Xara Audio Cleaning Lab Deluxe - 17.0 User Guide
2 Copyright
Copyright
This documentation is protected by law. All rights, especially the right of
duplication, circulation, and translation, are reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in the form of copies, microfilms
or other processes, or transmitted into a language used for machines,
especially data processing machines, without the express written consent of
the publisher.
All copyrights reserved.
All other product names are trademarks of the corresponding manufacturers.
Errors in and changes to the contents as well as program modifications
reserved.
MAGIX and Cleaning Lab are registered trademarks of MAGIX AG.
VST is a registered trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab uses patent-pending technology.
Other mentioned product names may be registered trademarks of the
respective manufacturer.
MAGIX licensing conditions are included in the installation and also at
www.magix.com under EULA
Copyright © MAGIX AG, 2000-2011. All rights reserved.
Legal notice: Copyrights and laws against exploitation of accomplishments of
artists and publishers shall be observed.
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Preface 3
Preface
Congratulations! You now own a high-performance digital audio lab, which is
perfect for cleaning your records, tapes, CD tracks, MP3 collections, audio or
video files, enhancing the sound, combining your media in any order, and
burning or exporting everything in optimum quality directly onto CD or DVD.
The volume and sound on each track can be perfectly synced and equalized.
Various audio formats can be combined, simultaneously edited, and burned.
The method is especially easy and clear, since automatic settings, assistants
and step-by-step instructions make sure that the process goes smoothly and
easily. Neither previous experience using the software nor long processing time
are necessary.
The print manual provides an introduction and tutorial that explains all the most
important features with step-by-step instructions.
In addition, an electronic manual is supplied in PDF, which systematically
explains all of the program's components one after the other. You can also use
the program's help file by pressing "F1". If you prefer to discover the many
possibilities of the program by yourself, then use the PDF manual and help file
simply as a reference. An alphabetical index is included for this purpose.
Have fun with MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE.
The MAGIX team.
Please note: This document describes the functionality of the full version of
your SE version. Please note that not all functions listed in this document are
available in your version.
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4 Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright 2
Preface 3
Before you start 10
Package contents 10
System requirements 10
Installation 10
Support 12
Serial number 14
More about MAGIX 15
MAGIX Online World 15
magix.info 15
Introduction 16
What is MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE? 16
What’s new in MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE? 16
Features 17
Tutorial 18
Program start 19
Load and play audio files 20
Cleaning 21
Mastering 23
Object effects 24
Spectral Cleaning 24
Cut out undesired passages 26
Retouch short distortions such as cracks 28
Export 31
Overview of the program interface 32
Track window and constant control elements 34
Upper buttons 34
MAGIX News Center 35
The master track 35
Mouse mode 39
Transport control 42
Analyzer 44
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Table of Contents 5
Info Box 45
Zoom 45
Zoom settings 46
Volume controller/auto button 47
Status line 48
Import 50
Audio files 50
Record 50
CDs 59
Editing in the track view 63
What is an object? 63
Project 64
Adjust object volume 64
Fading objects in and out 64
Duplicate objects 65
Reducing and increasing the length of objects 65
Deleting and moving objects 66
Cut objects 66
Join and mix objects 66
Fading objects 67
Change song order 67
Automatic insertion of pauses between objects 68
Several songs in a single long object 68
Object FX 68
Draw volume curve 69
Quick zoom 69
Set track markers 70
Automatic track recognition 70
Check and move track markers 72
Cleaning 73
