Waves Audio X-Click User Guide

Waves X-Click

Software Audio Processor

Users Guide

In this manual –

1. Introduction……………………………………2

2. Using X-Click……………….…………………3

3. Controls and Displays………………………..5

4. Important information and useful tips..……..7

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1. Introduction

Waves X-Click reduces strong, impulsive, transient noise while preserving

excellent audio quality. X-Click is part of the Waves Restoration bundle, which restores vinyl records and damaged recordings. We recommend using X-Click first to remove large clicks and X-Crackle to take care of more delicate scratches. The plug-ins can also be chained together (X-Click->X-Crackle). X- Click and the other Restoration plug-ins have a friendly interface that is easy to learn and use. X-Click uses just two parameters to configure the click-removal process.

This user guide describes:

• the problems X-Click solves;

• how to use the software;

• the software user interface.

Click the ? on the toolbar for online help. Thanks for using X-Click and enjoy!

HAT PROBLEMS DOES

Clicks are caused by two types of events: digital errors that create a large, rapid transition in the waveform; physical obstacles and/or damage in the record’s needle groove. Physical damage often corrupts more samples than digital errors.

X-Click effectively removes clicks from old vinyl and shellac records, and recordings tainted by switching noise, digital cross-talk, or thyristor buzz. Unlike other click-removal systems, X-Click leaves virtually no audible artifacts if its parameters are set correctly.

X-Click employs the most recent psychoacoustic research and multilevel decision algorithms to remove clicks while preserving the sonic clarity of the source. It performs better than comparable DAW tools and as well or better than more expensive, dedicated-hardware solutions.

X-C

LICK FIX

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2. Using X-Click

ENERAL USE

X-Click has two parameters to select clicks for removal:

• Threshold: Sets the amplitude of the targeted clicks. Higher values remove more clicks; a 0 setting leaves all clicks. For a typically polluted vinyl recording transferred to a digital medium, we recommend starting with a Threshold in the range 30–50.

• Shape: Corresponds to the width, or time window, of the clicks to be removed. Lower values remove smaller clicks usually from digital origin. Scratched vinyl record clicks are usually wider and call for a higher shape value. We recommend 70 as a starting value for typical vinyl restoration.

Artifacts increase with higher values of both parameters so a compromise may be necessary between click-removal performance and the sound quality of the processed signal. The number of clicks removed for a given Threshold value is displayed in the Click Scope (see Displays section) by the red lines; this visually represents the click’s detection level. We recommend experimenting with different settings while monitoring with headphones to hear the details of the processing.

For additional help, use the Difference feature in X-Click’s monitor section (see Controls section). You can switch between monitoring the processed audio path (Audio) and the signal removed by X-Click (Difference). This differential signal should contain only clicks, not desirable parts of the audio signal. If it does contain audio, try lowering the Threshold and/or Shape parameters to minimize the removal of audio transients.

X-Click’s factory presets are optimized for the most common click-removal situations (i.e., digital clicks, 78 RPM shellac, vinyl). If a preset does not perform adequately, find the best preset and begin experimenting with its parameters until a good balance is achieved.

UTOMATIC CLICK REMOVAL

X-Click can usually be set once for an entire recording. It can be applied as a

track insert by itself or as part of a process chain with X-Crackle inserted after it. Similar to processing an entire file in an audio editor, this is the fastest and easiest method.

When the material has intentionally transient sounds (i.e., drums and percussion instruments), this automatic process may inadvertently remove some of them. If an acceptable balance between click removal and preservation of desirable

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