Copyright: DDClip v3.02- 1997-1999  SoftLab-NSK
Citation: Copyright 1997-1999  SoftLab-NSK


DDClip Overview

DDClip is designed for video clips scoring, creating audio commercials, synchronizing voice with music. You can create, save, restore and playback  projects of many tracks. DDClip is non-destructive editor, it does not change source multimedia files.

DDClip project may have up to 32 audio tracks, one track with midi sound, and one/two video tracks. Each track can contain unlimited number of clips. Clip is a reference to a continuous fragment (or a whole content) of audio or/and video data from source file.

DDClip playbacks video at any device supported by Video for Windows.

An outstanding feature of the editor is the speed of playback, especially its audio part - DDClip is able to mix many sound tracks in real time. DDClip is the powerful and flexible tool for audio mixing. Each track has solo/mute toggles. Master volume and balance can be set for whole project, each track and each clip. Moreover, clip may have its own volume and balance profile.

You can apply real-time audio effects to clips, tracks and entire project (mix of all audio tracks).

DDClip has intuitive user interface. Operations and features are easily accessible from toolbar, menus, context-sensitive local menus and keyboard accelerators (hot keys). DDClip supports up to 999 undo/redo levels.

DDClip has two main windows: Project and Clip Collection. The Project window contains all data and tools for project editing. The Clip Collection window may be considered as a handy storage for your audio and video source.

DDClip is designed by SoftLab-NSK from Novosibirsk (Russia).

Check out that you have the latest DDClip version:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro/ddcprodl.html

Please note that there are three packages of DDClip with different possibilities and price. Not all features described in this help are present in all packages. Please read comparison table to see differences between packages of DDClip.


Clip is an object with reference to continuous fragment (or whole contents) of audio or/and video data from source file. DDClip supports multimedia source file formats AVI (*.avi), QuickTime (*.qt, *.mov), WAVE (*.wav), AIFF (*.aiff) and MIDI (*.mid) formats. Clip may also have specific properties such as volume and balance profiles and audio effects for Audio clips.


SoftLab-NSK

Postal address:

SoftLab-NSK

Koptuga Pr-t 1

Novosibirsk

630090, Russia

Phones:	7-(383-2)-399-220

7-(383-2)-331-067

Fax:	7-(383-2)-332-173

SoftLab-NSK WWW home page:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com

Please send any questions and suggestions regarding DDClip to

E-Mail:	ddclip@softlab-nsk.com


DDClip license
DDClip License Agreement

IMPORTANT - READ CAREFULLY: This SoftLab End-user License Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and SoftLab-NSK (SOFTLAB) for one (1) license to use DDClip.

DDClip includes computer software and associated media and printed materials, and may include "online" or electronic documentation ("SOFTWARE PRODUCT" or "SOFTWARE"). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, promptly return the unused SOFTWARE PRODUCT to the place from which you obtained it for a full refund.

SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE

The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.

1. GRANT OF LICENSE

This EULA grants you the following rights:

Software.

You may install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, or in its place, any prior version for the same operating system, on a single computer.

Storage/Network Use.

You may also store or install a copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on a storage device, such as a network server, used only to install or run the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on your other computers over an internal network. However, you must acquire and dedicate a license for each separate computer on which the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is installed or run from the storage device. A license for the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may not be shared or used concurrently on different computers.

Multi-User and Site License.

If you have acquired a multi-user or site license for the SOFTWARE, you may make the number of additional copies of the computer software portion of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT authorized in your license agreement with SOFTLAB, and you may use each copy in the manner specified above.

2. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.

Separation of Components.

The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed as a single product. Its component parts may not be separated for use on more than one computer.

Rental.

You may not rent or lease the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

Software Transfer.

You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA, provided you retain no copies, you transfer all of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT (including all component parts, the media and printed materials, any upgrades, this EULA and, if applicable, the Certificate of Authenticity), and the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade, any transfer must include all prior versions of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

Termination.

Without prejudice to any other rights, SOFTLAB may terminate this EULA if you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of this EULA. In such event, you must destroy all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and all of its component parts.

3. UPGRADES

If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade from another product, whether from SOFTLAB or another supplier, you may use or transfer the SOFTWARE PRODUCT only in conjunction with that upgraded product, unless you destroy the upgraded product. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade of a SOFTLAB product, you now may use that upgraded product only in accordance with this EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade of a component of a package of software programs that you licensed as a single product, the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may be used and transferred only as part of that single product package and may not be separated for use on more than one computer.

