Steinberg Wavelab Elements - 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: March 11, 2013

5 Introduction

5 The Help System 6 About the Program Versions 7 Typographical Conventions 7 How You Can Reach Us

8 Setting Up Your System

8 Connecting Audio 8 About Audio Cards and Background Playback 9 About Latency 9 Defining VST Audio Connections 12 CD/DVD Recorders 12 Remote Devices

19 WaveLab Elements Concepts

19 General Editing Rules 20 Basic Window Handling 23 Selecting Audio 27 Sliders 28 Renaming Items in Tables 28 File Browser 30 Tab Groups 31 Peak Files 32 Companion Files

33 Program Overview

33 Command Bars 34 Status Bar 36 Context Menus 36 Time Ruler and Level Ruler 42 Value Editing 42 Drag Operations 44 Undoing and Redoing 45 Zooming 52 Managing Tabs 53 Presets 55 Saving a Picture of the Active Window

57 File Operations

57 Recently Used Files 57 Save and Save As 60 Templates 64 File Renaming 65 Deleting Files 65 Special Menu 66 Temporary Files 67 Work Folders vs. Document Folders 69 Setting the Focus on the Current File

70 About Workspaces

70 Elements of a Workspace 71 Audio Files Workspace 71 Audio Montage Workspace 72 Podcast Workspace 72 Opening Files in a Workspace 72 Organizing Workspace Windows 73 About Tool Windows

77 Playback

77 Transport Bar 92 Playing Back Only One Channel 92 Starting Playback From the Ruler 93 Using the Play Tool 93 Playback Scrubbing 94 Scroll During Playback 95 About Playback in the Audio Montage

Workspace

97 Audio File Editing

97 Wave Window 101 File Handling in the Audio Files Workspace 123 Changing the Audio Properties 124 Meta-Data 127 Silence Generator Dialog 129 Waveform Restoration with the Pen Tool

130 Audio Analysis

130 Global Analysis 140 3D Frequency Analysis

143 Offline Processing

143 Applying Processing 144 Gain Dialog 144 Normalize Level Dialog 146 Fades in Audio Files 147 Crossfades 148 Inverting the Audio Phase 149 Reversing Audio 149 DC Offset 150 Time Stretching 152 Pitch Shift 153 Resample

155 Audio Montage

155 Basic Terminology 156 Montage Window 158 Signal Flow in the Audio Montage 159 Creating a New Audio Montage 160 Creating an Audio Montage from an Audio File 160 Import Options for Audio Montages 161 Missing Files in Audio Montage Dialog 162 Assembling the Audio Montage 167 Rearranging Clips 169 Clips Editing 178 Track Activity Indicator 179 Envelopes for Clips 183 Fades and Crossfades in the Audio Montage 188 Effects for Tracks, Clips, and the Master Output 198 About the CD Window 201 About Cloning Audio Montages 202 Mixing Down - The Render Function 202 Loudness Meta Normalizer 204 Notes Window

205 Recording

205 Setting Up the Recording Dialog 206 Dropping Markers During Recording 207 Recording Dialog

213 Master Section

214 Master Section Window 225 Rendering 230 Saving a Master Section Preset 234 About Monitoring Background Tasks 235 About Dropouts

236 Markers

236 Marker Types 237 Markers Window 240 About Creating Markers 243 Deleting Markers 244 Moving Markers 244 Navigating to Markers 244 Hiding Markers of a Certain Type 245 Renaming Markers 245 About Selecting Markers 246 Selecting the Audio Between Markers 247 Binding Markers to Clips in the Audio Montage 247 How Marker Information is Stored

248 Metering

248 Metering Window 248 About Meter Settings 249 Resetting the Meters 249 Level Meter 252 Spectroscope 253 Oscilloscope

254 Writing Operations

254 Write Audio CD Dialog 256 Erase Optical Media Dialog 257 About Writing Audio Montages 260 Data CD/DVD Projects 263 About Audio CD Formats

268 Loops

268 Basic Looping 269 About Refining Loops 279 About Looping Seemingly Unloopable Audio 282 About Sample Attributes

284 Importing Audio CD Tracks

284 Import Audio CD Dialog 288 Importing Audio CD Tracks 289 Searching Track Names on the internet 290 About Ultra-Safe Mode 290 Converting Audio CD Tracks to an Audio

Montage

291 Podcasts

291 Podcast Workspace 296 Global Podcast Options 297 Creating a Podcast 297 Setting Up a FTP for Podcast Publishing 298 Publishing a Podcast 298 FTP Site Dialog 300 Checking the Podcast

301 Customizing

301 Customizing the Wave Window and the

Montage Window

310 About Customizing Shortcuts 314 Plug-ins Organization

322 Configuring the Software

322 About Global Preferences 330 Audio File Editing Preferences Dialog 332 Settings Management 333 Multi-User Settings

335 Plug-in Reference

335 Built-in Plug-ins 340 Steinberg VST 3 Plug-ins 359 Sonnox Restoration Toolkit 367 Legacy Plug-ins 367 Dithering Plug-ins

The Help System

The detailed help system of WaveLab Elements 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 Elements. 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 Elements 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 Elements 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 Elements versions for both Windows and Mac OS X.

