Getting started
To begin with, load Sample1.wav,
by clicking on æOpenàÆ, on the æFileÆ menu. When you find the file
(located in the directory you installed WaveSurgeon in), click on it once. Notice how
WaveSurgeon automatically auditions the file for you, and displays its details at the
bottom of the dialog box. When you are finished, click æOKÆ to load the
file.
Click the æPlay AllÆ button to play
the entire sample, and æStopÆ to halt playback. Drag the Slider
to the right to increase the sensitivity to beats. The higher the level, the more
segments found. Now, click the waveform display to select a segment. æPlay
SelectedÆ plays the currently selected segment. æSave Selected SegmentÆ
(under the æFileÆ menu) saves it.
Now, drag the æLÆ and æRÆ locators
to the start and end of the loop. Click æLoopÆ. Whilst the sample is playing,
select the æsilence/reverseÆ tool from the æeditÆ toolbar (remember, there
are both tool tips (leave the mouse over the icon for a second), and hints (at
the bottom left of the window) to help you). Now, click the left mouse button
over a segment to silence it, and the right mouse button to reverse it. Notice
how the sample updates in real time as you do this. If you donÆt like a change
(or edit) you have made, click æUndoÆ from the æEditÆ toolbar, or
press Ctrl-Z (you may also undo the undo!). After this, select the æcopy/pasteÆ
tool from the toolbar. Click the left mouse button on a segment (try a snare drum)
to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Click the right mouse button over another
segment to paste it in. Again, you may undo the edit if you do not like it.
Reprogramming the loop
These tools are extremely useful for reprogramming the loop without using a sequencer.
By copying and pasting segments around, you may create a loop with an entirely
new feel to the original. Similarly, the reverse and silence tools allow easy
æflippingÆ and removal of beats. For wild stereo effects, load a stereo sample,
select independent channel editing mode, and edit away.
Try selecting æQuantiseÆ from the Process
menu for lower quality. This works very well on 808-style kicks, but may be used
to add dirt to any sound. Note that although WaveSurgeon is particularly well suited
to editing breakbeats, it may be used to edit any sound, including synth pads
and vocals.
Generating pseudo WaveSequencing style
effects
A randomise feature is included, which has the effect of rearranging all segments
within the loop in a random order. At first glance, this may appear to be interesting,
but create unusable results. However, it is best used on rhythms after cutting
to 16th or 8th notes; this can produce very useful results
(hint û press Ctrl-A to randomise, Ctrl-Z to undo, and repeat until you find something
useful). This feature really comes into its own, however, when use with non-rhythmic
sounds, creating a wave-sequencing type effect. Load a synth pad into WaveSurgeon.
Add points at the start and end of the sample (ensuring that the volumes, or amplitudes,
similar at each point), and move the L and R locators to these points. Now, cut
to 16ths and select Randomise. When happy, save the segments and midi file off
as below.
Plugins
To process your sample with DirectX plugins, first ensure that they are setup
correctly. Then, alter the left and right locators if you only want to
process a certain sample region). Finally, choose the effect you require from
the DirectX menu, tweak it's settings to your satisfaction, and click ok.
Setting the bars and beats
It is essential that bars and beats are
set correctly, otherwise the sample will be at the wrong tempo, or cover the incorrect
number of bars and beats in the sequencer. Set them by clicking up or down on
the relevant buttons, or double click the bars / beats display to type them in.
Loading the samples into soundcards + samplers
Once you are satisfied with a loop, if
you have a soundcard with onboard memory (such as the AWE), select æSave to
Sound Bank FileÆ, on the æFileÆ menu. Choose a name for your
file, and click OK. To upload the sounds onto your card, read this.
Sampler owners have three options at present
û you may use SDS or SMIDI transfer, or
if your sampler accepts wav or aif files on P.C. floppy disks, simply load them
in, and map the samples to the corresponding notes in the midi file (see the sampler
FAQ).
Once the samples have been saved, enter the
number of bars / beats occupied, and click the æSave Midi TemplateÆ option
under the æFile MenuÆ. Select the Base Note, and the interval between
notes desired. Click æOkÆ. If the notes and intervals in the midi file
exceed the maximum allowable (128), an error message will be displayed. If this
is the case, reduce the Interval and/or lower the Base Note.
Using a sampler
Create a new sampler profile in the profile
manager, choosing the correct settings for your sampler. Then, select the æSample
TransferÆ option from the æSamplerÆ menu. Check the æSave midi template optionÆ
to save a midi template when the transfer is complete. Then, click æSend all
in loopÆ to send each segment individually. When sent, owners of supported
samplers will find that samples are premapped and placed into a bank if the æAuto
mapÆ option is selected. Otherwise, map the samples to the correct notes (e.g.
C-2, C#-2 û consult your owners manual for further instructions).
Playing the sequence
Load the midi file into your sequencer.
If you saved a sound bank file, you must alter the bank and program change in
the sequencer to match the bank when uploaded to the soundcard. Sampler owners
may need to select the correct midi output and channel. Hit Play. You should hear
the original loop. Try changing the tempo, or moving the pitch bend wheel on your
keyboard. It is now also possible to reprogram the loop (e.g. find the key corresponding
to a snare + overdub a new pattern with it).
Trying the example files
The example sample1.mid and sample.sf2
will give a demonstration of WaveSurgeonÆs capabilities. Load the sound bank into your
soundcard (using the technique described above, in the
case of the AWE and Pinnacle, or convert the file for other soundcards), and the
midi file into your sequencer, choose the correct bank and program change, and
hit play. The files are saved using 100% sensitivity, so if you split the Sample1.wav
into wave files (having previously set the L + R locators to the beginning and
end of the bar), you can then use the samples with your sampler. You may get more
loops from the ælinksÆ section of Square CircleÆs website.