Xara Video Sound Cleaning Lab Operating Guide

2 Copyright

Copyright

This documentation is protected by law. All rights, especially the right of duplication, circulation, and translation, are reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in the form of copies, microfilms or other processes, or transmitted into a language used for machines, especially data processing machines, without the express written consent of the publisher.
All copyrights reserved.
All other product names are trademarks of the corresponding manufacturers. Errors in and changes to the contents as well as program modifications reserved.
MAGIX and Cleaning Lab are registered trademarks of MAGIX AG.
VST is a registered trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab uses patent-pending technology.
Other mentioned product names may be registered trademarks of the respective manufacturer.
MAGIX licensing conditions are included in the installation and also at www.magix.com under EULA
Copyright © MAGIX AG, 2000-2010. All rights reserved.
Legal notice: Copyrights and laws against exploitation of accomplishments of artists and publishers shall be observed.
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Preface 3

Preface

Congratulations on purchasing MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab! You are now the proud owner of an efficient tool that was developed specifically for improving the quality of your video's audio tracks.
Camera hiss, wind noise and incomprehensible voices can make a video appear cheap and amateurish. Up until now, you had no other choice but to rely on the limited options offered by your video editing software. With MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab you've purchased a program that tackles these typical audio track problems with the help of professional tools.
Problems are solved on the basis of the highly efficient MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab algorithms which have been revised specifically for editing the audio tracks of videos. Elements of the award-winning MAGIX Movie Edit Pro video engine have also been included in the program.
As a video filmmaker, there's no need for you to familiarize yourself with the complex field of audio editing. The program's task-oriented workflow guarantees direct and quick results. Simply select your problem and, if required, fine tune your settings.
This manual provides you with a short introduction to MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab. A detailed description of the program is available in the program's Help file ("Help" Menu > Help) or in the PDF manual.
Have fun using MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab and removing irritating noise!
Your MAGIX team.
www.magix.com
4 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Copyright 2
Preface 3
Support 9
Serial number 10
More about MAGIX 12
MAGIX Online World 12 magix.info 12
Introduction 13
What is MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab? 13 Features 13 Quick Start 14
Overview of the program screen 29
Track window and constant control elements 30
Upper buttons 30 MAGIX News Center 31 The master track 31 Transport control 35 Monitor 37 Zoom 39 Zoom settings 40 Mouse mode 41 Volume controller/auto button 43 Status Line 44
Import 45
Audio files 45 Video files 46 Recording dialog 47
Cut sound – Working with objects 50
Project 50 Split objects 50 Change object volume 51 Reducing and increasing the length of objects 51 Fading objects in and out 52 Fading objects 52
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Table of Contents 5
Object FX page 53 Quick zoom 54 Draw volume curve 55 Voice over 56
Remove 58
Using the effect modules 58 Parametric Equalizer 59 Graphic Equalizer 60 Sound Cloner 61 DeNoiser 64 Dehisser 67 Artefacts 68 Remove DC offset 69 Spectral Cleaning 69
Enhance 74
Using the effect modules 74 Declipper 74 Dynamics 75 Stereo FX 76 Plug-ins 78 Multimax 80 Reverb/Echo (object FX only) 81
Export 85
Audio files 85 Video files 87 Save and Exit 91
File Menu 92
New Project 92 Load project 92 Save Project 92 Save project as 92 Load audio file 92 Load video file 93 Record 93 Export audio 93 Export video 93 Delete old projects 93 Exit 94
Edit Menu 94
Undo 94 Redo 95
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6 Table of Contents
Undo Lists 95 Set marker 95 Delete marker 95 Remove all markers 95 Split 95 Remove object beginning 96 Remove object end 96 Cut 96 Copy 96 Paste 96 Delete 97 Voice-Over 97 Remove pauses 97 Object FX Editor 98 Apply all realtime effects 98
Effects Menu 98
Normalize object volume 99 Isolate Stereo Channels 100 Acoustics simulator 101 Switch channels 102 Plug-ins 102
Options menu 103
Standard mouse mode 103 Cut mouse mode 103 Zoom mode 104 "Delete objects" mode 104 Draw volume curve mouse mode 104 2 tracks 104 Stereo display 105 Comparisonics waveform display 105 Activate Volume Curves 105 Overview track 106 Lock all objects 106 Play parameter 106 Units of measurement 108 Mouse Grid Active 108 Auto crossfade mode active 108 Display values scale 108 Path settings 108
Tasks menu 109
Online menu 109
Catooh – the Online Content Library 109
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Table of Contents 7
MAGIX Online Album 109 magix.info 110 More online services 111 Screen transfer - MAGIX Screenshare 113 Online login details 114
Help menu 115
Help 115 Display tips 115 Show tutorial videos 115 System information 115 About MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab 115 Register online 115 Update check 116 Restore original program settings 116
Keyboard layout and mouse-wheel support 117
Keyboard layout 117 Mouse-wheel support 118
Activate additional functions 119
Free activation (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Dolby Digital 2.0 & 5.1) 119 Activation problems 120
Appendix: MPEG Encoder Settings 122
General settings 122 Video settings 123 Advanced video settings 124 Audio settings 125
MPEG glossary 128
Motion estimation 128 Bit rate 128 Block 129 Chroma format 129 Field 129 Frame 130 GOP 130 I frames 131 Interlace 131 P frames and B frames 132 Prediction 133 Quantization scaling 134
MPEG-4 encoder settings 136
MPEG-4 136
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8 Table of Contents
AVC / H.264 142 AMR 148 AAC 148 Multiplexer 149
Index 151
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Support 9

