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Operation Manual
Operation Manual by Anders Nordmark
Quality Control: Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Sabine Pfeifer, Claudia Schomburg
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent
a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described
by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media
except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be
copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2005.
All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
WAVELAB
4 Table of Contents
11 Introduction
12 Welcome!
12 What’s new in WaveLab 6.0?
14 How you can reach us
15 Requirements
16 This is what you need…
16 Computer requirements
18 Sampler requirements
18 About audio cards
19 About the System Information
feature
21 Installing and setting
up
22 Setting up the computer
23 Installation procedure
24 Register your software!
25 Launching WaveLab
25 Program settings
30 Installing a CD/DVD recorder
31 Installing samplers
33 Installation done! Where do I
go next?
33 About the Tracer application
35 Overview
36 Get to know WaveLab
36 The windows and what you
can do with them
43 Find your way around in
WaveLab
45 Basic methods
46 Why you should read this
chapter
46 Getting help
47 Undo and Redo
49 Working with windows
56 Dockable control bars
59 The status bar
60 Speed menus
61 Units of time and level
62 Setting values
65 Presets
67 About non-modal dialogs
68 Using the computer keyboard
69 Editing in the Wave
window
70 About this chapter
70 Creating new empty
documents
71 Opening Waves
76 Window overview and
adjustments
80 Setting the zoom factor
86 Navigating through the file
87 Snapshots
88 Setting the ruler start position
89 Working with a meter based
display
89 Setting the wave cursor
position
91 Selecting
99 Basic editing commands
113 File handling in Wave
windows
127 Editing attributes and getting
information
129 About the Loudness enve-
lope display mode
133 Playback and
recording
134 Playing back
146 Recording
155 Metering
156 Introduction
156 Selecting what to monitor
158 Multi-channel metering
159 The meters
WAVELAB
Table of Contents 5
175 Off-line processing
176 Introduction
176 Applying processing
178 Level Normalizer
178 Gain Change
180 Loudness Normalizer
183 Pan Normalizer
184 Dynamics
189 Level envelope
191 Fade-in and fade-out
192 Crossfade
195 Invert Phase
195 Reverse
195 Eliminate DC Offset
196 Waveform Restorer
196 Time Stretch
201 Pitch Correction
204 Pitch Quantize
205 Pitch Bend
207 Harmonization
208 Hi-fi Chorus
209 EQ
210 Convert sample rate
211 Effect Morphing
215 Support for reNOVAtor™
217 Master Section
218 Introduction
219 The Master Section window
221 About the signal path
222 The Master level pane
225 The Effects pane
231 The Dithering pane
236 Master Section presets
239 Rendering
244 Smart bypass
247 The Monitor window
251 Audio Input
252 Using External effects
255 Spectrum Editor
256 Introduction
256 Basics
260 Defining a region
262 Surgical processing
269 Master Section processing
273 Batch processing
274 Introduction
276 Opening the Batch
Processor
277 Overview of the Window
278 The Input tab – Assembling a
list of files
285 Setting up the processing
tasks to be performed
292 The Output tab – Settings for
created files
299 Scheduling
301 Running and stopping the
batch(es)
