Xara Music Studio - 2013 Instruction Manual

Copyright

This documentation is protected by law. All rights, especially the right to duplicate, circulate, and translate, 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, Samplitude, Hybrid Audio Engine are registered trademarks of MAGIX Software GmbH.

This product uses MAGIX patented technology (USP 6,518,492).

VST and ASIO are registered trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.

Other mentioned product names may be registered trademarks of the respective manufacturer.

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Preface 3

Preface

Congratulations on your purchase of Samplitude Music Studio 2013!

Creating your own music or video soundtracks in a home studio has become more and more popular. But the wide variety of available equipment and software often confuses both beginner and professional musicians alike. You may find yourself asking questions like "What do I really need?", or "What's the best value for my money?"

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 is the perfect solution: Fast and easy-to-handle music production on your PC, from recording to mastering. Transform your PC into a complete sound studio.

All you need to produce and arrange in high-quality is a conventional sound card, but additional studio equipment can easily be added.

The following pages will introduce to you in detail the various functions and possibilities offered by Samplitude Music Studio 2013.

Have fun with Samplitude Music Studio 2013.

Your MAGIX team

Restrictions to this version

Note: MAGIX Music Studio is a restricted version of "Samplitude Music Studio". The following information refers to the full feature set in Samplitude Music Studio.

The following features are either limited or not available in MAGIX Music Studio:

• Fewer tracks: 64 maximum

• No submix/AUX busses

• Lower sample rates: up to 48 kHz

• Fewer plugins per object (2), track (2) and master (2)

• Input/Output limited to 2

• Only 2 essentialFX (VocalStrip + Compressor)

• No MR-64 multitrack recorder

• No print function in the Score editor

• Limited number of export formats

• No sample content

• Only one Vita Solo Instrument ("Century Keys")

Table of Contents

What is Samplitude Music Studio 2013? 16 What’s new in Samplitude Music Studio 2013? 17 The features 18

Tutorial 21

Step-by-step mode 21 Switch workspace 31 Recording in the Arranger 31 Integrate audio material 33 VIP and wave projects 34 Arranging MAGIX Soundpool loops 35 Add synthesizers 38 Edit objects 38 MIDI recordings 40 Edit MIDI 42 Effects 46 Burn CD 48

Program desktop overview 49

VIP window 49 Managers/Docker 50 Docking 51 Transport control 53 Track Editor 55 Track box 58 Symbol bars 59 Workspaces 64

Functional overview 65

Objects 65 Ranges 75 Wave projects 78 Marker 79

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Volume 80 Output mode 80 Record 81 Folder tracks 84 Tips & tricks 85

Mouse functions and mouse modes 88

Universal mode 88 Range mode (safe mode) 90 Curve mode 90 Curves / Object mode 91 Cut mode 91 Pitchshift / Timestretch mode 91 Draw volume mode 92 Draw panorama mode 92 Wave edit mode (only wave projects) 92 Scrub mouse mode 92 Color mode 93 Zoom mode 94

Effects and effect plug-ins 95

What effects are there, and how are they used? 95 Saving effect parameters (preset mechanism) 96 "Sound FX" (object editor, mixer channels, Mixmaster) 97 Parametric equalizer (track effects, mixer channels, Mixmaster) 101 MAGIX Mastering Suite 102 Vintage Effects Suite (track effects, mixer channels, mix master) 107 essential FX 120 Vandal SE 131 Analogue Modelling Suite: AM-Track SE 136 Track dynamics 142 Track delay/reverb (track effects) 144 Elastic Audio Easy 144

Automation 153

Automation – context menu 153 Automation modes 155 VST plug-in/VST parameters dialog 156 Recording automation in "Read" mode 156 "Draw" mode 157 Edit automation curves 157

Move automation curve with audio/MIDI data 158

Mixer 159

Overview 159 Operating the mixer 160 Channel strips 162 Master section 164 Global settings 165 Buses and routing 167 Embedding external effects devices 168 Tips and tricks 168

MIDI in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 169

What is MIDI? 169 Connect external equipment 169 Convert MIDI objects into audio files 170 MIDI settings 171 MIDI: Import, record, edit 171 MIDI object editor 174 Step recording via keyboard or controller keyboard 176 MIDI editor 177

Software / VST instruments 211

Installing VST plug-ins 211 Load instruments 213 Loading routing settings with software instruments 214 Load effects plug-ins 215 Route MIDI instrument inputs 217 Instruments with multi-channel outputs 218 Adjust instrument parameters 218 Play and monitor instruments live 220 Routing VST instruments using the VSTi manager 222 Preset management 223 Freezing instruments (freeze) 223 Tips on handling virtual instruments 224 ReWire 225

Tempo editing 227

Tempo and time signature changes in the tempo map... 227 Tempo markers 228 Tempo Map Modes: BPM Mode / Grid Fit Mode 229

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Tempo Change: BPM Marker 230 Time Signature Marker 230 Grid Position Marker 231 Grid Tapping 231 Tempo Map Dialog 232 Tempo and Time Signature Dialog 234 Manipulating the Tempo Marker in Timestretch Mouse Mode 234

Synth objects 236

Working method 236 Note for users of older versions of MAGIX Music Studio 237 Atmos 238 BeatBox 2 plus 238 Loop Designer 250 LiViD - Little Virtual Drummer 254 Robota 255 Vita 263 Revolta 2 265 Additional Vita Solo synthesizers 267

Surround sound 269

Surround panorama module 269 Stereo and mono signal processing with twin-channel Surround 271 Automation of twin-channel Surround 272

Synchronization 274

Synchronization formats 274 Synchronization / Synchronization settings 276

Burning CDs 279

Writing 279 Burning CDs in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 279 DSP display 281

Tools and wizards 282

Load audio CD track(s) 282 Crossfade Editor 284 Waveform generator 285 Remix Agent 287 Harmony Agent 293 Track settings 295 Managers 297

SMPTE Generator 306

Solo JamSession 307 Timestretch patcher 311

File menu 313

New Virtual Project (VIP) 313 Open 315 Load / Import 316 Save 318 Save project as 319 Save project as template 319 Save object 319 Save session 319 Export 319 Internet 323 Trackbouncing (internal mixdown) 326 Range trackbouncing 328 MIDI bouncing 328 Rename project 329 Clean up 329 Close project 331 Project properties 332 Program Preferences 336 Exit 339 Recently opened files 339

Edit Menu 340

Undo 340 Redo 340 Undo List 341 Mouse mode 341 Object mode 342 Copy 342 Cut 342 Split 343 Insert 344 Delete 345 Silence 345 Tempo 346 Range 346

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Crossfade 351

Track menu 353

Insert new tracks 353 Copy track(s) 354 Insert track(s) 354 Delete track(s) 355 Track type 355 Input 355 Track size 355 Track Freeze 355 Track effect settings 357 Track information 357 More 357

Object menu 362

Object editor 362 MIDI editor 362 Wave editing 362 New MIDI object 363 New MIDI object in the range 363 New synth object 363 Edit 363 Quantization 366 Object effects 368 Select objects 378 Groups 379 Move object 379 Snap point (Hotspot) 381 Object color / name 381 Tempo and beat recognition 381 Harmony Agent 381 Harmony display 382 audioid 382 Time Stretch/Pitch Shift Patcher... 382

Playback / Record menu 384

Play once 384 Play loop 384 Play in range 384 Play with preload 384

Play only selected objects 384

Restart playback 385 Stop 385 Stop and go to current position 385 Playback mode 385 Playback options 386 Record 387 Record mode / Punch in 388 Record options 389 Monitoring 392 Move Play Cursor 393 Marker 394 Solo JamSession 396 MIDI record modes 396 MIDI panic – All notes off 397

Automation menu 397

First entries in the automation context menu 397 Editing curves 397 Delete all curves 398 Automation mode 398 Do not display automation 399 Display track automation (default setting) 399 Display selected curves only 399 Display unselected curves (cannot be activated) (Default setting) 399 Display unselected curves (can be activated) 399

Effects menu 400

Amplitude / Normalize 401 Dynamics 403 Frequency/Filter 405 Delay / Reverb 406 Time / Pitch 408 Distortion 411 Restoration 412 Stereo / Phase 413 Modulation / Special 415 Sample manipulation 418 Plug-ins 420 essential FX 421

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MAGIX Plug-Ins 422 Waveform Generator 423 SMPTE Generator 423 Process only left (right) stereo channel 423 Process Effects Offline 423

CD menu 424

Load audio CD tracks 424 Make CD 424 Indices (Track markers) 424 CD track/index manager 426 CD disc options 427 Set pause time 427 CD arrange mode 427 Get CD info (freeDB Internet) 428 freeDB options 428 Show CD-R drive information 428 Show CD-R disc information 428 audioid 429

Menu view 430

Mixer 430 Multitrack recorder MR-64 430 Mastering Suite 430 Transport control 430 Time display 432 Visualization 433 Export tool 434 Managers/Docker 435 Manager 435 Track editor 435 Rebuild graphic data 435 Sections 436 Hide submix / AUX buses 436 Grid view 436 VIP display 437 Overview mode 438 Horizontal 438 Vertical 438 Cascade 438

Tile 438

Untile 439 Window 439 Toolbars 439

The "Share" menu 441

Community upload 441 Use as background music 442 Add to music collection 442

Help menu 443

Help 443 Help index 443 Context help 443 Open PDF manual 443 Watch the introductory video 443 Online tutorials 443 About Samplitude Music Studio 2013 443 MAGIX auto-update 444 Open magix.info 444 Product registration 445 Download more instruments/Sounds/Soundpools 445 Screen transfer - MAGIX Screenshare 445 Restore original program settings 447 MP3 Encoder activation 447

Preset keyboard shortcuts 449

Mouse 449

General settings 449

System / Audio 449 Program 462 Edit keyboard shortcuts and menus 465 Design 469 Easy setup 472

Project options 473

General 473 Project Auto Save… 476 Mixer setup 477 Synchronization 477 Recording options 478

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Varipitch/practice mode 480

If you still have questions 481

Tips for program help 481 System requirements 482 Uninstalling the program 482 Serial number 482

More about MAGIX 484

MAGIX Online World 484 magix.info 484 Soundpool DVD Collection 485

Index 486

Support

Dear MAGIX customer,

Our aim is to provide fast, convenient, 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 at 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. 150,000 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 at www.magix.info guarantee quick answers, which sometimes come within minutes of a question being posted.

• Email support for MAGIX products:

For every new MAGIX product you will receive, as of date purchase, 12 months of email based customer service. Premium email support: For priority support, or if you want the MAGIX support team to help with nonMAGIX related hardware problems you can purchase a Premium email support ticket. Log in at http://support.magix.net and click on "Purchase access code", the ticket is for a specific problem, and is valid until it is solved, it is not restricted to an email.

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.

• Additional telephone service:

Besides the large number of free customer service offers, we also offer a feebased 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

www.magix.com

Mail (North America): MAGIX Customer Service, 1105 Terminal Way #302, Reno, NV 89502, USA

Please make sure you 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:

• Orders

• Product consulting (pre-purchase)

• Upgrade requests

• Returns

Support 15

Europe

Monday - Friday, 09:00-16:00 GMT

U.K.: 0203 3189218 Denmark: 45 699 18763 Sweden: 46 852 500713 Finland: 35 89 42419023 Norway: 47 210 35843

North America

9 am to 4 pm EST Mon-Fri Phone: 1-305-722-5810

Introduction

What is Samplitude Music Studio 2013?

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 is a multitrack recording and editing application for all types of audio material featuring unlimited editing options. It's easy to use and follows three simple steps:

1. Download and record

You can download CD tracks, MP3 songs, wave files, video soundtracks, or sounds & samples from the hard disk, the CD-ROM drive, or the Internet. You can even make your own recordings from a stereo system or with a microphone. Everything you download or record is displayed as an object on the Arranger's tracks.

2. Arrange and edit

Basically, all tracks stacked virtually above each other will be played simultaneously, and everything that follows horizontally will be played in subsequent order. However, you can mute the objects stacked above each other.

Every object – that is, every sound, every song – can be cut up or have effects added. For example, if you want to shorten a song, move the object with your mouse to the length at which you would like the song to be – done! Want to freshen up your sound? Then open the equalizer and either select a preset that fits, or modify your sound "by hand”.

Arranging and editing is essentially all about cutting, blending, adding, mixing effects, and placing audio material into the right positions and into the right tracks. But it’s also about play and experimentation. If it fits, throw it in! Without experimentation there is no innovation. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 allows you to experiment, and experiment wildly. There’s no risk of your audio material being damaged. All editing functions are "non-destructive”.

Export and use

Regardless what you're experimenting with, in the end something usable should come out of it. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 has everything you need to be productive:

• Homemade audio CDs which can be played by any standard CD player

• Unique MP3 collections, e.g. as a source of material for your MP3 player

• Podcasts: Simply export the project as a podcast and - if you want - publish it

online using MAGIX Podcast Service online (the MAGIX Podcast Service can be reached via the "Online" menu.)

• And much more. The export principle is simply "what you hear is what you get".

That is, what you export sounds exactly as it sounded in the arrangement during playback in Samplitude Music Studio 2013.

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Introduction 17

What’s new in Samplitude Music Studio 2013?

96 kHz

Thanks to the high, 96 kHz, sample rate, the signal is now measured 96000 times a second, instead of 48000, like earlier. Together with the 32-bit rate, a much more precise digitalization takes place, resulting in a high sound quality like in professional productions.

128 tracks

With ambitious projects that works with track doubling, aux tracks, plug-ins, etc., track number sky-rockets pretty fast. The new version lets you arrange on 128 tracks (instead of the 64 earlier) - enough space for the most complex multi-track projects.

