Steinberg Wavelab - 8.0 Operation Manual

Operation Manual

Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Sabine Pfeifer, Benjamin Schütte

This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.

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 publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective holders. For more information, please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.

Release Date: June 18, 2013

8 Introduction

8 The Help System 9 About the Program Versions 10 Typographical Conventions 10 How You Can Reach Us

11 Setting Up Your System

11 Connecting Audio 11 About Audio Cards and Background

Playback

12 About Latency 12 Defining VST Audio Connections 16 CD/DVD Recorders 16 Remote Devices

29 WaveLab Concepts

29 General Editing Rules 30 Startup Screen 31 Basic Window Handling 34 Selecting Audio 42 Sliders 43 Renaming Items in Tables 43 File Browser 45 Tab Groups 46 Peak Files 47 Companion Files 48 EBU Loudness Standard R-128

50 Program Overview

50 Command Bars 51 Status Bar 53 Context Menus 54 Time Ruler and Level Ruler 61 Value Editing 61 Drag Operations 64 Undoing and Redoing 66 Zooming 73 Managing Tabs 75 Presets 77 Saving a Picture of the Active Window 78 Log Window

80 File Operations

80 List of All Open Files Throughout the

Application Dialog

81 Recently Used Files 83 Favorite Files 85 Save and Save As 88 Templates 92 File Renaming 93 Deleting Files 94 Special Menu 95 Temporary Files 95 Work Folders vs. Document Folders 98 Uploading to SoundCloud 98 Copying Audio Information to the

Clipboard

99 Setting the Focus on the Current File

100 About Workspaces

101 Elements of a Workspace 101 Audio Files Workspace 102 Audio Montage Workspace 102 Batch Processors Workspace 102 Podcast Workspace 103 Control Window 104 Creating an Empty Workspace 104 New Workspace Dialog 105 Opening Files in a Workspace 106 Organizing Workspace Windows 106 Saving a Workspace Layout 107 About Tool Windows

112 Playback

112 Transport Bar 129 Playing Back Only One Channel 129 Starting Playback From the Ruler 130 Using the Play Tool 130 Playback Scrubbing 132 Timecode Window 133 Jog/Shuttle Function 134 Scroll During Playback 135 About Playback in the Audio Montage

Workspace

136 Speaker Configuration

139 Audio File Editing

139 Wave Window 150 File Handling in the Audio Files

Workspace

174 Changing the Audio Properties 176 Meta-Data 183 Silence Generator Dialog 186 Waveform Restoration with the Pen Tool

187 Audio Analysis

187 Error Detection and Correction 195 Global Analysis 206 Audio File Comparator 208 3D Frequency Analysis

211 Offline Processing

211 Applying Processing 212 Gain Dialog 212 Normalize Level Dialog 213 Loudness Normalizer 216 Pan Normalizer Dialog 217 Envelope Dialog 219 Fades in Audio Files 220 Crossfades 221 Inverting the Audio Phase 222 Reversing Audio 222 DC Offset 223 Time Stretching 225 Pitch Shift 228 Pitch Quantize Dialog 229 Pitch Bend 232 Resample 233 Effect Morphing

236 Audio Montage

236 Basic Terminology 237 Montage Window 240 Signal Flow in the Audio Montage 241 Creating a New Audio Montage 243 Creating an Audio Montage from an

Audio File

243 Import Options for Audio Montages 245 Missing Files in Audio Montage Dialog 246 Assembling the Audio Montage 259 Rearranging Clips 267 Clip Editing 299 Audio Montages Within Audio

Montages

305 Managing Source Files of Clips 311 Track Activity Indicator 311 Envelopes for Clips 323 Fades and Crossfades in the Audio

Montage

335 Clip Time Stretching 336 Clip Pitch Shifting 337 Effects for Tracks, Clips, and the Master

Output

353 About the CD Window 363 About Cloning Audio Montages 368 Snapshots 370 Mixing Down - The Render Function 372 Loudness Meta Normalizer 375 Navigator Window 376 Notes Window 376 About Groups 379 Backing Up Audio Montages 380 Multichannel Operations in the Audio

Montage

394 XML Export and Import of Audio

Montages

394 AES-31 Files Export and Import

398 Recording

398 Setting Up the Recording Dialog 399 Dropping Markers During Recording 400 Recording Dialog 408 Recording in the Audio Montage

Workspace

409 Master Section

410 Master Section Window 423 Rendering 430 Record From an ASIO Input 431 Smart Bypass 434 Saving a Master Section Preset 439 About Monitoring Background Tasks 441 About Dropouts

442 Markers

443 Marker Types 444 Markers Window 448 About Creating Markers 454 Deleting Markers 457 Moving Markers 457 Moving Multiple Markers 459 Navigating to Markers 459 Hiding Markers of a Certain Type 459 Converting Marker Types 461 Renaming Markers 462 About Selecting Markers 463 Selecting the Audio Between Markers 463 Binding Markers to Clips in the Audio

Montage

464 Exporting the Markers List as Text 465 How Marker Information is Stored

466 Metering

466 Metering Window 466 Real Time vs. Non-Real Time 467 Metering Monitor Modes 468 About Meter Settings 468 Multichannel Metering 469 Resetting the Meters 469 Using Presets in the Meter Windows 470 Level Meter 474 Loudness Meter 478 Phasescope 480 Spectroscope 481 Spectrometer 484 Bit Meter 486 Oscilloscope 487 Wavescope

488 Basic Audio CD

489 Basic Audio CD Window 492 About CD Markers 493 Preparing a Basic Audio CD 495 Opening CD Tracks for Editing 496 About Playing Back Files in the Track

List

497 Saving Basic Audio CD Tracks as

Separate Files

498 Saving Basic Audio CD Tracks as One

File

499 DVD-Audio

500 Structure of a DVD-Audio Project 500 DVD-Audio Formats 500 DVD-Audio Format Considerations 501 DVD-Audio Window 504 Preparing a DVD-Audio 506 Opening Audio Montages for Editing 506 Checking the DVD-Audio Conformity

507 Writing Operations

507 Write Audio CD or DDP Dialog 510 Erase Optical Media Dialog 511 About Writing Audio Files 514 About Writing Audio Montages 530 Write DVD-Audio Function 535 Data CD/DVD Projects 539 About Audio CD Formats

543 Spectrum Editing

544 Spectrum Display 545 Surgical Processing 548 Master Section Processing 549 Spectrum Editor Window 556 Defining a Region for Spectrum Editing 557 Processing Frequency Ranges via the

Master Section

558 Auto Split

558 Auto Split in Audio Files 562 Auto Split in Audio Montages

565 Loops

565 Basic Looping 566 About Refining Loops 576 About Looping Seemingly Unloopable

Audio

579 About Sample Attributes

581 Generating Signals

581 Signal Generator 585 DTMF Generator

588 Importing Audio CD Tracks

589 Import Audio CD Dialog 593 Importing Audio CD Tracks 594 Searching Track Names on the internet 594 About Ultra-Safe Mode 594 Converting Audio CD Tracks to an

Audio Montage

595 Converting Audio CD Tracks to a Basic

Audio CD

596 Batch Processing

597 Advantages of the WaveLab Batch

Processor

598 Batch Processing Meta-data 598 Overview of the Batch Processors

Workspace

604 About Off-Line Processors 606 Opening the Batch Processors

Workspace

607 Creating a Batch Process Document 607 Saving a Batch Process Document 608 Adding Files to a Batch Process 610 Custom Plug-in Chain vs. Associated

Master Section Preset

611 Adding Plug-ins to the Batch Process 612 Removing Files and Plug-ins from the

Batch Process

612 Changing the Order of the Plug-ins in

the Batch Process

613 Previewing the Effect of the Batch

Process

613 About Processing Open Files 614 Selecting an Output Format for the

Batch Process

614 Setting Up a File Location for the Batch

Process

615 Specifying an Overwriting Strategy 615 Naming Rendered Audio Files 616 Running and Stopping the Batch

Process

616 Batch Processing Status Icons 617 About Multitasking During the Batch

Process

619 Batch Conversion

619 Batch Conversion Dialog 620 Batch Converting Files

621 Batch Renaming

621 Batch Renaming Dialogs 622 Batch Renaming Files 623 Batch Renaming Markers 625 Batch Renaming Clips 626 Renaming Operation Categories and

Types

632 List of Renaming Operations 632 Preview Section 633 Range Parameters 635 Previewing and Performing All

Renaming Operations

635 About Regular Expressions

640 Podcasts

641 Podcast Workspace 646 Global Podcast Options 646 Creating a Podcast 647 Setting Up a FTP for Podcast Publishing 647 Publishing a Podcast 648 FTP Site Dialog 649 Checking the Podcast

650 Master Projects

650 Setting Up a Master Project 651 Saving a Master Project 651 Writing Files of a Master Project to Data

CD/DVD

652 Master Project Window

654 Customizing

654 Window Layout 660 Customizing the Wave Window and the

Montage Window

669 About Customizing Shortcuts 676 Plug-ins Organization 685 Variables and Text Snippets 687 About Scripting

710 Configuring the Software

710 About Global Preferences 720 Audio File Editing Preferences Dialog 725 Audio Montage Preferences Dialog 729 Settings Management 729 Multi-User Settings 730 About External Tools

734 Plug-in Reference

734 Built-in Plug-ins 739 Steinberg VST 3 Plug-ins 800 Sonnox Restoration Toolkit 809 Legacy Plug-ins 809 Dithering Plug-ins 812 ASIO Plug-ins 815 Batch Processing Plug-ins

825 Index

The Help System

The detailed help system of WaveLab makes it easy to look up interface features and get information from within the program.

Three main types of help are available:

• The help provides detailed information on the features and functionality of WaveLab. You can set bookmarks, and use the search function and index to quickly find information.

Introduction

• “What’s This” tooltips give detailed information on the functionality of a specific user interface element.

• The status bar at the bottom of each workspace window gives detailed information on menu items when moving the mouse over an item.

• In the Audio Montage workspace, the status bar shows what kind of editing can be performed when using the mouse and modifier keys.

Accessing the Help System

There are several ways of accessing the help system.

• To open the WaveLab help, select Help > Contents.

• To open the manual in PDF format, browse to the installation folder. The documents are located in the Documentation folder.

• To show tooltips, move the mouse over an interface icon.

• To open the help for the active dialog, click the question mark icon on the title bar (Windows) or in the dialog (Mac OS) to show the Help button, and then click the Help button, or press [F1] (Windows) or [Command]-[?] (Mac OS).

Introduction

About the Program Versions

• To use the menu help, move the mouse over a menu item. The help text is displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the workspace window.

• To see information on what kind of editing can be performed when using the mouse and modifier keys in the audio montage window, move the mouse over the montage window. The help text is displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the workspace window.

• To activate/deactivate the help texts on the status bar, select

Options (WaveLab menu on Mac) > Global preferences > Display tab, and in the Workspaces section, select Display status bar.

To open the “What’s This” help, you have the following possibilities:

• In any workspace, press [Shift]-[F1], and move the mouse over an interface item, or select Help > What is this?.

• In a dialog, select the question mark icon on any title bar (Windows) or in the dialog (Mac OS), and move the mouse over an interface item or a menu option.

• Some “What’s this” tooltips have a different background color to indicate that a dedicated help topic is available in the WaveLab help. Click the link in the tooltip to open the corresponding information in the help.

About the Program Versions

The documentation covers two different operating systems, Windows and Mac OS X. Some features and settings are specific to one of the operation systems.

This is clearly stated in the applicable cases. If nothing else is said, all descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for all WaveLab versions for both Windows and Mac OS X.

The screenshots are taken from the English Windows version of WaveLab.

Introduction

NOTE

Typographical Conventions

Many of the default key commands in WaveLab use modifier keys, some of which are different depending on the operating system. For example, the default key command for Undo is [Ctrl]-[Z] on Windows and [Command]-[Z] on Mac OS X.

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]/[Mac modifier key]-[key]

For example, [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z] means “press [Ctrl] on Windows or [Command] on Mac OS X, then press [Z]”.