4. COPYRIGHT

All title and copyrights in and to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT (including but not limited to any images, photographs, animation, video, audio, music and text incorporated into the SOFTWARE PRODUCT), the accompanying printed materials, and any copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT are owned by SOFTLAB or its suppliers. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must treat the SOFTWARE PRODUCT like any other copyrighted material except that you may either (a) make one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT solely for backup or archival purposes or (b) install the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on a single computer provided you keep the original solely for backup or archival purposes. You may not copy the printed materials accompanying the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

5. DUAL-MEDIA SOFTWARE

You may receive the SOFTWARE PRODUCT in more than one medium. Regardless of the type or size of medium you receive, you may use only one medium that is appropriate for your single computer. You may not use or install the other medium on another computer. You may not loan, rent, lease, or otherwise transfer the other medium to another user, except as part of the permanent transfer (as provided above) of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

MISCELLANEOUS

This EULA is governed by the laws of the Russia. If this product was acquired outside the Russia, then local law may apply.

Should you have any questions concerning this EULA, or if you desire to contact SOFTLAB for any reason, please contact the SoftLab Ltd..

LIMITED WARRANTY

LIMITED WARRANTY. SOFTLAB warrants that (1) the SOFTWARE PRODUCT will perform substantially in accordance with the accompanying written materials for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of receipt, and (2) any hardware accompanying the SOFTWARE PRODUCT will be free from defects in materials under normal use and service for a period of one (1) year from the date of receipt. Some states and jurisdictions do not allow limitations on duration of an implied warranty, so the above limitation may not apply to you. To the extent allowed by applicable law, implied warranties on the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and hardware, if any, are limited to ninety (90) days and one year, respectively.

CUSTOMER REMEDIES. SOFTLAB's and its suppliers' entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at SOFTLAB's option, either (a) return of the price paid, or (b) repair or replacement of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT or hardware that does not meet SOFTLAB's Limited Warranty, and which is returned to SOFTLAB with a copy of your receipt. This Limited Warranty is void if failure of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT or hardware has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement SOFTWARE PRODUCT or hardware will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. Outside the Russia, neither these remedies nor any product support services offered by SOFTLAB are available without proof of purchase from an authorized international source.

NO OTHER WARRANTIES. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SOFTLAB and its suppliers disclaim all other warranties, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with regard to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, and any accompanying hardware, this limited warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have others, which vary from state/jurisdiction to state/jurisdiction.

NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall SOFTLAB or its suppliers be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the software product, even if SOFTLAB has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states and jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.

Copyright (C) 1998, 1999 SoftLab-NSK Ltd.

All Rights Reserved


DDClip registration

If you already have registration key, choose About command on Help menu. In About dialog click on Register button. Registration Box dialog (show picture) will appear.

If you agree with DDClip license fill in Name and Key fields and click OK. DDClip will restart (please note that if you were working with any project, it will be closed without saving and any notice!). If About dialog box is shown again after restart, please check carefully Name and Key fields and click OK again.

To obtain registration key please follow instructions at

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro/register.html

You can visit DDClip home page at:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro

If you have any questions please contact SoftLab-NSK.


Image. Registration Box
Images. Registration Box


How to obtain registration key

To obtain registration key for DDClip please follow instructions at

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro/register.html

You can visit DDClip home page at:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro

If you have any questions please contact SoftLab-NSK..


Packages of DDClip 3.x
Packages of DDClip

There are three different packages of DDClip 3.x: Pro, SE and LE. Not all features that are present in DDClip Pro are in SE and LE. Here you can read comparison table between these packages. For more information please visit DDClip home page:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro

Short description

Note: for information about current prices please read download page:

http://www.softlab-nsk.com/ddclipro/ddcprodl.html

DDClip Pro	Full professional version with all features enabled, including support of professional soundcards (playback/recording audio up to 24bit/96 kHz or more), maximum number of audio tracks (up to 32), audio effects on clips, tracks and entire project, frequency response of audio effects.
DDClip SE	Special edition. Medium version for home/personal (non-professional) applications, up to 16 audio tracks, audio effects on tracks and entire project only.
DDClip LE	Lite edition. Basic version, up to 8 audio tracks without audio effects
Comparison table

This table contains detailed list of differences between packages of DDClip 3.x. Features not mentioned here are present in all three packages.

