Steinberg Wavelab - 8.5 Instruction Manual

Operation Manual

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

Quarshie, Benjamin Schütte

Kevin 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.

7 Introduction

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

10 Setting Up Your System

10 Connecting Audio 10 About Audio Cards and Background

Playback

10 About Latency 11 Defining VST Audio Connections 14 CD/DVD Recorders 15 Remote Devices

26 WaveLab Concepts

26 General Editing Rules 27 Startup Screen 28 Basic Window Handling 31 Selecting Audio 38 Sliders 38 Renaming Items in Tables 39 File Browser 40 Tab Groups 42 Peak Files 42 Companion Files 43 EBU Loudness Standard R-128

45 Program Overview

45 Command Bars 46 Status Bar 47 Context Menus 48 Time Ruler and Level Ruler 54 Value Editing 54 Drag Operations 56 Undoing and Redoing 58 Zooming 65 Managing Tabs 66 Presets 68 Saving a Picture of the Active Window 69 Log Window

71 File Operations

71 List of All Open Files Throughout the

Application Dialog

72 Recently Used Files 73 Favorite Files 75 Save and Save As 77 Templates 80 File Renaming 82 Deleting Files 82 Special Menu 83 Temporary Files 83 Work Folders vs. Document Folders 86 Uploading to SoundCloud 86 Copying Audio Information to the Clipboard 87 Setting the Focus on the Current File

88 About Workspaces

89 Audio Files Workspace 89 Audio Montage Workspace 90 Batch Processors Workspace 90 Podcast Workspace 90 Control Window 91 Creating an Empty Workspace 92 New Workspace Dialog 93 Opening Files in a Workspace 93 Organizing Workspace Windows 94 Saving a Workspace Layout 94 About Tool Windows

98 Playback

98 Transport Bar 112 Playing Back Only One Channel 112 Starting Playback From the Ruler 113 Using the Play Tool 113 Playback Scrubbing 114 Timecode Window 115 Jog/Shuttle Function 116 Scroll During Playback 117 About Playback in the Audio Montage

Workspace

118 Speaker Configuration

120 Audio File Editing

120 Wave Window 129 File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace 153 Changing the Audio Properties 154 Meta-Data 160 Silence Generator Dialog 162 Waveform Restoration with the Pen Tool

164 Audio Analysis

164 Error Detection and Correction 171 Global Analysis 181 Audio File Comparator 183 3D Frequency Analysis

186 Offline Processing

186 Applying Processing 186 Gain Dialog 187 Normalize Level Dialog 188 Loudness Normalizer 190 Pan Normalizer Dialog 191 Envelope Dialog 192 Fades in Audio Files 194 Crossfades 195 Inverting the Audio Phase 195 Reversing Audio 195 DC Offset 196 Time Stretching 199 Pitch Shift 201 Pitch Quantize Dialog 202 Pitch Bend 204 Resample 205 Effect Morphing

208 Audio Montage

209 Montage Window 211 Signal Flow in the Audio Montage 212 Creating a New Audio Montage 214 Creating an Audio Montage from an Audio

File

214 Import Options for Audio Montages 216 Missing Files in Audio Montage Dialog 217 Assembling the Audio Montage 228 Rearranging Clips 235 Clip Editing 263 Audio Montages Within Audio Montages 269 Managing Source Files of Clips 274 Track Activity Indicator 274 Envelopes for Clips 283 Fades and Crossfades in the Audio

Montage

295 Clip Time Stretching 296 Clip Pitch Shifting 296 Effects for Tracks, Clips, and the Master

Output

311 About the CD Window 320 About Cloning Audio Montages 324 Snapshots 327 Mixing Down - The Render Function 328 Loudness Meta Normalizer 331 Navigator Window 331 Notes Window 332 About Groups 334 Backing Up Audio Montages 335 Multichannel Operations in the Audio

Montage

347 XML Export and Import of Audio Montages 348 AES-31 Files Export and Import

352 Recording

352 Setting Up the Recording Dialog 353 Dropping Markers During Recording 354 Recording Dialog 361 Recording in the Audio Montage

Workspace

362 Master Section

363 Master Section Window 380 Rendering 389 Record From an ASIO Input 390 Smart Bypass 392 Saving a Master Section Preset 397 About Monitoring Background Tasks 398 About Dropouts

399 Markers

401 Markers Window 405 About Creating Markers 410 Deleting Markers 412 Moving Markers 412 Moving Multiple Markers 414 Navigating to Markers 414 Hiding Markers of a Certain Type 414 Converting Marker Types 416 Renaming Markers 417 About Selecting Markers 417 Selecting the Audio Between Markers 417 Binding Markers to Clips in the Audio

Montage

418 Exporting the Markers List as Text 419 How Marker Information is Stored

420 Metering

420 Metering Window 420 Real Time vs. Non-Real Time 421 Metering Monitor Modes 422 About Meter Settings 422 Multichannel Metering 422 Resetting the Meters 423 Using Presets in the Meter Windows 423 Level Meter 427 Loudness Meter 431 Phasescope 433 Spectroscope 433 Spectrometer 436 Bit Meter 438 Oscilloscope 438 Wavescope