301 Using presets for batch
processing
303 Batch file encoding
304 Basic procedure
307 Batch renaming
308 Introduction
308 Setting up which files/clips/
markers to rename
312 Renaming operations
321 About regular expressions
327 Markers
328 Introduction
331 Creating markers
332 About the marker list
333 Marker appearance and visi-
bility
WAVELAB
6 Table of Contents
334 Editing, converting and
naming markers
336 Moving and duplicating
markers
337 Deleting markers
338 Operations involving markers
341 Using Auto Split
342 Introduction
342 The Auto Split dialog
347 Preparing a
Basic Audio CD
348 Creating, opening and saving
Basic Audio CDs
349 About the Basic
Audio CD window
350 Adding files to a Basic
Audio CD
353 Setting the order of the tracks
on the CD
353 Deleting files from Basic
Audio CDs
354 Managing list columns
355 “Unfolding” a track
356 Opening CD tracks for wave
editing
357 About the relation between
the track list and CD markers
358 Working with CD markers
360 Adjusting pauses
360 Naming tracks
360 Other settings
361 Checking the total length of
the CD
361 Playing files in the track list
362 Creating a disc image
363 Exporting audio files from a
track list
364 Preparations done!
365 About the DVD-Audio
format
366 Background information
371 The Audio Montage
372 Introduction
373 The Audio Montage window
378 Assembling the Montage
392 Zooming and navigating
399 Playing back
406 Recording
408 Rearranging clips
433 The Zoom view
436 Editing in the Clips view
441 Managing clips and source
files
445 The volume envelope
457 Using fades and crossfades
in the Montage
469 The pan envelope
470 Transforming clips
474 Adding effects to tracks and
clips
483 Managing effects in the
Plug-ins view
486 The Meta Normalizer
489 Groups
492 Using markers in the Montage
496 Undo/Redo and History
498 File handling in the Audio
Montage
504 Using video tracks
506 Multichannel operation in the
Montage
527 Mixing down – The Render
function
531 Preparing the Audio Montage
for CD/DVD-Audio burning
541 Creating an Audio CD report
WAVELAB
Table of Contents 7
546 Using DVD-A picture and text
tracks
547 Exporting and importing
AES-31 files
549 XML Export/Import of Audio
Montages
551 DVD-Audio projects
552 Creating and opening a
DVD-Audio project
553 Adding Montages to a
DVD-Audio project
554 The DVD-Audio project
window
556 The Main settings dialog
558 Generating DVD menus
566 DVD-Audio text
568 Final preparations
571 Burning an audio CD
572 Introduction
572 Selecting a CD-R unit
573 Testing a basic audio CD
before burning
574 Writing a CD
576 Validating an audio CD after
burning
577 The audio CD format –
Background information
583 Data CD/DVD Projects
584 Introduction
585 Creating a new Data
CD/DVD Project
586 Source window settings
587 Destination window settings
590 The Write dialog for the
Data CD/DVD
593 Importing audio
CD/DVD tracks
594 Importing audio CD tracks
into WaveLab
599 Importing DVD-Audio tracks
into WaveLab
603 Creating labels
604 Introduction
606 Using the Label Editor
614 Defining user variables
616 Printing labels
619 Analysis
620 Global analysis
631 Audio error detection and
correction
637 Audio file comparer
638 3D Frequency Analysis
641 Loudness distribution tool
643 Generating signals
644 Audio Signal Generator
646 DTMF Generator
649 Synchronizing
WaveLab to
external devices
650 Introduction
650 MTC sync
656 Sync to ASIO Positioning
Protocol (APP)
657 Using samplers and
creating loops
658 Introduction
658 Background information
661 Setting up your sampler(s)
663 Transmitting samples
WAVELAB
8 Table of Contents
664 Receiving samples
664 Deleting and getting informa-
tion about samples
665 The Transmit Back feature
665 In case of problems
666 Using WaveLab with
Steinberg HALion
667 Editing sample attributes
669 Basic looping
671 Using the Crossfade Looper
679 Using the Loop Tone
Equalizer
683 Audio Databases
684 What is an Audio Database
and why do I need it?
685 Creating and opening Audio
Databases
685 How Audio Databases are
saved
686 Window overview and
adjustments
687 Adding files to the Audio
Database
693 Customizing the File List
693 Selecting in the File List
694 Finding out where files are
located
694 Opening a file for editing
694 Playing a file
695 Other file operations
699 Working with categories
702 Location operations
703 Filtering the list
704 Finding files
705 Changing the default
categories and keywords
707 Workspaces
708 What are Workspaces?
709 Creating and opening
Workspaces
709 How Workspaces are saved
710 Creating, renaming and
deleting groups
710 File operations
713 Using WaveLab for
backup
714 Background
715 Creating a Backup Plan
723 Performing the backup
725 Opening an archive
728 Other functions
729 Customizing
730 What is customizing?
730 Preferences
731 Folder editing
733 Saving the window layout
734 Styling WaveLab –
Wave windows
739 Styling WaveLab –
Audio Montage windows
744 Working with window layouts
745 Setting default size and posi-
tion for windows
746 Creating a Favorites menu
746 Customizable key/MIDI
commands
753 Organizing plug-in processors
759 Plug-in Processor
Reference
760 About WaveLab plug-ins
768 VST Plug-ins
WAVELAB
Table of Contents 9
791 Sampler Details
792 SDS - Generic Sample Dump
Standard
792 SMDI (Standard SCSI
transfer)
793 Akai S1000/1100 including
PB models
793 Akai S2000/S2800/S3000/
S3200, including all “i”, CD,
and “XL” derivatives etc.
794 Ensoniq, EPS, EPS16+,
ASR-10, ASR-88
794 E-mu Esi-32
795 E-mu EIV, e64 and other
samplers running the EOS
operating system
795 Kurzweil K2000 and K2500
796 Roland S-760
797 Troubleshooting
798 General problems
799 Problems with opening files
800 Problems with saving files
800 Recording problems
801 Playback problems
802 Editing problems
802 Audio database and
workspace problems
803 Troubleshooting and
precautions
803 Sampler communication
problems
804 Problems and solutions
805 Questions and Answers
806 Day to day precautions for
trouble free CD writing
807 Hardware and setup issues
809 Key commands
810 File handling
810 Wave display mode
811 Zooming
811 View
812 Playback and cursor position
813 Selecting
815 Editing and Recording
817 Processing
817 Markers
818 Database
818 Miscellaneous
819 Index
WAVELAB
10 Table of Contents
1
Introduction
WAVELAB
1 – 12 Introduction
Welcome!