Feature / Package	DDClip Pro	DDClip SE	DDClip LE
Video tracks	2	2	1
Audio tracks	32	16	8
Playback/record/export audio sample rate	Unlimited	Up to 48 kHz	11025 / 22050 / 44100 Hz only
Playback/record audio sample resolution (bits)	8, 16, 20, 24	8 / 16	8 / 16
Custom settings of resampling	Yes	Yes	No
Audio effects on clips	Yes	No	No
Audio effects on tracks / project	Yes	Yes	No
Frequency/phase response of audio effects	Yes	No	No
Playback / export dithering	Yes	Yes	No
FadeIn / FadeOut, user-defined fade profile	Yes	Yes	No
Multiple wave files export	Yes	Yes	No
‘Duplicate track’ command	Yes	Yes	No


DDClip Brief Help Contents
Contents

DDClip overview

Project

Hotspot Image

File  Edit  View  Command  Range  Tools  Options  Window  Help

Toolbar

Project Overview

Working Area  -  Video,   Midi,   Audio tracks and clips

Clips Operations Summary

Settings

Clip Collection

Hotspot Image

File  Edit  View  Tools  Options  Window  Help

Toolbar

Clip Info window

Clip Properties

Audio Meter (Faders)

Audio Effects overview

Packages of DDClip

DDClip Registration


Project Window Description

Show Hotspot image

Project is the main window, its title bar contains application name DDClip and path to project file or ‘Untitled’ for a new non-saved project.

Toolbar, accelerator keys and the following menus provide access to commands and options:

File  Edit  View  Command  Range  Tools  Options  Window  Help

Mouse right-click on different components in the main window displays context-sensitive local menu. Mouse cursor has action-sensitive shape.

Project window contains Working Area where project tracks with clips are available for editing. Each track has Track State window at the left of it with track type icon (video/audio/midi) and Solo, Mute buttons that control track inclusion in playback.

Clip on track has various features that are specific for Video, Midi and Audio data (general appearance and functionality are common).

All project tracks and clips are schematically presented in Project Overview window. Time Ruler provides a project time reference for Working Area.

Position of Current time is visually represented by two vertical red lines: first one in Project Overview window and second, current time mark, across Time Ruler, Range window and tracks in Working Area.

Status line at the bottom of project window displays various information about objects that mouse cursor is over. Various settings and options are available in Settings dialog (press ‘F5’). Audio Meter (Faders) window contains output volume indicator and may have faders and audio effects buttons for tracks.

Clips from Project window can be dragged to Clip Collection and back. Source media files can be dragged from Windows Explorer too.


Image. Project
Hotspot Image. Project Window.


Project Overview window

All tracks and clips of the project are schematically presented in this window in small size.

The bold black frame determines position of Working Area – visible part of project which is displayed in window with video/midi/audio tracks. Vertical red line – current time position.

To shift the Working Area – move cursor inside frame (cursor shape will become [image]) then press left mouse button and drag frame to left/right.

To change Working Area size – move left/right edges of working area. Place cursor over black frame edge (cursor will become [image] or [image]), press left mouse button and drag edge to left/right.

To redefine Working Area completely – press right mouse button at position of new first edge then drag left/right and release button where you want to set another new edge.

Set Size dialog allows viewing and changing of Working Area bounds.

Project duration and number of audio tracks in project can be changed in Set Size dialog and General Settings (press ‘F5').

Double click in project window overview (not in main window with tracks) starts playback from specified position to the end of project.


Time Ruler

Time Ruler provides project time reference for Working Area. Labels with project time values are displayed in current time format with time step represented in Scale Step window.

Each click in this window redefines current time position represented by vertical red line – current time mark. ‘Scrubbing’ (fast preview in current position when moving it) starts if you press left mouse button, hold it and then move mouse. Double-click starts playback from specified position to the end of Working Area.

Right-click on the time ruler calls its local menu. Note that Add Mark item may be dynamically replaced if you press right mouse button over already existing mark.

Play	playbacks project from specified position to the end of Working Area.

Set current time	calls Set Current Time dialog.

Next three commands are identical to ones in General Settings (‘F5’).