4 Vita Solo instruments

The four new Vita Instruments, rock drums, string ensemble, bass machine and world percussion, can be found as before via the "Synth"> "Vita" buttons.

Vita 2 sample player

In its 2nd version, Vita Sample Player has a new "Tube distortion" function, a new user interface as well as more sounds:

• Rhodes: Rhodes clean / Rhodes Phaser / Rhodes smooth / Rhodes wah

• Ethno Percussion: DunDun / Framedrum / Gamelan Chimes / Sourdo / Tablas /

Drums / Udu African / Talking Drums

• More orchestral woodwinds: Piccolo / English Horn (each in two variations)

Additional improvements

• 5 essentialFX in a new skin (ChorusFlanger, Phaser, StereoDelay, Compressor,

VocalStrip)

• Guitar tuner

• Music Maker compatibility: Project files (*.mmm) from the latest MAGIX Music

Maker generation can be loaded without any problems.

• New Soundpool user interface

• Mastering Suite 4.0 with an integrated 6-band equalizer

• MIDI learn (in the mixer)

• Various detail improvements

The features

The best possible sound quality

This feature is especially important to every music lover: Samplitude Music Studio 2013 offers unique sound quality for digital music editing.

• 100% sound neutrality: Benefit from Samplitude, professional audio software

that's been used for years in sound studios and radio & TV stations around the world. Samplitude's unique feature is that the original sound of audio files is not diminished by any specific audio discoloration, as is often the case with other programs.

• 24-bit/48 kHz recordings: Your own recordings can be made with the correct

hardware in professional, high-quality, high-resolution 24-bit/48 kHz format.

• 32-bit floating point: Internal sound processing is executed via the 32-bit floating

point process for especially differentiated and high-quality calculation. This way, the audio picture can be created with especially high dynamics. Digital distortion and clipping is virtually impossible.

Formats and interfaces

Import: MIDI standard formats (MID, GM, GS, XG), WAV (24- & 32-bit), WAV with codec, MP3, CD-A, OGG Vorbis, AIFF, FLAC, MOV.

Export: MIDI standard formats (MID), WAV (24-bit), WAV with codec, MP3, CD-A, OGG Vorbis, AIFF, WMA, FLAC.

Synthesizers

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 comes with the following synthesizers that you can play directly on your PC keyboard, via your mouse or with a MIDI keyboard:

• Vita: A sampler with incredibly realistic-sounding, "classical" instrumental

sounds like different guitars (Power chords, clean electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar), different pianos, percussion, strings, brass, woodwinds (each as an individual set & as an ensemble set), and much more.

• Beatbox 2: For computer beats and computer sounds

• LiVid (Little Virtual Drummer): For "real" acoustic drum tracks

• Drum Engine: Perfect drum sounds

• Robota: For "mean" electronic sounds

• Revolta 2: An analog, varied, and powerful-sounding 12-voice synthesizer

featuring a sound matrix, noise generator, and nine effect types. With this synthesizer, you can create any electronic music you can imagine. The sound presets were created by the sound designer for Access Virus and Rob Papen's Albino.

• Lead Synth: "Analog modular" synthesizer

• Century Guitars: Authentic guitar sounds.

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Introduction 19

• Loop Designer: Cut loops yourself

• Atmos: For nature sounds or atmospheres like rain, thunder, or wind

Effects and effect plug-ins

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 offers the following effects and effect plug-ins:

• Equalizers: 10-band graphic and 4-band parametric

• Echo/Reverb + Room Simulator

• Vocoder

• Vandal SE: Authentic simulation of classic guitar effects, tube amplifiers, and

speakers.

• essentialFX: Basic effects for unique sounds (Stereo delay, chorus/flanger,

phaser)

• Vintage Effects Suite, consisting of chorus, flanger, analog delay, distortion,

filters, and the low-fi effect BitMachine.

• Mastering Suite 3.0, consisting of equalizer, vitalizer (stereo enhancer),

multiband compressor, and audio meter + limiter.

• Compressor with many presets such as limiter, Deesser, noise gate, expander, or

leveler and in different models, e.g. as the multiband compressor Multimax.

• Tape simulation: High-quality simulation of analog tape compression

• Stereo FX: For editing the stereo bandwidth

• Declipping: For eliminating digital clipping

• Timestretching/Resampling/Pitchshifting: For correcting pitch and length

• Elastic Audio easy: Dynamic pitch correction with harmonization (creates up to

four choir voices)

• AM-Track SE: High-quality tape machine sound emulation makes typical aspects

of the large, saturated sound characteristics of magnetic recordings a digitalquality reality.

Audio & MIDI

The MIDI format is extremely important in modern music production. You can use MIDI files to control external devices such as synthesizers and samplers and internal software audio generators such as VST plug-ins from your computer.

With Samplitude Music Studio 2013 you can arrange, load, record, edit, and play MIDI data just as easily as audio data. For MIDI recordings and editing you can use the specialized MIDI Editor with Piano Roll, Drum Editor, Velocity/Controller Editor and Event List. Recording can be started directly from the arranger by setting the recording mode in the track header to "MIDI record" or "Audio record".

Multitrack recorder (MR-64)

The multitrack recorder (MR-64) looks like a hardware mixer and can also be operated in the same way. In contrast to earlier mixers, now it can be opened using the "View" menu in order to conduct multi-track recordings just like with a real mixing board. The MR-64 unites the advantages of the analog look with digital technology: realistic appearance, direct workflows, and familiar functionality.

Soundpool

A collection of loops is included, and many more can be found at Catooh. The loops are categorized into "styles" (e.g. ambient, dance, hip hop, rock, etc.) and "instruments" (e.g. drums, bass, guitars, etc.). The name of the loop file also informs you about the kind of sound you can expect. Every loop can be previewed by clicking it. Monitoring is adjusted to the loops in the arranger. For example, you can create and play back a framework of bass and drums first, while the Soundpool manager searches for suitable guitar sounds which are automatically adjusted to the rhythm of the drum track and the pitch of the bass track during previewing. Every loop can be loaded into the arranger by dragging it or by double clicking.

You can find the Soundpool Manager in the docker (or in the "View" menu > "Manager").

Jam Session

The JamSession lets you create complete songs single-handedly. The program simulates working with hardware "Looping delays", like, for example, the Gibson Echoplex. The difference is that Samplitude Music Studio 2013 creates an arrangement during "looping" which can later be edited and compiled into a complete song. During a Jam Session, everything you do is recorded. The most important thing with the Jam Session is the fun factor – there can never be too much of it!

Activate "Solo Jam Session" via the "Playback" menu.

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Tutorial 21

Tutorial

In this chapter we will introduce the most important features of Samplitude Music Studio 2013. You will learn how to create an arrangement with audio and MIDI as well as the powers of both formats. You will also receive information about essential parts of the program so that you can take advantage of all possibilities of Samplitude Music Studio 2013.

Step-by-step mode

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 offers a step-by-step mode for beginners and users who want to achieve results quickly. All major tasks when producing music in a virtual recording studio are solved in five, clearly defined steps.

Recording: First, vocals and instruments are recorded on multiple tracks.

Editing: The recorded material is then edited, with a focus on cutting and arranging.

Mixing: The tracks are mixed, i.e. positioned within the volume and stereo panorama.

Mastering: In the end, the entire sound is edited with effects.

Export: After you have completed all stages, the next step is to "output" your

material, either as a classic audio CD or as a song file in MP3 or WAV format. Or you can upload and publish your song directly on the Internet.

In what follows, we will present these five steps in more detail, because "Easy Mode" offers the fastest start into the program.

Quick setup

After starting the program for the first time, the "Easy Setup" dialog appears. In this dialog, you can specify which sound card configurations you would like to use. Usually you will not have to change anything, because Samplitude Music Studio 2013 automatically selects the correct settings. If you are using several sound cards, however, you can select the one you want to work with from the menu.

You can also set your plug-in directory for VST plug-ins and other elements.

The settings dialog appears only once when you start the program for the first time, giving you the chance to check and adjust the settings of Samplitude Music Studio

2013. After that, you can open the dialog by pressing "y" on your keyboard (or via "File" > "Program settings" > "System/Options").

• Beginners should not change the settings at all and simply click "OK".

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Start selection

The start dialog, which appears after every program start, opens:

Tutorial 23

In "Project settings", you can give your project a name (for example, the name of the song you want to record) and specify the number of tracks and a track directory. Everything can be changed at a later stage.

The main purpose of this dialog is to open a new or an existing project that was saved previously. Since we are still at the beginning, we don't have any existing projects yet. Therefore, we will create a new project:

• Click on "New project".

The interface will open in step-by-step mode with the "Recording" setting.

Recording

In this view, you can do recordings via a connected microphone, for example.

It is recommended not to record an entire song at once, but to record the different instruments and voices one after another on different tracks. For example, if you wrote a song that you usually accompany with the guitar, you should record the guitar without vocals first and then add the vocals later, in a second step. This has the advantage of being able to entirely focus on one aspect, i.e. the instrument or vocals, thereby improving recording quality.

The top area displays multiple empty tracks of your project, which are arranged one below the other. The control panel for the recording is located below the tracks. The large display, especially of the time display, enables better control of the recording. This is useful, because as a singer or pianist, you do not want to have to look at the screen continuously in order to follow the progress of the recording. Thanks to the large display, a side glance from the distance is sufficient to see where the recording stands.

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Tutorial 25

• You can activate background music via

Accompaniment. This function is more of a gimmick and allows you to experiment! Let yourself be inspired by the different accompaniments to create your own melodies.

• Metronome adds a regular clicking sound, which serves as a rhythmic orientation.

The sound should be output via headphones to ensure that it is not recorded. You can select different speeds via the arrow keys.

• Practice Speed allows regular playback speed to be reduced. This way, you can

record at half speed and use the result with normal speed.

• Monitor lets you preview audio material and monitor it while recording. The level

displays what enters the sound card inputs. If it reaches the upper red range, the input level is too high. In this case, you should reduce the input volume.

If you are ready to start your first test recording, click on the red "Record" button. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 now starts recording and indicates this in the record window by displaying a counter with the passed record time.

After recording is complete, an audio file with the recording appears in the top track.

Now you can record on other tracks. The red button to the left of every track displays which track is currently being recorded. In the top picture this is track 2.

You can enable any track for recording by clicking with the mouse and then record on any track.

Editing

In the "Editing" view, the record field is deactivated and only the Arranger is visible.

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 offers almost unlimited possibilities for audio editing. In step-by-step mode, the focus is one removing slight irregularities from the audio material.

Let's just say you accidentally knocked the microphone against something while you were singing and now your otherwise good recording is ruined because of the cracks. Instead of using the cleaning effects from the effects menu, we can simply cut out the crackling. This is the easiest and most effective method for removing isolated cracks.

• Play back your recording (the easiest way to do so is by using the spacebar on

your keyboard) and search for the section that you want to cut out.

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Tutorial 27

• You can move the playback marker in the bar ruler above the first track at any

time by clicking.

• If necessary, zoom into the display to get a better view of the waveform display.

To do so, use the horizontal and vertical zoom buttons located in the bottom right-hand corner:

• Place the playback marker just before the crackling and press the "t" key on your

keyboard (or click on the "Scissors" symbol in the toolbar).

• Now place the playback marker just after the crackling and press the "t" key

again.

• Click on the isolated piece containing the crackling and delete it from the track.

Did you cut out too much by mistake? No problem: The object handles located at the edges can be used to recover deleted material and vice versa, to remove bothersome rests.

• To do so, select the section you want to edit with the mouse.

• Move the mouse pointer exactly on top of the handle. After it has turned into a

double-arrow, you can move the front part to the right or to the left with the mouse button held down – ideal for fine-tuning your cuts.

As mentioned before, Samplitude Music Studio 2013 offers many more editing possibilities. We will discuss more options later. For now, we will leave it at this simple editing exercise.

Mixing

The next area of the step-by-step mode opens the mixer. All other elements are hidden to provide a better overview.

With the Mixer you can adjust and even automate the volume and panorama of the recorded tracks. Furthermore, you can add effects and much more.

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Tutorial 29

• Adjust the volume of the individual tracks with the sliders in the lower part of the

mixer until you have a balanced result and every instrument in the song is sufficiently accounted for.

• Take some time and experiment with the effects (Aux, Inserts, Sound FX,

Dynamics, EQ) on the individual tracks.

Mastering

The "Mastering" area of the step-by-step mode opens the Mastering Suite, which is used to optimize the overall sound.

The Mastering Suite includes four devices, which are organized on top of each other in an effects rack. Which device is used for what purpose?

Equalizer: For regulating the sound characteristics. You can set four frequency bands separately in the graphical control panel.

Vitalizer: A stereo effects processor that allows you to change the stereo width. In "Multiband mode" only the mids are edited.

Multimax: A multiband compressor for editing the volume and the sound impression.

Limiter: To prevent overmodulation.

Export

After successfully passing through the four stages of the step-by-step mode, the result is a first, perfect song. The last stage, "Export", is where you decide what you want to do with your song.

There are four options to choose from:

Burn CD: An audio CD that can be played back on any CD player is the typical way of exporting your song.

Save as WAV: An audio file in WAV format is the standard format for audio productions. It can be played back with different software and on multiple devices and features crystal-clear sound.

Save as MP3: MP3 is a space-saving alternative to WAV that can be played back directly in the player.

Upload: This uploads the song directly to the Soundcloud or Facebook community.

This was intended as a first, quick overview of the step-by-step mode!

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Tutorial 31

Switch workspace

Now that you have a rough idea of what digital music production is about, lets take a look at the advanced options. Let's go to the "Workspace" box at the bottom of the screen and switch to "Power User" mode, the mode for ambitious users.

Recording in the Arranger

You can also record directly in the Arranger, i.e. outside of the step-by-step mode. Here's how it works:

• If necessary, activate the transport control via "View" > "Transport Control".

