User manual NERO WAVE EDITOR - QUICKSTART GUIDE

Quickstart Wave Editor ahead Contents 1 Instructions in brief 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1 Introduction....................................................................................1 How this information is organized ..................................................1 Notes for the user ..........................................................................2 Important terms .............................................................................2 2 About Wave Editor 2.1 2.2 3 Introduction....................................................................................3 Structure of the program................................................................4 2.2.1 Workspace.........................................................................4 3 Settings 3.1 3.2 6 Selecting the input and output devices ..........................................6 Setting the editor options ...............................................................6 3.2.1 Changing the language used .............................................6 3.2.2 Setting the display features................................................7 3.2.3 Specifying the directories used ..........................................8 3.2.4 Audio output ......................................................................9 4 View 4.1 4.2 4.3 10 Specifying the view......................................................................10 How the audio files can be represented.......................................11 Zooming ......................................................................................12 4.3.1 Vertical zoom ...................................................................12 4.3.2 Horizontal zoom...............................................................13 5 Audio files 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 14 Loading and playing back audio files ...........................................14 Selecting sections of audio files...................................................15 5.2.1 Saving the selection as a new audio file...........................16 Inserting an audio file ..................................................................16 Recording a new audio file ..........................................................17 Converting an audio file...............................................................18 Editing audio files ........................................................................20 5.6.1 Muting..............................................................................20 5.6.2 Normalization...................................................................20 5.6.3 Changing volume.............................................................21 5.6.4 Fading in and out .............................................................22 6 Recording gramophone records 6.1 6.2 23 Preparation..................................................................................23 Recording....................................................................................24 Quickstart - Wave Editor Contents · i 7 Effects 7.1 26 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 Introduction..................................................................................26 7.1.1 Saving the effect settings.................................................26 7.1.2 Loading the effect settings ...............................................26 7.1.3 Deleting the effect settings...............................................27 Equalizer .....................................................................................27 Transposing.................................................................................28 Dynamics ....................................................................................28 Time correction............................................................................30 Delay ...........................................................................................30 Flanger ........................................................................................31 Chorus.........................................................................................31 Reverberation..............................................................................32 8 Enhancement 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 33 Introduction..................................................................................33 High frequency rebirth .................................................................33 DC Offset Correction ...................................................................33 Noise Reduction ..........................................................................34 Noise Analysis.............................................................................34 9 Index 38 Quickstart - Wave Editor Contents · ii 1 Instructions in brief 1.1 Introduction These brief instructions are aimed at putting you in the position where you can quickly create your own audio files or to edit existing ones. Because this is a sizeable and powerful program, only the main points are dealt with here and some parts of the program are not explained in detail (or at all). You can find more detailed information on Wave Editor in the online help feature that you can call up at any time (press the F1 key). You can also find the latest information on Wave Editor at the www.nero.com Internet site. 1.2 How this information is organized These instructions contain practical examples of how to create and edit audio files as well as details for reference. The individual sections offer the following information: Section 1 explains how the manual is organized and