Similarly, [Alt]/[Option]-[X] means “press [Alt] on Windows or [Option] on Mac OS X, then press [X]”.

This manual often refers to right-clicking, for example, to open context menus. If you are using a Mac with a single-button mouse, hold down [Ctrl] and click.

How You Can Reach Us

On the Help menu in WaveLab, you find items linking to additional information.

The menu contains links to various Steinberg web pages. Selecting a menu item automatically launches your browser and opens the page. On these pages, you can find support and compatibility information, answers to frequently asked questions, information about updates and other Steinberg products, etc. This requires that you have a web browser installed on your computer, and a working internet connection.

Setting Up Your System

IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT

Before you start working, you need to make some settings.

Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.

Connecting Audio

Your system setup depends on many different factors, for example, the kind of project that you want to create, the external equipment that you want to use, or the computer hardware available to you.

About Audio Cards and Background Playback

When you activate playback or recording in WaveLab, other applications cannot access the audio card. Likewise, if another application uses the audio card, WaveLab is unable to play back. The Windows MME driver is an exception from this.

You can run WaveLab together with other applications and always give the active application access to the audio card.

To do so, select Options > VST Audio Connections, and on the

Options tab, activate Release driver when WaveLab is in background.

Setting Up Your System

About Latency

Latency is the delay between when audio is sent from the program and when you actually hear it. While a very low latency can be crucial in a real-time DAW application such as Steinberg Nuendo or Cubase, this is not strictly the case with WaveLab.

When working with WaveLab, the important issues are optimum and stable playback and editing precision. You should not try to reach the lowest possible latency figures.

The latency in an audio system depends on the audio hardware, its drivers, and settings. In case of dropouts, crackles, or glitches during playback, raise the Buffer Number setting on the VST Audio Connections dialog, or increase the buffer size in the ASIO control panel, specific to the audio card.

Defining VST Audio Connections

To be able to play back and record audio in WaveLab, you must specify how the internal input and output channels in WaveLab are connected to your sound card and which device you intend to use for audio playback and recording.

You can define the buffer settings for your device as well as set up connections to external gear, such as external effects units. You should select at least two channels for stereo playback and recording.

If you have no third-party audio card, you can select the Windows MME driver or Built-in Audio (Mac) options. You can also use MME with most third party audio cards, with the advantage that you can record and play at different sample rates. However, Windows MME drivers do not allow audio monitoring in the Recording dialog or multichannel operation, and other drivers generally offer better sound quality and performance.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Defining VST Audio Connections

Selecting an ASIO Driver

Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) is a computer device driver protocol for digital audio specified by Steinberg. It provides a low-latency and high fidelity interface between a software application and the soundcard of a computer.

1. In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options > VST Audio Connections.

2. From the Audio Device menu, select your ASIO driver.

The ASIO plug-ins tab and the Control panel button are activated.

3. Optional: Click the Control panel button and make your settings.

4. On the ASIO plug-ins tab, select the audio ports that are used for recording and monitor input of the ASIO plug-ins.

5. Click OK.

Selecting a Windows MME Driver

1. In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options > VST Audio Connections.

2. From the Audio Device menu, select the Windows MME driver.

3. On the Playback tab, select the audio ports that are used for playback.

4. On the Recording tab, select the audio ports that used for recording and monitor input.

5. Click OK.

VST Audio Connections Dialog

This dialog allows you to specify how the internal input and output channels in WaveLab are connected to your sound card and which device you want to use for audio playback and recording.

In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options >

VST Audio Connections.

Setting Up Your System

Defining VST Audio Connections

Global Settings

Audio device

Control panel

Refresh

Here, select the audio device that you want to use for playback and recording audio. If you do not have a third-party audio card, you can select the Windows MME driver or Built-in Audio (Mac) options.

When you select an ASIO driver, the Control panel button is activated. Click the button to open the settings application of your sound card, which is usually installed with the sound card. Depending on your sound card and driver, this provides settings for buffer size, digital formats, additional I/O connections, etc.

This button causes audio devices to be evaluated again to reflect device changes.

Playback Tab

This tab allows you to select and name audio ports that are used for playback. If you are monitoring on a surround system, specify your surround speaker outputs here. Furthermore, you can rename the channels and set up the Speaker configuration to be able to switch between different speakers.

Setting Up Your System

Defining VST Audio Connections

Recording Tab

This tab allows you to select and name your audio ports that are used for recording and input monitoring. The inputs that you define here are then available in the Recording dialog. Furthermore, you can rename the channels and select the Speaker configuration.

External Gear Tab

This tab allows you to select inputs from and outputs to external audio processing equipment. The name of this tab corresponds to the installed driver, for example, ASIO plug-ins.

Options Tab

This tab allows you to specify the number of buffers and the control driver functionality.

Buffer Number

Increasing this value improves the elasticity of audio streaming to avoid dropouts.

MME Specific - Buffer size

Increasing this value improves the elasticity of audio streaming to avoid dropouts. This is only available when an MME driver is selected.

Setting Up Your System

CD/DVD Recorders

Initialize streaming engine at first use

Initializes the audio streaming engine when playback or recording are used for the first time. If this option is deactivated, the audio streaming engine is initialized at program startup.

Reset driver when changing sample rate

Resets the driver when sample rate is changed. When playback or recording must be set to a new sample rate, certain audio device drivers must be fully reset to work properly. This operation takes some time.

Perform short fade-in/out when starting/stopping playback

Performs a short fade-in when starting playback and a short fade-out when stopping playback. This avoids clicks that are caused by waveforms that are not starting on a zero-crossing point.

Release driver when WaveLab is in background

Closes the audio device when WaveLab is no longer the front application. This allows other audio applications to use the same audio device.

CD/DVD Recorders

For general instructions on installing internal or connecting external recorders via USB or Firewire, please refer to the instruction manual for your computer or your recorder.

Make sure to have the latest firmware version installed on your recorder unit. For CD recorders, the existing firmware must support disc-at-once mode. In addition, running a unit with older firmware can prevent you from writing sub-index markers into the tracks, for example.

Remote Devices

You can use remote devices to remote-control WaveLab.

Several commands can be controlled with knobs and sliders of your remote control device.For all commands that can be assigned to a keyboard shortcut, a MIDI trigger can also be assigned.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

Remote Devices Dialog

This dialog allows you to select a device to remote-control WaveLab, and see and edit the control map of MIDI control devices.

In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options > Remote devices.

Device Editing Tab

This tab lets you select a MIDI control device, see the control map, assign WaveLab commands to MIDI controls, and import/export control assignments.

Device menu

Select the MIDI device to edit. Select MIDI shortcuts for menus to define the MIDI input port that is used for MIDI shortcuts. The shortcuts can then be assigned in the Customize commands dialog.

Select MIDI Control Device #1 - #10 to select a slot for a connected MIDI control device. You can then assign a device by selecting a MIDI input port and output port.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

Active

Activates the selected device and scans the MIDI ports.

In-Port/Out-Port

Select the MIDI input/output ports of the device that you want to use.

Edit map

Activates the edit mode of the MIDI control map for the selected device. To leave the edit mode, click again.

Save

Saves the modifications that have been made to the MIDI control map.

Undo

Undoes the modifications that have been made to the MIDI control map.

Reset

If the map has a factory preset, clicking Reset resets all changes that have been made to the map. If the map has no factory preset, the map is cleared.

Import

Opens the file browser where you can select a map definition file (XML file). This kind of file can be supplied by a MIDI device manufacturer or another WaveLab user, for example.

Export

Lets you export a map definition file (XML file). This file can be sent to another WaveLab user, for example.

Name

Lets you enter a map name.

Only display assignments

If this option is activated, the control map only displays the parameters that are associated with a remote control.

Expand/Collapse

Expands/collapses the folder tree of the control map.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

WaveLab action list

This folder tree lists the parameters that you can remote-control. The top folder represent contexts. The related parameters can only be controlled if the context is active. For example, if an audio file is active.

A remote control can be used in several contexts if these are exclusive. For example, parameters that can be used for an active audio file or an active audio montage.

The Global folder contain the parameters that can always be controlled.

Control editor - Save

If a control has been created or modified, click this button to save it.

Control editor - Undo

If a control has been modified, click this button to undo the changes.

Control editor - Clear

Erases the selected control’s definition.

Control name

Lets you enter a name for the control. Each control must have a name.

Type

In the Type section, you can edit the type of the selected control.

When more than one type of control can be assigned to a parameter, you can select a type from the first pop-up menu. You can choose between relative and absolute editing for certain parameters. For example, a master section slider can be associated to a remote motorized fader (absolute editing), or to an infinite knob (relative editing).

Several protocols are supported to interpret the MIDI messages. You can select the protocol that you want to use from the second menu. The MIDI learn function can automatically change this protocol, according to the received MIDI messages.

Remote controls send messages but can also receive messages from WaveLab, to light up a button or move a motorized fader, for example. You can select the mode to use from the third menu.

Message

Activates the MIDI learn function. When activated, you can use the control (knob, fader, etc.) on your MIDI controller. When MIDI messages are received, they are analyzed after the MIDI activity stops for several milliseconds. The result is displayed in the Message field. This is then used by WaveLab as the control identifier.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Remote Devices

Options Tab

Clear

Erases the MIDI event that identifies the control.

Conditions

A modifier is a WaveLab parameter that can be activated by a MIDI control (for example, a foot switch) or a computer key ([Ctrl]/[Command], [Shift], etc.). By associating a remote control with one or two modifiers, you can use a single remote control to edit different parameters.

This tab lets you use the MIDI Learn function to assign a control of a MIDI remote control device to a function.

Emulate mouse wheel

If this option is activated, the AI knob acts as a mouse wheel in the WaveLab user interface, except for plug-ins.

Edit focused numeric field

If this option is activated, the AI knob can be used to edit the focused numeric field that you find in many WaveLab windows and dialogs.

Selecting a MIDI Remote Control Device

PREREQUISITE

The MIDI remote control device is connected to your PC/Mac.

1. In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options > Remote devices.

2. On the Device editing tab, select one of the MIDI control device slots or the MIDI shortcuts for menus option from the pop-up menu at the top.

3. Select Active to activate the selected device.

4. From the In-Port and Out-Port menus, select a MIDI input port and output port.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Remote Devices

Assigning a MIDI Controller to a Parameter

If you are using a Steinberg remote control device, for example, the CC121, the controls are already assigned to parameters. You can customize these default settings.

PREREQUISITE

You have set up your MIDI remote control device.

1. In any workspace, except the Podcast workspace, select Options > Remote devices.

2. From the pop-up menu at the top of the dialog, select your MIDI control device.

3. On the Device editing tab, click the Edit map button.

4. In the tree structure, click the parameter that you want to remote-control.

5. In the Control editor section, enter a name in the Control name field.

6. Select the type of control.

Depending on the type of control on the MIDI remote control device, you must select a control with relative values (knob), trigger values (button), or absolute values (fader).

7. Click in the Message field, and on your MIDI remote control device, move the control that you want to assign.

The name of the controller is displayed in the Message field.

8. Click the Save button to the right of the This control is modified message.

9. Click the Save button to the right of the Edit map button.

RESULT

The MIDI controller is now assigned to the function.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Remote Devices

Assigning Custom Parameters to Plug-ins

You can assign custom parameters to many VST 3 plug-ins.

PREREQUISITE

In the Remote devices dialog, assign the controls of your MIDI controller to the plug-in custom parameters. If you are using the Steinberg CC121 controller, the parameters are assigned by default.

1. From the Master Section or the Effects window, open the plug-in that you want to control with the MIDI remote control device.

2. [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the circle icon at the top of the plug-in window to enter the Edit mode.

3. Click OK.

The circle icon turns into a tool icon to indicate that you are in MIDI learn mode.

4. Move the mouse over a plug-in parameter, and move the MIDI control that you want to assign.

Repeat this for all the parameters and controls that you want to assign.

5. When finished, click the tool icon to exit Edit mode, and click OK.

RESULT

The assignment is saved. You can now control the assigned parameters with your MIDI remote control device. A plug-in can be controlled via the custom parameter if the Remote control mode is activated and only one plug-in can be activated at a time.