Show video	enables drawing of current frame on videoplayer (Video window). Also and Show In/Out frame in Edit Clip dialog.

Play audio	enables audio scrubbing while drag current time mark.

Auto-scroll rolls	controls automatic scrolling of working area when mouse moves outside window.

Next two commands duplicate such ones in Alignment Settings (Time Alignment” group).

Align to nearest frame	enables aligning of current time position to nearest video frame.

Snap to marks	enables snapping of current time position to Placed marks.

Add mark	Place mark at specified position. This command is replaced by Mark info if menu is called on already placed mark.


Current Time window

Current Time window to the left of Time Ruler displays current time value in current time format.

Two vertical red lines visually represent current time in Project window: first one in Project Overview window and second, current time mark, across Time Ruler, Range window and tracks in Working Area. Current time position may be dragged with mouse in Time Ruler and Working Area.

Double-click in current time window calls Set Current Time dialog where new current time can be set manually. Set current time command in Time Ruler local menu also calls this dialog.


Range Window

Range is a user-defined time interval used in various operations. Selected interval is displayed as blue box. Range window has the same time scale as Time Ruler. Range Flag window displays blue box if range is specified, and Playback Start and Playback Duration windows display range start time and range duration in blue color.

To specify a range and select time interval of project, press left mouse button when mouse cursor is on range window, drag mouse to left/right and release. During mouse moving current frame from video track is displayed if Show video is on (see Time Ruler local menu or General Settings). Shift-click resets nearest bound of selected range to specified position. Double-click sets full range that cover all clips in project except ones in non-active tracks (switched off with Mute); Include all clips on Range menu does the same.

You can move selected range or its boundaries to left/right with mouse. Move cursor to selected range or its start/end (cursor will change its shape), press and hold left mouse button and drag mouse to left/right. When you drag range with video, first frame of frame will be shown. Press right mouse buttn if you want to see last video frame of selected range when dragging.

To set/view range bounds in current time format, double-click in Range Flag window or click on Set Size button to call Set Size dialog.

To clear range and remove time interval selection, click at any place on range window, or press and hold ‘Ctrl’ key and click at blue indicator in Range Flag window. This may be useful if you want to clear range and keep current time position.

Right-click on range window calls local menu that has same commands as Range menu and two additional:

Normalize audio	calls Normalize Level dialog, then adjust project master volume to specified level from maximum.

Statistics	mixes audio within range and represents resulting audio volume as color picture on range window in accordance with volume levels and color associations defined in Audio Meter Settings. Then shows Statistics of mixed audio in selected range.


Range Flag window

If this window to the left of Range Window contains blue band, this indicates that range is defined, otherwise it is blank.

Double-click in Range Flag window calls Set Range dialog. It presents range bounds values in current time format.


Playback Start and Playback Duration

These two windows show playback start time and playback duration in current time format.

If time range in Range window is specified range start and duration are shown in blue color. Otherwise these windows show Working Area start and size in black. Position from where playback actually starts also depends on state of Start playback from current time position in General Settings.

Double-click in either window calls Set Size dialog.


Set Size

Set Size button or double-click in either Playback Start or Playback Duration windows calls Set Size dialog which has three groups of parameters.

‘Project Limits’. Size and Audio tracks are project duration and number of audio tracks in project. These settings duplicate “Project Limits” group parameters in General Settings.

‘Working Area’ presents left and right bounds and size of Working Area.

‘Time Range’ presents left and right bounds and size of time range. The same settings are available in Set Range dialog too.


Scale Step

Interval between ticks with time labels in Time Ruler window may be selected from list. This setting zooms Working Area to new size which fits selected scale.

If current time position (vertical red line) is within Working Area all zoom commands preserve visual position of this line; otherwise center of Working Area is preserved.


Project Working Area

Project window Hotspot image

Working Area is a part of Project window below Range window that represents project Video, Midi and Audio tracks with clips within specified time interval.

Each track at its left has Track State window with track type icon (video/audio/midi) and Solo and Mute buttons. View menu commands Show Video tracks, Show MIDI track and Show Audio tracks control which types of tracks are shown in Working Area window. Vertical scrollbar to the right of area with audio tracks appears if project contains many audio tracks and not all of them can be shown in working area.

Clip on track in Working Area is presented as rectangle with clip name in its top left corner. Video, Midi, Audio clips also have type-specific features and editing operations.