the symbols used. Section 2 introduces Wave Editor and its features and describes the structure of the program. Section 3 explains how you can set the input and output device and specify the different program options. Section 4 describes, how you can change the appearance of Wave Editor and work with the zoom function. Section 5 shows how you can easily work with audio files including editing them. Section 6 explains, how analog gramophone recordings can be saved as digital audio files. Section 7 shows you how to alter audio files by using special effects. Section 8 shows you how to alter the sound of audio files by optimization. Section 9 helps you find the Information you need with the aid of the index. Quickstart - Wave Editor Instructions in brief · 1 1.3 Notes for the user The following symbols are used in these instructions: This symbol stands for 'warning' or 'danger'. Hints that bear this symbol are very important and the program may behave incorrectly if you ignore them. This symbol stands for 'useful tip' or 'worth knowing'. Information marked this way is important and instructive. 1.4 Important terms A number of important terms relating to audio files are explained below. The rate or frequency selected influences the quality of the recording significantly. Bit depth / resolution In principle, audio data is made up of periodic vibrations, which can be illustrated by a curve. The resolution shows exactly how the sampling value of a curve should be determined. The higher the resolution, the more exactly this can be done. The sampling rate shows how often an analog-digital converter determines a value from an analog signal in one second. Here too, the rule is The higher the sampling rate, the more exactly this can be done. Sampling rate Quickstart - Wave Editor Instructions in brief · 2 2 About Wave Editor 2.1 Introduction Wave Editor is a user-friendly program for editing and recording audio files, which may be of the 'wav', 'mp3', 'vqf' or 'aiff' format. The other types of format that can also be read by Wave Editor depend on the plug-ins that have been installed. Individual audio-files can be created quickly and easily using the various filters and sound optimization methods. Wave Editor is started by: Start > Programs > ahead Nero > Nero Wave Editor. Quickstart - Wave Editor About Wave Editor · 3 2.2 Structure of the program Wave Editor's structure corresponds to that of the usual Windows elements: a menu bar, various toolbars and a status bar. The Wave Editor workspace shows the selected audio file. The individual elements of the window are arranged clearly and understandably, making Wave Editor very easy to use. 2.2.1 Workspace The Wave Editor workspace comprises three separate elements: the 'Sound Display', the 'Level Meter' and 'Spectrum Analyzer'. The 'Sound Display' shows a graphic image of the audio file that is currently open. The 'Level Meter' regulates how the open audio file is played. Quickstart - Wave Editor About Wave Editor · 4 The 'Spectrum Analyzer' displays the bandwidth of the open audio file (in decibels - dB). Quickstart - Wave Editor About Wave Editor · 5 3 Settings 3.1 Selecting the input and output devices To be able to record and reproduce audio files, a soundcard is needed. If a number of components that can play audio files have been installed, select the desired device. 1. In the 'Options' menu, select the 'Device Settings' command. The standard devices set in the control panel will be selected. If you wish to specify another device, click on the corresponding dropdown button and highlight the desired device. 2. Click on the 'OK' button to save the devices chosen. 3.2 Setting the editor options A number of various general 'Editor Options' can be configured. This area comprises four 'tab' (index) cards. By clicking with the mouse you can bring one of the index cards to the forefront and edit the settings. Click on the 'OK' button to save the and close the dialog. 'Cancel' closes the dialog without saving the changes. 'Apply' saves the changes, though without closing the dialog so that additional changes can be made to the settings on other index cards. 'Help' starts the online help feature. 3.2.1 Changing the language used Depending on the (human) languages that have been installed, you can choose the language in which the menu items and commands appear. 1. In the 'Options' menu, select the 'Editor Options' command. Quickstart - Wave Editor Settings · 6 2. Click on 'General' on the dropdown button and highlight the language you prefer. 3.2.2 Setting the display features The display options for the sound display can be changed on this index card. 1. In the 'Options' menu, select the 'Editor Options' command. 2. Click on the 'View' index card and specify whether the following control fields should be activated or disabled: ! ! Show axis to the left of the audio visualization Show time rules above the audio visualization Quickstart - Wave Editor Settings · 7 ! Trace playback position line while playing 3.2.3 Specifying the directories used The directories relevant for Wave Editor can be specified on this index card. 1. In the 'Options' menu, select the 'Editor Options' command. 2. Click on the 'Directories' index card and specify: ! ! ! The directory for the intermediate storage of the temporary files The directory in which the presettings are located The directory in which the plug-in files are located button and selecting the appropriate directory. by clicking on the Quickstart - Wave Editor Settings · 8 3.2.4 Audio output The settings for audio output can be specified on this index card. 1. In the 'Options' menu, select the 'Editor Options' command. 