When a plug-in is activated for remote control, it also has precedence over other application settings that are controlled by the same parameter.

To remove all remote control assignments on the plug-in, hold [Ctrl]/[Command] and [Shift], and click the Remote control mode button.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

Importing and Exporting Remote Control Definition Files

Map definition files are XML files, containing control assignments for your remote devices. You can exchange them with other users or save a backup copy.

Select Options > Remote devices, and open the Device editing tab.

• To import a map definition file, click the Import button, browse to the location of the map definition file, and select the file.

• To export a map definition file, click the Export button, and browse to the location where you want to save the file.

Editing Changes in the Remote Control Devices Settings

Changes that have been made to the map, for example, changing the name of a control, can be saved, reset, undone, and removed.

• To save any changes that you have made, click Save.

• To restore the factory preset of a MIDI remote control device, click Reset. If the control device does not have factory presets, the map is cleared.

• To undo your last action, click Undo.

• To remove the control definition of the selected control or to unassign the selected control, click Clear.

Using Modifiers for Remote Controlling Parameters

You can use the same controller for controlling different parameters, using one or two modifiers. A modifier can be a MIDI control (for example, a foot switch) or a modifier key on your computer keyboard (for example, [Shift] and/or [Ctrl]/[Command]).

To determine one or two modifiers, open the Remote devices dialog, and when editing a parameter, select the modifiers from the Conditions section.

You can use the [Shift] and [Alt]/[Option] modifiers to alter the edit steps of infinite knob controls as follows:

• Press [Shift] to edit values in small steps.

• Press [Alt]/[Option] to edit values in bigger steps.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

CC121 Advanced Integration Controller

You can use Steinberg's CC121 Advanced Integration Controller to control WaveLab.

This section describes the WaveLab factory preset for the CC121. For detailed information on how to use the controller, refer to the manual that came with the CC121. Note that the CC121 was originally designed for Cubase. The following mapping combines the WaveLab functionality with the CC121 controls. The controls that are not listed in the following paragraph are not assigned to a parameter.

Channel Section

You can use all controls of the CC121 channel section, except the fader, to control the elements of the selected track in a WaveLab audio montage. You can use the fader for the Master Section.

Fader

Controls the Master Section fader.

PAN knob

Controls the gain of the selected track.

Mute

Mutes/unmutes the selected track.

Solo

Activates/deactivates solo for the selected track.

CHANNEL SELECT

Selects the previous/next track in the audio montage.

To move the cursor to the previous/next clip edge in the audio montage, hold [Alt]/[Option]. To move the cursor to the previous/next region edge, hold [Shift]. To move the cursor to the previous/next marker in the Audio Files workspace, hold [Ctrl]/[Command].

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

EQ Section

With the EQ section you can easily control the Steinberg Studio EQ plug-in.

If the EQ TYPE button is activated on the CC121, you can adjust the parameters of the focused Studio-EQ. All necessary EQ parameters, such as Q/F/G of each band, EQ TYPE selection, and ALL BYPASS on/off can be set. You can switch to WaveLab navigation mode by turning off the EQ TYPE button. In WaveLab navigation mode, you get access to alternative functions, such as scrolling, zooming, and switching between workspaces.

EQ Type activated:

Bandwidth knobs (Q)

Adjusts the Q (bandwidth) of each EQ band.

Frequency knobs (F)

Adjusts the center frequency of each EQ band.

Gain knobs (G)

Adjusts the gain of each EQ band

Activates/deactivates the EQ bands.

ALL BYPASS

Activates/deactivates bypass for all plug-ins in the Master Section.

EQ Type deactivated:

LOW ON

Opens the Audio Files workspace.

LOW-MID ON

Opens the Audio Montage workspace.

HIGH-MID ON

Opens the Batch Processors workspace.

HIGH ON

Opens the Control Window.

EQ-1 knob for the EQ Gain (G)

Scrolls left/right on the timeline.

EQ-2 knob for the EQ Gain (G)

Adjusts the horizontal zoom on the timeline.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

EQ-3 knob for the EQ Gain (G)

Adjusts the vertical zoom on the timeline.

EQ-4 knob for the EQ Gain (G)

Scrolls tracks on the Audio Montage workspace or scrolls vertically on the Audio Files workspace.

EQ-1 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

Scrolls left/right on the overview timeline of the Audio Files workspace.

EQ-2 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

Horizontally zooms in/out on the overview timeline of the Audio Files workspace.

EQ-3 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

Vertically zooms in/out on the overview timeline of the Audio Files workspace.

EQ-4 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

Transport Section

In this section you can control the transport functions of WaveLab.

Previous button

Rewind button

Forward button

Next button

Cycle button

Vertically scrolls on the overview timeline of the Audio Files workspace.

Moves the cursor position to the beginning of the project.

Rewind

Forward

Moves the cursor position to the end of the project.

Activates/deactivates Cycle mode.

Stop button

Stops playback. Press again to move the cursor to the previous start position. Press a third time to move the cursor to the beginning of the project.

Play button

Starts playback.

Setting Up Your System

NOTE

Remote Devices

Function Section

Record button

Press once to open the Recording window. Press again to start the recording. Press a third time to stop recording. The recorded file opens in the Audio Files workspace.

In this section, you can adjust certain functions, such as fades and envelope level, by using the VALUE knob.

VALUE knob/button

Rotate this knob to adjust the assigned function. Press the knob to reset the parameter to its default value.

FUNCTION button 1

Adjusts the fade-in settings of the focused clip.

FUNCTION button 2

FUNCTION button 3

FUNCTION button 4

AI Knob Section

WaveLab can be controlled with the AI knob of Steinberg’s CC121, CI2+, and CMC-AI controllers. With the AI knob, you can control the parameter that the mouse points to.

The AI knob only works on parameters that are automatable.

In this section you can control parameters via the AI knob.

AI KNOB

Adjusts the fade-out settings of the focused clip.

Adjusts the envelope level of the focused clip.

The element clicked last on the Edit > Nudge menu in the Audio Montage workspace is assigned to this button.

Controls the VST 3plug-in parameters, emulates the mouse wheel, for example, for scrolling, and lets you edit a focused numeric field. To control a parameter with the AI knob, move the mouse cursor over the parameter that you want to control, and move the AI knob. You can activate/deactivate the emulation of the mouse wheel and the editing of the focused numeric field in the Options tab.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

CUBASE READY Indicator

Foot Switch Section

LOCK

When the mouse cursor points to a parameter, press LOCK to control this parameter regardless of the position of the mouse cursor.

JOG

Activates Jog mode. While Jog mode is activated, press LOCK to enter shuttle mode.

The CUBASE READY indicator has no function in WaveLab.

The foot switch has the same function as [Shift]. Press and hold the foot switch while turning the AI knob to fine tune parameters.

WaveLab Concepts

NOTE

This chapter describes general concepts that you will use when working with WaveLab. Getting accustomed with these procedures allows you to work more effectively with the program.

General Editing Rules

The common editing operations can be used in any Steinberg product.

• To select and move interface items, and to select ranges, click and drag with the mouse.

• Use the keys of your computer keyboard to enter numeric values and text, to navigate lists and other selectable interface items, and to control the transport functions.

• Common operations like cut, copy, paste, or the selection of multiple items can be performed using standard keyboard shortcuts.

The behavior of your product is also governed by your preference settings.

RELATED LINKS:

“Global Preferences Dialog” on page 710

WaveLab Concepts

Startup Screen

When WaveLab starts, a startup screen opens where you can select which window layout you want to use.

Restore last window layout

Restores the window layout that you last used in WaveLab, including all files that were open.

Restore last window layout without files

Restores the same window layout that you last used in WaveLab without opening any files.

Restore default window layout

Restores the default window layout without opening any files.

Restore factory window layout

Restores the factory window layout without opening any files.

Keep answer and do not show this message again

If this option is activated, the option that you select is used from now on and the startup screen does not open anymore. To display the General window layout dialog, even if this option has been activated, press [Ctrl]/[Command] when starting WaveLab.

RELATED LINKS:

“Window Layout” on page 654

WaveLab Concepts

Basic Window Handling

WaveLab follows the basic guidelines for the Windows/Mac OS interface, which means that Windows/Mac OS standard procedures apply.

Closing Windows

• To close a tabbed window, click the “X” button of the corresponding tab or press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[W].

• To close a tabbed window without saving your changes, hold [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift], and click the “X” button. This avoids having to confirm a warning message whenever you want to close an unsaved window.

• To close all tabbed windows at once, right-click a tab, and select Close all.

• To close all tabbed windows but the selected tabbed window, right-click a tab, and select Close all but this one.

• To individually select the tabbed windows that you want to close, right-click a tab, and select Select files to close. This opens the Files to close dialog, where you can select the files that you want to close.

RELATED LINKS:

“Files to Close Dialog” on page 74 “Managing Tabs” on page 73

Switching Between Files

You can have multiple files open and switch between them.

• To bring a file to the front, click the corresponding tab.

• To cycle between all open files in a workspace, hold [Ctrl]/[Command], and press [Tab] continuously.

• To cycle back and forth between the last two active files, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Tab]. Between each step you have to release all keys.

• To cycle backwards, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Tab].

WaveLab Concepts

Basic Window Handling

Window Switcher

The window switchers let you easily switch between workspaces, create new workspaces, or open existing projects. There are two types of window switchers: The central switcher bar and the floating window switcher.

The floating window switcher behaves like the central switcher bar, but takes less room and floats above other windows.

• To activate/deactivate the central switcher bar, in the Audio Files

• To activate/deactivate the floating window switcher, in any

workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select Workspace > Command bars > Central switcher bar.

workspace, select Options (WaveLab menu on Mac) > Global

preferences, and on the Display tab, activate Use Floating Window Switcher.

Using the Window Switcher

You can use the floating window switcher and the central switcher bar to navigate through your workspaces.

• To switch between workspaces, click a workspace button. If several workspaces of the same type are open, [Alt]/[Option]-click the workspace button to cycle between the workspaces. If the workspace is not yet open, a pop-up menu opens from which you can open a new workspace.

• To copy a file from one workspace to another, drag it to the button of the workspace that you want to open, wait until the workspace becomes active, and release the file where you want.

• To create a new file in any workspace, press [Ctrl]/[Command], and click a workspace button.

• To open the Open window to select a file, press [Shift], and click a workspace button.

• To display a menu listing the files that have recently been used in a particular workspace, right-click any workspace icon.

WaveLab Concepts

Basic Window Handling

Customizing the Central Switcher Bar

• To create a new file or open a file, right-click any workspace icon, and select New or Open. While left-clicking activates a workspace, right-clicking does not activate a workspace.

You can customize the central switcher bar using the settings menu.

To open the settings menu, right-click an empty part of the central switcher bar.

Hide

Hides the central switcher bar.

Fold

Minimizes the central switcher bar to a thin line. To unfold the bar, click the thin line.

Left side/Top/Right side/Bottom

Determines the location of the central switcher bar.

Large/Medium/Small size

Determines the size of the central switcher bar.

Workspace buttons

Determines which workspace buttons are visible on the central switcher bar.

Extra buttons

Determines whether to show or hide the extra buttons that some workspaces offer.

WaveLab Concepts

PROCEDURE

Selecting Audio

Customizing the Floating Window Switcher

You can set up the floating window switcher to your liking.

1. In any workspace, select Options (WaveLab menu on Mac) > Global preferences.

2. On the Display tab, make sure that Use Floating Window Switcher is activated.

3. Customize the floating window switcher by activating/deactivating the corresponding options.

4. Click OK.

Selecting Audio

Almost all types of editing and processing that you perform in WaveLab operate on the audio selection. There are numerous ways to make an audio selection.

To select the whole audio file, double-click it. If the audio file contains markers, triple-click it.

Selecting a Range by Dragging

The standard way to select a range in a wave window or a montage window is to click and drag.

If you drag all the way to the left or right side of the window, it scrolls automatically, allowing you to select larger sections than what can be shown in the window. The speed of the scrolling depends on how far from the window edge you are.