Support

If you experience any problems with your software, then please get in touch with our support team:
Support website: http://support.magix.net
This website will lead you to the MAGIX user service page which, among other things, contains the following free offers:
FAQs (frequently asked questions) and general tricks and tips. In most cases you’ll find the solution to your problem here. If not, then please use the email support form.
Email support form: You can tell our support staff about your system via the email support form. This information is used to solve your problems quickly and competently. Simply fill it out and send it with a mouse click!
Support forum: You are not alone. Perhaps other users had a similar problem and can help you solve yours. Our support staff are also regular contributors.
Download section: Updates, improvements, and patches are likewise offered free of charge via download. Many problems you may experience are well known to us and can be solved by downloading the latest patch. Besides patches, there are also wizards for checking and optimizing your system.
Links: In the links list, you will find the contact addresses of the most popular hardware manufacturers.
Please note: To be able to use the support, you have to register your product using the serial number provided. This number can be found on the CD case of your installation CD or on the inside of the DVD box.
You can also reach our support team by telephone:
UK:
Denmark:
www.magix.com
0905 118 0888 (25p/min) (open Monday to Friday 9:00 - 16:00 GMT)
077345695 (open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)
10 Support
Finland:
Norway:
Sweden:
Please have the following information at hand:
Program version
Configuration details (operating system, processor, memory, hard
drive, etc.)
Sound card configuration (type, driver)
Information regarding other audio software installed
0942597819 (open Monday to Friday 11:00 - 18:00 EET)
021543223 (open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)
0852507027 (open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)

Serial number

A serial number is included with each product, and although it is not required for the installation of the software, it does enable access to additional bonus services. Please store this number in a safe place.
What can a serial number do?
A serial number ensures that your copy of MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab is clearly assigned to you and only you, and it makes improved and more targeted customer service possible. Abuse of the software can be prevented with a serial number, since it ensures that the optimum price/performance ratio continues to be offered by MAGIX.
Where can the serial number be found?
The serial number can be found on the reverse side of your CD/DVD case. If your product, for example, is packed in a DVD box, then you'll find the serial number on the inside.
For versions that have been especially optimized for the Internet (download versions), you'll receive your serial number for activating the software directly after purchasing the product via email.
When will you need the serial number?
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The serial number is required when you start or register MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab for the first time.
Note: We explicitly recommend registering your product, since only then are you entitled to get program updates and contact MAGIX Support. Entering the serial number is also required for activating codecs (view page 118).
Support 11
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12 More about MAGIX