Recording the first track

• Right-click on the red record button on the transport control.

This opens the recording dialog. You can change all recording settings here.

• The "Monitor" button is activated as a default. The monitor function allows you

to preview the recording material or to listen to it during recording. The level displays what enters the sound card inputs. If it reaches upper red range, the input level is too high. In this case, lower the input levels.

• Click on the "Record" button. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 now starts recording

and indicates this in the record window by displaying a counter with the passed record time.

• Now stop the recording at a suitable position by pressing the "Stop" button.

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 then stops recording. You can now either use the recording or delete it. You can repeat the recording without saving the first attempt on your hard drive. If you want to use your recording, Samplitude Music Studio 2013 will add the audio material to the first track as an object.

You can listen to the result anytime by clicking on the "Play" button in the transport console or by pressing the space bar.

Record another track

Now we will record a second track. If the record dialog is still open, please close it.

• Activate the "Record" button in a second track by clicking on the red "Record"

button to the left in the second track. The track is now ready for recording.

• Right-click on the "Record" button in the transport control. You can now enter

further settings for recording. As we want to play the first track while the second is being recorded, you will have to activate "Playback while recording".

• Click on the "Record" button.

• Now stop the recording at a suitable position by pressing the "Stop" button.

Note: "Playback while recording" mode requires that your sound card can play audio material while recording new material (full duplex mode). Some sound cards can

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either record or play, but can't do both at once. In such a case you should deactivate "Playback while recording".

Integrate audio material

Now add new, already available audio material. Audio material can be added to your virtual project (VIP) from different sources and in different file formats. You can add audio CDs, WAV files, MP3 files, sample CDs (such as the MAGIX Soundpool series), as well as other audio files. There are various options available for loading audio material:

• In the menu bar, click on "File > Import > Load audio file..." and select an audio

file via the import dialog.

• Activate the integrated file browser via the "Files" button at the lower edge of the

screen (or via the menu "View > Manager > File manager"). This accesses all drives and folders on your computer. Any audio file can be dragged to the track by pressing down the left mouse button (drag & drop).

• You can also drag audio files directly from Windows Explorer into the Samplitude

Music Studio 2013 arrangement.

• Audio tracks first have to be copied onto the hard drive separately. To do this,

click in the top menu bar of Samplitude Music Studio 2013 on "File > Import > Load audio CD track(s)...".

VIP and wave projects

A wave object is created for each audio object that you can see in the arranger. You can generally work on two project types:

• Virtual project (VIP): This is an arrangement made up of different objects. The

tracks in the virtual project are for recording or loading audio material onto several tracks. You can conveniently record and create sound on different tracks.

• Wave project: This is the audio material of one object.

Hint: If you delete an object in a virtual project, the audio material and the corresponding wave project on your hard drive will be retained.

Switch to a wave project (your first recording, for instance), mark the corresponding object in the VIP by clicking on it, click into the top menu bar of Samplitude Music Studio 2013 on "Object", and select the option "Edit wave project...".

If you have opened a wave project, then you will see the wave display of the audio material in enlarged view. The acoustic properties are directly visible in wave form, and where there's something to see, there's something to hear, and the higher the

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peak of the wave form, the higher the volume will be. Press the space bar on your keyboard to play back the wave project.

In wave projects you can directly edit your audio material. Direct editing of the material is particularly useful: Mark a range in the wave project with the mouse and then press "Del". After editing the audio material you can close the wave project. You now have to decide whether you want to accept the changes or discard them. If you want to accept the changes, then click on "Save project". The original audio file will now be overwritten.

Arranging MAGIX Soundpool loops

Up until now, you have only been working with your own material. Next, we would like to show you how to build your own songs using the included Soundpool loops.

MAGIX Soundpools offer professionally produced, short audio files - so-called "samples". They have been produced to be perfectly combined with each other and looped. "Looping" means creating an entire instrument track from a single audio sample. This entails replaying the sample sequentially to provide the impression of a repeating musical leitmotif. This process is used today in almost every area of modern pop music.

• It's best to create a new, empty arrangement first. Click on "File" and select the

option "New virtual project (VIP)".

• Select the "Soundpool" tab in the docker (or "View" > "Manager" > "Soundpool

Manager"), to view the included soundpool samples.

• The "styles" are displayed on the left side of the Soundpool manager. If you have

inserted, for example, a MAGIX Soundpool DVD, you can select a style here. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 shows "Rock" because this style is included.

• Next, you can select the instruments that you would like to use. At the start, we

recommend choosing a drum sample to create the initial percussive structure. Open the "Drums" directory in the "Instruments" section.

• To preview, click once on a file in the file list. To load it, drag the desired file to

the track.

• Every object can be moved with the mouse in the Arranger - horizontally along a

track or vertically between tracks. Drag the drum loop onto the first track all the way to the left to the beginning of the track.

• Next, the sample is looped, and the short object is turned into a repeating loop.

To do so, click on the bottom right handle of the audio object and drag the mouse to the right the amount that you need for your first song part. Circa 8 beats should be enough at first. The object will be properly placed on the first 8 bars of the first track.

• Make sure that the playback range is as long as the extended sample - 8 bars in

our example. To do so, click above and to the right in the timeline and drag out the playback range to match the length of the looped object.

• Now press the play button (spacebar is faster). The drum sample will loop for 8

bars.

This means that the playback cursor starts right at the front, moves across the playback range, and then transfers to the start again once the end is reached without any interruptions. You can also move the playback marker independently of the playback range by clicking on the lower section of the timeline.

Note: All additional loops can be previewed during playback and inserted. This way you can listen to the "candidates" when testing new samples in combination with the arrangement. If continuous playback gets on your nerves after a while, then you can always interrupt it by pressing the spacebar again.

• Next, load a fitting bass. Open up the bass folder, test some of the bass samples

there, and then drag a bass loop you like onto the second arranger track

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Note: Melody-creating instruments are ordered according to pitch, meaning that you can choose between several variations for each sample that was produced in several pitches. By combining different variations of a pitch, you can produce chords.

• Add new instruments to your drum and bass loops. This way, any number of files

can be dragged from any folder into the arranger and positioned on top of one another, on multiple tracks, or behind one another.

This way you can create complete songs or professional bases for own recordings.

• Because not all instruments are normally looped for the entire arrangement, gaps

should be built into the architecture of your song to provide musical variation. To do this, looped objects can be cut or loaded multiple times to create the required empty spaces.

Add synthesizers

The track editor does not only manage synthesizers. It can also be used to adjust all settings that affect the selected track. You can open the track editor via the "View" menu. To open the software synthesizer folder of Samplitude Music Studio 2013, click the "Plug-ins" button in the track editor.

After selecting a synthesizer, the corresponding control console will appear where you can program the rhythms, melodies, chords, and sounds of the synthesizer.

Synthesizers become independent objects after they are programmed, and then they can be moved around just like other objects on the arranger.

Exception: Vita (and all associated Vita instruments) and Revolta 2 remain coupled in the track where they are placed. They are controlled via MIDI objects. For MIDI objects, the played sound is defined by the track.

Experiment with the various synthesizers in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 to discover the possibilities.

Edit objects

Editing objects is the same for all object types. The following options are equally available for audio objects, synth objects, and MIDI objects

• Many object edits require that the object is already selected. Individual objects

can be selected with a mouse click. Multiple objects can be selected with a helddown Ctrl key. If you click on the track next to an object, you can draw a rectangular frame by holding down the mouse key. All objects found inside the frame will be selected ("rubber band selection").

• All objects in VIP can be shortened by dragging one of the lower object handles

using the mouse until it turns into a double arrow. Now, the object can be shortened. This way, bothersome regions at the beginning or at the end of a recording can be cut off by simply displacing the ends inward.

• If "Create looped object" is activated under "Edit" in the "Object" menu, you can

stretch the object as you wish with the right handle. Use this feature to create

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entire rhythm tracks from short drum samples by simply stretching the object apart.

• Two fade handles are found on both top corners, which can be dragged inwards

in order to fade the object in and out. The handle at the center can be used to adjust the volume of objects.

• Several objects can be combined with others to make up a group, to avoid the

objects being unintentionally moved out of relation to each other. To do so, first select the individual objects. Then select "Object" > "Group" > "Create group" (or click in the tool bar on the "Group" symbol).

• All objects can be split into multiple objects. To do so, select the "Split objects" in

"Edit" menu under "Split" (or use the "T" key on your keyboard). The selected object will be split at the position where the playback marker is.

• By right-clicking an object you can open a context menu where you can select the

object editor. The object editor is also integrated in the docker and constantly available. It can be used to make all important settings for the corresponding object. You can add effects to audio objects or change quantization of MIDI objects.

The object editor is always open in the docker for easy access. It changes its settings depending on which object is selected.

MIDI recordings

MIDI recordings are created for operating VST instruments or external synthesizers with the help of a MIDI keyboard. The instruments will not be recorded as audio data, but rather remote controlled via the MIDI data format. Every detail of this remote control - i.e. every button press, every note, every velocity level - can be corrected and edited retroactively via the MIDI editor. Please read more on this in the section "Editing MIDI (view page 42)".

What is MIDI?

A few words about MIDI: MIDI files do not contain the actual sound like audio files, but only the note control information. This data is interpreted and played back by the VST instrument or synthesizer. MIDI is thus a kind of remote control for synthesizers. This has some advantages:

• MIDI files need a lot less memory than wave files.

• MIDI files can be adapted to any tempo (BPM) without affecting the sound. The

playback tempo is simply changed.

• Transposition of MIDI files to other pitches is also easy. As a result, a section in a

song does not have to be saved in several different keys. The version in C major is perfectly sufficient. It can then be transposed to any key easily.

The disadvantage of MIDI files: The audio is not yet determined and is only produced during playback.

Preparing a MIDI recording

Prepare an empty track in your VIP for recording.

• To do so, click on the red "Record" button in the track head.

• Then open the "Track Editor" if necessary via the "View" menu to be able to make

adjustments for the track.

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• Use the small triangle to open up the MIDI section.

Here you can now define the in- and outputs for your MIDI data on the selected track.

• Input (In): This could be a MIDI keyboard which you use to enter MIDI notes and

which are then recorded by Samplitude Music Studio 2013.

• Output (Out): This could be a virtual instrument (VST instrument) that plays

back the MIDI notes entered via the MIDI keyboard as sounds. To select a VST instrument, click the small triangle next to "Out" in the Track Editor and select "New instrument".

Note: All global MIDI settings can be found in the "System" dialog ("Y" key), submenu "MIDI".

"In" and "Out" in the Track Editor allow you to assign a special "Receive" and "Send" channel to every track for MIDI data. This is important if you want to control an external synthesizer via a MIDI keyboard, for example.

For instance, if your MIDI keyboard is transmitting on MIDI channel 1, you should enter the value "1" in the "In" menu. During recording, Samplitude Music Studio 2013 will receive all MIDI notes transmitted on channel 1 by a MIDI keyboard.

You can generally assign a specific MIDI channel to external MIDI synthesizers. For instance, if your external synthesizer is addressed via MIDI channel 4, you should also enter the value 4 under "Channel Out" in the Track Editor in order to be able to address the external synthesizer via this track.

MIDI record modes

There are several methods of recording MIDI, and you can set the MIDI record mode in the transport control.

• Normal: This recording mode corresponds to that of audio recording, i.e. a new

MIDI object is created over the existing object for each recording process. The old object remains intact. This way you can record multiple takes of a passage and then compare them in the Take Manager later on.

• Overdub: The data is recorded into an already existing object, and available and

newly recorded MIDI data is mixed together.

• Multi-overdub: The data is recorded into an already existing object, available, and

newly recorded MIDI data are mixed together. However, existing objects remain the same.

• Replace: The data is recorded to an existing object and any MIDI data is

overwritten.

After you have selected MIDI record mode, you can prepare the corresponding track by clicking on the "R" button for recording. Now start recording by clicking on the "Record" button in the transport control.

Edit MIDI

MIDI Editor

Use the MIDI Editor to edit MIDI files. You can open it by double-clicking on a MIDI file (or via the "Object" menu > "MIDI Editor").

You can also use the MIDI Editor to program melodies. To do so, create an empty new MIDI file (Object menu > New MIDI file) and then open the MIDI Editor to input notes.

The MIDI editor displays the MIDI data of the selected MIDI object. You can click the MIDI objects in the arranger one after the other and get direct access to the corresponding MIDI events.

MIDI files can be displayed and edited in the MIDI Editor in five main areas.

List Editor (Event List)

Matrix Editor (Piano Roll)

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Drum Editor (toggle between the Drum Editor and Piano Roll possible)

Controller Editor (for example, velocity, MIDI volume…)

Score Editor (Note display)

Ever areas offers corresponding tools: pencils or eraser-tools.

Fundamentally, changes, for example, moving or deleting notes, refer to all selected MIDI events (red) with just a few exceptions. You can, for example, select a group of notes in the Piano Roll and then change the attack velocity for this group of notes in the Controller Editor, modifying all selected notes simultaneously.

Note: The MIDI Editor has a menu of its own. When it is integrated in the docker, at first it remains invisible, but can be accessed with a right-click on the grey area between two tools as a context menu. If the MIDI Editor is dragged and dropped form the title bar docker, the menu will appear as usual with an own menu bar.

Working with the matrix editor

The matrix editor is particularly useful for conveniently arranging MIDI notes (piano roll).

In the matrix editor, you can edit MIDI notes for controlling sound generators like synthesizers, drum machines, and virtual instruments (VST instruments). If a MIDI instrument is activated, you can play it via the keyboard at the left of the screen. Clicking on a key makes the synthesizer create the corresponding sound.

Now select the pencil tool and paint the notes into the score sheet. MIDI notes can also be sustained by holding the left mouse button or double-clicking. The "Eraser" tool deletes notes from the note field.