Audio Range Selection in an Audio File

You can edit, process, or play back selection of an audio file.

In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Select time range.

Edit

Opens the Audio Range dialog, where you can define selection ranges very accurately.

WaveLab Concepts

Selecting Audio

All

Selects the entire waveform.

Toggle

Toggles the current audio selection on/off.

Extend to start of file

Extends the selection to the start of the audio file. If there is no selection, a selection is created from the edit cursor position.

Extend to end of file

Extends the selection to the end of the audio file. If there is no selection, a selection is created from the edit cursor position.

Extend to previous marker

Extends the left edge of the selection to the nearest marker to the left or the start of the audio file. If there is no selection, a selection is extended until the edit cursor position.

Extend to next marker

Extends the right edge of the selection to the nearest marker to the right or the end of the audio file. If there is no selection, a selection is extended until the next marker position.

Extend to cursor

Extends the selection to the edit cursor position.

From start of file until cursor

Selects the range between the start of the audio file and the edit cursor position.

From cursor to end of file

Selects the range between the edit cursor position and the end of the audio file.

From cursor to previous marker

Selects the range between the edit cursor position and the nearest marker to the left or the start of the audio file.

From cursor to next marker

Selects the range between the edit cursor position and the next marker or the end of the audio file.

Playback position => Selection start

Creates a selection range from the playback position to the end of the audio file. If no playback is taking place, the position of the edit cursor is used.

WaveLab Concepts

Selecting Audio

Playback position => Selection end

Creates a selection range from the playback position to start of the audio file. If no playback is taking place, the position of the edit cursor is used.

Double length

Doubles the length of the current selection range.

Halve length

Halves the length of the current selection range.

Extend to all channels

Extends the current selection range to all channels.

Left channel only

Reduces the current selection range to the left channel only.

Right channel only

Reduces the current selection range to the right channel only.

CD track

Selects the range between the two CD track markers that encompass the edit cursor.

Loop region

Selects the range between the two loop markers that encompass the edit cursor.

Exclusion region

Selects the range between the two exclusion markers that encompass the edit cursor.

Generic region

Selects the range between the two generic markers that encompass the edit cursor.

Audio Range Selection in an Audio Montage

You can edit, process, or play back selections of an audio montage.

In the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Select audio range.

Edit

Opens the Audio Range dialog, where you can define selection ranges very accurately.

Double length

Doubles the length of the current selection range.

WaveLab Concepts

Selecting Audio

Halve length

Toggle

Playback position => Selection start

Playback position => Selection end

Audio Range Dialog

Halves the length of the current selection range.

Toggles the current selection range on/off.

Creates a selection range from the playback position to the end of the audio montage. If no playback is taking place, the position of the edit cursor is used.

Creates a selection range from the playback position to start of the audio montage. If no playback is taking place, the position of the edit cursor is used.

This dialog allows you to accurately specify an audio range for editing, processing, or playing back.

In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Select time range > Edit.

In the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Select audio range > Edit.

From/To Sections

Zero/End

The selection begins at the start/end of the file.

WaveLab Concepts

Selecting Audio

Options Section

Cursor

The selection begins at the edit cursor.

Start/End of selection

The selection begins at the start/end of the selection range.

Marker (with name)

The selection begins at the marker that is selected from the pop-up menu below.

Offset (±)

Allows you to specify an offset for the selected position.

Custom

Allows you to specify a start/end time for the selection.

Play Options

Specify length

The length you want to give to the selection.

Set as selection length

Clicking this button freezes the current selection length. This is useful if you simply want to move the selection.

Round down length

If this option is activated, the selection length is rounded down to the length specified in the value field.

Snap to zero-crossing

If this option is activated, the start and the end of a selected range always snap to a zero-crossing point of the waveform.

Channels

Select whether the selection spans the left channel, the right channel, or both.

With the play options, you can preview the specified audio range.

Play to

Plays the range before the specified position.

Play from

Plays the range after the specified position.

WaveLab Concepts

Selecting Audio

Play once

Plays the selection once.

Play looped

Loops the selection.

Play duration

Sets the playback length. Note that this overrides the From/To parameters.

Memorizing Selection Length and Cursor Position

You can copy the length of a selection range and the position of the edit cursor position to an internal memory. This is useful if you want to use these values in several places in WaveLab.

• To save the length of the active selection range, in the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Memorize selection length.

• To save the position of the edit cursor, in the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Memorize cursor position.

• To apply the memorized information, right-click any time edit field and select Set memorized position or Set memorized duration.

Selecting in Stereo Files

If you are working on stereo material in the Audio Files workspace, you can apply an operation to one channel only or to the entire stereo material.

Which channel is selected when you click and drag in the wave window depends on where you position the mouse cursor, as indicated by the pointer shape. The pointer shape indicates which channel will be affected.

WaveLab Concepts

PROCEDURE

Selecting Audio

Switching the Selection Between Channels

The following pointer shapes are available:

Pointer Shape Description

Clicking in the upper half of the left channel selects the left channel.

Clicking in the middle area between the left and the right channel selects both channels.

Clicking in the lower half of the right channel selects the right channel.

You can switch the selection that you have made for a channel to all channels or switch the selection to the other channel.

1. In the Audio Files workspace’s wave window, make a selection range.

2. Select Edit > Select time range, and select Extend to all channels, Left channel only, or Right channel only, or press [Tab] to cycle between the different channel selections.

Selecting in the Overview of the Audio Files Workspace

The selection ranges that you make in the overview of the Audio Files workspace also apply to the main view.

• In the Audio Files workspace’s wave window, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command], and click and drag in the overview.

WaveLab Concepts

PROCEDURE

Selecting Audio

Moving a Selection Range

If a selection range is the right length, but at the wrong position, you can move it.

1. In the wave window, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift].

2. Click in the middle of the selection and drag to the left/right.

Extending and Reducing the Selection

You can resize a selection range in the wave window or the montage window without having to make a new one.

There are several ways to extend/reduce the selection:

• Make a selection range, [Shift]-click outside the selection range,

• To extend the selection to the previous/next boundary (marker or

Extending and Reducing the Selection Using the Cursor Keys

• To move the start/end of a selection in the wave window to the

• To extend a selection to the previous/next boundary in the wave

Deleting Selections

and drag to the left/right, or click and drag the edges of the selection range to the left/right.

start/end of file), press [Shift] and double-click the non-selected area between the boundaries.

left/right, hold down [Shift] and press the left/right cursor keys. To move it in bigger steps, press the [Page Up]/[Page Down] keys.

window (marker or start/end of the audio file), hold down [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Shift] and press the left/right cursor keys.

There are several options for deleting a selected time range.

Audio Files Workspace

The following options can be found on the Edit menu:

Trim

Removes the data outside the selection.

WaveLab Concepts

Sliders

Audio Montage Workspace

Remove

Removes the selection. The audio to the right of the selection is moved to the left to fill the gap.

Smooth remove

Removes the selection and inserts crossfades at the edges. You can edit the default crossfade length and type in the Audio file editing preferences dialog, on the Editing tab.

The following options can be found on the Edit menu:

Delete

If there is a selection range, the clip parts inside the selection range are deleted and the right section of the clips are moved to the left to fill the gap.

Sliders

If there is no selection, the selected clips are deleted.

Erase selected time range

Deletes the clip parts inside the selection range, without filling the gap.

At various places in WaveLab, slider controls are available to change parameters. There are a number of ways to change the value of a slider.

• Position the mouse over the slider and use the mouse wheel (no click is required). Hold [Ctrl]/[Command] while using the mouse wheel to scroll faster. This modifier also applies to the zoom wheels. To move the button of a slider, click and drag it.

• To move the slider handle directly to a position, click the slider at any position.

• To move the slider handle in smaller steps, right-click or below the handle. Keep the mouse button pressed to automatically step to the next value.

• To reset the slider to the default value, if available, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the slider, or click using the third mouse button, or double-click the handle.

WaveLab Concepts

Renaming Items in Tables

You can rename items in tables in the Markers window, the CD window, and the Clips window.

• To rename an item, double-click it or select it, and press [Return], and enter the new name.

• To rename the previous/next item, press [Arrow Up] or [Arrow Down] instead of [Return]. This way you move the focus on the previous/next item, while staying in the edit mode.

File Browser

The File Browser window in the Audio Files workspace and the Audio Montage workspace allows you to browse files directly from within WaveLab. It can be very useful in speeding up the process of auditioning sound files.

The File Browser window provides you with all the standard browsing functions as well as additional controls to audition audio files and any marker defined regions. You can use it to open or insert files or regions of files by dragging them onto an open workspace.

You can also choose to only view certain types of files.

File Browser Window

In this window, you can browse files and open them in WaveLab.

In the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select

Workspace > Specific tool windows > File Browser.

WaveLab Concepts

File Browser

You can add your favorite folders to the left pane by dragging them from the middle pane.

The following options are available in the File Browser windows:

Look in

Lets you select a file location to browse and lists the recently used locations.

Back/Forward/Parent Directory

Let you navigate through the list and file hierarchy.

List View

Shows only the file name in the file list.

Detail View

Shows the file name, size, type, and modification date in the file list.

File name

Shows the file name of the selected file.

File format list

Lets you select which file format to display.

The following options are only available in the File Browser window in the Audio Montage workspace:

Select Audio Files

Shows only audio files.

Select Audio Montages

Shows only audio montages.

Select Clip Files

Shows only clip files.

Auto-Play mode

Starts playback automatically for the selected file.

Play selected audio file

Plays the selected audio file.

WaveLab Concepts

Tab Groups

A tab group is a region within a workspace, in which you can open audio files, audio montages, meters (Control Window only), batches, or Podcasts. With tab groups, you can view the content of different files and meters at the same time, without having to navigate through different windows.

3 empty tab groups in the Audio Montage workspace

Each tab group has its own content and title bar. In the Audio Files workspace, each tab contains an audio file. In the Audio Montage workspace, each tab contains an audio montage.

3 tab groups with audio montages in the Audio Montage workspace

In the Control Window, a tab group can contain meters and the Master Project window.

2 tab groups in the Control Window

WaveLab Concepts

Peak Files

Using Tab Groups

Tabs are used differently depending on the type of window.

• To add a tab group, select Workspace > Add Tab Group at right

• To remove an empty tab group, activate the tab group, and select

• To use one of the tab group layout presets, select Workspace >

• To reorder tabs, drag the tab to a new position on the tab bar.

• To move a tab to another workspace, drag the tab to another

• To paste the content of a tab into an audio file, drag the tab onto

or Workspace > Add Tab Group below.

Workspace > Remove active Tab Group.

Tab Group presets, and select a layout.

workspace.

the waveform. The tab is inserted at the cursor position.

Peak Files

• To create an empty file inside a tab group, double-click an empty part of the tab bar. The created file uses the active file as template.

A peak file (extension “.gpk”) is automatically created by WaveLab each time an audio 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 or the montage window.

Peak files speed up the time it takes to draw the corresponding waveform.

By default, the peak file is stored in the same location as the audio file.

The peak file behavior can be set in the Audio file editing preferences on the File tab.

• To store peak files in another location, activate Create peak files in an independent folder, select Edit and specify another file location.

• To create peak files when writing audio files, activate Create peak files when writing audio files.

• To delete peak files when closing audio files, activate Delete peak

files when closing audio files.

WaveLab Concepts

PROCEDURE

Companion Files

Rebuilding Peak Displays

Normally, peak files are automatically updated when the peak file’s date is older than the audio file’s date. However, it can happen that the date of the audio file is wrong and therefore not automatically updated. In this case you can force a rebuild of the peak file.

• In the Audio Files workspace, select View > Rebuild peak display.

Companion Files

Companion files (extension “.vs”) store Master Section presets and view settings for audio files. If this feature is activated when you save a file, the stored settings are recreated the next time that you load the file.

Companion files are only available in the Audio Files workspace.

The following view settings are included in companion files:

• Window size and position

• Zoom level

• Scroll position

• Display mode (Waveform/Spectrum/Loudness)

• Snapshots

• Master Section presets associated with the file

Deleting a companion file does not alter the audio contents.