More about MAGIX

MAGIX Online World

Well-connected: Products and services online from MAGIX
Discover the possibilities offered by the MAGIX Online World. Every MAGIX product offers a direct and easy-to-use gateway to the world of online multimedia:
Present your photos, videos, and music directly in your Online Album or in worldwide Internet communities.
Find professional templates & content for enhancing your personal projects.
Design your own personalized website using professional Flash design with photos, videos, music & impressive animations.
Order brilliant photo prints to be sent directly to your doorstep. It's quick, easy, and well-priced.
®
Experience these and many more online services on www.magix.com

magix.info

Help and get help - Directly from within the program, you'll be able to
access magix.info, the new MAGIX Multimedia Knowledge Community (view page 110). In the Multimedia Knowledge Community, you'll find answers to all of the most frequently asked questions about MAGIX products and multimedia in general. Couldn't find an answer to your particular question? No problem, just ask the question yourself.
You can go to magix.info in the "Online" menu, or via this button.
www.magix.com
Introduction 13

Introduction

What is MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab?

MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab is a specialized audio program that was designed specifically to improve the quality of audio tracks of videos. The program's audio editing options go far beyond the functions offered by conventional video editing programs. For this reason, MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab is especially suitable as a companion to MAGIX Movie Edit Pro, but also any other video software.
The workflow is based on three steps: You import your file, remove all bothersome noise and export it, either to do further editing in another video program or to watch the video on your computer.
MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab features many preset tasks such as the removal of wind noise, sibilants or camera hiss. Simply select a preset and the program solves the problem!

Features

Import

You can load video as well as audio files in the "Import" section.

Remove & Enhance

The "Cleaning" section is the key function of MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab. It is divided into two areas: "Remove" and "Enhance". The workflow is task-based and requires no previous knowledge at all. Simply select the task that applies to you. If desired, you can also make individual settings.
For example:
Remove wind noise: With the parametric EQ located in the "Remove" section.
Remove camera noise or power humming: Use the presets in the DeNoiser and FFT filter located in the "Remove" section.
Optimize the stereo picture: Use the stereo panorama editing feature "Stereo FX" located in the "Enhance" section.
Create a more balanced or powerful sound pattern with the
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14 Introduction
dynamics module or the Multimax located in the "Enhance" section.
Remove hissing S sounds with the DeEsser plug-in located in the "Enhance" section.
Remove popping sounds with the integrated 10-band EQ located in the "Remove" section.
Remove single coughs, clapping or noises: Use the very powerful "Spectral Cleaning" tool in the "Remove" section.
In addition: Simulate rooms (e.g. the sound of a cathedral), add echo, automatic noise reduction and much more

Export

The "Export" section is where you export your project as a video file in different formats. Alternatively, you can create an audio file or save and exit the project.

Supported formats

Video: (DV-)AVI, MPEG-2 MOV, WMV, MXV
Audio: WAV, MP3
1
MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 must first be activated online for free.
1
, MPEG-4 (incl. AVCHD)1, QuickTimeTM
2
, WMA, AIF, OGG, FLAC
2
MP3 export requires Windows Media installation version 10 or
higher.