The "Step recording" button enables step-by-step audio recording.

Tip: The tool for drawing the pattern is particularly interesting. Use the selection tool to select specific notes and press the key combination "Ctrl + P". The selected notes are played as a sound pattern. Switch to the pattern drawing tool. You can now easily sketch the sound pattern with only one click.

Tip: Pressing the "left" and "right" arrow keys on your keyboard moves forwards/backwards in the notation, respectively. The cursor up/down keys adjust the note pitch in stages.

Using the Controller Editor

In the Controller Editor your can adjust MIDI parameters such as velocity. A simple click on the Controller button of the MIDI Editor opens or closes the Controller Editor.

It appears below the Piano Roll.

Tip: If you can't see all buttons, you can enlarge the view by clicking on the scroll bar between the piano Roll and the Controller area and dragging the Controller Editor.

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On the left you can choose from various drawing tools as well as determine the MIDI parameter to be controlled (such as velocity, foot pedal, vibrato, filter cutoff). By clicking on the small arrow button you can open a context menu with further options.

The Controller Editor can simultaneously control up to four different parameters that can be selected using the four small arrow buttons.

Multi-object editing

You can edit several MIDI objects together in the MIDI editor. In an opened MIDI editor, you can include additional MIDI objects by clicking on them while holding down the "Shift" key. The MIDI events of these objects are displayed together.

In the MIDI editor, you can access the displayed MIDI objects via the flip menu next to the name.

The current object range can be highlighted by clicking the button behind the name. Areas lying outside the current object will be grayed-out and the notes of other objects will be paler, but still selectable. For more information on this, please consult the MIDI chapter in the PDF manual.

From MIDI to audio

If you are controlling an external MIDI synthesizer in your arrangement, you can convert its sounds into audio tracks with the Samplitude Music Studio 2013 record function. This is particularly recommended if you want to enrich sounds created with your external MIDI synthesizer with audio effects, convert your project into MP3, or burn it onto disc.

• Connect the audio output of your external MIDI synthesizer to the audio input of

your sound card.

• Set an audio track to "armed" by pressing "R".

• Start audio recording as usual. The MIDI data will be played and recorded

simultaneously via the record function. The result is an audio file that can be edited and exported together with other multimedia files.

Tip: Do not delete MIDI tracks in the arrangement after you have generated audio files from them, simply mute them with the "Mute" button. You can then later change melodies and beats composed via MIDI and record them as audio files again.

Note: If you prefer VST instruments as synthesizers, it makes more sense to use the Track freeze (view page 355) function from the "Track" menu.

Effects

You can considerably enhance your music productions with effects. Clever use of effects adds depth to your song and simply sounds better. Samplitude Music Studio 2013 has plenty of effects. Experiment with the various effects in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 and learn how to use them.

Calculating audio effects

You can add audio effects in three different levels: audio objects, tracks, and in the master. When played, effects are first calculated in the audio objects. Track effects are then added. The master effects are added last.

First, start with the object effects to distort individual objects while other objects in the same track remain the same. For instance, if you have saved a groove consisting of several audio objects on one track, you can edit the last object of the groove with a distorter.

Use track effects like reverb, etc. on any objects located on a single track. Finish off your song with powerful master effects that have an effect on the entire song.

Effects in audio objects: Right-click on an object to open the context menu and add an object effect. You can access the object effects directly via the context menu. Object effects can be selected and subsequently edited via the object editor.

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Effects in tracks: To adjust track effects in the mixer, open the mixer by clicking on "Mixer" in the lower part of Samplitude Music Studio 2013. In the "Ins" section, click on the arrow symbol of an effect slot in the corresponding channel.

Effects in the master: Open the mixer to add master effects. You will find the master section at the right edge of the mixer. Here you can install the desired master effects.

Hint: Track effects and master effects are always real-time effects.

Burn CD

Once your VIP is finished, you can burn it onto disc. Click on the button with the CD symbol. The CD burning dialog now opens.

Now click on the "Burn CD" button...

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Program desktop overview

VIP window

Program desktop overview 49

1 Menu bar: You can find the menus in the Samplitude Music Studio 2013 main

window, directly below the title bar. A keyboard shortcut can be assigned to each menu entry.

2 Toolbar: Toolbars are made up of buttons which carry out specific commands with

a mouse click. They can be found above and below the project window. More information on the individual button bars can be found in the button overview. More information on the individual toolbars can be found in the keyboard shortcut overview.

3 Grid/Marker bar: The grid/marker bar is positioned above the first track in the

VIP. In the upper half, you will find the marker bar where markers and playback markers can be positioned. The lower half displays the grid list which displays the project time depending on the selected unit of measurement. You can also open various ranges.

4 Project window/Section: "Section" refers to the visible part of a project in the

project window. Which part of the project is displayed, depends on the position of the section and the zoom level. There are many commands for moving (scrolling) the visible section and customizing its size (zooming). These can be opened via the menu view, the

grid/marker bar, and the shortcut keys.

5 Track box: The track box is the front section of a VIP track. It contains various

controls which range from mixer functions and monitoring commands to other track parameters. More information on the individual controls of the track box can be found in the Track box overview.

6 Track editor: The track editor enables access to all important parameters of the

selected track. Record and monitoring status, volume, panorama, MIDI/audio inand outputs, plug-ins, AUX sends and EQ settings are displayed in well-arranged sections and can also be edited directly in this view.

7 Setup/Zoom/Position buttons: This part of the workspace helps manage each of

the four different setup and zoom settings project section displayed in the VIP window. Similarly, the "Pos", "Len", "End", "Mouse", and "Mixer" fields can be configured with a right-click.

8 Docker: Here you will find different manager windows and the visualization, time

display, transport console, object editor and MIDI editor windows. You can take each of the windows from the title bar in the docker and position or dock them elsewhere. Click on "+" (far right) to open or close the displayed windows.

Managers/Docker

In "View" menu you can open the so-called "Docker", which offers a useful combination of various editing windows. In addition to various Manager windows, the docker also unites visualization, time display, transport console, Soundpool, object editor and MIDI editor in a tab window.

The docker can be minimized by clicking on the "minimize" symbol in its top bar or into the tab that is already open. If you click a tab again, the docker will be maximized again.

Using the "+" key, you can open a new tab in the docker. The editing windows can be individually turned on or off in the "View" menu.

To remove a listed tab window again, just drag this out of the Docker lead or doubleclick on the appropriate tab window. The corresponding dialog window will now appear in its own window.

You can return the window to the docker through repeated double clicks on the individual window or by dragging the window onto the tab bar.

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Docking

In Samplitude Music Studio 2013 you can couple certain dialog and display windows to pre-determined areas on the VIP window or the docker, or use them as freelyfloating windows.

In an undocked state, the corresponding dialog appears with a conventional title bar.

If you move the title bar of such a window into the docker area, the docker will turn light green, indicating that the window has been docked.

After releasing, the window will appear integrated into the docker.

The window can also be docked in other VIP areas. Moving is always accomplished by drag & dropping the title bar.

During moving, the arrow symbols appear on the surface, to show the area where the window may be docked. The area above the dockable range will become light green to indicate that the window may be docked here.

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Program desktop overview 53

Transport control

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + T

The transport console window contains the most important commands for playback, recording, and positioning.

Play / Stop / Forward / Rewind: These buttons let you control position, just like with a tape.

Right clicking the "Play" button: This opens the "Stereo master" mode's playback parameters window. You can specify the sample rate, playback device, scrubbing/varipitch options here.

Right click the "Record" button: Opens the recording parameters window. Adjust recording settings like "Play while recording" here. You can also start a mono or stereo recording straight from this window.

Record button: Starts the recording for all activated tracks, i.e. tracks with a red "R" button in the track info to the left. The recording devices must be set to "R" with a right click.

Time display: Displays the current playback position. The units can be selected by clicking on the small triangle.

Area buttons: Using the "1" and "2" you can save areas. You can re-open previously used areas using the arrow symbol.

L/E time display: Displays the length and end position of an area and can be edited by double clicking.

Marker button: Opens the Marker Manager for detailed marker editing. You can find more information in the "Managers" chapter.

Marker buttons 1...12: The current playback position can be saved on each of the 12 marker buttons. If one position has been saved, the marker will appear bright. Another click on the same marker moves the play position to the corresponding marker. The marker bank can be reset with right-click, after which it can be re-assigned anew.

Audio flip menu: Here you can set the appropriate recording mode.

Standard mode (playback during recording): This is the typical recording mode

during multi-track productions: Additional tracks will be recorded in addition to already existing audio material.

Recording without playback (background tape control): If you have selected this option, playback of already existing objects is deactivated and the recording marker will remain at the recording start position. Playback may be started manually, for example in case "read after write" is required. Set the play cursor at a different position and start playback by pressing the "Play" button. The recording will not be interrupted by doing so. This way you can make changes to already recorded material without interfering with the recording process.

Punch marker mode: In this mode recording takes place only between punch start markers and punch end markers. This setting corresponds to the "Punch" button (see below).

Auto Jam Session: Opens the "Auto Jam Session" window.

Mon: Activates Record Monitoring from Samplitude Music Studio 2013, whereby all

tracks with activated "R" display the incoming signal on the peakmeter. Right clicking the "Moni" button lets you select from the various monitoring modes.

Note: Detailed information about monitoring can be found in Samplitude Music Studio 2013's help chapter "System settings -> Global audio options -> Monitoring settings".

Sync: Open the dialog with the synchronization settings. Further information can be found in the help chapter "MIDI in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 > Synchronization".

Punch: sets Samplitude Music Studio 2013 into the Punch mode. In this mode, only the range between the punch starter marker and the punch end marker is recorded.

If you haven't created any punch markers, these will be set automatically when the recording button is pressed. If the recording is started when punch markers already exist, the recording button will flash until the start marker has been reached as well as once the end marker has been passed. It will be continuously lit during the recording between the markers. End the punch recording by pressing the record button again; playback will not be interrupted. Playback will stop if you press the "Stop" button.

In: sets the starting point for a punch recording.

Out: sets the out point for a punch recording.

When the Alt key is held down, you can set additional punch in/out markers.

Loop: Switch into the Loop Mode, where playback will replay a specific section in a

loop.

MIDI record modes: The following MIDI record modes are available: normal, overdub, multi-overdub, and replace. This decides whether newly recorded MIDI files are inserted into the VIP.

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Program desktop overview 55

Tempo section: You can adjust playback speed and tempo of the entire arrangement in the tempo section of the transport control. All objects in the VIP will be adjusted in their speed using timestretching.

The "Beat grid/snap (view page 60)" button enables you to activate and display the beat grid.

Use the "CLICK" button to switch on the metronome click. Right clicking the "CLICK" button opens the metronome options window to configure the precounter and click volume.

Scrub Control: Using the Scrub Control wheel you can variably set playback speed. This helps when searching for various audio passages. The buttons beneath it can be used to start playback forwards and backwards at a slower speed.

Track Editor

1 Track number display and track name: A right-click

on the track name opens the "Track settings" dialog.

2 S: mutes all except the selected track.

3 M: mutes the selected track. 4 Record symbol: activates the track for recording. 5 Lock: prevents the objects in the track from being

accidentally moved or deleted.

6 Volume symbol: enables the input signal to be

previewed.

7 Volume entry field and volume control 8 Level control display: Both LED rows display the

input and output signal for the track.

9 Panorama: controls stereo position in the mix.

10 FX: opens the track effects settings of the activated track.

11 MIDI: sets the track to MIDI recording and opens the MIDI section in the Track

Editor.

12 Automation: is for Automation of MIDI controllers, VST parameters and certain

effects in the track.

Automation

1 Right-clicking opens the context menu 2 Select the plug-in you would like to automate here. 3 Select the parameter you would like to automate

here.

The slider controls the selected parameter while automation is drawn.

MIDI

1 Arrow: Opens and closes the respective dialog box. 2 In device: Opens the MIDI input device menu. 3 Out device: Opens the MIDI output device menu. 4 Channel in: Set the MIDI input channel here. 5 Channel out: Set the MIDI output channel here. 6 Program: This slot is responsible for selecting the

program for the MIDI instrument.

7 Bank MSB: Set the device-specific control change

messages for controlling your external instrument here.

8 LSB: Set the device-specific control change messages for fine-tuning your

external instrument here.

9 Drum map: Select a drum map for allocating MIDI notes to the device-specific

sound here.

10 Transpose: Transpose the notes of the respective MIDI input or output up or

down here.

Audio

"In" slot: Specifies the audio input device, i.e. a sound card. "Out" slot: Specifies the audio output device. This may be a sound card output or (in "MIDI" mode) a VST instrument, for example.

Gain: Set the sensitivity of the input here.

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Plug-ins

AUX

Program desktop overview 57

Activates the sound effects rack containing various track effects, plus a compressor. In the first slot, you can also select a MAGIX synth to be controlled via the track. Clicking on the button to the right of the field beside "Plug-ins" activates and opens the "DirectX/VST plug-ins" dialog to put together a plug-in setup for this track.

Here you can specify the AUX send feed for which you can then select the desired effects in the AUX return channel in the Mixer view.

Contains the parametric EQ for this track. Rightclicking opens a convenient input window.

Comments

Track info section for quickly adding notes on tracks.

Track box

The track box of each track offers a roundup of Track Editor settings.

1 Track number display and Track name: By right-clicking the track name you can

open the "Track settings" dialog.

2 S: mutes all except the selected track.

3 M: mutes the selected track. 4 Record symbol: activates the track for recording. 5 Volume symbol: enables the input signal to be previewed. 6 Lock: prevents the objects in the track from being accidentally moved or deleted.

7 FX: opens the track effects settings of the activated track. 8 Level control display: Both LED rows display the input and output signal for the

track.