2. Click on the 'Audio Output Settings' index card and specify whether the following control fields should be activated or disabled: ! ! Use noise shaping when converting to lower bit depths Use dithering when converting to lower bit depths 3. Specify the bit resolution on the dropdown button and highlight the number of bits wanted. Dithering and noise shaping are used to minimize noise disturbance at low resolutions. Noise shaping shifts the disturbance to bandwidths that the human ear cannot hear particularly well. Dithering adds a quiet noise signal so that there is no longer any correlation between the desired signal and the noise signal causing the disturbance. Quickstart - Wave Editor Settings · 9 4 View 4.1 Specifying the view The nature of the Wave Editor display can be altered using the 'View' menu. Selecting (check mark in front of the command) of the respective command will open the corresponding Wave Editor element. Disabling this command (no check mark before the command) will ensure that the element concerned is not displayed. Standard toolbar Level meters Vertical zoom bar Status bar Spectrum analyzer Quickstart - Wave Editor View · 10 4.2 How the audio files can be represented There are three different ways of displaying audio files. You can change them at any time. Wave display Spectrogram display Wavelet display Quickstart - Wave Editor View · 11 4.3 Zooming With Wave Editor, audio files can be both horizontally and vertically zoomed, so that special parts of the audio files or marked elements within them can be viewed in more detail. 4.3.1 Vertical zoom The vertical zoom determines the height of the curve progression displayed and can be changed by selecting the desired zoom setting. The vertical zoom setting can only be changed if the vertical zoom bar is displayed. If it is not visible, it can be displayed via the 'View' menu and the 'vertical zoom bar' command. The following example shows the 100% zoom, i.e. levels from ­100% to +100% of the maximum levels. Selecting the 200% zoom reduces the displayed levels to ­50% to +50% of the maximum levels. Quickstart - Wave Editor View · 12 4.3.2 Horizontal zoom The horizontal zoom determines the size of the audio file that is visible in the audio display. The size of the zoom determines how accurately the curve progression can be recognized. It can be set using the appropriate button on the standard menu bar (or via the 'View' menu). The following example shows a complete audio file. In the status line you can see that the file is displayed from second 0 to second 5.524. to zoom in on the section. In the status line you can see Click on the button that only second 0.000 to second 2.934 of the file is displayed. Quickstart - Wave Editor View · 13 5 Audio files 5.1 Loading and playing back audio files Stored audio data can be quickly and easily loaded and played back. 1. In the 'File' menu select the command 'Open', highlight the audio file you require and click on the 'Open' button. to play the whole audio file. While playing, the level 2. Click on the button meter will graphically display the level control for the left and right-hand audio channels. Parallel to this, the current playback time appears in the lower border of the window. Quickstart - Wave Editor Audio files · 14 5.2 Selecting sections of audio files With Wave Editor, you can quickly and easily select a specific section of an audio file. 1. Open an audio file. 2. With the mouse, click in the 'Wave' section on the point that is to mark the beginning of the selection and (keeping the mouse button pressed) drag the mouse to the right until you have marked the section you want. Then release your finger from the mouse button. The section selected is now highlighted in white. The exact times of the selected section can now be seen in the status bar. In the example shown, the section of the audio file selected is that from second 1.046 to 2.652. to play the selected section of the audio file. While 3. Click on the button playing, the level meter will graphically display the level control for the left and right-hand audio channels. 4. Click on the gray area to the left of the 'Wave' window to revoke the selection. Quickstart - Wave Editor Audio files · 15 5.2.1 Saving the selection as a new audio file A selection within an audio file can be saved as a new file. 1. Open an audio file and highlight the section you want. 2. In the 'Edit' menu, select the 'Copy to File' command. 3. In the window that now opens, enter the name of your choice in the 'File name' field and click on the 'Save' button. 5.3 Inserting an audio file A saved audio file can also be inserted in an existing file. 1. Open an audio file and mark the position where the other audio file is to be inserted. 2. In the 'Edit' menu, select the command 'Insert File', highlight the file you require and click on the 'Open' button. Quickstart - Wave Editor Audio files · 16 The file will then be inserted and appears in the opened one as a marked selection. 5.4 Recording a new audio file Using the Wave Editor, you can record your own audio files from a sound source (line-in, microphone or CD audio). One particular reason for (re)recording audio files is to capture the sound of vinyl records. You can then use this new recording to make an audio CD with the aid of Nero. In the section 'Recording gramophone records', you can find more detailed information on how to record tracks from a phonograph record. 1. In the 'File' menu, select the 'New' command. If a file has been edited, you will be queried as to whether you wish to save the changes. 2. In the 'Audio' menu, select the 'Record' command and determine the desired sampling rate and sampling resolution. To so this, click on the dropdown button and highlight the desired list box. Quickstart - Wave Editor Audio files · 17