Master Section presets are specific to WaveLab and can therefore not be integrated inside the various audio file headers.

WaveLab Concepts

PROCEDURE

EBU Loudness Standard R-128

Storing Companion Files in Another Location

By default, companion files are stored in the same location as the audio file. However, you can select another file location.

1. In the Audio Files workspace, select Options > Folders.

2. Select Companion files, and specify another file location.

EBU Loudness Standard R-128

The EBU loudness recommendation R-128 establishes well-defined methods to measure loudness, dynamics, and peak values, and also defines reference values to achieve for these measurements. Though the reference values are intended for the broadcast world, the measurement methods are helpful in any application dealing with audio and loudness control.

WaveLab supports these audio measurements in many places, for metering, audio analysis, and processing. The following text gives some basic information about the EBU R-128 standard. For more information, refer to the internet.

Loudness Measurement

This method takes into account the frequency sensitivity of the human ear to loudness levels. There are 3 types of measurements:

1) Integrated loudness, also called programme loudness: this reports how loud an audio piece is, on average. This measurement uses a gating method to ignore long periods of silence.

2) Short-term loudness: this measures the loudness every 1 second on an audio block of 3 seconds. This gives information about the loudest audio passages.

3) Momentary loudness: every 100 ms, a range of 400 ms of audio is measured. This gives instantaneous feedback about the loudness.

WaveLab Concepts

EBU Loudness Standard R-128

Loudness Range

True Peaks

This measures the dynamics of the audio signal. It reports the ratio between the loudest and the quietest (but non-silent) sections. The audio is divided into small blocks. There is one audio block every second and each block lasts 3 seconds (analyzed blocks overlap).

The top 10 % of the quiet blocks and the top 5 % of the loud blocks are excluded from the final analysis. The calculated loudness range is the ratio between the loudest and quietest remaining audio blocks. This measurement helps to decide if and how much compression or expansion can or should be applied to the audio.

When a digital signal is converted to an analog signal, the EBU R-128 recommends measuring an estimation of the real peaks, rather than relying on digital peaks, to avoid clipping and distortion. This is accomplished by over-sampling the signal 4 times and retaining the peak values.

Naming and Units

The EBU R-128 proposes naming and units conventions:

• A relative measurement, such as a value relative to a reference

• An absolute measurement, LUFS as "Loudness Unit Full Scale". 1

When WaveLab relates to the EBU R-128 loudness, these units are used rather than dB.

level: "LU" as "Loudness Unit" (1 LU is 1 dB).

LUFS can be understood as 1

dB in the AES-17 scaling.

Command Bars

Commonly used tools, shortcuts, and commands are represented by command buttons. Related buttons are grouped into various Command bars.

Command bars in the Audio Files workspace

Program Overview

You can dock Command bars to any window edge or open them in a separate window, and rearrange them freely. Each workspace has an appropriate set of command bars that can be displayed. All the commands that are represented by the command buttons are also available on the menus.

RELATED LINKS:

“Locking the Window Layout” on page 657

Hiding and Showing Command Bars

You can hide command bars that are irrelevant for your project.

• To view a list of available command bars, in the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, right-click an empty part of the top edge of the workspace, or select Workspace >

Command bars.

Program Overview

Status Bar

Docking Command Bars

Command bars can either be used as separate floating windows or docked at the top, bottom, left, or right side of the workspace window.

• To make a command bar floatable, right-click the bar, and select Floatable. Then click the dots on the left side or the top of the command bar to drag the bar to another location.

• To dock a floating command bar, right-click the bar, and select Floatable. Then click the dots on the left side of the command bar to drag the bar to the top, bottom, left, or right side of the workspace window.

Status Bar

The status bar at the bottom of the screen of the Audio Files workspace and the Audio Montage workspace shows information about the active window using the units specified in the rulers.

The information displayed on the status bar is updated depending on the cursor position and on the audio selection that you have made.

Time/Level (dB)

Displays the time of the audio file at the mouse cursor position. In the Audio Files workspace, it also displays the level.

Audio information at edit cursor

Displays the time at the position of the edit cursor. This information changes when you reposition the cursor.

• To define the cursor position, click the indicator to open the Cursor position dialog.

• To focus the cursor position, right-click the indicator.

Program Overview

Status Bar

Audio selection indicator (Audio Files workspace)/ Audio range indicator (Audio Montage workspace)

In the Audio Files workspace, this displays the length of the current selection, or the total length of the audio file if no selection has been made.

In the Audio Montage workspace, this displays the length of the audio selection, if a clip is focused, or the size of the audio montage.

When you have zoomed in, you can right-click the indicator to display the selected audio range, the focused clip, or the whole file. Left-click the indicator to open the Audio Range dialog, where you can define or refine a selection.

Zoom indicator

Displays the current zoom factor.

• To open a pop-up menu, where you can make additional zoom settings, click the indicator.

• To open the Zoom factor dialog, where you can edit the zoom factor, right-click the indicator.

Sampler key indicator (Audio Files workspace only)

Indicates the key of the current audio file (if defined). Click the indicator to open the Sample Attributes window.

Audio properties indicator

In the Audio Files workspace, this displays the bit resolution and the sample rate. It also indicates whether the audio file is mono or stereo. Click the indicator to open the Audio properties dialog.

In the Audio Montage workspace, this displays the number of audio channels and the sample rate of the audio montage. Click the indicator to open the Audio Montage properties dialog.

Play through Master Section

If this button is activated, the audio is played through the Master Section. If the button is deactivated, the Master Section is ignored.

Store Master Section preset

Opens the Save Master Section Preset dialog, where you can save the active Master Section configuration inside the companion file or audio montage.

Load Master Section preset stored with the audio file/audio montage

Applies the Master Section with the configuration previously saved to the audio file/audio montage.

Program Overview

Context Menus

Include Master Section preset when rendering as super clip (Audio Montage workspace only)

If this option is activated, the Master Section preset stored with the audio montage is used when rendering super clips of audio montages.

Document button (drag and drop)

Allows you to drag the current file into another file, for example, an audio file to the Audio Montage workspace. This is equivalent to dragging the file tab.

Background information

The status bar shows the progress of some background operations, such as rendering an effect. The operation can be paused or canceled using the provided buttons.

Context Menus

Throughout WaveLab, various context menus are available. These menus group the commands and/or options that are specific to the current working window.

The context menus appear when you right-click certain areas and are useful for speeding up your workflow.

For example, right-click a file tab to open a context menu with some relevant file options. Right-click the ruler of the waveform window brings up the Time Ruler context menu that allows you to access a number of options for changing the time ruler display format.

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

You can find most context menu commands in the main menus, but some commands are only available in context menus. When you search for a function, right-click the current working window to check if it has a context menu.

Context menu in the wave window

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

In the Audio Files workspace, you can display a time and a level ruler in the wave window. In the Audio Montage workspace, you can display a time ruler in the montage window.

You can also determine which time and level units the rulers show.

Time ruler

Level ruler (Audio Files workspace only)

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Time Ruler and Level Ruler Options

You can specify the time and level (amplitude) formats for each ruler in each wave window and the time formats for each ruler in the montage window separately by right-clicking the ruler, and selecting a format from the pop-up menu.

Time Ruler Menu

Timecode

Displays a list of frames per second for various SMPTE timecodes and for CD resolution.

Clock

Displays time units.

Samples

Positions are shown as number of samples. The number of samples per second depends on the sample rate of the audio file. For example, at 44.1 kHz, there are 44100 samples per second.

Bars and beats

If this is selected, the ruler is linear relative to the meter position.

File size (Audio Files workspace only)

Shows positions in MegaBytes. Decimals represent KiloBytes.

Show grid (Audio Montage workspace only)

Displays vertical lines in the montage window, aligned with time ruler marks.

Time format

Opens the Time format dialog, where you can edit the appearance of the time ruler formats.

Save current settings as default

If this option is activated, the time ruler uses the current time format in all new wave windows or montage windows.

Set ruler’s origin to start of file

If this option is activated, the ruler’s zero position is set to the beginning of the first sample.

Set ruler’s origin at cursor

If this option is activated, the ruler’s zero position is set to the current cursor position.

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Set ruler’s origin to BWF reference (Audio Files workspace only)

If this option is activated, the first sample matches the BWF time reference, provided that the time reference is available.

Show playback range

If this option is activated, the time ruler displays the audio range that is played with the “Play Range” command.

Show playback anchor

If this option is activated, a marker is displayed below the time ruler to indicate the audio anchor that corresponds to the “Play From” and “Play To” commands.

Show pre-/post-roll

If this option is activated, the pre-roll and post-roll times are displayed.

Level Ruler Menu (Audio Files workspace only)

Sets the level format to decibels.

+-100 %

Sets the level format to percentage.

Normalized +1/-1

Sets the level format to a ruler gradation corresponding to 32-bit float audio.

16-bit range

Sets the level format to a ruler gradation corresponding to 16-bit audio.

24-bit range

Sets the level format to a ruler gradation corresponding to 24-bit audio.

Save current settings as default

If this option is activated, the level ruler uses the current level format in all new wave windows.

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Time Format Dialog

In this dialog, you can customize the time format. The time format of the ruler is also used in various time fields, for example, the status bar and certain dialogs.

In the Audio Files workspace, depending on whether you want to set the time format for the overview display or the main view display, select

View > Overview display > Time ruler > Time format or View > Main view display > Time ruler > Time format.

In the Audio Montage workspace, select View > Time ruler > Time format.

Timecode Tab

On this tab, you can configure the appearance of the Timecode option.

Frames per second

List of standard frame rates. From the drop-down menu, select Other to enter a custom frame rate. You can also choose which frames/units are displayed.

Show absolute frames

Shows the time format as a number of frames, without other time elements.

Show quarter frames

Adds the quarter frame number to the time format.

Show hundredth frames

Adds the number of a hundredths of a frame to the time format.

Show units

Adds time units to the time format of the ruler.

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Clock Tab

On this tab, you can configure the appearance of the Clock option.

Show Units

Adds time units to the time format of the ruler.

Compact

Shows the time without unit indicators.

Meter Tab

On this tab, you can configure the appearance of the Bars and beats option.

Time signature

Lets you edit the time signature used to display the time represented as a musical notation.

Tempo

Lets you edit the tempo used to display the time represented as a musical notation.

Ticks per quarter note

Lets you edit the number of ticks per quarter note that are used to display times that are compatible with your sequencer.

Program Overview

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Offset Tab

On this tab, you can configure the Time ruler offset.

Zero (default)

Deactivates the time offset in the ruler.

Set zero-point at cursor position

Sets the current cursor position to be the starting point of the ruler.

Set zero-point at BWF time reference (Audio Files workspace only)

If the audio file contains BWF meta-data, the corresponding time reference value is used as offset.

Set time of first sample

Specifies the time that corresponds to the ruler’s zero origin.

Setting the Cursor Position

Many operations, such as playback and selection, depend on the current cursor position. For example, playback often starts at the cursor position. The current cursor position is indicated by a vertical flashing line.

There are various ways to move the cursor:

• Click somewhere in the wave window, the montage window, or the time ruler. If you have made a selection, click the time ruler to prevent deselecting.

• Click and drag in the time ruler.

• Use the transport controls.

• Select View > Move cursor to, and select an option.

• Use the cursor keys.

• Double-click a marker.

Program Overview

PROCEDURE

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Setting the Ruler Start Position

By default, the audio file starts at the ruler position “0”. However, you can set the “0” position at another position.

1. In the wave window or the montage window, right-click the time ruler, and select Time Format.

2. Select the Offset tab.

3. Select one of the Time ruler offset options, and click OK.

Working With a Meter-Based Display

If your working material is tempo-based, you can select the meter format (bars, beats, and ticks) for the ruler legend. This makes it easier to find musically related cutting points.

1. In the wave window or the montage window, right-click the time ruler, and select Bars and beats.

2. Right-click the time ruler, and select Time format.

3. On the Meter tab, set the Time signature and Tempo to values that match your audio file.

4. Set the Ticks per quarter note setting to a number that you feel comfortable with.

For example, this can be the same value that is used by your MIDI sequencer.