9 Volume control slider: controls the track volume. 10 Panorama- slider: controls position in the mix.

Both the "Vol" and "Pan" buttons activate curves that allow the volume and panorama in the track to be automated.

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Program desktop overview 59

Symbol bars

Symbol bars, also known as tool bars, offer quick access to important Samplitude Music Studio 2013 functions. All symbol bars (toolbars) can be moved freely on the monitor. To do so, click on the separator at the left edge of the group of icons and drag the toolbar to the desired location. These will snap in at different positions in the window. You can also switch, for example, position bar and tool bar.

Additionally, toolbars can also be adjusted according to your own needs. To do so, select the "Adjust toolbar" button in the context menu.

To quickly sort a toolbar's individual buttons, click on the corresponding icon and drag it to the desired position while holding down the "Alt" key. You can use the same method to remove icons from the toolbar by holding the "Alt" key, dragging the icon outside the boundaries of the toolbar, and then releasing it.

Note: The visibility of certain toolbars depends on the selected workspace (view page 64), with some toolbars being hidden in some workspaces. Every toolbar can be hidden and displayed independently from the selected workspace in the "View" > "Toolbars" menu.

Toolbar 1

New Virtual Project Load VIP Load audio file Export/save Undo (Undo) Restore (Redo) Remove Copy Paste Split object Glue object together Auto crossfade on/off Crossfade Editor Group Dissolve group List field Mouse mode (view page 88) List field Object mode (view page 66)

Toolbar 2

Note: Toolbar 2 is normally hidden

Set marker Set CD track Set subindex Set pause Set CD end Set track markers at object ends Make CD Play Play as loop Play section End playback (stop) Recording options [R] Record Solo Jam Session Mixer

Tempo tab/tempo buttons

The tempo tab is found in the tool bar. Here you can change important beat settings (view page 473) without having to always open proj

ect options. Click the magnet button to activate the snap grid. Below the button next to it you will find a menu for the following beat settings:

Object grid: This option activates the object grid. This lets objects snap exactly to the edges of other objects.

Area grid: This option activates the area grid and lets you use the current area as a grid basis.

Time grid: This option activates a grid, which uses beat settings as its basis.

Time grid (relative): This option also activates a grid, which takes beat subdivisions

as its base. The selected object will maintain a relative distance to the snap markings when moved.

Frame grid: This option activates a frame-based grid.

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Specify the snap length (for beat snapping only). Values range from every 4 beats, every 2 beats, every beat, musical measure and same as quantization.

The setting Musical measure means that, signatures based on quarter notes serve as a quarter snap unit, and time signatures based on eighth notes serve as a eighth snap unit. The snap therefore follows the time signature and observes any time signature changes.

Warning: When the grid is active, the playback cursor jumps according to the set grid value when forward and rewind buttons are used in the transport console. If you would like to temporarily shut off the transport controls, press the "Alt" key simultaneously.

Activate grid: Here you can globally turn the grid on or off. Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + #

Grid and snap settings: This option brings you to the Project options - General (view page 473) dialog, where you can change additional grid and snap settings.

In the field labeled wit

h Q you can set the quantization value, which will be used for MIDI Quantization (view page 207) and can serve as the grid if the corresponding grid setting "like quantization" is selected. Right click

ing the field opens the MIDI

quantize settings.

Note on "Input Q": In the button skins (e. g. "Camo") you can also find the button "Input Q" in the MIDI area of the Track Editor. If this function is active, then recorded MIDI notes will be quantized according to the current settings immediately. The original position may be restored at any time via the menu item "Object -> Quantize -> Reset Quantization".

Position bar (left side)

To beginning One section left Half section left Half section right One section right until the end To previous object edge To next object edge To previous marker To next marker

Enlarge range (zoom in) Reduce range (zoom out) Zoom extents Zoom to range 1 pixel = 1 sample Zoom range 1 second Zoom range 10 seconds Zoom range 60 seconds Zoom range 10 minutes

Position bar 2

Reduce range vertically (zoom out) Increase range vertically (zoom in) Show all vertically Show range vertically Zoom into waveform Zoom out of waveform Overview mode

Mouse mode bar

Note: Mouse modes and object modes can also be set in the corresponding list fields on the toolbar. For this reason, this bar is normally hidden. For a complete description of mouse modes, go to mouse functions and mouse modes (view page

88))

Universal mode Area mode Object mode Curve edit mode Object/curve mode Object cut mode Pitchshift/timestretch mouse mode Panorama draw mode Volume draw mode Curve edit mode Waveform draw (only in wav projects)

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Scrubbing Mode Zoom mode

Object mode (view page 66) "Hold all objects" "Normal object mode" "Connect curves to objects" mode "Connect objects until pause" mode "Connect objects on one track" mode "Connect objects on all tracks" mode CD special mode Color mode

Range bar

Play cursor back to range start Play cursor to range end Fold range to left Flip Range right Range start to previous zero crossover Range start to next zero crossover Range end to previous zero stage Range end to next zero stage Range editor Move object start left Move object start right Move object(s) left Move object(s) right Move object end left Move object end right Step size for moving objects

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Workspaces

Working spaces serve to bundle menus and symbol bars for certain tasks such as mastering, editing or recording. The available work spaces can be selected in a separate selection menu.

You can create and save your own work spaces. First, set the program screen as you see fit. You can hide certain menu options (menu "File" > "Program settings" > "Keyboard shortcuts and Edit menu") and change symbol bars (right click on symbol bar). Finally, save the changed settings in one of the presets.

Creating a new work space: To create a new work space, right-click of the selection menu, select in the context menu "New work space" and give it a fitting name. The new work space contains all settings of the previously activated work space as well as your later changes. All further changes will be automatically saved in the work space, explicit saving of the work space isn't necessary.

Adjusting the workspace: Open the context menu and click on "Edit Workspace". Here you can select which symbol bars should be displayed and edited. You can activate or deactivate each bar individually, or add/remove individual symbols. Additionally, you can hid individual menu options under "Edit menu". To do so, select the corresponding menu option using keyboard shortcuts and then press the "Show menu option" or "Hide menu option" button.

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Functional overview 65

Functional overview

Objects

Audio objects contain references to the audio files that form their base. You can also speak of referencing an audio file with an object. An audio object references audio files and calculates parameter settings such as volume, panorama, object length, sound changes, effects or fades in realtime. Pitch changes, timestretching, AUX send routing and plug-ins can be calculated this way.

MIDI objects reference a corresponding MIDI file. In contrast to audio, where audio files are saved to the hard disk, MIDI files are saved together with objects, and are directly coupled to the corresponding objects.

Loading an audio file into a VIP object

Method 1: Loading a file into a VIP

Mark a range in the VIP and load the wave file with "File -> Open project -> Audio file". The file is inserted at the beginning of the selected range as an object. The range also denotes the track into which the wave file is inserted.

Method 2: Drag & drop from Windows Explorer

Open Windows Explorer and arrange the Explorer and Samplitude Music Studio 2013 windows so that both are at hand. Access the audio file in Explorer that you would like to use, and then simply drag it over into Samplitude Music Studio 2013 while holding down the mouse button.

Load ranges from wave projects into the VIP

• Open a wave project.

• Mark the range which is to be incorporated into a virtual project.

• Create a new virtual project with "File -> New multitrack project" ("E") or with

the corresponding button in the toolbar.

• Tile the open windows by pressing enter.

• Drag the selected range in the wave project into the virtual project by clicking the

left mouse button into the range and then dragging it into a VIP track.

• A new object is created in the VIP at the position the mouse button was released.

Accessing audio material in an object

• Select any object.

• In the object menu, select ”Destructive editing”. The same menu option is

available from the context sensitive menu by right clicking on the object.

• This opens the corresponding wave project window. The marked range

represents the audio material that is used in the VIP object.

Moving and duplicating objects

Once one or several objects have been selected, they can be shifted vertically (by track number) and horizontally (in the timeline) while holding the left mouse button. As soon as you let go of the left mouse button, the object will be placed at the current position.

If several objects have been selected in different tracks, the selected group can be moved vertically only so far that all objects remain within the tracks.

If "Shift" is pressed when moving the objects, the time position is retained and you can only change the track.

If "Ctrl" is pressed while moving the object selection, then a copy of the object selection is created. In this case, the copy of the original object selection is placed at the destination. The original objects maintain their position.

Object modes:

Normal Object Mode

In this mode you can move objects and edit the end and start positions, fade in and out phases, and object volume.

"Lock all audio in time"

This mode locks all objects to stop them from being moved accidentally. Object mode "Lock all audio in time": Holding down the "Alt" key at the same time temporarily deactivates the mode for the selected objects.

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Link curves with objects

In this mode you can shift track automation curves together with the objects that are being moved.

Link objects until pause

The means that the chosen object is selected and moved together with all subsequent objects on this track. This ensures that the pauses between the objects remain intact when moving a particular project range.

This function also applies to multiple selected objects arranged along various tracks.

Link objects on active track

In this mode, all objects on the current track are selected and moved together.

Link objects on all tracks

In this mode, all objects appearing in the arrangement are selected and moved together from the mouse position.

Note: By using the object modes "Connect objects until pause" and "Connect objects on a track" together, the markers in the top arranger track may also be moved when objects are moved. Moving objects in the object mode "Group objects" simultaneously moves the marker independent of the selected track.

Changing object borders in virtual projects

The lower object handles of a selected object can be used to alter the object borders. The mouse can be used to change the object beginning or end. The object length can only be changed within the confines of the physical wave project window.

This means that the beginning of the object can not be extended beyond the beginning or end of the corresponding wave project. Conversely, the end of the object cannot be extended beyond the beginning or end of the corresponding wave project.

Fade in / Fade out and object volume

The object handle in the top center can be used to set the object volume. The exact volume level in dB during the change is visible in the pop up window at the object.

The top left and right-hand handles of the object change the fade in and fade out settings of the object.

Since these changes are applied in real time during playback of the project, then the original audio material is left intact. This allows easy set up of fades and volume levels without having to fear data loss.

The curve types when fading in and out can be set in the crossfade editor.

Overlapping objects

A track (channel) can only play back one object at a time.

If one object is moved over another object, then the previous object is partially or completely taken out of the playback list (much like one sheet of paper covers another partially or completely). The invisible part of a covered object will not be audible. By moving the covering object out of the way, the covered section or the complete object can be made audible again. To create a crossfade between two objects that are intersecting each other, the crossfade editor in the "Edit" menu can be used.

Looping objects

Looping repeatedly plays an object or object range. You can change the length of objects by dragging out the length handles.

An object is normally played back between the object start and end. A loop object also starts from the beginning of the object, once the loop starting point has been reached only the set loop range will be repeated until the object end.

The easiest option to loop is to open the object's context menu and choose the option "Create looped object" (shortcut: Ctrl + L). The entire object is treated as a loop. If you now drag the length handle at the back to the right, you will see a vertical dash at the previous object end. For this marking onwards the object will be played back again, it is looped and can be stretched out to the right.

An object loop may be edited in far more detail by using the object editor. In Loop Mode you can set and customize the loop start, loop length as well as the loop end within the object. Skilled looping omits time-consuming cutting.

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Object Editor

The centerpiece of object-oriented working is the object editor, which can function as a tool for a single object as well as multiple ones.

Note: There is an object editor for MIDI objects as well. Detailed information can be found in the chapter "MIDI in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 -> Working with the MIDI object editor (view page 173)"

The object editor is divided in three sections "FX", "Fades", and "Time/Pitch". The object editor may be left open to edit objects - the view automatically adjusts to the selected object.

To open the object editor, select an object and press "Ctrl + O" or double click on the object. The Object Editor opens in the Docking bay.

The Object Editor can also be opened for an unselected object by positioning the play cursor over the object you want to edit and pressing Ctrl + O. The track containing the object must be activated.

To select all objects at a certain play cursor position, activate a track with no object at that position. Press "Ctrl + O" and all objects located at the cursor position will be selected, the object editor will open for the topmost object in the track list, which also features the lowest track number.

Object editor: Basic functions

The selection options for the three different dialog windows of the object editor are displayed to the left.

FX: Here you can set the gain, plug-ins, sound FX rack, EQ, panorama and volume.

Position: Here you can set the wave position and object position.

Time/Pitch: Here you can set timestretch/pitchshift algorithms.

The section on the far right is the same for all three dialog windows:

The object name is displayed in the upper text field and this may also be edited. In the square field to the side, you can select the object color.

Using the arrow keys you can "jump" up or down to the object of a neighboring track. Use the double arrow buttons to jump to the previous or next object. If multiple objects are selected, these buttons will not be active.

1-4: You can save the various object editor settings in 4 snapshots. These snapshots apply to the entire project, so that you can easily transfer the effect settings of an object to another (or multiple) object(s).

This can be done by left clicking on the corresponding button. If a snapshot has been saved in the respective button, you can overwrite it by holding down the "Shift" key + left clicking. Clicking the number keys loads the snapshot. You can quickly compare the various object editor settings by switching between the snapshots.

You can also access these functions via the context menu of the snapshots. You can also delete snapshots there.

To all: If the "To all" option is active all selected objects are updated when the object editor is opened. No matter in which of the three object editor windows, all recently

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applied settings that have been made in a selected object, will be applied to all other selected objects.

Note:

- Volume changes are transferred relatively in an object, i. e. they are increased or decreased relative to the volume of other selected objects.

- The EQ settings are always completely transferred, in contrast to previous versions where only the edited bands were transferred.

Bypass FX: This deactivates all object effects, EQ/panorama settings, and AUX sends.

Play/stop: This button corresponds to the normal playback function (shortcut: space

bar).

Phi: The Phi button causes a 180 degree phase rotation. By right clicking on the Phi button you can invert the left and right channels individually.