Choose preset 73
Using the effect modules 73
Cleaning Wizard 74
Step by step 75
Object FX page 75
Declicker/Decrackler 78
Declipper 79
Dehisser 80
DeNoiser 81
Artefacts 84
Remove DC offset 85
Spectral Cleaning 85
Tempo/Resampling 89
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6 Table of Contents
Mastering 91
Choose preset 91
Using the effect modules 91
Step by step 92
Object FX window 92
Vitalizer 92
Equalizer 93
Brilliance Enhancer 96
Sound Cloner 96
MultiMax 99
Compressor 100
Plug-ins 101
Tape simulation (plug-in) 102
De-Esser (Plug-in) 103
Energizer (plug-in) 105
am-track SE (plug-in) 107
Sound Effects 107
Surround Mode 107
Acoustics simulator 110
Resampling/Timestretching 111
Reverb/Echo (object FX only) 114
Chorus (Plug-In) 117
Distortion 118
Voice over 119
Export 121
MP3 files 121
Audio CD 123
Export audio 128
Create audio DVD 130
Data disc 130
Batch conversion 131
Source files 132
Effects 133
Target format 134
Destination files 135
File Menu 135
New Project 135
Load project 135
Save Project 135
Save project as 136
Burn project backup onto CD/DVD / Burn data CD/DVD 136
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Table of Contents 7
Load audio file 136
Load audio CD 137
Import DVD audio 138
Record 138
Export audio 138
Batch conversion 138
Load video sound 138
Export video sound 139
Delete old projects 140
Exit 140
Edit Menu 140
Undo 141
Redo 141
Undo Lists 141
Set marker 141
Split 141
Remove object beginning 141
Remove object end 142
Cut 142
Copy 142
Paste 142
Delete 142
Remove pauses 143
Voice-Over 143
Surround Editor 143
Create Surround Transitions 144
Object FX Editor 144
Load/save real-time effects 144
Apply all realtime effects 144
Effects menu 145
Normalize object volume 145
Adjust volume 147
Isolate Stereo Channels 147
Switch channels 148
Invert phase 148
Backwards 148
Plug-ins 148
CD/DVD menu 149
Set track marker 149
Set Pause marker 149
Set track markers automatically 149
Set track marker to object edges 150
Split objects at marker positions 150
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8 Table of Contents
Set auto pause length 150
Delete marker 150
Delete all markers 150
Delete CD track 150
Create CD... 151
Show CD-R drive information 151
Show CD-R disc information 151
Create audio DVD 151
CD track list/ID3 editor 152
MAGIX Xtreme Print Center 153
Get CD track information (freedb) 153
CD info options 153
Open CD track list online 154
Audio ID 155
Options menu 156
Move mouse mode 156
Cut Mouse mode 156
Zoom mode 157
Delete Mouse mode 157
Resampling/Timestretch mouse mode 157
Draw volume curve mouse mode 158
2 tracks 158
Stereo display 158
Surround Mode 159
Activate Volume Curves 159
Play parameter 159
Analyzer window 160
Video window 160
Units of measurement 161
Mouse Grid Active 161
Auto crossfade mode active 161
Display values scale 161
Options for automatic track marker recognition 162
Path settings 163
Show start selection 163
Tasks menu 164
Online menu 164
Catooh – the Online Content Library 164
MAGIX Online Album 164
magix.info 165
More online services 166
Screen transfer - MAGIX Screenshare 167
Online login details 169
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Table of Contents 9
Help menu 169
Help 169
Display tips 169
Show tutorial videos 169
System information 170
About MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE 170
Register online 170
Update check 170
Restore original program settings 170
Activate MP3/AAC encoder 171
Keyboard layout and mouse-wheel support 175
Keyboard layout 175
Mouse-wheel support 176
Index 177
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10 Table of Contents
Before you start
Package contents
Program CD
The MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE installation manager is included on this CD.
Printed manual
The print manual contains all necessary information for a quick start with the
program. It includes installation hints, a quick introduction (tutorial), and an
overview of the functionality of the program with useful hints & tips.
Hint: The complete documentation is included in the MAGIX Audio Cleaning
Lab SE folder as a PDF file. You can read it on your screen or print it. You will
need the "Adobe Acrobat Reader" application, and you can download it for
free from the Internet if it is not yet installed on your PC.