440 Basic Audio CD

441 Basic Audio CD Window 444 About CD Markers 444 Preparing a Basic Audio CD 446 Opening CD Tracks for Editing 447 About Playing Back Files in the Track List 448 Saving Basic Audio CD Tracks as Separate

Files

448 Saving Basic Audio CD Tracks as One File

449 DVD-Audio

449 Structure of a DVD-Audio Project 450 DVD-Audio Formats 450 DVD-Audio Format Considerations 451 DVD-Audio Window 454 Preparing a DVD-Audio 455 Opening Audio Montages for Editing 455 Checking the DVD-Audio Conformity

456 Writing Operations

456 Write Audio CD or DDP Dialog 458 Erase Optical Media Dialog 459 About Writing Audio Files 462 About Writing Audio Montages 477 Write DVD-Audio Function 481 Data CD/DVD Projects 485 About Audio CD Formats

489 Spectrum Editing

489 Spectrum Display 491 Surgical Processing 493 Master Section Processing 494 Spectrum Editor Window 500 Defining a Region for Spectrum Editing 501 Processing Frequency Ranges via the

Master Section

502 Auto Split

502 Auto Split in Audio Files 506 Auto Split in Audio Montages

509 Loops

509 Basic Looping 510 About Refining Loops 518 About Looping Seemingly Unloopable

Audio

522 About Sample Attributes

524 Generating Signals

524 Signal Generator 528 DTMF Generator

531 Importing Audio CD Tracks

531 Import Audio CD Dialog 535 Importing Audio CD Tracks 536 Searching Track Names on the Internet 536 Submitting Track Names to the Internet 537 About Ultra-Safe Mode 537 Converting Audio CD Tracks to an Audio

Montage

538 Converting Audio CD Tracks to a Basic

Audio CD

539 Batch Processing

541 Overview of the Batch Processors

Workspace

547 About Off-Line Processors 549 Working with the Batch Processors

Workspace

559 Watch Folders 575 XML Files in Batch Processing

583 Batch Conversion

583 Batch Conversion Dialog 584 Batch Converting Files

585 Batch Renaming

585 Batch Renaming Dialogs 585 Batch Renaming Files 587 Batch Renaming Markers 589 Batch Renaming Clips 590 Renaming Operation Categories and Types 595 List of Renaming Operations 595 Preview Section 596 Range Parameters 597 Previewing and Performing All Renaming

Operations

598 About Regular Expressions

602 Podcasts

603 Podcast Workspace 607 Global Podcast Options 607 Creating a Podcast 608 Setting Up a FTP for Podcast Publishing 608 Publishing a Podcast 609 FTP Site Dialog 610 Checking the Podcast

611 Master Projects

611 Setting Up a Master Project 612 Saving a Master Project 612 Writing Files of a Master Project to Data

CD/DVD

613 Master Project Window

615 Customizing

615 Window Layout 620 Customizing the Wave Window and the

Montage Window

628 About Customizing Shortcuts 635 Plug-ins Organization 643 Variables and Text Snippets 645 About Scripting

666 Configuring the Software

666 About Global Preferences 675 Audio File Editing Preferences Dialog 680 Audio Montage Preferences Dialog 682 Settings Management 683 Multi-User Settings 684 About External Tools

688 Plug-in Reference

688 Built-in Plug-ins 692 Steinberg VST 3 Plug-ins 748 Sonnox Restoration Toolkit 755 Legacy Plug-ins 755 Dithering Plug-ins 758 ASIO Plug-ins 760 Batch Processing Plug-ins

769 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.

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

Introduction

• 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).

• 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.

Introduction

NOTE

About the Program Versions

• 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.

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.

Introduction

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Defining VST Audio Connections

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Defining VST Audio Connections

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.

Global Settings

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

Audio device

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.

Control panel

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.

Refresh

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

Setting Up Your System

Defining VST Audio Connections

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.

Recording Tab

External Gear 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.

Setting Up Your System

CD/DVD Recorders

Options 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.

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

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.

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

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 Wave Lab, to light up a butt on or mov e 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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Remote Devices

Options Tab

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Remote Devices

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

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.

CC121 Advanced Integration Controller

Channel Section

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

EQ Section

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].

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)

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

Transport Section

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

Previous button

Moves the cursor position to the beginning of the project.

Rewind button

Rewind

Forward button

Forward

Next button

Moves the cursor position to the end of the project.

Cycle button

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

NOTE

Remote Devices

Function Section

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

Adjusts the fade-out settings of the focused clip.

FUNCTION button 3

Adjusts the envelope level of the focused clip.

FUNCTION button 4

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

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

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.

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

CUBASE READY Indicator

The CUBASE READY indicator has no function in WaveLab.

Foot Switch Section

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

This chapter describes general concepts that you will use when working with

NOTE

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.

WaveLab Concepts

• 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.

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.

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.

Steinberg Wavelab - 8.5 Instruction 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

General Editing Rules

WaveLab Concepts

Startup Screen

Basic Window Handling