Quick Start

In this chapter, we will guide you through all of the important functions in MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab step-by-step. You don't need to have any previous experience; just some space on your hard drive.
Open MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab from the Windows Start menu.
Load a video file into MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab and play it.
After starting the program, MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab displays an empty project window.
You are in the "Import" section, which is recognizable by the lit button below the project window.
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The workflow in this section is very easy: Use the "Audio files" button to load audio files and the "Video files" button to load video files.
In most cases you will load a video file with an audio track that needs to be edited. Of course, you can also import video sound only (without video). To do so, simply deactivate the "Show video image" option in the Import dialog. Alternatively, you can load an audio file directly or enter comments via the recording function.
After import, a waveform display of the audio track appears in the main window. If you imported video as well, the video monitor located in the lower right hand corner of the screen will display the first frame of the image track.
Introduction 15
The waveform display gives you an idea of the audio track's progression. It displays where in the video sound is audible. It's also possible to estimate the type of sound. Crackling, for example, creates a clearly identifiable peak in the waveform.
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16 Introduction
Below to the right, you'll find the transport controls for playback, stop and winding. You'll be familiar with these functions from other playback devices.
Use the mouse for quicker navigation: If you click into the waveform display with the mouse, the playback marker will be moved exactly to this position. Use the space bar on your keyboard to start and stop.
The preview monitor helps you orient yourself within the material. You can see where in the video you are currently working.
It also serves to detect audio disturbances, because not every rumbling or crackling noise is superfluous. Rule of thumb: If something in the picture falls on the ground, the corresponding sound should be audible. If, on the other hand, nothing happens in the picture and everything is quiet, but you can hear something falling on the ground, it's likely to be an audio disturbance. Unless, of course, it's a dramaturgical trick and the image that matches the sound will appear in the next scene.

Remove constant noise such as power humming or hissing

There are many types of noise. Let's start with the easiest ones: constant humming or irritating hissing. This kind of noise is usually caused by cameras, microphones or other electronic devices and are present on the entire audio track. Find out how to get rid of these irritating distortions:
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Switch to the "Remove" section.
Most of the elements that are displayed here are identical to the ones in the "Import" section, but the function area in the lower left hand corner has changed decisively. Six different functions for removing audio disturbances are available here: "Reduce popping sounds", "Remove power humming", "Auto noise reduction", "Remove wind noise", "Remove weak hissing" and "Spectral Cleaning".
Introduction 17
Thanks to their names, you know right away which noise is removed by the different functions.
The slider lets you regulate the strength of all of the "cleaning" effects (except for the parametric EQ, DeEsser and Spectral Cleaning, which we will deal with later):
The triangle opens a selection menu, which provides access to more presets of the effect:
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18 Introduction
To get an idea of the how the selected effect affects your audio material, you can turn it on and off by clicking on the symbol in the left hand corner:
Click on the symbol in the bottom right hand corner to open a user interface where you can set all of the available parameters for the effect.
In a way, this symbol represents the effect's engine hood. The interface located behind it was designed to simulate professional audio editing devices.
Depending on the effect device, you can specify very effective audio editing settings here. To do so, it's necessary to know a bit about audio editing though. Usually, however, you will not need these special functions, but they can be useful in complex cases. If you need them or if you're interested, please read the complete documentation (either the PDF manual or the program's Help file).
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Optimize volume and speech comprehensibility

The second effects area "Enhance" aims at optimizing the audio material.
Click on the "Enhance" button.
Introduction 19
You'll find the following effects modules here: "Remove overmodulation", "Level automation", "Optimize the stereo picture for speech", "Remove hissing S sounds (DeEsser)", "Stronger volume boost" and "Simulate room".
The functionality of the optimization effects is the same in principle: Adjust the strength of the effect via the slider, switch the effect on and off to compare the original with the edited audio material and access the actual operation console by clicking on the symbol in the bottom right hand corner.