System requirements
Operating system:
For Microsoft® Windows® XP | Vista® | 7
Computer:
1 GHz processor or higher
512 MB RAM
500 MB free hard disk space
graphics card: resolution 1024 x 768
16-bit sound card
CD-ROM drive
Optional:
Burn CDs/DVDs with CD/DVD±R(W) recorder
Installation
Step 1: Insert the program disc into the drive. The installation program starts
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up automatically. If the disc doesn't run automatically,
open Windows Explorer and click the letter of the CD-ROM drive
or double-click on "Start.exe" to start the installer.
Step 2: To begin the installation of MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE, click on
"Install". The MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE installation program will appear.
Hint: During installation, you will be asked (in case there are multiple users on
your computer) if you would like to set up for the administrator. The option
"Administrator only" restricts use of the program to the specified administrator.
The "All users" option allows all users of the computer to use the program.
Simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process,
and then click "Continue". All files are now copied onto the hard drive.
Step 3: Once the installation is complete, confirm the message by pressing
"Finish". Now you can start the program at any time from the Windows "Start"
menu.
Uninstalling the program
Table of Contents 11
If you would like to uninstall MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE, you can do so via
the control panel under "Software". Or go to "Programs > MAGIX > MAGIX
Audio Cleaning Lab SE > Service and Support > Uninstall MAGIX Audio
Cleaning Lab SE".
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12 Support
Support
Dear MAGIX customer,
Our aim is to provide convenient, fast and solution-focused support at all
times. To this end, we offer a wide range of services:
Unlimited web support:
As a registered MAGIX customer, you have unlimited access to web support
offered via the convenient MAGIX service portal on http://support.magix.net,
including an intelligent help assistant, high-quality FAQs, patches and user
reports that are constantly updated.
The only requirement for use is product registration on www.magix.com
The online community - on-the-spot support and a platform for exchange:
MAGIX customers have free and unlimited access to the online community at
www.magix.info, which includes approx. 100,000 members and offers the
opportunity to ask members questions concerning MAGIX products as well as
use the search function to search for specific topics or answers. In addition to
questions & answers, the knowledge pool includes a glossary, video tutorials
and a discussion forum. The multiple experts, found round-the-clock on
www.magix.info guarantee quick answers, which sometimes come within
minutes of a question being posted.
Email support for MAGIX products:
8 (eight) weeks of free email customer service (starting from the purchase
date) is automatically included with the purchase of any new MAGIX product.
MAGIX guarantees fast processing of your request and an immediate reply.
Premium email support:
If you experience problems after the 8 weeks of free email support have
expired, you can purchase a Premium email support ticket in the MAGIX Shop
for USD 12.99 | CAD 13.99 | GBP 9.99 | AUD 18.99 | ZAR 120.00 | EUR
12.99 | SEK 119.00 | NOK 99.00 | DKK 99.00. This ticket applies to a
specific problem and is valid until it is solved; it is therefore not restricted to
one email.
Reporting evident program errors is exempt from this regulation.
Please note: To be able to use the Premium email support and free product
email support via the Internet, you have to register your MAGIX product using
the serial number provided. This can be found on the CD case of your
installation CD or on the inside of the DVD box.
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Additional telephone service:
Besides the large number of free customer service offers, we also offer a
fee-based telephone customer service.
Here you can find a summary of our technical support telephone numbers:
http://support.magix.net/
Mail (Europe): MAGIX Development Support, P.O. Box 20 09 14, 01194
Dresden, Germany
Mail (North America): MAGIX Customer Service, 1105 Terminal Way #302,
Reno, NV 89502, USA
Please have the following information at hand:
Program version
Configuration details (operating system, processor, memory, hard drive, etc.),
sound card configuration (type, driver)
Information regarding other audio software installed
MAGIX Sales Department
You can reach the MAGIX Sales Department workdays for help with the
following questions and problems:
Support 13
Orders
Product consulting (pre-purchase)
Upgrade requests
Returns
Europe
Monday - Friday, 09:00-16:00 GMT
U.K.: 0203 3189218
Denmark: 699 18149
Sweden: 0852500858
Finland: 09 31581630
Norway: 0210 30665
North America
9 am to 4 pm EST Mon-Fri
Phone: 1-305-722-5810
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14 Serial number
Serial number
A serial number is included with each product, and although it is not required
for the installation of the software, it does enable access to additional bonus
services. Please store this number in a safe place.