5. Click OK.

Program Overview

NOTE

Value Editing

At various places in the program, numerical values can be edited by using a combination of text fields and spin controls.

These values are sometimes composed of several parts, for example, 12 mn 30 sec 120 ms. Each value can be edited by using any of the following methods:

• To change a value, click in a value field and type a new value, or

• To change the value by one unit at a time, press the [Left Arrow]

• To change the value by several units, press the page up and page

click the small arrows in the value field.

and [Right Arrow] keys.

down keys.

• To change the value using the mouse wheel, position the mouse cursor over a value, and spin the mouse wheel, or use the AI knob of your MIDI controller.

• To change the value with the mouse, click a value and drag the mouse up or down.

• To jump to the maximum and minimum values, press the [Home] and [End] keys.

• To move from one part of the value to another, press the [Left Arrow] and [Right Arrow] keys.

Drag Operations

WaveLab makes much use of drag-and-drop techniques to perform various operations, some of which cannot be performed otherwise. These are referred to as drag operations in this documentation.

• To drag an object, click and hold with the mouse when positioned on the object and drag it. Drop the object by releasing the button.

Many types of objects can be dragged between different source and destination locations including files, text, clips, items in a list, and markers.

It is also possible to drag and drop files from WaveLab to Steinberg’s Nuendo.

Program Overview

Drag Operations

Drag objects within and between workspaces to perform the following operations:

• To dock a tool window, drag its title bar to any side of the workspace, beside or above another tool window.

• To move a command bar, drag the bar grip at the left-hand end of a command bar and reposition it.

• To reorder a tab within its own tabbed group, drag horizontally. To move a tab to another workspace, drag vertically.

• To drag any object to another workspace, use the Central Switcher bar. Drag the object over the corresponding workspace icon in the Central Switcher bar, wait until the new workspace becomes active, and drag the tab in the target workspace.

• To open a file, drag a compatible file from the File Browser window of WaveLab, from the file browser of the operation system, or from another application to the tab bar.

• To create a copy of a file, drag its tab vertically to another position of the tab bar, then press [Ctrl]/[Option], and release the mouse button.

Dragging in the Audio Files Workspace and Audio Montage Workspace

• To insert an audio file in another audio file, drag the title bar tab or document button of the file onto the waveform area of another file. You can also drag an audio file directly from the File Browser window, the file browser of your system, or from another application into the Audio Files workspace.

• To move a marker, drag it along the time ruler.

• To create a copy of this marker, press [Shift], and drag it to another position on the time ruler.

• To delete a marker, drag it above the time ruler.

• To copy an audio selection, drag a selected region of audio onto the waveform area of the same file or another file.

• To change the extent of a selection range, position the edit cursor at the start/end of the selection range, and drag to the left or right.

• To move the edit cursor without losing the current selection, and to snap it to an anchor, press [Shift], and move the mouse near the audio file/montage cursor. The mouse cursor shape changes and you can drag the cursor left and right.

Program Overview

Drag Operations

• To move the edit cursor without changing or losing the current selection, press [Shift], click the edit cursor, and drag it to another position.

• To scroll the waveform horizontally, click the bar above the time ruler and drag left or right. You can also click anywhere on the waveform using the 3rd mouse button, and drag left or right.

• To create a generic marker from a selected text, drop text that you have selected in an external application onto the time ruler. The text becomes the marker’s name.

• To create a stereo copy of a mono file, or a mixed copy of a stereo file, drag a tab to another position of the tab bar, press [Ctrl]-[Alt] (Windows) or [Options]-[Ctrl] (Mac), and release the mouse button.

Dragging in the Podcast Workspace

• To reorder episodes in the episodes list, drag them to another position.

Dragging in the Master Section

• To change the order of processing, drag effects between different effects slots.

Dragging in the Batch Processors Workspace

• To change the order in which plug-ins are processed, drag plug-ins within the audio plug-in chain window.

• To add a file to batch process, drag a file tab to the batch conversion tool or batch processor.

Program Overview

NOTE

Undoing and Redoing

You can undo and redo as many steps as you like. The only limitation is the available hard disk space.

By default, when undoing or redoing any operation in the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, the zoom factor, cursor position, scroll position, clip selection status, and time range are restored to the state before the operation occured.

To exclude the scroll and zoom settings when undoing/redoing, deactivate Edit > Undo/Redo including zoom settings. This is useful if you make an operation, zoom in on the changed area, and then undo the step to see the change, for example. When you do this you do not want snapshots to be restored and change your scroll and zoom settings. This option is independent for the Audio Files workspace and the Audio Montage workspace.

• To undo a step, in the Audio Files workspace or Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Undo.

• To redo a step, in the Audio Files workspace or Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Redo.

Clearing the Undo/Redo History

If you have a large number of undo/redo steps that you no longer need, you can clear the whole change history. This frees up memory, hard disk space, and any involved audio file.

This function must be activated for each file separately. Only the undo/redo history for the active file is cleared.

• In the Audio Files workspace, select Edit > Clear change history, and click OK.

• In the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > History > Clear, and click OK.

When you save an audio file, the undo history is cleared automatically. This is not the case for audio montages.

Program Overview

Undoing and Redoing

About Undo/Redo and History in the Audio Montage Workspace

The undo/redo function in the Audio Montage workspace is identical with the undo/redo function in the Audio Files workspace. However, the Audio Montage workspace provides additional undo/redo functions and a History window that allows you to view a history of all recent editing activities in the audio montage and to revert to a previous state.

Each audio montage has its own history.

• To open the History window, select Workspace > Specific tool windows > History.

• To revert the current audio montage to a previous state, double-click the operation to which you want to return.

• To group similar operations in the undo history, select Options > Audio Montage Preferences, and on the All Audio Montages tab, activate Group similar operations. This groups all operations of the same type to one single operation, as soon as an operation of another type is performed.

• To clear the history after each saving, select Options > Audio montage preferences, and on the All Audio Montages tab, activate Clear after each saving.

• To undo all operations, select Edit > History > Undo all operations.

• To undo all operations since the last saving command, select Edit

> History > Undo all operations since the last saving command.

• To redo all operations, select Edit > History > Redo all operations.

• To clear the history, select Edit > History > Clear.

Program Overview

Zooming

History Window

In this window, you can see all the operations that have been performed in the Audio Montage workspace at a specific time and revert to a previous state.

In the Audio Montage workspace, select Workspace > Specific tool

windows > History.

Status

Shows which operations are done and undone.

Operation

Time

Description

Zooming

There are several zooming functions in the Audio Files workspace and Audio Montage workspace.

Horizontal Zooming

• When you zoom out as far as possible, the entire file fits in the

Shows the type of the performed operation.

Shows the time at which the operation was performed.

Describes the performed operation in detail.

window.

• When you zoom in as far as possible, each sample occupies several pixels on the screen. This allows for single sample-accurate editing of waveforms.

Program Overview

Zooming

Vertical Zooming

• When you zoom out as far as possible, the height of the wave fits

• As you progressively zoom in, the display only shows a part of the

• To optimize the vertical zoom of the waveform, press

High Zoom Level

• When the zooming level is very high, each sample is shown with a

in the window.

total height. The vertical scrollbars lets you adjust exactly which section is shown. Check the ruler to see which part of the waveform is currently shown in the display.

[Ctrl]/[Command], click and hold the time ruler, and move the mouse up or down.

step and a bullet. The steps show the real digitized state, while the bullets make it easier to see the samples, especially for zeroed samples.

• The curve also represents an estimation of the analog reconstructed signal to give hints on true peaks.

Zooming in the Overview and Main View Sections (Audio Files Workspace Only)

• You can have different zoom levels in the overview and main view section. In the overview, a range indicator on the time ruler indicates which section of the file is currently displayed in the main view. The range indicator is only shown if the option Sync with other view is deactivated.

• To adjust the zoom level, drag the edges of the range indicator.

Program Overview

Zooming

• To scroll in the main view, drag the range indicator.

Range indicator at the top of the overview display

• To adjust the zoom level using the scrollbar, drag the edges of the scrollbar.

Zooming Using the Zoom Controls

Both the main view and the overview have horizontal and vertical zoom controls.

• To zoom horizontally, click the Horizontal zoom control, and drag left or right, or use the mouse wheel.

• To zoom vertically, click the Vertical zoom control, and drag up or down, or use the mouse wheel.

• To fully zoom-out, double-click the zoom controls.

Program Overview

PROCEDURE

Zooming

Zooming Using the Magnifying Glass Tool

The Magnifying Glass tool is used to zoom in a specific section of the waveform so that is occupies the entire wave window. This is only available in the Audio Files workspace.

Using the Magnifying Glass Tool in the Main View

The selection that you make in the main view of the wave window is magnified and fills up the entire main view.

1. In the Audio Files workspace, activate the Magnifying Glass tool by doing one of the following:

• Click the Magnifying Glass icon.

• Hold down [Ctrl]/[Command].

2. In the main view of the wave window, click and drag left or right, and release the mouse button.

The selected part of the wave now occupies the entire main window.

Using the Magnifying Glass Tool in the Overview

The selection that you make in the overview of the wave window is displayed in the main view.

• In the overview of the wave window, click and drag left or right, and release the mouse button.

RESULT

The selected range of the waveform is shown in the main view.

Program Overview

Zooming

Zooming Using the Mouse

With the mouse, you can change the zoom factor by clicking and dragging or by scrolling the mousewheel.

• To zoom horizontally, in the wave window or the montage window, position the mouse cursor over the time ruler, click, and drag up or down.

• To zoom horizontally while maintaining the cursor position, position the mouse cursor over the time ruler, press [Shift], and drag up or down.

• To zoom horizontally using the mousewheel, press [Ctrl]/[Command], point at a waveform, and move the mousewheel.

• To zoom vertically using the mousewheel, press [Shift], point at a waveform, and move the mousewheel.

Audio Files Workspace Only

• To zoom vertically, in the wave window, position the mouse cursor over the level ruler, click, and drag left or right.

• To reset the vertical zoom to 0 dB, double-click the level ruler.

• To set the vertical zoom to the best value that is the current minimum and maximum displayed samples, make sure that the level ruler is set to 0 dB, and double-click the level ruler.

Zooming Using the Keyboard

A quick way to zoom the active wave or montage window is to use the arrow keys on the computer keyboard.

• To zoom horizontally in the active wave window or montage window, press [Arrow Up] or [Arrow Down].

• To zoom vertically in the active wave/montage window, hold [Shift], and press [Arrow Up] or [Arrow Down].

• To zoom vertically to fit the available height, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Arrow Up].

• To zoom out fully, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Arrow Down]. To zoom in fully, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Arrow Up].

Program Overview

Zooming

Zoom Menu

The zoom menu allows you to quickly access various zoom settings.

In the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select

View > Zoom.

View all

Zooms out as far as possible.

Zoom in on 1 minute/30 seconds/10 seconds/.../500 ms

Adjusts the zoom to display the selected time range.

Zoom in 1:1

Zooms in so that one pixel on the screen represents one sample.

Microscope

Zooms in as far as possible.

Zoom selection

Zooms the window so that the current selection occupies the entire wave/montage window.

Zoom in on selected clips (Audio Montage workspace only)

Zooms in to display all selected clips in the wave/montage window.

Zoom in audio

Zooms in in small steps.

Zoom out audio

Zooms out in small steps.

Edit

Opens the Zoom factor dialog, where you can edit the zoom factor.

• Samples per screen point allows you to specify how many audio samples are summarized in each screen point.

• Screen points per sample allows you to specify how many screen points are used to represent a single audio sample.

Program Overview

Zooming

Reset vertical zoom to 1:1

Adjusts zoom to display audio levels up to 0 dB.

Optimize vertical zoom

Changes the vertical zoom factor so that the peaks are clearly visible. This adjustment is done according to the section of the wave that is currently visible in the wave/montage window.

Optimize vertical zoom (Audio Files workspace only)

Zooms in to display all audio peaks in the wave window.