Congratulations on your choice of WaveLab! Ever since its early versions
WaveLab has enjoyed a high reputation among professional and semi-
professional users. WaveLab is the audio editor of choice, not only in top-
of-the-line mastering and restoration facilities, but also for any serious en-
gineer or musician.
This new version of WaveLab continues in the tradition of introducing
new powerful and exciting features while maintaining the ease of use and
workflow that makes working with WaveLab so effective. We are quite
confident that version 6.0 will define a new standard in applying psycho-
acoustic tools to professional audio editing and mastering. WaveLab 6.0
will integrate seamlessly into your existing studio environment, and with
your outboard gear.
Steinberg has always shown a strong commitment to protect the invest-
ment of loyal customers. WaveLab 6.0 follows this route by introducing
the Steinberg key to preserve your competitive advantage.
Your Steinberg Team.
What’s new in WaveLab 6.0?
This section lists the main new functions and features added to the 6.0
version of WaveLab:
• The main wave window and the overview can independently be set to display one
of three display modes: Standard waveform display (Wave), the loudness enve-
lope of the sound (Loudness envelope), or as a spectrogram (Spectrum).
• New Spectrum editor offers powerful audio restoration and processing functions.
High quality linear-phase filters allow you to remove unwanted artefacts in the au-
dio with surgical precision. You can also process a selected frequency/time re-
gion separately via the Master Section.
• New Rename function that can automatically update all file references in other
documents such as Audio Montages. Files, clips and markers can also be batch
renamed.
• Marker regions can be rendered as separate audio files.
• Improved file read/write performance.
• No limitation on audio file size.
• DIRAC engine - perhaps the highest quality algorithm for Time stretch/Pitch shift
processing available today.
• Crystal Resampler plug-in, a professional sample rate converter providing excep-
tional transparency and preservation of the frequency content.
WAVELAB
Introduction 1 – 13
• External gear plug-in allows you to process audio via external equipment.
• New Audio input plug-in replaces the Live input feature, with the option to record
the incoming signal.
• Option to save an audio selection as an Audio Montage clip.
• Redesigned graphic user interface in all menus and dialogs.
• Auto Split enhancements includes Split to specific file length and Split according
to a text file (XML support).
• Clip files can be created when using Auto Split.
• The Loudness Normalizer allows you specify the desired loudness of a file to a
given value. A high quality limiter coupled with multi-pass analysis ensures very
accurate results.
• The Pan Normalizer allows you to process the left/right audio channels in a stereo
file to the same loudness.
• The Level envelope processor can control the level of an audio file or selection
using an envelope curve.
• The Pitch Quantize processor can automatically detect and correct the pitch of
an audio file.
• Effect morphing - gradually blend two processed audio ranges with a custom en-
velope for sample accurate effect transitions.
• Global Bypass tool compensates for the loudness difference between pro-
cessed/unprocessed audio.
• New Edit folders dialog manages all default file folders used by WaveLab.
• Define up to 3 temporary file folders to further improve file performance.
• View settings files (extension “.mem”) can store/recall information relating to a spe-
cific audio file such as window/zoom/scroll positions, Master Section preset etc.
• Audio peak files (extension “.gpk”) can now be stored in a separate folder.
• Improved graphic speed for displaying large files. Peak files can also be created
in the background with graphical progress monitoring.
• Updated preference dialogs.
• Advanced “Insert silence” function allows you to insert user specified ambient
background noise instead of silence, with optional cross-faded insertion.
• K-System support for loudness metering.
• New Audio Montage tab can manage all plug-ins used in a Montage in a variety of
ways. Copy and paste plug-ins between clips or tracks, or load and save whole
plug-in chains.
• Batch processing of Audio Montages.
• WaveLab can now be slaved to the ASIO Positioning Protocol, for sample accu-
rate synchronization.
• You can now assign MIDI commands for WaveLab functions.
Best of all, WaveLab is continuously developed and refined, in collabora-
tion with our users – from professional audio engineers to hobbyists. Your
input has helped make this version of WaveLab the most complete, flexi-
ble and user-friendly ever!
WAVELAB
1 – 14 Introduction
How you can reach us
After having installed and launched the program, you will find a number of
useful Steinberg Web links on the Help menu (“Steinberg on the internet”
submenu). These allow you to get online support, check for updates, get
answers to frequently asked questions, etc.
These features require that you have a working Internet connection.
2
Requirements
WAVELAB
2 – 16 Requirements
This is what you need…
To use WaveLab you need the following:
• A PC with Windows XP or 2000 installed and ready.