What can a serial number do?
A serial number ensures that your copy of MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE is
clearly assigned to you and only you, and it makes improved and more
targeted customer service possible. Abuse of the software can be prevented
with a serial number, since it ensures that the optimum price/performance ratio
continues to be offered by MAGIX.
Where can the serial number be found?
The serial number can be found on the reverse side of your CD/DVD case. If
your product, for example, is packed in a DVD box, then you'll find the serial
number on the inside.
For versions that have been especially optimized for the Internet (download
versions), you'll receive your serial number for activating the software directly
after purchasing the product via email.
When will you need the serial number?
The serial number is required when you start or register MAGIX Audio Cleaning
Lab SE for the first time.
Note: We explicitly recommend registering your product, since only then are
you entitled to get program updates and contact MAGIX Support. Entering the
serial number is also required for activating codecs.
www.magix.com
More about MAGIX 15
More about MAGIX
MAGIX Online World
Well-connected: Products and services online from MAGIX
Discover the possibilities offered by the MAGIX Online World. Every MAGIX
product offers a direct and easy-to-use gateway to the world of online
multimedia:
Present your photos, videos, and music
directly in your Online Album or in worldwide
Internet communities.
Find professional templates & content for enhancing your personal projects.
Design your own personalized website using professional Flash
photos, videos, music & impressive animations.
Order brilliant photo prints to be sent directly to your doorstep. It's quick,
easy, and well-priced.
Experience these and many more online services on www.magix.com
®
design with
magix.info
Help and get help - Directly from within the program, you'll be able to access
magix.info, the new MAGIX Knowledge Database (view page 165). You'll find
answers to all the
multimedia in general. Couldn't find an answer to your particular question? No
problem – just ask the question yourself!
You can access magix.info online at http://www.magix.info
most frequently asked questions about MAGIX products and
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16 Introduction
Introduction
What is MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE?
MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE is a gentle but powerful cleaner for all kinds of
acoustic material including records, tapes, CD tracks, recorded speech, video
sound, and MP3s. Digital cleaning features remove everything from light
cloudiness to the worst sound abominations on noise-filled tapes, scratched
records, and on MP3s that have been compressed to death. A fine polish of
the sound brings new life to every song and the burning function encapsulates
your sensitive sound material on audio or data CD, protecting it from any
further damage.
Individual tracks, even individual passages within a track can be given their
own effect settings. In addition, the entire sound can be cleaned up, refreshed
and – especially important for compilations – the volume can be balanced.
MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE is fast, easy-to-use and very gentle: Nearly all
effects are calculated in realtime during playback without damaging the
recorded material in the least. The original recordings and songs remain
untouched on the hard drive. You can therefore experiment to your heart's
content without having to worry about causing any lasting damage to your
audio material.
What’s new in MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE?
Intelligent start dialog
Within the new start dialog, you can choose typical tasks and start to work on
them directly. The most intelligent thing about this is that after choosing the
tasks, all recording presets, assistants and effect dialogs of MAGIX Audio
Cleaning Lab SE are already tuned to the tasks. Following tasks are available:
Restore vinyl sound, clean tapes, optimize voice or audio books and edit digital
files.
Direct spectral cleaning
Spectral Cleaning: Spectral cleaning detects and removes specific noises such
as coughs and cracklings based on a colorful display of the frequency
spectrum. With the new version you are also able to filter out the frequencies
directly from the track with the eraser tool.
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Introduction 17
Improved overview on the overview track
Separated objects on the main track normally represent different songs. They
are presented in different color shadings. Especially in longer projects, it helps
the user to locate the transitions between the objects and songs much faster
and simplifies navigation during the project.
Features
Import
You can either import existing audio files in many conventional formats into
MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE, or simply use MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE to
record your own music. No matter whether cassette, tape reel, LP, or via
streaming Internet, with only a few clicks, you can digitize your music and edit
it further with MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE.