Remove individual distortions such as crackling

Up until now, the workflow was extremely easy: Load your video, select a suitable cleaning effect, make changes, if necessary – finished. Now, let's take a look at some applications that require a bit more preparation, but are able to solve complicated problems. Above all, this includes filtering out specific audio disturbances.
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20 Introduction
Spectral Cleaning
Spectral Cleaning in the "Remove" section can be useful for editing video recordings of concerts or theater plays, for example, where a single cough in the audience threatens to ruin an otherwise beautiful effect. Spectral Cleaning can be used to remove short distortions such as coughing, passing cars, a whistle, crackling or short drop outs.
Here's how it works: The clearly audible noise has a different acoustic signature than the rest of the material, otherwise it wouldn't be clearly audible. Based on this signature, the noise can be identified and filtered. After it has been identified, the audio material's frequency spectrum is analyzed before and after the disturbance. Based on this "acoustic environment", frequencies are calculated that can be used to fill the gap that was created after filtering out the disruptive signature. Ideally, a simulation of the "normal" background acoustics replaces the cough, almost as if it were removed magically.
Let's start:
First, set the play cursor roughly to the position of the distortion.
Open the Spectral Cleaning Editor.
Try to select the distortion using the marking tool in the Editor.
Once you've marked the distortion, click on "Play". The algorithm
becomes active immediately: The selected area is filtered out and replaced with frequency material from the surrounding "acoustic environment".
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Can you hear an improvement? If not, change the selection. The selection should be as small as possible. Localize the audio disturbance by trial and error.
Once you are satisfied with the result, click on "Calculate". Up until now, you merely experimented, but now the settings will be applied.
Tips: For information on the individual buttons in the editor, please read the entire documentation (available as PDF manual or program Help file). By the way, you can also access a tutorial video that explains the workflow directly from within the Spectral Cleaning Editor.
The Spectral Cleaning Editor might seem a bit complicated, but it is a very effective tool that previously was reserved for pros. Therefore, it's worth investing some time to familiarize yourself with this tool.
For Spectral Cleaning to work, the audio disturbance has to differ clearly from the background. If this isn't the case or only partially applies, you can try the DeNoiser.
DeNoiser
Introduction 21
What to do, if the single cough turns into a coughing fit that drowns out the actor's voice partially or entirely? You can't eliminate it using Spectral Cleaning without also deleting parts of the speaker's voice.
In these more complicated cases, it can be useful to use the DeNoiser. It's actually designed to remove consistent noise such as hissing, but can also be used to filter out certain distortions.
Whereas Spectral Cleaning entirely replaces the distortion with surrounding sounds, the DeNoiser filters out a specific sound signature, a so-called "Noise sample", from the frequencies and does not affect the rest of the material. This way, it can filter out a specific distortion without affecting the background.
The DeNoiser can be accessed via the expert button located in the "Auto noise reduction" module.
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22 Introduction
The associated effect device will be opened:
You can create a sample of the pure audio disturbance in the "Create Noise Sample" section.
Position the playback marker directly in front of the audio disturbance.
Click on "Wizard" to open the fine settings for the noise sample generation.
Three settings have to be specified in the Wizard dialog:
Activate "Take noise print from range start or play cursor".
Under "User length", enter the length of the distortion that you want
to filter.
Get the distortion by clicking on the "Pick!" button.
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Click on "Play" in the DeNoiser to check whether the noise sample really contains only the audio disturbance.
Turn the "Reduction" knob to the far right and play the section that needs to be filtered for test purposes using the transport controls in the main window.
If you're satisfied, close the DeNoiser by clicking "OK".
Sometimes chirping artefacts occur in the DeNoiser. If this is the case, please adjust the settings. More information on this can be found in the PDF manual or the program's Help file.

Cut out undesired passages

Now let's take a look at some special kinds of audio disturbances. For example, if the microphone was knocked against something by mistake or crackling, crashing, rustling, which can't be removed satisfactorily with the DeNoiser, because the background noise is too irregular, for example.
These kinds of noises as well as longer undesired passages can be cut out using the scissors tool in the left hand corner of the track window.
Introduction 23
Select the scissor mouse mode.
The mouse pointer turns into a pair of scissors. If you move it across the track, the playback marker is moved with it.
Play the audio track and search for the section that you want to cut out.
Click before and after the section to cut at these points.
This way, three separate objects are created on the track.
Switch back to standard mode, select the object in the middle and delete it by pressing the Del key.
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24 Introduction
A gap is created in the audio track. The problem is that where the disturbance used to be there is now absolute silence, which is irritating too. It's not enough to simply cut out the audio disturbance, you have to add another sound into the gap, even if it's only very quiet hissing that is audible throughout the rest of the material, i.e. the room sound. Therefore, fill the gap with quiet material that features only hissing, for example.
Search for a suitable passage in a different section of the audio track that is roughly as long as the gap. Cut the audio track before and after the passage.
Switch back to standard mode and select the passage. Copy it to the clipboard (Ctrl + C or "Edit > Copy").
Set the position line to the beginning of the gap and insert the passage (Ctrl + V or "Edit > Insert").
Move the bottom right handle on the inserted object to adjust its length to the gap. (It will latch into the cut edges).
This way, the distortion is "patched". All of the cuts can be fine tuned
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retroactively using the object handles to avoid crackling at the transitions.
There are handles at the top left and right hand corners, which allow you to create fade ins and outs.
The handle at the top center is for adjusting the volume. If you pull it downwards, the volume of the object is reduced.
The handles at the bottom left and right corners adjust the object's borders. You can fine tune your cuts by extending or contracting the object.
Introduction 25