A free USB port is also required. For more details about the computer requirements, see
below.
• A Multimedia PC compatible, 16-bit (or better) audio card.
By audio card we mean a card capable of recording and playing back audio, using the com-
puter’s hard disk as storage media. See “About audio cards” on page 18.
To take advantage of WaveLab’s more advanced features, you need the
following:
• To utilize WaveLab’s CD burning capabilities, you will need a CD recorder.
Your CD recorder must support the disc-at-once write mode.
• To utilize WaveLab’s DVD-A burning capabilities, you will need a DVD
recorder.
• To utilize WaveLab’s surround and multichannel capabilities, you will need
an audio card with multiple inputs and outputs.
Furthermore, the audio card must have an ASIO driver
.
• DirectX 9 or later must be installed.
Computer requirements
Below, the minimum computer requirements are listed, with recommen-
dations where applicable. The following sections describe each system
component (processor, RAM, etc.) in more detail.
Minimum requirements
• Intel Pentium III/AMD Athlon 800 MHz (Intel Pentium IV/AMD Athlon or AMD
Opteron 2,4GHz).
• Newer dual core CPUs are recommended.
• 256 MB RAM (1GB recommended).
• A monitor and video card with a resolution of 24 bit (32bit recommended).
• 50MB of free hard disk space (10GB recommended).
• Windows XP or 2000 (Windows XP recommended).
• Windows MME compatible audio hardware (ASIO compatible audio hardware
recommended).
• CD or DVD ROM drive for installation (CD/DVD writer recommended).
• USB port.
• DirectX version 9 or later is required for using video and some export functions.
WAVELAB
Requirements 2 – 17
RAM
Since WaveLab is disk based, the amount of RAM does not limit the size
of audio files you can work with. Even with moderate amounts of RAM,
you can have many files open at the same time. However, when more
RAM is available, some processes can be accelerated by WaveLab.
Processing power
The difference between running WaveLab on a faster computer and a
slower one is noticeable in many cases:
• More real-time processing
The faster the computer, the more real-time plug-ins you will be able to use.
• Faster “off-line” processing and analysis tasks
Certain types of processing which make heavy demands on the computer will be com-
pleted more quickly on a faster machine.
• Screen updates
Scrolling, editing and manipulating objects is “snappier” on a faster machine.
Hard disk
Audio files are relatively big. Approximately 10.6 MB of hard disk space is
used up for every minute of 16 bit stereo/44.1 kHz audio recorded. For 24
bit/48 kHz audio or higher, the audio files are of course a lot bigger. There-
fore we recommend that you get the largest hard disk you can afford. The
speed of the hard disk will affect some of the processing operations. This
is mainly noticeable when you work with very long files.
In addition, a fast hard disk is absolutely crucial for CD-R and DVD-R
burning. If the hard disk is slow, your recorder might not be able to write at
its maximum possible speed.
Do not use file compression on hard disks where audio files are stored!
WAVELAB
2 – 18 Requirements
Sampler requirements
To communicate with samplers, you need the following:
• A MIDI interface, or…
• A SCSI card, or…
• Both a MIDI interface and a SCSI card.
Exactly which of the three is most appropriate depends on the capabilities
of your sampler and how you intend to communicate with it. See “About
the various communication methods” on page 658.
SCSI card considerations
WaveLab works with SCSI cards that are 100% Windows compatible.
If you are buying a SCSI card specifically to communicate with the sampler,
we recommend that you get an original Adaptec card. Small deviations in
SCSI implementations can cause transfer problems.
About audio cards
WaveLab works with any Multimedia PC compatible audio card. How-
ever, the audio quality varies dramatically between cards.
For serious work with WaveLab, we recommend that you get a card with
the highest possible specifications.
However, if you use WaveLab to edit files for use with other hardware
(such as a hard disk based recording system using its own audio convert-
ers) any loss in audio quality that you experience when listening to
the
files in WaveLab (due to deficiencies in the audio card) will not
affect the
final audio files in any way.
For professional use (mastering, etc.) we recommend that you get a card
capable of playing back files in 24 bit resolution.
Surround
To use the surround capabilities of WaveLab’s Audio Montage, you need
an ASIO compatible audio card with multiple inputs and outputs. In a sur-
round configuration, each WaveLab channel can be routed to separate
outputs and inputs on the audio card.
WAVELAB
Requirements 2 – 19
About the System Information feature
After having installed and launched WaveLab, you can get a very detailed
report describing your computer system by selecting “System Informa-
tion” on the Help menu. This function analyses your system and lists oper-
ating system specifics; processor(s), memory, hard drives, and much
more. This is especially useful if you need to contact Technical Support,
since this allows you to describe your computer configuration accurately.
WAVELAB
2 – 20 Requirements
/