Cleaning
The heart of MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE is its ability to remove unpleasant
noise in music and enrich the overall sound. To do this, there are numerous
professional tools available like the "DeClicker", "DeCrackler", "DeClipper",
"DeNoiser" (including DeRumbler preset), "DeHisser", and "spectral cleaning".
You can also add a number of sound effects to your music. Resampling and
timestretching help adjust the speed and pitch of pieces so that they match,
and reverb/echo adds professional reverb to your music. The possibilities are
nearly endless, as you will see. For more detailed information about the tools,
please read MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE's help file.
Mastering
So that your recordings sound optimal, a selection of mastering tools are
available to you once you have cleaned up the audio material. Try them out
yourself to see which settings are the best, or let MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab
SE do the work for you by searching for the best settings automatically. For
more detailed information about the tools, please read MAGIX Audio Cleaning
Lab SE's help file.
Export
Of course, you can also export your recordings. There is a wide range of
formats available which enable you to enjoy your recordings anywhere you like.
Supported formats
Import:
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18 Tutorial
Audio: WAV, MP3, WMA, AIFF, AAC, OGG Vorbis, M3U, CUE, CD-A, FLAC
Video sound import: AVI, WMV, MXV, MOV, DV-AVI, MPEG-2
Export:
Audio: WAV, MP3², MP3 Surround
2
, AAC3, WMA, AIFF, OGG Vorbis, CD-A,
1
FLAC, MP3 DVD, Data DVD, DVD Audio,
Video sound export: AVI
1)
Activate MPEG 2 decoder (fee-based)
2)
Activate MP3 encoder for free
3
) Activate AAC encoder (fee-based)
Tutorial
In this chapter, we introduce all the most important features of MAGIX Audio
Cleaning Lab SE. You don't need any special experience; just some time for
recordings and hard drive space.
With MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE you can load audio material from a
number of different sources into projects in order to clean it up, edit it, export it
as an audio file/CD or burn it to disc using just some of the special functions
that come in the package.
First of all, you'll need suitable audio material. You can load your records or
tapes, or even, for example, audio files from the Internet as MP3s.
Analog material like records or tapes have to be digitized first so that it can be
processed by the computer. The recording function in MAGIX Audio Cleaning
Lab SE can be used for this purpose. It's used to record analog material via
the computer's sound card.
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Tutorial 19
Program start
After starting the program, a selection dialog including several tasks will
appear.
Choose from:
Restore vinyl sound: for LPs.
Clean tape sound: for tapes.
Optimize voice and audio book recordings: for speech.
Edit digital files: for MP3 files, web radio recordings and many more.
For all these options you will require relevant material. In the following we
assume that you already possess digitized material which you would like to
free from any bothersome noise.
Note: If you wish to digitize an LP, you should use a USB phono pre-amp in
order to connect your record player to your PC. By doing so, you ensure best
sound quality all the way through. You can find a suitable USB phono pre-amp
in our MAGIX Online Shop at www.magix.com.
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20 Tutorial
Load and play audio files
After choosing a suitable task, MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab SE will show up with
an empty project window. You are in the "Import" section, which is
recognizable by the lit button below the project window.
The workflow in this section is very easy:
You can load your audio files, e.g. in MP3 format by clicking the "Audio files"
button.
You can record LPs or tapes via the "Record" button.
You can import audio CDs via the "CDs" button.
After import, a waveform display of the audio track appears in the main
window.
The waveform display gives you an idea of the audio track's progression. You
can even detect noises. Crackling for instance creates a clearly visible peak in
the waveform.
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Below to the right, you will find the transport controls for playback, stop and
winding. You will be familiar with these functions from other playback devices.
Use the mouse for quicker navigation: If you click into the waveform display
with the mouse, the playback marker will be moved exactly to this position.
You can start and stop the track by pressing the spacebar of your keyboard.