Lock: The activated "Lock" button corresponds to the key button's switch in the object. The object is then protected against any inadvertent horizontal movement. Additional locks against vertical moving, volume adjustment, fades, length adjustments, ripples or deletion can be set in the system settings (shortcut: "Y") under "Program > Object lock definitions". Locking can be temporarily cancelled by pressing the "Alt" key.

Solo: This button moves the play cursor, during playback, to the start of the selected object and plays that only. Track-dependent busses and AUX paths are also observed at playback.

Mute: This button mutes the selected object. By right clicking you can also mute the left and right channels individually, too.

Commentary: You can type comments relevant to the selected object in this field.

Object effects

In addition to the numerous effects available for individual tracks and the master area of the mixer, audio objects may also feature effects. All settings are retained when moving or copying objects.

By crossfading between objects of different settings, you can also fade between the different effect settings. CPU-intensive effects may therefore be used more efficiently, since they are only processed as required (unlike a track effect set up as an AUX send effect).

The "Effects" or context menu also makes it possible to access the object effects.

Plug-ins/Sound FX

The plug-in section provides you with quick access to installed effect plug-ins on the object level.

Here, plug-ins and insert effects can be selected by clicking the arrow symbols of each plug-in slot.

Just by clicking you can switch the sought plug-ins on or off. Right clicking opens the interface of the respective plug-in.

The button to the right next to Plug-ins disables all plug-ins. Right clicking on this button opens the Plug-in (view page 359) dialog. Here you can load even more plugins than are visibl

e in the slots. You can also save and load plug-in effect settings in

this dialog.

Sound FX opens the SoundFX rack (view page 97) with the internal effects provided

Music Studio, Vocoder opens the Vocoder (view page 374).

Using the butt

on "Offline FX", you can apply all effects as offline effects to an object. Select the effect in the corresponding effect dialog and confirm using the "OK" button. It is also possible to edit either the left or right channels individually.

To remove a plug-in or an effect, select "No effect" from the corresponding plug-in slot in the menu.

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Under "EQ" you can set four frequency bands. The blue button in the header switches the equalizer on and off. By right clicking on the controller/blue button, you can access the dialog window for the fully parametric 4-band equalizer (view page 101).

Gain

Use gain to control the level of the object at the beginning of the processing chain, before all other effects.

PAN

Here you can edit the panorama as well as the stereo width of the active object.

Vol

Vol: The volume is controlled using this fader.

Double clicking on the fader sets it to 0 dB.

Norm.: The Norm. button normalizes the maximum level of the object to 0 dB

Position

Use this dialog to set object-related time positions (start, length, end) for the selected object. In the entry field "Step size" the measurement unit can be changed on the far right just by clicking. The following units are available: samples, milliseconds, hours/mins/secs, SMPTE (24, 25, 29.97 non drop, 29,97 drop, 30), SMPTE/milliseconds, CD-MSF, feet and frames 16 mm (40fpf) and feet and frames 35 mm (16fpf), noise reduction (meter).

Content

Audio file: Here the referenced wave project can be exchanged, copied and renamed directly in the object editor. Open the file exchange dialog by clicking the folder symbol beside the name of the audio file. If the audio file is used by multiple objects, you can indicate whether it should be switched for the currently selected object or for all referenced objects.

Wave position: The arrow buttons do not affect the position of the object or its length, they move the audio material in the object left or right.

With the option Reverse playback an object will be played backwards. The audio files are not changed.

Hint: Please note that there are some limitations when using additional effects on a backwards-playing object. This refers to wave editing or using timestretching effects, especially Elastic Audio. Furthermore, reverse playback requires more resources as track speed cannot be used here.

Position

The starting time of the object on the timeline, object length, and object end can be set here by entering a number or using the arrow buttons.

Using the arrow buttons beside object start / position the object can be moved forward to the start of the project or towards the end of the project.

The arrow buttons beside object length move the start of the object, they work just like the front lower object handle.

The arrow buttons beside object end shorten or lengthen the object, they work just like the back lower handle.

The step size shows the position/length adjustment made upon clicking on the arrow button. The unit of measurement to the right beside the input value can be changed in the context menu (right-mouse click to open).

The lower part of the menu features corresponding presets for each selected measurement, e.g. for the unit of measurement "Bar/beats", the following step sizes are used: 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1Beat, 2Beats, 1Bar, 2Bars, 4Bars.

Pitchshifting/Timestretching

Pitchshifting and timestretching can be used in parallel independently of each other, except for in the Resampling mode.

Pitchshift: You can shift pitch either in half tones (mouse wheel + Ctrl) or per cent (mouse wheel + Shift) or enter it as a pitch factor of the original value.

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Timestretching: Speed correction can be made either as new object length/stretch length or as stretch factor of the original value or you can indicate the desired tempo

as BPM (Beats Per Minute).

The button "<< from loop or range" makes it possible to extract the BPM value from one selected range or the object length and enter it as the "Original BPM". Enter the number of quarter notes in the dialog that opens and then confirm with "OK". This is important if the object tempo is not entered correctly and another tempo needs to be compensated.

The values can also be adjusted in stages using the knob.

If you wish to change the original speed ("Original BPM"), you will see that the speed of the object you wish to correct adapts to that of the set stretch factor. The modes to be selected are Resample, Standard, Smooth, Beat Marker Slicing, Beat Marker Stretching, Monophonic Voice.

"Edit" opens a clear display of the already named parameters. If you move through the individual modes with the mouse, a detailed explanation will appear for each mode.

You can learn more about individual algorithms in the menu reference under "Menu Effects > Time/Pitch > Resampling / Timestretching / Pitchshifting (view page

371)".

"Reset" restores all pitchshifting and timestretching settings. Elastic Audio provides a high-quality tool for pitch customization. The "Elastic Audio" button opens the activated object in the Elastic Audio Editor.

The Use Elastic Audio (Pitch Automation), changes the pitch using Elastic Audio.

Ranges

Ranges are selected parts of an arrangement which are defined for editing or accessing later on.

Example 1: A certain section of a song is to be completely removed from the arrangement. To do so, first define a range that contains the material to be removed. Next, activate the defined range for all tracks by double-clicking twice in the beat bar of the range. If you press the Del key now, the material will be deleted from the arrangement. Parts located behind the range will be automatically moved forward, closing the gap.

In a similar fashion you can also copy the material inside the range to the clipboard in order to insert it at a different location. First, create a range for all tracks as described above and press Ctrl + C ("Edit" > "Copy"). Now, set the playback cursor at the

position where the material should be inserted. Select the first track and press Ctrl + V ("Edit" > "Insert" > "Insert from clip"). Now the material will be added to the track as new objects.

Example 2: A selected range can be played back in a loop, in order to create loopable sequences. Activate the "Loop" button in the transport console. During playback the range borders can be moved in order to find the optimal loop.

Selecting a range

To select a range, move the mouse pointer to the top half of an object and press the left mouse button. Move the mouse pointer within the object while holding down the mouse button. An inverted rectangle appears between the starting point and the current mouse position. Once you let go of the mouse button, the range will be selected.

The play cursor always automatically remains at the beginning of the range, even if you can't see it at this moment in time. To expand the range to other tracks, click on the top half of the selected object again and drag the mouse down vertically while keeping the mouse button held. Now click the section with the "Shift" key held down, and every object featuring a middle point within the selection rectangle will be selected.

A range may also be selected by dragging the mouse across the timeline. This will then be indicated by a different color. Double clicking this range in the timeline selects a range in the selected track; double clicking again selects the range over all tracks, and double clicking once more restores the simple timeline selection.

The timeline selection enables the play cursor to be positioned outside the range. The range will remain in loop mode. This way, playback may be started in front of or within a loop. In this case, the range edges may also be modified during playback. The playback range may be deleted by dragging to size 0. . Click the range borders in the timeline to position the play cursor at the playback borders. Double clicking the timeline outside of the range removes the playback range.

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Leaving a range

To select a different range, click somewhere in the project other than the current range, and simply draw a new range.

Reactivate range

To reactivate an earlier range, use key combination "Shift- + Back arrow" (or "Edit" > "Range" > "Reactivate last range"). By clicking on this command repeatedly you can restore the last five ranges. You can execute the same function by clicking on the button with the left arrow in the transport control.

Change range borders

You can change range borders by placing the mouse on the edge of a range in the grid bar until the cursor turns into a double arrow. Now you can reset the range borders by dragging in the horizontal direction.

If you want to change only one border of an existing track range such as beginning, top edge or bottom edge, left-click on the existing range and hold down the mouse key. Now you can drag the mouse with the held down key in the direction that you want tot change the range. As soon as the edge of the existing range has been crossed, the range edge will follow the movements of the mouse pointer. After you have redefined the range, you can release the mouse.

You can also change a range using the Shift + arrow keys.

Horizontal movement of a range

Click with the left mouse key while holding down the Shift key inside an existing range on the grid bar, hold the mouse key and move the range in the horizontal direction.

Save/recall range

Selected ranges can be saved and recalled using "Edit" > "Range" > "Remember range" or with Alt + Function key F2-F10 and reopened with "Edit" > "Range" > "Get range" or Ctrl + F2 to F10.

Note: Alt+ F4 is excluded since it is a Windows shortcut for closing windows.

Using Alt + F11 you can save unlimited ranges and assign them names.

Additional special functions for defining, changing and using ranges can be found in "Edit" > "Range".

All saved ranges are displayed In the Range Manager, where they can be numerically edited and recalled. The manager is found in the docker or can be opened via "Edit" > "Range" > "Range editor".

Tip: All menu commands for range editing can be found in the menu reference "Edit" > Range" (view page 346).

Wave projects

Wave projects include audio files. VIP objects reference to corresponding wave projects open in the background. The reference solely the audio files and receive working instructions as to what the computer is to do with these files.

All audio edits take place normally directly in the VIP and are "virtual" or "nondestructive". This means that they are saved to the hard drive as a file only during export In some cases it might be desirable to edit audio material directly already during editing. In such cases you can find the associated audio file for each object via the command menu "Object" > "Edit wave object".

Wave projects are for direct editing of data saved to the hard drive. This art of audio editing is called "destructive", although editing steps can be reversed with Ctrl+Z (or "Edit" > "Undo").

When a VIP is opened, you normally cannot see the individual wave windows. To make them visible as icons, activate the "Wave projects to icons" options in "View" > "Window". To make them disappear again, select "Hide wave projects".

In the title bar of the wave window you will find the project name, bit resolution, sample length and the resulting disk space.

You can also load audio files without VIP and edit them in a virtual Wave Editing Mode. For this the "Open wave projects in destructive mode" option must be deactivated in Program Settings (Y). Files loaded via "File" > "Load audio file" will be opened in a wave project, which works virtually, similar to a VIP.

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Functional overview 79

Marker

Position marker

Position markers serve to "remember" position points. They are visible as in a special line at the top edge of a project as named orange bars. Markers can be placed during playback as well as during recording.

• Markers in wave projects are saved in the audio file (*.wav) as so-called audio

markers and are available in this form in other applications as well.

• Wave project markers can also be displayed in VIP objects (VIP display options).

• A project can contain any number of markers. The first ten can be called up

directly using the number keys and are assigned names "1" to "10". You can save them using the "Shift + Number Key" key combination. By pressing the corresponding number key you can jump back to the marker once again.

• By going to "Playback" > "Marker" > "Marker by the name..." you can define and

name additional markers.

• To delete a marker, click on it and press the Del key. You can move markers by

grabbing and dragging them. The mouse cursor will turn into a double arrow.

• If you right-click within a marker line, a context menu will appear from which you

have access to all important commands.

• Manage and name markers in the Maker Manager ("View" menu or in the marker

context menu).

• To stretch a range between any two markers, click on the first marker. Then, click

on the second marker while holding down the Shift key. This selects a new range.

• To move quickly between marker positions, use the keyboard shortcut

("Playback" menu > "Move play cursor" > "Marker left/right".

CD Markers

CD markers are triangular markers for various CD burn functions. They can be set in the "CD" menu. There are

• CD Title Markers

• CD Subindex Markers

• CD Pause Markers

You can find additional information on tempo markers in the Burning CDs" (view page

279) chapter.

Tempo marke

Tempo markers serve to change the arrangement's tempo.

• Tempo markers for tempo change at a certain position.

• Tempo markers for changing the tempo type starting from the marker position

(e.g. from 4/4 to 3/4 beat)

• Grid position markers assign a musical position to a certain position on the grid.

This way, the bar frame/grid and MIDI events can be easily synchronized with existing audio material.

You can find out more about beat markers in the "Changing the beat" (view page

226).

Volume

The volume levels of objects and tracks/channels can be changed at various stages.

Wave Project Level

The volume level changes are applied to the audio material with "Effects -> Normalize

-> Normalize file", or with "Fade in/out".

The audio data is changed. The computer usage is not affected during playback.

Object level

Every object can have an independent setting for its volume level. This can be performed by changing the upper handles of the object or with "Effects -> Amplitude/Normalize -> Normalize object".

The audio data is not changed. The calculations are performed in real-time during playback.

Track level

The volume of every track can be changed dynamically with the volume automation curve and the volume fader in the mixer or the VIP.

The audio data is not changed. The calculations are performed in real-time during playback.

Output mode

You can setup the output mode in the playback parameter dialog ("P").

With the "Sample rate" option you can choose a different sample rate as playback. "Device" allows you to select the desired playback device (if you have more then one active sound card).

Please note that some sound cards are not be able to playback all sample rates.

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Note: Different recording and replay devices for individual tracks can be selected in the track information dialog rather than the play parameter window. Track information opens by clicking on the track number.