Zoom to -12 db/-24 db/.../-96 db

Adjusts the zoom to only display samples below the selected dB value.

Zoom in vertically

Zooms in to show waveforms with a lower level.

Zoom out vertically

Zooms out to show waveforms with a higher level.

About Zooming in the Audio Montage Workspace

Zooming options in the Audio Montage workspace are almost similar to those in the Audio Files workspace. However, there are additional zooming options for tracks and the Zoom window for displaying a close-up view of the beginning of the focused track.

Zoom Buttons in the Audio Montage Workspace

The zoom buttons in the Audio Montage workspace allow you to apply zoom presets.

• To only display the focused track, or also the tracks below and/or above the focused track, click the corresponding buttons.

• To set the zoom setting to fit the focused clips in 25 %, 50 %, or 100

% of the available space, click the corresponding buttons.

Program Overview

Managing Tabs

Displaying More or Less Tracks

• To select a certain area, click [Ctrl]/[Command], and drag the rectangle over the tracks and clips that you want to zoom in.

The number of tracks that are displayed in the Audio Montage workspace can be changed with the magnification controls in the lower right corner of the montage window.

• To display more tracks, click the smaller magnifying glass icon.

• To display less tracks, click the larger magnifying glass icon.

• To make a single track fit the whole montage window, click the numbered button to the left of a track, and select Zoom from the pop-up menu. You can also right-click the lower area of a track, and select Whole clip from the pop-up menu.

Managing Tabs

A tab is a container for a file in WaveLab. You can open several tabs, but only one can be active at a time. The Tabs menu allows you to sort and close tabs and navigate between the tabs.

Close/Close all but active/Close all

Closes the active tab, all tabs except the active tab, or all tabs.

Select files to close

Opens a dialog in which you can specify the files to be closed.

Sort

Lets you sort the tabs by name, date, or modification date. If several tab groups exist, only the active tab group is sorted.

Activate next/previous

Selects the next/previous tab.

Pick list

Opens a list of all open tabs. To open a tab, double-click it.

Program Overview

Managing Tabs

Move to new workspace

Opens the active tab in a new workspace of the same type.

The following options are only available in the Audio Files workspace:

Cascade

Cascades the open tabs.

Tile

Tiles the open tabs.

Fold

Displays only the title bar of the tabs.

Restore

Restores the tab to its original size.

Minimize/Maximize

Minimizes/maximizes the tab.

Files to Close Dialog

In this dialog, you can specify which files you want to close.

In any workspace, except the Control Window workspace, select Tabs

> Select files to close.

Files list

Displays all open files. You can set a checkmark for the files that you want to close. By default, only the active file will remain open and all other files will be closed.

Select all

Select all files in the list.

Select none

Deselects all files in the list.

Close files

Closes the files.

Program Overview

PROCEDURE

Presets

Saving a Preset

You can create presets to save commonly used settings. WaveLab provides a selection of presets that can be used by most dialogs.

You can save customized presets. The next time that you load the program, the presets are available.

Presets are saved as single files and can be organized in subfolders. The root folder of the preset is different for each type of preset and cannot be changed.

Saved presets can be used to apply commonly used settings to dialogs or plug-ins.

Loading Presets

1. Open the dialog that you want to use, and modify the parameters.

2. Select the Preset menu, and select Save as.

3. Optional: Click the folder icon, and select a name for a subfolder in which you want to save the preset.

4. Type in a name, and click Save.

To apply a saved preset to a dialog or plug-in, you must load the preset.

• Inside a dialog, click the Presets menu, and select the preset that you want to apply to the dialog.

Program Overview

PROCEDURE

Presets

Modifying a Preset

You can modify a preset and save the changes.

1. Open the dialog that you want to use, and load the preset that you

2. Modify the parameters of the dialog.

3. Click the Preset menu, and select Save.

Deleting a Preset

1. Open the dialog that you want to use and select the preset that you

want to modify.

want to delete.

2. Click the Presets menu, and select Organize presets.

3. In the Explorer window, select the preset file that you want to delete, and press [Delete].

Storing and Restoring Temporary Presets

Some dialogs allow you to save and load up to 5 temporary presets. This is useful if you want to quickly test and compare different settings.

Storing Presets

1. Open the dialog that you want to use, and make your settings.

2. Click the Presets menu, and from the Store temporarily submenu, select a slot.

Program Overview

PROCEDURE

NOTE

PROCEDURE

Saving a Picture of the Active Window

Restoring Presets

1. Open the dialog in which you have saved a preset.

2. Click the Presets menu, and from the Restore submenu, select a preset.

Saving a Picture of the Active Window

You can save a picture of the active window in the BMP, JPG/JPEG, or PNG file format, or copy it to the clipboard.

Plug-in windows are not included in the picture.

1. Click in the window for which you want to save a picture.

For example, click in the wave window or the montage window.

2. In the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select View > Save picture of active window.

The Save picture of active window dialog opens.

3. In the Save picture of active window dialog, you have the following options:

• To copy the picture to the clipboard, activate Copy to clipboard.

• To save the picture in a specified file format, activate Save as file.

Optionally, you can activate Open picture after saving.

Program Overview

Log Window

4. Click OK.

• If you have activated Copy to clipboard, the picture is copied to

the clipboard.

• If you have activated Save as file, the Save as dialog opens where

you can specify the file location, file format, and file name. Click Save to confirm your settings.

If you have set the montage window as the active window, the resulting picture could look like this.

Log Window

This window allows you to view log messages that have been issued by WaveLab.

For example, when using the scripting language of WaveLab, the logWindow( ) function outputs messages to this window. Toggle buttons allow you to filter the types of messages that are displayed.

In the Audio Files workspace, the Audio Montage workspace, or the Control Window select Workspace > Shared tool windows > Log.

Clear

Removes all messages from the window.

Program Overview

Log Window

Show errors

If this option is activated, error messages are displayed.

Show warnings

If this option is activated, warning messages are displayed.

Show notes

If this option is activated, notes are displayed.

File Operations

List of All Open Files Throughout the Application Dialog

In this dialog, all open files in WaveLab are listed.

In any workspace, select Global > List of all open files.

The dialog displays all the files that are opened in workspaces. These can be opened, closed, renamed, and saved, and audio files can be auditioned. The list can also be filtered by file type.

The dialog is automatically updated if a file is closed, opened, saved, or edited. You can navigate in the list using the arrow keys, or pressing [A]-[Z] on your keyboard.

Filter pop-up

The pop-up in the top right corner allows you to filter the list by file type.

Visible/Hidden files

This opens let you show visible files and/or hidden files. Hidden files are shown with gray text.

Bring to front

Brings the file that is selected in the list to the front.

and close this window

If this option is activated, this window closes, after you have clicked Bring to front.

Closes the selected file.

Play/Stop

Plays back the selected audio file. If you click the button again, the playback stops.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

NOTE

Recently Used Files

Save

If a file has unsaved changes, you can click this button to save the file in its current location.

Rename

Opens the Rename dialog where you can rename the selected file, and optionally change its path.

Close this window

Closes the dialog.

Recently Used Files

All files that you have recently used in WaveLab are saved in a list. This helps you to gain fast access to recent projects.

Opening Recently Used Files

You can open recently used files via the File menu, or open the Recently used files dialog, which displays more files and offers additional

options.

1. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Open recent.

2. Choose from which workspace you want to open the file, by selecting the corresponding tab.

3. Optional: Use the search field to enter the name of the file that you are looking for.

4. Select the file that you want to open, and select Open selection.

If you cannot find the file that you are looking for in the list, select Open

other, and select the file from the Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder.

File Operations

Recently Used Files

Recently Used Files Dialog

This dialog allows you to view and manage all the files that you have recently used in WaveLab. You can search for files, open multiple files at once, and remove individual files or files that cannot be located from the list.

In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Open

recent.

Only show recently created files

Only shows the files that have not been opened since they were created by WaveLab. For example, a file that is rendered has this status until it is opened.

Search field

Lets you search for text in the Name column.

Remove non-existing files

Removes files from the list that cannot be located on the media.

Remove selected files

Removes all selected files from the list.

Filtering Recently Used Files by Name

The search field in the Recently used files dialog allows you to filter the files list by name.

To specify if the Name or the Path column is used, click the column header.

• In the Recently used files window, enter the text that you want to search for in the search field.

• To switch the focus from the search field to the list of recently used files, press the arrow down key.

• To switch the focus from the list of recently used files to the search field, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[F].

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Favorite Files

Setting the Number of Recently Used Files

1. In any workspace, select Options (WaveLab menu on Mac) > Global preferences > Display.

2. In the Miscellaneous options section, set the maximum number of items that you want to list in the following areas:

• Recent file menus

• Recent file manager

• Recent folders menu

3. Click OK.

Favorite Files

You can add files that you are using regularly to the favorite files list.

• To add a file to the favorite files list, select File > Favorite files > Add active file.

• To open a file from the favorite files list, select File > Favorite files, and select the file from the menu.

• To remove files from the favorite files list, select File > Favorite

files > Edit list, select the files that you want to remove, and click Remove selected files.

• To remove files that have been deleted from the favorite files list, select File > Favorite files > Edit list, and click Remove non-existing files.

• To save a list of all open files, select File > Export > List of all

open files, specify a name and a location for the file list, and click Save.

• To open a saved list of all open files, select File > Import > List of files to open, select the file list, and click Open.

File Operations

Favorite Files

Favorite Files Dialog

This dialog allows you to display and edit the favorite files list.

In any workspace, select File > Favorite files > Edit list.

List of favorite files

Shows the favorite files.

Only show recently created files

Only shows the files that have not been opened since they were created by WaveLab. For example, a file that is rendered has this status until it is opened.

Search field

Lets you filter the favorite files list.

Audio File/Audio Montage/Batch Processor/Podcast

Lets you display the favorite files of a specific workspace.

Remove non-existing files

Removes files from the list that are no longer present on the media.

Remove selected files

Removes all selected files from the list.

Open selected

Opens the selected files in WaveLab.

Open other

Opens the file selector where you can select files and add them to the favorite files list.

File Operations

Save and Save As

Filtering Favorite Files

The search field in the Favorite files dialog allows you to filter the favorite files list by names.

• In the Favorite files dialog, enter the text that you want to search for in the search field.

• To switch the focus from the search field to the favorite files list, press the arrow down key.

• To switch the focus from the favorite files list to the search field, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[F].

Save and Save As

• When you save a file for the first time, it does not matter whether

• Once a file has been saved, select File > Save, or press

• If you want to specify a new name, location, and/or file format,

• In the Audio Files workspace, all save operations except Save

About Tab Colors

Tab colors give information on whether a file is saved or not.

The following colors can be shown:

Orange

you select Save or Save as.

[Ctrl]/[Command]-[S] to update the file and make the changes permanent.

select File > Save as.

Copy clear the undo history, which means that after saving you cannot undo or redo.

The file is saved.

Green (Audio Files workspace only)

The file uses a decoded file format and is saved.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Save and Save As

Unsaved Changes Indicator

Purple

A new file that is not empty but has not been saved yet. For example, when creating a new file and pasting content into it.

Red

The file has been modified and changes have not been saved yet.

When you have made changes to a file, an asterisk is displayed next to the file name until you save the file and the tab changes its color.

Save Multiple Files at Once

You can save some or all open files at once.

1. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Save all.

2. Select the files that you want to save.

3. Click Save.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Save and Save As

Reverting to Saved File

You can revert the file you are working on back to its last saved state. This undoes all the changes made to the file since it was last saved.

1. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Revert to saved.

2. In the warning dialog, click Yes to revert to the last saved state.

RESULT

The last saved version of the file is loaded from disk.

Automatic Backups

Backups are created automatically if a file with the same name already exists.

For example, if you select Save As and specify a file name already used in that folder, you will be asked if you want to back up the existing file first. If you click Yes, the backup name will be the original name, with “.bak” added at the end.

About Saving Audio Montages

The saving operations for audio montages are the same as for audio files. However, there are things to note when saving audio montages.