Tutorial 21
Cleaning
There are many types of noises. Let's start with the easiest ones: constant
humming or irritating hissing. This kind of noise is usually caused by tape
recorders, record players or microphones and are audible throughout the
complete track. Find out how to get rid of these irritating distortions:
Switch to the "Cleaning" section.
Most of the elements that are displayed here are identical to the ones in the
"Import" section, but the function area in the lower left hand corner has
changed decisively. Six different functions for removing audio disturbances are
available here, which are adjusted differently depending on your selection in
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22 Tutorial
the start dialog. The modules are "DeClicker", "DeCrackler", "DeClipper",
"DeNoiser", "DeHisser" and "Spectral Cleaning". If you click on one of these
modules, you will find explanations regarding purpose and workflow of the
individual module on the info monitor located in the bottom right-hand corner.
The slider lets you regulate the
strength of all of the "cleaning"
effects (except for Spectral Cleaning,
which we will deal with later).
If you are not satisfied with the
presets of the start dialog, you can
choose further presets using the
arrow menu.
To get an idea of how the selected
effect affects your audio material,
you can turn it on and off by clicking
on the symbol in the left-hand
corner.
Click on the symbol in the bottom
right- hand corner to open a user
interface where you can set all of the
available parameters for the effect.
In a way, this symbol represents the effect's engine hood. The interface
located behind it was designed to simulate professional audio editing devices.
Depending on the effect device, you can specify very effective audio editing
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settings here. To do so, it's necessary to know a bit about audio editing
though. Usually, however, you will not need these special functions, but they
can be useful in complex cases. If you need them or if you're interested, please
read the complete documentation (either the PDF manual or the program's
help file).
Tutorial 23
Mastering
"Mastering", the second effects area aims at optimizing the audio material.
Click on the "Mastering" button.
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24 Tutorial
You will find the following effects modules here: "StereoFX", "Equalizer",
"Brilliance", "Sound Cloner", "Dynamics", "Multimax", "Energizer" and
"Chorus".
The functionality of the optimization effects is the same in principle: Adjust the
strength of the effect via the slider, switch the effect on and off to compare the
original with the edited audio material and access the actual operation console
by clicking on the symbol in the bottom right-hand corner.
Object effects
If you combine the audio material from various sources, it's normally not
sensible to apply cleaning and mastering effects to all objects in the same way.
Tape recordings typically have other audio disturbances than LP recordings.
Therefore, there are two different ways you can use the effects: Master effects
and object effects.
The master effects are set centrally in the cleaning section. The settings made
here are applied to the entire sound, i.e. for all objects in the master track.
Each object can also have its own individual effect
settings. Click on "Object FX" on the object itself
in the master track.
The "Object FX" screen (object editor) opens in a
new dialog and displays additional effect devices.
These effects can be set separately for every
object in the master track.
The “Object FX” dialog also contains an echo/reverb device for adding
Surround Sound to individual objects, and in addition to the multi-band
compressor (“MultiMax”), a “simple” compressor is also included (“Dynamics”).
Spectral Cleaning
Up until now, the workflow was extremely easy: Load your material, adjust your
effects – finished. Now let's take a look at an application that requires a bit
more preparation, but can also solve complicated problems. This includes
filtering out individual audio disturbances.
Spectral Cleaning in the "Remove" section can be useful for editing live
recordings, where a single cough in the audience threatens to ruin an
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otherwise beautiful pianissimo effect. It can also be used to remove short
distortions such as coughing, passing cars, a whistle, crackling or short drop
outs.
Spectral Cleaning can be applied directly onto the track per mouse click. Here,
however, we will explain the functionality within the effect module, which offers
more possibilities.
Here's how it works: The clearly audible noise has a different acoustic
signature than the rest of the material, otherwise it would not be clearly
audible. Based on this signature, the noise can be identified and filtered. After
it has been identified, the audio material's frequency spectrum is analyzed
before and after the disturbance. Based on this "acoustic environment",
frequencies are calculated that can be used to fill the gap that was created
after filtering out the disruptive signature. Ideally, a simulation of the "normal"
background acoustics replaces the cough, almost as if it was removed
magically.