Record

Hard drive recording

The device used to digitize audio signals is already included on the sound card and is called an analog/digital converter (A-to-D, ATD or A/D). In order to record, the A/D Converter gathers samples of the signal to be digitized in determined time lapses and measures its frequency. The rate is called ”sample rate” and normally lies in the kHz ranges. KHz means a vibrating frequency of several thousand times per second. The higher the rate, the more samples are taken by the A/D converter and the more natural the digital transformation of the sound will be.

The precision with which the A/D converter measures the analog signal is determined by the sample resolution. The finer the resolution, the better the digital transformation.

CD-quality audio recordings are recorded with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz and 16-bit resolution.

Recording source

First of all, the recording source must be connected to the sound card. There are several ways to do this, depending on your equipment.

Microphone: Microphone signals must first be amplified before the sound card modifier can record them. Most sound cards have separate microphone inputs that pre-amplify signals, but the results are rarely professional.

Quality: Connection to an external mixer or external microphone amplifier produces far better results.

Amplifier: If, for example, you possess a guitar amplifier that has a line-out output, you can connect it with the line-in input on the sound card.

Stereo system: The stereo system’s amplifier usually has a separate line-out. If instead, you see ”Aux. out sockets,” then you should use these. Connect them with the input on the sound card (usually shown in red). Normally, a high-fidelity (hi-fi) amplifier has cinch sockets and sound card mini-stereo catch sockets. You must have the corresponding cable to connect these properly.

If the amplifier doesn’t have separate outputs (other than the loud speakers), then you can use the headphones socket for recording. In this case, you need a cable with two mini-stereo headphone connectors. This process has an advantage: you can control the signal level through the phones input. The disadvantage is that phones outputs are normally not very good. With cassette recordings, always use the

cassette deck line out. Record transfers often leave you no other choice... Never connect a record player’s outputs directly to the sound card, because the phono signal must be pre-amplified first. If you don’t have a pre-amplifier, the only way to do this is via the phones output or an external amplifier

Adjusting the signal

Digital recordings through the sound card need optimal control in order to obtain the best sound quality.

Once the recording source is connected to the sound card, open the recording dialog with the "Record" button and start the recording source.

You can check the control on the LED displays in the recording dialog.

If the level is too high, reduce the incoming signal. If the recording source is connected through the amplifier or tape deck’s line out connectors, then you can reduce the incoming signal only by using the sound card’s mixer window. This is located in the recording dialog under the "Level control" tab.

If you reduce the input sensibility with the sliding regulator (fader), then you also reduce (with many sound cards) the precision of the resolution of the digitized analog signal. This is why these controls should be kept at the loudest possible setting!

The standard for optimal adjusting is naturally the loudest section of the material. This should be turned to the maximum setting

Digital transfer

With the recording function, digital audio data can be transferred to the hard drive through a digital interface (e.g. S/PDIF or ADAT).

ADAT or DAT recorders normally produce data with a sampling rate of 48 kHz. For a CD project with 44.1 kHz you must convert the sampling rate. This is carried out in real time by Samplitude Music Studio 2013. The digital signal is read at 48 kHz, but is automatically converted and inserted into the project as an audio file at 44.1 kHz.

For this to occur correctly, you must first set the sample rate of the incoming signal in the recording dialog. Click on the "Dev." button in the recording dialog. In the following dialog (sound card characteristics), set the audio recording formats supported by the sound card.

Now, connect the digital output of your recorder to the digital input of your sound card, and now start recording!

24-bit audio support

Audio files in Samplitude Music Studio 2013 can not only be recorded in 16-bit quality, but also in far superior 24-bit resolution. Simply click the ”device” button in the recording dialog, and select the ”24-bit” option under ”sound card properties”. 24-

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bit recordings require a high-quality audio card with 20 or 24-bit converters, as well as a 24-bit-compatible NME drive. 24-bit audio material can also be transmitted via audio cards with SPDIF digital interfaces.

We have had positive experiences with the 24-bit audio cards produced by Marian, RME, SEKD and Terratec.

The high resolution audio files are stored and edited in the 32-bit ”floating point” file format by Samplitude Music Studio 2013. This ensures the full 24-bit quality independent of the gauge. The dynamics may increase to over 140 dB, while the recording’s jamming transmission sinks (depending on the type of audio card) to 110 dB and more. Thanks to floating point processing, there is no need to worry about internal editing being distorted. Floating point processing only starts to distort at around 1,500 dB above zero, in contrast to a 16-bit signal which distorts immediately once the zero dB line has been crossed.

Even in cases whereby audio material is intended for burning onto a 16-bit CD, it is worth selecting 24-bit recording, since all effects calculations are made in a higher quality and therefore no ”rounding” mistakes can be detected in the audible 16-bit range.

24-bit recordings (via storage as 32-bit float files) take up twice as much storage space on the hard disk as 16-bit recordings. But with current hard disk storage capacities, it works out as a good compromise when one considers the increase in quality.

High resolution audio files can be imported and exported as 24-bit wave files, enabling trouble-free file exchange with other high-quality audio systems.

Further recording dialog possibilities

The recording dialog also offers:

• A string instrument tuner for creating the best sound possible before recording.

Deviations from the standard pitch are graphically displayed.

• The option of laying track markers (either manually or automatically) while

recording a CD.

• The option to directly incorporate a variety of audio formats, e.g. to save hard

disk space.

Please read the “Recording options” section of the “Playback menu” chapter to learn about all of the recording dialog options.

Folder tracks

Multiple tracks that belong together can be combined in a folder track in order to bring more order to your multitrack arrangement.

You can add a new folder track via "Track" > "Add new tracks" > "New folder track".

Now you can drag and drop other tracks into the folder track. The contained tracks will be displayed inside a frame.

A folder track can be recognized by a folder symbol in its track box.

The folder track can be opened and closed by clicking on the folder symbol.

Individual tracks can be gotten out of the opened folder track via drag & drop. A "(F)" is attached to the folder track number in the Track Manager. If you would like to delete a folder track, you will be asked in a dialog window whether all tracks contained in the folder should be deleted as well.

Mute, Lock and Solo of the folder track affect all tracks contained therein.. Volume regulation of the folder track scales the individual faders relative to each other.

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Tips & tricks

A few tricks that help make working with Samplitude Music Studio 2013 easy:

Working with projects

• The "A" key will select the complete sample as a range.

• "Home" and "End" set the play cursor to the beginning or end; all selected ranges

will disappear.

• A range can be selected from one exact marker position to the next by clicking on

the marker above the wave. Next, hold "Shift" and click on the second marker.

• Using the "Shift + mouse click" a range can be moved horizontally.

• "Shift + Ctrl + arrow keys" will flip a range to the right or left. This is a great way

of testing a loop at a different position.

• Objects in Virtual projects can be displayed in two different modes. By pressing

"Tab" you alternate between the modes. Pressing "Shift + Tab" will open a dialog window in which you can set the parameters of the display modes.

• Using "Ctrl + mouse click" on an object copies the object.

• Double clicking the mouse button on the volume curve creates and deletes

volume handles. Activate the volume automation curve with "V" in each track of the VIP!

• Change the function of the mouse buttons in VIPs with "Preferences -> Mouse

mode", or use one of the mouse mode buttons in the mouse mode toolbar!

• The function "Lock objects" allows you to lock objects to prevent accidental

movement. This is especially useful for multitrack recording when the individual tracks need to stay in sync with each other.

• To determine the tempo of a selected range (BPM), open the snap definition

dialog ("Shift + R") and select the number of beats the selected range represents (for example: 4) in the "Free bar snap" section. Next, click on the "Get range" button in the "Free bar snap" section to retrieve the length of the selected range. The BPM display in the "Fixed bar snap" section now displays the BPM of the audio section.

• Try the right mouse button on various components of the VIP window! A

context-sensitive popup menu is displayed which features useful functions depending on the window component you clicked on. Among them are objects, "Record" and "Mute" buttons, and the scrollbars.

• "Delete" deletes markers when the play cursor (real-time cursor) is located

exactly on the marker. The same key deletes any selected objects and deletes ranges that are selected.

• "T" separates a selected object at the position of the play cursor. If a range is

selected within the object, the object is separated on the range borders, which results in three objects. If auto crossfade mode is active while the separation takes place, Samplitude Music Studio 2013 adds smooth crossfades at the

separation points. These crossfades can later be edited for further refinement. Use the crossfade editor to change the crossfade aspects.

• Multiple zoom levels can be saved to the four "Z" buttons in the lower left-hand

corner of the virtual project window. Use "Shift + left mouse click" to store a zoom level to a specific preset button. When clicking on a previously assigned preset button, the zoom level is recalled. The "S" preset buttons can be used with "Shift + left mouse click" to store a complete window configuration set. This includes the scroll position of the window and the mute/solo assignments for the tracks. This offers four mute/solo groups that can be quickly recalled.

• Multiple objects can be selected by holding "Ctrl" and individually clicking on the

desired object.

• Holding "Shift" and clicking the mouse button behind the last object you want to

select will select objects between the two points.

• wave, HDP, and RAP projects, as well as stored objects, can be opened with

Windows Explorer by dragging them from the Explorer window to the Samplitude Music Studio 2013 window. A special menu option is available to open Explorer from within Samplitude Music Studio 2013 with "Tools -> Explore the HDP directory". The default folder opened in Explorer is the same as the HD project settings in the system dialog ("Y").

• "Shift + Tab" can be used to display the VIP display mode dialog. This dialog

allows you to change VIP display aspects like the VIP window behavior when an object or range is moved toward the currently displayed window borders (VIP border scroll).

• Press "Enter" and all open windows are tiled on the Samplitude Music Studio

2013 screen. This is a good starting point when using drag & drop functionality to move ranges and objects between individual project windows.

• Use the menu option "Edit -> Edit tracks" to manipulate complete tracks. This

includes adding new tracks, inserting tracks and rearranging tracks.

Mixer

• Clicking the right mouse button on a mixer effect control knob or element opens

the associated effects dialog.

• A double click on the middle of a control knob or element returns it to the passive

default setting. Another double click resets the element to the previous position.

• Clicking on the left or right outer limits of a control knob changes the setting in

individual increments.

• In the mixer window, multiple channels can be soloed simultaneously. When

holding "Shift" and clicking on "Solo", all previously soloed channels are unsoloed and the single channel is soloed.

• The "Master normalization" function in the mixer window can be used to

instantaneously adjust the output level to 0 dB, no matter how loud or soft the master output signal is.

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Performance

If errors occur during playback, you have the following options:

• Increase the VIP and HD buffer in the system dialog ("Y").

• Zoom out to project full view ("A" button at position bar)

• Deactivate the "Autoscroll" function in the playback parameters dialog ("P").

• Reduce the number of displayed image elements of the VIP window in the object

display in virtual projects dialog ("Shift + Tab").

• Bounce several tracks by mixdown and mute the original tracks.

• Reduce the used real-time effects in the object editor or mixer.

• Do not use plug-ins, since they increase the CPU load.

• In Windows NT, the playback performance of the hard disk system is particularly

good if the corresponding files are played for the first time. So, if a VIP with many tracks is not played perfectly, save it, close all windows ("H") and open the VIP again. Now the NT file system performance is optimum again.

• It often helps to run two copies of Samplitude Music Studio 2013 at the same

time (simply start it twice from the desktop). This allows you to work on an extensive effect processing, a longer recording, the creation of a CD, or any other unattended procedure, while working on another aspect of a second VIP or project. When working on dual processor systems in Windows NT, both instances use the full capacity of one of the processors. Even under Windows 95 this technique can be used to work more effectively. Make sure you disable the option "Check space bar for playback…" in the system dialog ("Y") to prevent the program in the background to stop any process.

Recording / Playback

• The recording window can be displayed by pressing "R". The recording can be

started with "R" and stopped with "S" when the recording window is displayed and active.

• Playback can be started and stopped with the space bar. When stopping, the play

cursor returns to the original position. If the playback is stopped with "0" on the numeric keypad, the cursor will stop at the current playback position. Continuing to hold "0", while moving the mouse (scrubbing) can alter the exact position.

Mouse functions and mouse modes

Universal mode

Right mouse button: Displays context sensitive pop-up menu. Left mouse button: In universal mode a distinction is made

between the upper and lower half of a track in the VIP. More mouse functions are available for the left mouse button.

Mouse functions for the upper half of the track:

• Stretch and move ranges (with "Shift")

• Set the start position of the play cursor by clicking next to the object

• Reduce the horizontal zoom level by double clicking next to a range

• Increase of the horizontal zoom level by clicking on a range

Select objects

Single click selects objects (or group of objects).

Single click + Ctrl selects multiple single objects.

Single click + Shift selects multiple objects, including all objects between the two clicks.

If you click left next to an object, you can sketch a rectangle with the mouse button pressed down by dragging the mouse the right. All objects contained therein are selected (lasso function).

Moving objects

Objects (or a group of objects) are moved if you click into their lower half and drag them to the desired position while holding the mouse key.

Dragging + Shift moves objects or object groups up or down the track list without changing the time position.

Dragging + key "k" move the object under the mouse pointer, plus all objects behind on the same track.

Duplicating objects

Dragging + Ctrl duplicates one or more objects. To do this you also have to click the lower half of the object.

Dragging + Shift + Ctrl duplicates one or more objects and allows the objects to be moved up or down the track list without changing the time position.

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Mouse functions and mouse modes 89

Lasso function

Object lasso: If you click left next to an object in the lower half of the track, you can sketch a rectangle with the mouse button pressed down by dragging the mouse the right. All included objects are selected.

Volume and panorama lasso: If you click left next to an object in the lower half of the track, you can sketch a rectangle with the mouse button pressed down by dragging the mouse the right. All contained volume and panorama points are selected.

Volume and length of individual objects

You can individually adjust the volume and length with the five object handles.

Object handles: The upper handle changes the object volume. The changed level is shown in dB in the upper left-hand corner of the VIP.

Side handles: Fade-in or fade-out. The fade curves used here can be set in the crossfade editor.

