro, including equalization (EQ), compression, limiting, and noise reduction, as well as analysis tools to help optimize the overall mix. You can adjust plug-in parameters and save and recall settings. You can also use Audio Units effects plug-ins from Apple or from third-party manufacturers.

Step 5: Burn the project to a CD

You burn your project using an installed SuperDrive or supported CD burning hardware connected to your computer. Before burning the project to a CD, you can use Simulation Mode to test your system and find the maximum usable speed at which your system can write the CD data to a blank CD-R.

Quick Start

You can quickly burn a CD using existing audio files and default settings for pauses and crossfades.

To quickly burn a CD:

Open WaveBurner Pro.

Choose File > New to create a new project.

Drag the audio files you want to add to the Region list (or the Wave View area) in the order you want them to appear on the CD.

Click the Burn button.

The Burn dialog appears at the top of the window. The name of the CD burner is shown in the Burn dialog. If there is no blank disc in the tray of the CD burner, the Burn dialog prompts you to insert a blank disc.

Insert a blank CD-R disc, if you have not already done so.

In the Burn dialog, click the Burn button.

When you click the Burn button, WaveBurner Pro begins burning your project to the blank CD. The Burn dialog shows the progress of the burn process. When the burn process is complete, the CD is ejected from the CD burner and is ready to play.

The WaveBurner Pro Interface

You create your projects in the main WaveBurner Pro window. You can add and organize the regions in your project, graphically edit regions, pauses, and crossfades, play the project to preview your changes, and add effects plug-ins in the WaveBurner Pro window.

The WaveBurner Pro interface features the following main areas:

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Counter: Overview:

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Wave View area:

Displays the current track number and the position of the Position Line.

Displays a timeline of the entire project, including all regions.

Displays the regions in time order. You can graphically edit regions,

pauses, and crossfades in the Wave View area.

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Region list:

Lists the regions in time order. You add and organize regions in the

Region list.

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Track list: Region and Mix Plug-In lists:

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Lists the tracks in the project and displays information for each track.

You add effects plug-ins and can organize and adjust

plug-in parameters in the Region and Mix Plug-In lists.

Counter

The counter displays the number of the track, and displays the current position of the Position Line in minutes and seconds. The counter updates in real time as you play the project. If the project includes index markers, the current index point is also displayed.

Overview

The Overview displays a miniature version of the Wave View area showing the entire duration of the project. A red rectangle in the Overview shows part of the project currently visible in the Wave View area. You can move to a different part of the project, or zoom in and out, by dragging the rectangle.

Wave View Area

The Wave View area is the main workspace for your projects, You view and graphically edit regions and markers in the Wave View area. Each region is displayed as a green rectangle with a waveform, and an envelope of the region’s volume level that you can adjust.

The Wave View area includes the following features:

Marker bars:

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You add and arrange markers in the marker bars, located at the top and

bottom of the Wave View area.

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Time rulers:

These show the divisions of time so you can place regions and

transitions at a specific point in time.

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Position Line:

This shows the point in time currently audible if the project is playing,

or the point playback starts when you click Play.

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Transport controls:

You control project playback and the position of the Position Line

using the Transport controls.

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Edit pointer buttons:

Click one of the buttons to change the pointer to an edit pointer

for editing regions.

Marker buttons:

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Click one of the buttons to change the pointer to a marker pointer,

which you can use to add a marker to the marker bar.

Time, Track, and Index fields:

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These fields show the current location of the Position Line, the current track, and the current index point (if the project contains index markers).

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Track height control: Horizontal zoom control:

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Scroll bar:

Drag to change the visible area of the project.

Click to set the track height.

Click the control or drag the slider to zoom in or out.

Region List

You add and organize the regions in your project in the Region list. Regions are listed in time order from top to bottom. When you select a region in the Region list, the region is also selected in the Wave View area. You can drag regions to change their order, and Option-drag to copy them.

The Region list displays the following information about each region:

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Number Start time

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Title Length

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Track List

The track list displays the track order, and shows information about each track.

The Track list includes the following information for each track:

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Number Start time

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Title Length

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Pre-emphasis state ISRC code

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Pause start time

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Comments

Region and Mix Plug-In Lists

You add and organize plug-ins in the two Plug-In lists. The Region Plug-In list shows the plug-ins for individual regions, and the Mix Plug-In list shows plug-ins for the overall project. You can change the order of plug-ins and view plug-in parameters.

The WaveBurner Pro interface includes several additional windows where you can view region, track, and index point information. There are also windows for the Level Meter and for individual effects plug-ins.

Region Info Window

The Region Info window displays information about the currently selected region and the source audio file for the region. You can edit the information in the Region Info window.

The Parameters pane of the Region Info window displays the following information:

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Region name Comments

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Region length The gap from the end of the previous region

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Trim settings (at start and at stop)

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Gain settings for left and right channels Peak time and value

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Fade-in and fade-out information, including fade type and length

The Audio File pane of the Region Info window displays the following information about the region’s source audio file:

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Name and location of the audio file on disk

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File size Audio file format, including file type, sample rate, and bit ordering

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File length Peak time and value

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To show the Region Info window, do one of the following:

Choose Region > Region Info.

Click the Region Info button.

Track Info Window

The track Info window displays information about the current track. You can edit the information in the Track Info window.