Retouch short distortions such as cracks

Let's take a look at a quick and elegant way of retouching short distortions such as cracks and clicks using a pen tool.
Note: You can't undo editing that you did with the waveform drawing tool (no "Undo" function). After selecting the pen tool, you can decide whether, for safety purposes, you want to edit in a copy of the file or directly in the original material.
Search for a section in the material where you hear crackling and set the play cursor to that position.
Zoom into that section so that you can see the details of the waveform display. You can either use the zoom button in the bottom right corner of the track window or the zoom mouse mode.
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26 Introduction
Take a close look. Can you see the crack? Look for a "mountain" that is flat on top or exceeds its surroundings.
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Select the Draw Wave shape mode.
The mouse pointer turns into a pen which you can use to draw directly into the waveform. If you click, the zoom level increases automatically and you can draw.
It's about trying to turn the flat form a bit more into a peak and moving it slightly towards the bottom.
This way, for example:
Introduction 27
As a result, the critical section looks like this:
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28 Introduction
If you play back the material now, the cracks have disappeared.

Export video files

After you have "cleaned up" the material, you can export your video, either to do further editing in your video editor of choice or to use it in other ways.
Switch to the "Export" workspace:
This workspace is very similar to the "Import" section. You have two options here as well: You can either export the audio file only or the entire video.
You can also save the project, which is recommended if you wish or have to edit the files later on.
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Overview of the program screen 29

Overview of the program screen

1. Menu Bar: Here you'll find all functions of MAGIX Video Sound
Cleaning Lab as menu options.
2. Overview track: The entire audio track is displayed here. The area that you are editing is selected.
3. Workscreen: A section of the audio track is displayed in enlarged view allowing you to edit the audio material in detail.
4. Preview monitor: The video is displayed at the position of the playback marker.
5. Import: This is where you can load video or audio files into MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab.
6. Remove: In "Remove" view, you can delete audio disturbances from your audio material in the track.
7. Enhance: Use the "Enhance" view to optimize the audio material in the track.
8. Export: Here you can export your video material as a file in order to use it somewhere else.
9. Mouse modes: Select a suitable tool here: Arrow (Standard mode), Scissors (Cut mode), Magnifying glass (Zoom mode), "X" (Delete mode), Pen 1 (Draw volume curve mode) or Pen 2 (Draw Wave shape mode).
10. Display: You can choose between different display modes and add a second track.
11. Transport control: Controls playback
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30 Track window and constant control elements

Track window and constant control elements

This chapter describes the display and control elements which are available to you independently from the selected section in MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab

Upper buttons

The buttons located above the track display provide quick access to important program functions.
Using this option you can set up a new MAGIX Video Sound Cleaning Lab project (view page 50).
Keyboard shortcut: E
Using this option you can load previously saved projects (view page 50).
Keyboard shortcut: O
The current project (view page 50) is stored under its given name. If there is no name chosen, the program opens a file requester, where the path and name can be determined.
Keyboard shortcut: S
In the project you can undo the last changes you made. This way, it's no problem if you want to try out critical operations. If you don't like the result, you can always revert to the previous state using "Undo".
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Z
Redo "undoes" a previous Undo command.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Y
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