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

Introduction

NOTE

Typographical Conventions

Many of the default key commands in WaveLab Elements 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 Elements, 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 Elements, other applications cannot access the audio card. Likewise, if another application uses the audio card, WaveLab Elements is unable to play back. The Windows MME driver is an exception from this.

You can run WaveLab Elements 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 Elements.

When working with WaveLab Elements, 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

vers, and settings. In case of dropouts, crackles, or glitches during

dri 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 Elements, you must specify how the internal input and output channels in WaveLab Elements 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 Win 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

dows MME

Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) is a computer device driver protocol for digital audio specified by Steinberg. It provides a low-latency and

Setting Up Your System

PROCEDURE

Defining VST Audio Connections

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 Elements 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.

Global Settings

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

Setting Up Your System

Defining VST Audio Connections

Control panel

Refresh

Playback Tab

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.

This tab allows you to select and name audio ports that are used for playback.

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.

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 str 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.

eaming to

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 Elements is in background

Closes the audio device when WaveLab Elements 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-inde

x markers into the tracks, for example.

Remote Devices

You can use remote devices to remote-control WaveLab Elements.

Several commands can be controlled with knobs and sliders of your remote control device.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

Remote Devices Dialog

This dialog allows you to select a device to remote-control WaveLab Elements, and see 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 and see the control map.

Active

Activates the selected device and scans the MIDI ports.

In-Port/Out-Port

Select the MIDI input/output ports of the device use.

Name

Lets you enter a map name.

Expand/Collapse

Expands/collapses the folder tree of the control map.

WaveLab Elements 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, active.

that you want to

if an audio file is

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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

Options Tab

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

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 Elements 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 Elements windows and dialogs.

CC121 Advanced Integration Controller

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

This section describes the WaveLab Elements 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 Elements 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 Elements 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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

EQ Section

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].

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 Elements navigation mode by turning off the EQ TYPE button. In WaveLab Elements 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 Processor workspace.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

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.

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)

EQ-3 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

EQ-4 knob for the EQ Frequency (F)

Transport Section

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

Previous button

Rewind button

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

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

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

Moves the cursor position to the beginning of the project.

Rewind

Forward button

Forward

Next button

Moves the cursor position to the end of the project.

Setting Up Your System

NOTE

Remote Devices

Function Section

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.

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

VALUE knob/button

FUNCTION button 1

FUNCTION button 2

FUNCTION button 3

FUNCTION button 4

AI Knob Section

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

Adjusts the fade-in settings of the focused clip.

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.

WaveLab Elements 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.

Setting Up Your System

Remote Devices

CUBASE READY Indicator

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.

The CUBASE READY indicator has no function in WaveLab Elements.

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.

WaveLab Elements Concepts

NOTE

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

Basic Window Handling

WaveLab Elements 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.

Selecting Audio

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

Selecting a Range by Dragging

The standard way to select a range in a wave 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.

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.

WaveLab Elements Concepts

Selecting Audio

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.

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.

Loop region

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

WaveLab Elements Concepts

PROCEDURE

Selecting Audio

Generic region

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

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.

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.

Switching the Selection Between Channels

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.

WaveLab Elements Concepts

PROCEDURE

Selecting Audio

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.

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

• To extend the selection to the previous/next boundary (marker or start/end of file), press [Shift] and double-click the non-selected area between the boundaries.

Extending and Reducing the Selection Using the Cursor Keys

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

• To extend a selection to the previous/next boundary in the wave window (marker or start/end of the audio file), hold down [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Shift] and press the left/right cursor keys.

WaveLab Elements Concepts

Sliders

Deleting Selections

There are several options for deleting a selected time range.

Audio Files Workspace

The following options can be found on the Edit menu:

Trim

Remove

Removes the data outside the selection.

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

Sliders

At various places in WaveLab Elements, 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 direct 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.

ly to a position, click the slider at

WaveLab Elements Concepts

Renaming Items in Tables

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

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

Workspace > Specific tool windows > File Browser.

WaveLab Elements 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.

Auto-Play mode

Starts playback automatically for the selected file.

Play selected audio file

Plays the selected audio file.

WaveLab Elements Concepts

Tab Groups

With tab groups, you can view the content of different files and meters at the same time, without having to navigate through different windows.

2 empty tab groups in the Audio Montage workspace

You can have two tab groups. 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.

2 tab groups with audio montages in the Audio Montage workspace

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

or Workspace > Add Tab Group below.

Workspace > Remove active Tab Group.

Tab Group shortcuts, and select a layout.

workspace.

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Steinberg Wavelab Elements - 8.0 Operation 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 Elements Concepts

General Editing Rules

Basic Window Handling

Selecting Audio

Sliders

Renaming Items in Tables

File Browser

Tab Groups