Right-click on area which is not occupied by clips calls local menu:

Open source file	calls Open Clip dialog and adds clip with reference to whole source file content to project and Clip Collection. Same as command on File menu.

Cut. Copy. Paste. Insert.	operations with selected clip(s). Identical to Edit menu commands.

Working Area size and position can be easily changed or redefined in Project Overview window where this interval is represented as bold black frame. Set Size dialog presents values for left and right bounds. Working Area position relative to start/end of project may be changed with horizontal time scrollbar at the bottom of working area window. To the left of scrollbar zoom buttons are located.

Vertical red line visually represents current time position.


Image. Track State window
Images. Track State windows samples


Track State window
Track State

Project window Hotspot Image

Track State windows (show samples) at the left of each track in Working Area have Solo and Mute toggle buttons to control track inclusion in playback, and an icon which is specific for each type of track (audio/video/midi). L and R on audio tracks appear in stereo projects for balance profile in Audio clip. If track is excluded from playback (is muted or if other tracks are solo) track icon is ‘grayed’ and some picture details are removed, see icons pairs below:

   - Video track.     - Audio track.     - MIDI track.

Right-click on track state window region calls track local menu:

Name	calls Track Name dialog to change track name.

Next 2 commands change relative positions of tracks with same type. Note that first (top) video track has higher priority than second video track during playback. Audio tracks have number in upper left corner which is useful when not all tracks fit in window and vertical scrollbar is used.

Move up	swap this and upper track positions.

Move down	swap this and lower track positions.

Track height	change height of track, select desired height from submenu: Double, Normal, Half or Locked (small height; clips on locked track can not be selected nor manipulated with mouse). You can change height of any track with ‘1’, 2’, ‘3’ and ‘0’ keys on keyboard (see section about accelerators). Audio tracks height on View menu changes height for all audio tracks simultaneously.

Track volume	change track volume in special dialog window or in Faders window if it is active. Appears only for Audio and Midi tracks.

Audio effects	allows to work with audio effects on current track. Submenu commands are: Add new/Edit (calls Audio Effects List dialog to add new effects or edit effects already present on track), Use (turns on/off effects), Delete (remove all effects from track with confirmation), Cut (move effects to clipboard), Copy (copy effects to clipboard), Paste (replace effects on track with effects from clipboard), Add (add effects from clipboard to current effects present on track).

Duplicate track	create copy of current track with all clips, track volume and audio effects, and place copy to first free track available after current one.

Clear track	remove all clips and audio effects from current track, reset track volume to 0 dB, pan to center.

Solo	always include track in playback, same as Solo toggle.

Mute	exclude track from playback, same as Mute toggle.

Enable all tracks	Turn off Solo/Mute toggles on all tracks


Track selection (active tracks)

Each track has Solo and Mute buttons on Track State window and may be included in or excluded from playback. For excluded track its type icon is ‘grayed’.

 - Solo. Track is always included in playback. Not solo tracks are automatically excluded from playback (‘grayed’) if solo track(s) are present. If Exclusive ‘Solo’ in Selection Settings controls is on, solo can be set for only one track and for many tracks otherwise.

 - Mute. Track is excluded from playback (track type icon is ‘grayed’).

 - Neither Solo nor Mute. Track included in playback if there is no other solo track(s).


Track Name

Track name is displayed in status line at the bottom of Project window while cursor is over Track State window. Predefined names typically consist of track type and number inherited from initial enumeration of project tracks of that type. Name command in local menu of Track State also calls Track Name dialog.


Clip on a Track

Project window Hotspot Image

Clip on track in project Working Area is displayed as rectangle with clip name in its top left corner. Height of rectangle is equal to track height (see Track State local menu), width is determined by clip duration. Clip background color depends on Clip Selection state.

Right-click on clip calls local menu. Some commands are common for all types of clips, some are specific for type of clip.

Edit	common operations with clips and clipboard (Delete, Cut, Copy, Paste, Insert) and ‘Clip type’ editor – calls external media editor. Actual command name depends on clip type and may be Video editor, Audio editor, Midi editor. ‘Editor’ application can be set in Configure external applications dialog; it is launched with the clip source file name added to command line of application.Split clip	split clip to two parts (new clips) at specified position, same as Split command in Edit menu.