The General pane of the Track Info window displays the following information:

Track number

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Disc Time (the absolute time where the track starts) Name

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Comment Pause duration (the pause length before the track starts)

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ISRC code

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Pre-emphasis SCMS

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The CD TEXT pane of the Track Info window displays the following information:

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Track number Title

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Performer

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Songwriter Composer

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Arranger Message

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To show the Track Info window, do one of the following:

Select the track in the Track list, then choose Disc > Track Info

Click the track start marker for the track, then choose Disc > Track Info.

Double-click the track start marker for the track.

Index Point Info Window

The Index Point Info window displays information about the currently selected index point.You can edit the information in the Index Point Info window.

The Index Point Info window displays the following information:

Track number

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Index point number Disc Time (the absolute time where the index point starts)

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Track Time Name

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Comment

To show the Index Point Info window, do one of the following:

Click the index marker for the track, then choose Disc > Index Point Info.

Double-click the index marker.

Level Meter

The Level Meter window displays the volume level of the left and right channels of your project in real time as the project plays.

To show the Level Meter window:

Click the Level Meter button.

For more information about using the Level Meter, see “Level Meter” on page 34.

Plug-In Windows

Each effect plug-in has its own window, with controls to adjust the plug-in parameters. The controls can include sliders, buttons, and value fields, and are labeled to indicate which parameter they control.

To show a plug-in’s window:

In the Region or Mix Plug-In list, double-click the name of the plug-in.

Supported Audio File Formats

WaveBurner Pro supports the following audio file formats:

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AIFF WAV

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Audio files can be mono, split stereo, or interleaved stereo, and can have any combination of the following sample rates and bit depths:

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All sample rates up to 96 kHz 8, 16, and 24-bit depths

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You can also open Jam and CD Copy disk images directly in WaveBurner Pro.

Customizing the WaveBurner Pro Window

You can customize the WaveBurner Pro main window by adding buttons for your most frequently used commands. You choose the buttons you want to add from the Toolbar.

To customize the WaveBurner Pro window:

1 Control-click the top part of the WaveBurner Pro window, then choose Customize

Toolbar pane from the shortcut menu.

2 Drag the buttons you want to add from the Customize Toolbar pane to any empty area

along the top of the window. If you drag a button between two existing buttons, they adjust their position to make space for the new button.

3 To remove a button, drag it off the top of the window.

4 When you are finished, click Done.

Getting Started With WaveBurner Pro

You create your CDs in a WaveBurner Pro project. A project contains audio regions and CD tracks created when you add audio files to the project, the edits you make to the regions and tracks, any markers for track start, pause start, or index points contained in the project. A project can also include disc and mastering information.

Projects do not include the original audio files, only references to the files’ location on disk. This keeps the size of the project file relatively small.

Elements of a Project

The elements of a WaveBurner Pro project include audio files, regions, and tracks.

• Audio files: Audio files are the source material for the regions and tracks in your

projects.

• Regions: When you add an audio file to a project, a region is created. The region can

include the entire source audio file or any continuous section of the audio file. When you edit a region in the Wave View area or the Region list, the edits affect only the region, not the source audio file.

• Tracks: Tracks are the individual selections a user sees in the CD display, and chooses

using the forward and back buttons and the track buttons on their CD player. Tracks can include multiple regions, and one region can span multiple tracks.

Creating, Opening, and Saving Projects

The first step in creating a CD in WaveBurner Pro is to create a new project.

To create a new project:

Choose File > New (or press Command-N).

A new blank, untitled project appears. You can name the project when you first save it.

To open an existing project:

1 Choose File > Open (or press Command-O).

2 Locate and select the project in the Open dialog, then click Open.

To save a project:

Choose File > Save (or press Command-S).

Adding Audio Files to a Project

To add an audio file to a project, do one of the following:

Drag the audio file from the Finder to the Region list.

Drag the audio file from the Finder to the Wave View area.

Click the Import button, select the audio file you want to add, then click Open.

Choose Region > Add Audio File, select the audio file you want to add, then click Open.

Previewing Projects and Controlling Playback

As you work on a project, you can play the project to hear the regions, tracks, pauses, and crossfades in the project. You can control project playback using the Transport controls or by moving the Position Line.

Using the Transport Controls

You can control playback of your project and set the position of the Position Line using the Transport controls, which are located at the bottom center of the Wave View area.

The Transport controls include, from left to right:

• Go to Region Start: Sets the Position Line to the beginning of the current region. If

the project is currently playing, playback continues from this point.

• Go to Region End: Moves the Position Line to the end of the current region. If the

project is currently playing, playback continues from this point.

• Catch: Turns Catch mode on or off. When Catch mode is turned on, the visible part of

the Wave View area changes so that the Position Line remains visible.

• Play: Starts playback from the current Position Line position.

• Stop: Stops playback.

• Back: Moves the Position Line back towards the start of the project.

• Forward: Moves the Position Line forward towards the end of the project.

To start playback:

Click the Play button in the Transport controls (or press the Space bar).

To stop playback:

Click the Stop button in the Transport controls (or press the Space bar again).

There are keyboard shortcuts for other playback functions. For a list of keyboard shortcuts, see “WaveBurner Pro Keyboard Shortcuts” on page 42.

Moving the Position Line

You can move the Position Line directly to any position.

To move the Position Line, do one of the following:

Double-click either time ruler to start playback from that point.

Click either time ruler at the point where you want to move the Position Line.

Drag the Position Line to the point in time where you want to move the Position Line.

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