• Audio montage files only contain references to audio files. If you want to rename audio files referenced by audio montages, use the Rename dialog. All clip references are updated automatically.

• If the audio montage contains clips that refer to untitled audio files, save these audio files before saving the audio montage.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Templates

You can create a template from an active audio montage, audio file, Podcast, or batch processor document and use it as a basis for newly created files.

Creating a Template

Templates are useful when creating new audio files, audio montages, Podcasts, or batch processes.

PREREQUISITE

Set up the audio file, audio montage, Podcast, or batch processor file properties.

1. Select File > Export > Template.

2. In the Save Template dialog, do one of the following.

• To create a new template, select New, enter a name, and click OK.

• To update an existing template, select Update.

3. When saving or updating an audio file template or an audio montage template, you can make additional settings.

• When saving an audio file template, the Audio File Template

Parameters dialog opens. Here, select whether WaveLab should propose a specific audio file configuration with optional meta-data when saving an audio file.

• When saving an audio montage template, the Audio Montage

Template Parameters dialog opens. Here, select whether to include track plug-ins, clips, and/or markers. Also select whether WaveLab should propose a specific audio file configuration with optional meta-data when rendering an audio montage.

4. Click OK.

File Operations

Templates

Audio File Template Parameters Dialog

This dialog displays the audio properties of the audio file template that you are creating. You can also specify whether to always propose a specific audio file configuration with optional meta-data when creating an audio file template or not.

In the Audio Files workspace, select File > Export > Template.

When saving, always propose a specific audio file configuration (with optional meta-data)

If this option is activated, whenever you open the Render or Save as dialogs, the audio file configuration specified below is proposed

by default.

Audio Montage Template Parameters Dialog

In this dialog, you can set various options when creating an audio montage template.

In the Audio Files workspace, select File > Export > Template.

Include track and master plug-ins

If this option is activated, track plug-ins and master plug-ins are saved in the template.

Include clips

If this option is activated, clips are saved in the template.

Include markers

If this option is activated, markers are saved in the template.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Templates

When saving, always propose a specific audio file configuration (with optional meta-data)

If this option is activated, whenever you open the Render dialog, the audio file configuration specified below is proposed by default.

Setting a Template as Default

You can set a template as default template.

PREREQUISITE

Create a template with the settings that you want to use as default settings for a file.

1. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > New from.

2. From the templates list, select the template that you want to use as the default template.

3. Click Set as default.

4. Click OK.

RESULT

When you select New, a file based on the selected template is created. To remove the default template setting, click the Do not set as default button.

Creating a File From a Template

You can create a file from a template to use its settings.

1. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > New from.

2. From the list of the available templates, select the template that you want to take as the basis of the new file.

3. Click Open.

File Operations

Templates

Create From Template Dialog

This dialog shows all templates. Here, you can open and delete them, and set a default template.

In the any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > New

from. If no template exists, the dialog will not open.

List of the available templates

Lists all saved templates.

Use template name as default document name

If this option is activated, the new file uses the name of the template. If this option is deactivated, the name of the new file is “untitled”.

Set as default

Saves the selected template as default template.

Open

Creates a new file from the selected template.

None

Creates a new file without any reference to a template.

Explore

Opens the folder where the template files are located. Here, you can delete templates.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

File Renaming

The Rename function allows you to rename a file and update all references automatically. For example, if you rename an audio file named “India” to “Sitar”, all currently open files that reference the file “India” are updated to reference the file as “Sitar”.

Audio files, peak, and marker files are also renamed accordingly.

The following files use audio file references:

• Audio montages

• Basic Audio CDs

• DVD-Audio projects

Renaming a File

1. Select the file that you want to rename.

2. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File >

3. Enter the new name and/or a new file location.

4. Select a file suffix from the drop-down list.

5. Click OK.

Rename File Dialog

In this dialog, you can choose a new file name, file extension, and folder location for the active file.

In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Rename.

Rename.

File Operations

NOTE

PROCEDURE

Deleting Files

Name

Type in the new name.

File extension drop-down list

Select a case for the file extension.

Change folder

If this option is activated, you can change the folder location of the file.

This is only possible within the same drive partition.

Keep as default

If this option is activated, the same path is selected next time you open the dialog. This is useful if you need to move several files successively.

Deleting Files

You can delete the currently active file from within WaveLab.

PREREQUISITE

The file that you want to delete is not copied to the clipboard, is not pasted into another file that is open, and is not open in another application.

1. Select the file that you want to delete.

2. In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Delete.

3. Click OK.

RESULT

The file, including it’s peak and marker files, is deleted.

File Operations

Special Menu

From this menu you can select various file related options, for example, you can add the active file to a Master Project, Batch Processor, Data CD/DVD, or Podcast.

In any workspace, except the Control Window, select File > Special.

Depending on the workspace, not all options are available.

Information

Displays information about the active file.

Add to Master Project

Adds the active file to a Master Project.

Add to Batch Processor

Adds the active file to a Batch Processor.

Add to Data CD/DVD

Adds the active file and all the related files to a Data CD/DVD.

Add to Podcast

Adds the active file to a Podcast.

Reveal in Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder

Opens the Windows Explorer/Mac OS Finder to show the location of the active file.

Copy to clipboard

Opens a menu, from which you can select which information about the active file you want to copy to the clipboard.

Create a file link on the desktop (Windows only)

Creates a file link on the desktop. The link opens the file with the default application associated with the file type.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Temporary Files

Temporary files are used for certain operations, such as the undo/redo functions. You can specify where WaveLab saves its temporary files.

You can specify up to three different folders for storing temporary files. If you have access to more than one drive, saving your temporary files on separate physical drives (not partitions) can speed up performance considerably.

For example, if your source files are located on the C: drive, you could specify D:\temp and E:\temp as temporary folders. This improves the performance and reduces disc fragmentation.

RELATED LINKS:

“Specifying Folders” on page 95

Work Folders vs. Document Folders

WaveLab distinguishes between two types of folders: work folders and document folders.

In work folders, temporary files are stored. Document folders contain WaveLab-specific files, such as wave files, audio montages, etc.

Specifying Folders

You can specify which folder should open when you perform any open or save operation (document folder). You can also specify up to three folders for temporary files (work folder).

1. Open the workspace for which you want to specify document folders.

2. Select Options > Folders.

3. Click the type of folder for which you want to specify a location.

4. Specify a location in the Folder field.

5. Optional: Depending on the selected type of folder, you can make additional settings.

6. Click OK.

File Operations

Work Folders vs. Document Folders

Folders Dialog

In this dialog, you can specify default document folders and work folders for each workspace.

In any workspace, select Options > Folders.

In the list to the left, you specify the folder type that you want to make settings for. The following options are available:

Folder for temporary files #1, #2, and #3

You can specify three folders for storing temporary files. If your system comprises multiple hard disks, specifying one folder for temporary files on each of these hard disks can speed up file operations.

Companion files

Specify a folder for storing the companion files, that is Master Section presets and view settings for audio files.

Cache folder

Activating Use cache folder for decoded files allows you to specify a cache folder. The cache folder contains wave files that are created when you are working with files in compressed file formats, such as MP3 files. To prevent the cache folder to grow indefinitely, WaveLab checks the date of each file in this folder and deletes files that were created before a certain number of days.

When Use cache folder for decoded files is deactivated, the compressed files are decoded each time they are opened.

Audio File - Open Folder/Save Folder

The default open and save folders for audio files.

Audio Montage - Open folder/Save folder

The default open and save folders for audio montage files.

Basic Audio CD - Open Folder/Save Folder

The default open and save folders for Basic Audio CD files.

File Operations

Work Folders vs. Document Folders

Batch Processor - Open Folder/Save Folder

DVD-Audio Project - Open Folder/Save Folder

Master Project - Open Folder/Save Folder

Podcast - Open Folder/Save Folder

Script (Audio File/Audio Montage) - Open Folder/Save Folder

Depending on the selected item, different settings are available on the right side of the dialog:

Current Folder

The default open and save folders for Batch Processor files.

The default open and save folders for DVD-Audio Project files.

The default open and save folders for Master Project files.

The default open and save folders for Podcast files.

The default open and save folders for script files.

In this field, the folder that is currently used as default is displayed. You can click the folder button to the right to navigate to a folder, or to create a new folder.

Keep last used

Uses the last folder for saving or opening files of the selected type.

Change when save-folder/open-folder changes

Updates the default open folder when you change the default save folder, and vice versa. Activate this option for both the save folder and the open folder for a specific file type to use the same folder for saving and for opening this type of file.

On opening the application, revert to this folder

Activate this option to restore a specific folder each time you open WaveLab. This way changes to save/open folders are only temporary and reset when you restart WaveLab.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Uploading to SoundCloud

SoundCloud is an online platform for uploading and sharing your audio recordings. The Upload to SoundCloud option in WaveLab allows you to upload an audio file directly to your SoundCloud account.

If you do not have a SoundCloud account, visit www.soundcloud.com to register.

1. In the Audio Files workspace, select File > Export > Upload to SoundCloud.

2. Once you have logged in to your SoundCloud account, the file upload starts.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK:

After uploading the audio file, you can edit the privacy settings and add meta-data.

Copying Audio Information to the Clipboard

You can copy information about the name and location of the selected audio file, including any selection information and cursor position. This information can be pasted into an external text application.

This is useful if you need accurate file path/selection information when writing a script, for example.

1. In the Audio Files workspace or the Audio Montage workspace, select Edit > Copy audio information.

File Operations

PROCEDURE

Setting the Focus on the Current File

2. In the Copy audio information dialog, activate the textual

3. Click OK.

information that you want to copy to the clipboard.

Setting the Focus on the Current File

If you are editing inside a floating window or a tool window and want to switch back the focus to a wave/montage window, you can use the Set focus on current file option.

• In any workspace, press [Win]/[Ctrl]-[ESC], to set the focus on the wave/montage window.

About Workspaces

A workspace provides an editing and playback environment for a particular audio file type. Each type of workspace has functions for its specific file types.

In WaveLab, each file type has its own workspace designed for a specific purpose:

• Audio Files workspace for viewing and editing audio files.

• Audio Montage workspace for assembling and editing audio montages.

• Batch Processors workspace for processing a list of audio files with offline effects, VST plug-ins, and Master Section presets.

• Podcast workspace for preparing and uploading Podcasts.

• Control Window workspace for hosting and organizing tool windows, especially in a multi-monitor setup.

A workspace is highly customizable to match your workflow. A workspace can appear as a simple window with a single menu or as a sophisticated arrangement of command bars, tool windows, tab groups, and active meters.

When a file is opened from a given workspace, it is added to the active tab group of this workspace. If a file is opened from the Control Window, a new workspace is created for it.

You can have several instances of the same workspace open simultaneously. For example, you can have two Audio Files workspaces open with different layouts.

You can drag files between workspaces if their formats are compatible. For example, you can drag an audio file from the Audio Files workspace to the Audio Montage workspace by using its tab bar or its document button.

100

Steinberg Wavelab - 8.0 Operation Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table of Contents

The Help System

Introduction

About the Program Versions

Typographical Conventions

How You Can Reach Us

Setting Up Your System

Connecting Audio

About Audio Cards and Background Playback

About Latency

Defining VST Audio Connections

CD/DVD Recorders

Remote Devices

WaveLab Concepts

General Editing Rules

Startup Screen

Basic Window Handling

Selecting Audio

Sliders

Renaming Items in Tables

File Browser

Tab Groups

Peak Files

Companion Files

EBU Loudness Standard R-128

Command Bars

Program Overview

Status Bar

Context Menus

Time Ruler and Level Ruler

Value Editing

Drag Operations

Undoing and Redoing

Zooming

Managing Tabs

Presets

Saving a Picture of the Active Window

Log Window

File Operations

List of All Open Files Throughout the Application Dialog

Recently Used Files

Favorite Files

Save and Save As

Templates

File Renaming

Deleting Files

Special Menu

Temporary Files

Work Folders vs. Document Folders

Uploading to SoundCloud

Copying Audio Information to the Clipboard

Setting the Focus on the Current File

About Workspaces