Here's how it works:
First, set the play cursor roughly to the position of the distortion.
Open the Spectral Cleaning Editor.
Tutorial 25
Try to select the distortion using the selection tool in the editor.
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26 Tutorial
Once you've selected the distortion, click on "Play". The algorithm becomes
active immediately: The selected area is filtered out and replaced with
frequency material from the surrounding "acoustic environment".
Can you hear an improvement? If not, change the selection. The selection
should be as small as possible. Localize the audio disturbance by trial and
error.
Once you are satisfied with the result, click on "Calculate". Up until now, you
merely experimented, but now the settings will be applied.
Tips: For information on the individual buttons in the editor, please read the
entire documentation (available as PDF manual or program help file). You can
also access a tutorial video that explains the workflow directly from within the
Spectral Cleaning Editor.
The Spectral Cleaning Editor might seem a bit complicated, but it's a very
effective tool that previously was reserved for pros. Therefore, it's worth
investing some time to familiarize yourself with this tool.
Cut out undesired passages
Now let's take a look at some special kinds of audio disturbances. A typical
example would be the noise of a microphone knocked against something by
mistake or even any kind of crackling, crashing, rustling, which can't be
removed satisfactorily with Spectral Cleaning, because it's too irregular.
These kinds of noises as well as longer undesired passages can be cut out
using the scissors tool in the left-hand corner of the track window.
Select the scissor mouse mode.
The mouse pointer turns into a pair of scissors. If you move it
across the track, the playback marker moves with it.
Play the audio track and search for the section that you want to
cut out.
Click before and after the section to cut at these points.
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This way, three separate objects are created on the track.
Switch back to standard mode, select the object in the middle and delete it by
pressing the "Delete" key.
A gap is created in the audio track. The problem is that where the disturbance
used to be there is now absolute silence, which is irritating, too. It's not
enough to simply cut out the audio disturbance, you have to add another
sound into the gap, even if it's only a quiet hissing that is audible throughout
the rest of the material, i.e. the room sound. Therefore, fill the gap with quiet
material that features only hissing, for example.
Tutorial 27
Search for a suitable passage in a different section of the audio track that is
roughly as long as the gap. Cut the audio track before and after the passage.
Switch back to standard mode and select the passage. Copy it to the
clipboard (Ctrl + C or "Edit > Copy").
Set the position line to the beginning of the gap and insert the passage (Ctrl +
V or "Edit > Insert").
Move the bottom right handle on the inserted object to adjust its length to the
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28 Tutorial
gap (It will latch into the cut edges).
That way, the distortion is "patched". All of the cuts can be fine tuned
retroactively using the object handles to avoid crackling at the transitions.
There are handles at the top left and right hand corners, which allow you to
create fade ins and outs.
The handle at the top center is for adjusting the volume. If you pull it
downwards, the volume of the object is reduced.
The handles at the bottom left and right corners adjust the object's borders.
You can fine tune your cuts by extending or contracting the object.
Retouch short distortions such as cracks
Let's take a look at a quick and elegant way of retouching short distortions
such as cracks and clicks using a pen tool.
Note: You can't undo editing that you did with the "Draw wave shape" tool (no
"Undo" function). After selecting the pen tool, you can decide whether, for
safety purposes, you want to edit in a copy of the file or directly in the original
material.
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Search for a section in the material where you hear crackling and set the play
cursor to that position.
Zoom into that section so that you can see the details of the waveform
display. You can use the zoom button at the bottom right of the track window.
Take a close look. Can you see the crack? Look for a "mountain" that is flat on
top or exceeds its surroundings.
Tutorial 29
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30 Tutorial
Select the "Draw wave shape" mode.
The mouse pointer turns into a pen that you can use to draw
directly into the waveform. If you click, the zoom level increases
automatically and you can draw.
It's about trying to turn the flat form a bit more into a peak and
moving it slightly towards the bottom.
This way, for example:
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