Lower handle: Adjusts the length of an object.

Volume and panorama automation curves

The volume and panorama curves can be used to graphically adjust the volume and stereo panorama curves of the tracks. Movable handle points are created on the curve.

Double clicking on the automation curve creates a new curve event. Another double click on the same curve event deletes the event. Selected handles can also be deleted by selecting "Delete curve handles" from the edit menu.

A volume or panorama handle is selected simply by clicking it. Several handles are selected by holding "Ctrl" while clicking.

If you click right next to an object, you can sketch a rectangle with the mouse button by dragging the mouse to the right. All volume and panorama points contained are selected (lasso function).

Selected volume and panorama points can be moved with the mouse. To move several points, you have to hold "Ctrl" while dragging.

Range mode (safe mode)

Right mouse button: Displays context sensitive popup menu.

Left mouse button: Selecting ranges and moving ranges ("Shift"). Objects or

automation curves cannot be changed by accident (i.e. "Safe mode").

Create ranges

In range mode, ranges are sketched by clicking and dragging the mouse pointer while holding the mouse button.

The range mode is a "safe" mode, since objects or curves cannot be moved accidentally.

Play cursor

Single clicks place the play cursor anywhere in the track.

Zoom

Double clicks outside of a selected range (or no range) zoom out. Double clicks inside a selected range zoom in.

Quick switch to other mouse modes

Using the "." (period key) temporarily switches to the object mode to allow objects to be moved.

Using the "–" (minus key) temporarily switches to curve mode to allow automation curve events to be moved and manipulated.

Curve mode

Right mouse button: Context menu

Left mouse button: Offers a range of functions. I.e.:

Volume and panorama rubber band

When you click on the track near an object, you can, by pulling the mouse to the left or right, spread a rectangle by holding down the mouse key. This will select all volume and panorama points contained in the selection box.

Volume and panorama gradients for the whole track

Using the panorama and volume curves, volume and stereo panorama graduations can be graphically recorded. For this purpose sizing handles which are moved are created on the curve.

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Mouse functions and mouse modes 91

A double click on the volume or panorama curve creates a new handle, and another double click clears it. Selected handles may also be cleared by selecting the option ”clear handles” in menu ”edit”.

You may select a volume or panorama handle by a single click. You will select further handles by holding "Ctrl" while clicking.

When you click the track on the right beside an object, you can spread a rectangle with the mouse held down. This selects all volume and panorama points contained within (rubber band function).

You may move selected volume and panorama handles with the mouse. To move several handles, "Ctrl" must be kept depressed.

Curves / Object mode

This mode differs from the universal mode only in that the track is not split in two halves.

Play cursor, fields, and zooming are not set in the upper part of the track, but rather in the beat line above the first track. All other functions are handled by the universal mode (tracks are split).

The curves/object mode is less complicated to use and is therefore a default setting.

Cut mode

Right mouse button: Context menu

Left mouse button: You can use the mouse cursor like a pair of scissors to crop

objects.

Pitchshift / Timestretch mode

Right mouse button: Context menu

Left mouse button:The lower right tab allows an object to be compressed or

stretched. A timestretching effect is created: The object is not played as a loop or shorter version, but simply in a different play tempo.

Using the center tab, the pitch can be altered via pitchshifting.

Draw volume mode

Right mouse button: Displays context sensitive popup menu.

Left mouse button: Draws volume automation curves into VIP tracks. "V" needs to be

active for a respective track prior to drawing the volume curve.

Draw panorama mode

Right mouse button: Displays context sensitive popup menu.

Left mouse button: Draws volume automation curves into VIP tracks. "P" needs to be

active for a respective track prior to drawing the panorama curve.

Wave edit mode (only wave projects)

Right mouse button: Context menu

Left mouse button: Freehand drawing function for wave format.

Scrub mouse mode

Right mouse button: Context menu

Left mouse button: Scrub function. Click project to pre-listen with control over play

tempo. The project will be played forward and back controlled by the distance of the mouse pointer from the actual play cursor position. The larger the distance the faster the play tempo. You can set 3 individual scrub modes in the play parameter window .

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Mouse functions and mouse modes 93

Color mode

In Color Mode you can color objects or entire tracks. Click on the arrow next to the brush symbol first. Next, select the desired color. Now move the mouse over the objects and tracks in the arranger: the pointer turns into to a paint bucket. Click on the object or track box you would like to color.

You may also apply color to multiple objects across different tracks by dragging the lasso over the desired objects (the lasso appears when you drag the paint bucket). Release to color all selected objects.

If you hold down the "Shift" key while doing this, you will color the wave form instead of the object.

If you hold down the "Ctrl" key while doing this, you will color the object background instead of the object itself.

If the preset color selection is not sufficient, you can also select your own color or even create your own personal color palette.

You also have the option of accessing the color palette for each track by clicking the color selector on the right edge of the track header. This also allows a new color to be assigned to a track. If multiple tracks are selected beforehand, the color selection will apply to all of these.

Left mouse button: Changes the background color of the object

Right mouse button: Changes the wave form color of the object.

Zoom mode

Right mouse button: Zooms out of the project. Left mouse button: Zooms into the project.

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Effects and effect plug-ins 95

Effects and effect plug-ins

Samplitude Music Studio 2013 contains many high-quality effects and effects plug-ins (MAGIX plug-ins) as well as interfaces for external VST plug-ins and DirectX plugins.

What effects are there, and how are they used?

There is generally a difference between the effects types. The following effects occur in Samplitude Music Studio 2013:

Real-time effects: These effects are also referred to as "non-destructive" or "virtual" effects, and they are added to the original sound while it is played. This means that the original file remains unchanged on the hard drive.

Offline effects: These effects are also called "destructive effects", and they are added to the audio file before it is played; either the original file is changed, or a copy is created on the hard drive for working with.

These effects are independent effects modules, i.e. they are provided by third party vendors or programmers. In Samplitude Music Studio 2013 we distinguish between three types of effects plug-ins: "MAGIX plug-ins", "DirectX plug-ins", and "VST plugins".

The area of application is a further criteria for effects. The following are integrated into Samplitude Music Studio 2013:

• Object effects (can be accessed via the object editor or the "Real-time effects"

menu)

• wave effects (can be accessed via the "Offline effects" menu)

• Track effects (can be accessed via the trackbox plug-in selection button or the

trackbox plug-in)

• Mixer channel effects (can be accessed via the "Insert" section of the mixer):

These real-time effects affect track effects the same way as complete tracks.

• AUX effects: (accessible via the track editor and trackbox): These effects can be

installed identically for several tracks, or individually.

• Surround effects (accessible via the insert selection box of the corresponding

Surround bus channel, track editor, and trackbox): These effects serve for editing surround material.

• Master effects (can be accessed via the "Master" section of the mixer): These

effects are for editing the master sound.

Most of the effects modules, i.e. equalizers, compressors, reverb, echo, etc., can be used in several of the above versions. However, they are only described at one position within this documentation. All effects and effect plug-ins that are NOT offline

effects and can be activated via the "Offline effects menu" are explained in the following sections of this chapter. The other effects which can also be activated via the "Offline effects" menu, are described in more detail in the "Offline effects menu" chapter.

Saving effect parameters (preset mechanism)

The effect dialogs contain preset selection boxes. These presets are saved and recalled to/from the "FX preset" directory (a subdirectory of the main Samplitude Music Studio 2013 program directory).

If a preset is not located in this directory, it still can be loaded via the "Load setup" function, but it will not automatically appear in the selection box, so you'll need to browse for it.

Effects that are added/launched from within the mixer or object editor are preconfigured with the values assigned to the virtual project. If the virtual project is to adopt particular changes made to the settings in the effects dialog, then you will need to click on "OK" to transfer them to the VIP.

You also have the possibility to apply the settings of the last destructive effect; a corresponding entry can be found in the "Options" box. If there is no destructive application of the effect, then the parameters selected in the list entries will be applied to the default parameters for destructive editing.

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Effects and effect plug-ins 97

"Sound FX" (object editor, mixer channels, Mixmaster)

Sound FX features an effects rack with the following virtual effects devices:

Equalizer

The 10-track equalizer divides the frequency spectrum into 10 areas (tracks) and supplies them with separated volume controls, which allows you to achieve many impressive effects, from the simple rising of the bass, to total sound transformation. If you raise the low frequencies too much throughout the whole level, it can cause distortions. In this case, lower the master volume using the master volume control on the main screen.

Thumb controls: Each of the 10 frequency areas can be raised or decreased separately by the 10 volume controls.

Link bands: Using this switch you can match the frequency areas in a flexible way to avoid overemphasizing single frequency areas that sound artificial.

A/B: If you have selected a preset for the effect and later you change it manually, you can compare the original preset sound with the new adjustments using the A/B switch.

Reset: Reset inserts the sound effect into the neutral starting position where no processing power is used and where no effect is calculated in the sound.

Touchscreen (right EQ section): This is the ”sensor field” of the EQ: Use your mouse to draw a curve that will be transferred immediately into the corresponding EQ control adjustment.

Compressor

The compressor is essentially an automated dynamic volume control. Tune dynamics are limited; loud passages stay loud, and low-passages become louder. Compression is often used to make the material more powerful. The degree of compression is adjusted by the ratio control, and ”Threshold” determines the entry threshold. Rise and decrease of time can be influenced by attack and release.

The processing is realized ”in advance”, as often occurs in high-quality studio equipment. This means that there won’t be any overdriven peaks or other artifacts, as the algorithm can never be ”surprised” by the peak levels.

Sensor field: The sensor field of the compressor can be intuitively altered with mouse movement.

Ratio: This parameter controls compression intensity.

Threshold: Adjusts the entry threshold of the compression.

Attack: Adjusts the time in which the algorithm responds on the rising level. Short

attack times can produce a ”pumping” sound as the volume is reduced or raised.

Release: Adjusts the time in which the algorithm responds to decreasing levels.

A/B: If you have selected a preset for the effect and later you change it manually, you

can compare the original-preset-sound with the new adjustments using the A/Bswitch.

Reset: Reset places the sound effect to the neutral starting position where no processing power is used and where no effect is calculated in the sound.

Load/Save: Stores the current adjustments as an effect file in order to use them for other projects.

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Effects and effect plug-ins 99

Enhancer

The Enhancer enables the justification of the audio material in the stereo panorama to be adjusted. If the stereo recordings sound unfocused and undifferentiated, an extension of the stereo base-width can often provide better transparency.

Use the maximize function to move the echo and improve the stereo picture, for example, into the foreground.

Volume controller: Adjusts the volume of every single channel to adjust the complete panorama. The reduction of left and right levels is displayed under the control buttons.

Pan-direction: Use this controller to move the sound source from the middle into stereo panorama. The signals at the outer edges of the sound picture remain unchanged.

Multiband: This option switches from "Stereo FX" to "Multiband" mode. Stereo editing only applies to the middle frequency, the bass and highs remain unchanged.

Bandwidth/maximize sensor field: Adjusts the base width between mono (extreme left), unchanged base width (normal stereo), and maximum base width (wide, extreme right). Raising the bandwidth (values over 100) diminishes the mono compatibility. This means that recordings edited this way sound hollow when listened to in mono.

Maximize strengthens the spatial component of the recording, which also increases the stereo transparency without influencing the mono compatibility.

Stereo meter (correlation gauge): This provides a graphical display of the phase relation of the audio signal. You can use it to review the orientation of the signal in the stereo balance and the effect of the stereo enhancer. To maintain mono-compatibility, the "cloud" shown should always be higher than it is wide.

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Echo / Reverb

Reverb

"Reverb" gives you a high-quality reverb which can be specified further using "Room Size", "Time" and "Color" and mixed into the original sound with "Mix". You can choose between various reverb styles in the presets.

Room size: This controller controls a room simulator, which calculates the reverb effect according to the room size. If the controller is turned all the way to the left, then it sounds as if the audio object was recorded in a very small room. If it is turned all the way to the right, it sounds as if the audio object was recorded in a cathedral.

Time: This is where you set the reverb tail's length, i.e. the sound's "sustain" level.

Color: Control the sound of the reverb here, dampen or brighten it.

Mix: This controller determines how much of the unprocessed original sound (dry

signal) is subjected to reverb (wet signal).

Echo

The echo effect is further refined with "Delay" and "Feedback" amounts and calculated into the original sound by means of "Mix".

Delay: This sets the period of time between the individual echoes. The more the control is turned to the left, the faster the echoes will follow each other.

Feedback: This adjusts the number of echoes. Turn the dial completely to the left, there is no echo at all; turn it completely to the right and there are seemingly endless repetitions.

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Xara Music Studio - 2013 Instruction Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Copyright

Preface

Support

Introduction

What is Samplitude Music Studio 2013?

What’s new in Samplitude Music Studio 2013?

The features

Tutorial

Step-by-step mode

Switch workspace

Recording in the Arranger

Integrate audio material

VIP and wave projects

Arranging MAGIX Soundpool loops

Add synthesizers

Edit objects

MIDI recordings

Edit MIDI

Effects

Burn CD

Program desktop overview

VIP window

Managers/Docker

Docking

Transport control

Track Editor

Track box

Symbol bars

Workspaces

Functional overview

Objects

Ranges

Wave projects

Marker

Volume

Output mode

Record

Folder tracks

Tips & tricks

Mouse functions and mouse modes

Universal mode

Range mode (safe mode)

Curve mode

Curves / Object mode

Cut mode

Pitchshift / Timestretch mode

Draw volume mode

Draw panorama mode

Wave edit mode (only wave projects)

Scrub mouse mode

Color mode

Zoom mode

Effects and effect plug-ins

What effects are there, and how are they used?

Saving effect parameters (preset mechanism)

"Sound FX" (object editor, mixer channels, Mixmaster)