Repeat clip	calls Repeat Clip dialog.

Add mark	set Place mark at specified position. If local menu is called near already existing mark (cursor has [image] shape) Add mark is replaced by three commands: Set mark position, Mark info and Remove mark.

Play clip	playback this clip only.

Properties	call Clip Properties dialog.

Video, Midi, Audio clips and tracks have specific features and editing operations. You may also use keyboard accelerators for some clip operations.


Video Tracks and Video Clip

Project window Hotspot Image

 and [image]  in Track State window help to identify video tracks. Project may have one or two video tracks. During video playback first video track has higher priority than second video track. Second video track may be used as temporary storage for video fragments or as the second variant of the video when one track is switched off with Mute button.

For video clip on a track in Working Area first and last frames of the clip may be displayed if Draw first and last frames at clip edges is checked in Video Settings.

Right-click in clip calls local menu. Video clip specific commands are:

Clip In is a key frame	indicates that video clip starts from a key frame.

Clip In to next key frame	moves clip In position in source file forward to next key frame.

Clip In to preceding key frame	moves clip In position in source file back to preceding key frame.

In position mentioned above is a clip ‘start’ in source file. See also Start from Key frame only in Video Settings.

Application can playback and export video in the SAME format as source video files only. All clips must have the same width, height, frame rate and CODEC name. Two files with same width, height and frame rate but with different CODECs can be recompressed with Convert AVI on Tools menu Clip Collection window. After starting "AviEdit" application you should open the first file and look up its info. Then you need to open the second file and choose video CODEC parameters equal to ones of the first file CODEC.


Midi Track and Midi Clip
Midi Tracks and Midi Clip

Project window Hotspot Image

 and [image]  in Track State window indicate track with midi sound.

In addition to general features and appearance of clip on a track in Working Area midi clips also have midi measures at clip bottom. Measure, current tempo and source tempo are displayed (for example ‘4/4,120[120]’) at all positions where source file contains tempo and/or time signature change command.

Right-click on midi clip calls local menu. Midi clip specific commands are:

Tempo	calls Tempo dialog to modify clip tempo (see below).

Clip volume	calls volume dialog named ‘Clip’ to view/set master volume of this clip.

Nubmer at the bottom of Tempo dialog shows original source file tempo at specified position. Number at the top sets new tempo; vertical scrollbar may be used to change this value too (range of possible values is from 8 to 250 bpm). Tempo of whole clip will be changed in proportion: new tempo (at top) divided by original tempo (at bottom).


Audio Tracks and Audio Clip

Project window Hotspot Image

 and [image]  in Track State window indicates audio tracks. Project may have up to 32 audio tracks. Track State windows at the left of audio tracks may also have L and R at top and bottom in stereo projects (if Stereo is set in Audio Settings). These signs are for balance profile (L = left, R = right).

All audio files in project must be of the same sample rate (ratio) that in project (see Audio Settings). Audio file first added to project determines project ratio. When opening a file with another ratio DDClip requests to confirm audio file conversion (please note that standard system resample codec is used in this case so result may be not good). Predefined standard ratio values may be selected from the list in Audio Settings; arbitrary ratio values can be set in professional version. If you change project ratio then all clips with audio will be removed from project (confirmation to clear audio tracks will be requested).

In addition to general features and appearance of clip on a track in Working Area audio clip may also have the following features: sound waveform picture, volume profile, balance profile (waveform, profiles and profile points are drawn in different colors; can be changed in Settings/Colors). Edit volume profile or Edit balance profile commands in Edit menu or Toolbar control define which profile is available for editing (active). Inactive profile is drawn in dark color.

Right-click on clip calls local menu. Audio clip specific commands:

Clip volume	calls Volume and Balance dialog with title ‘Clip’ to view/set general volume and balance values for this clip (independently on profile).

Clips volume offset	calls Volume offset dialog to change or set volume of group of selected clips. This item is available only on selected clip(s).

Profile	commands for voluma/balance profile on audio clip. Submenu commands are:

Set profile value – calls Volume/ Balance dialog with title ‘Profile’ to set volume or balance profile value at specified position. Profile value may be changed for profile key point or horizontal segment of profile. If this command is called on sloping segment of profile that cannot be changed manually, insertion of new key point at specified position will be requested.

Add profile point – adds new key point to profile at specified position.

Remove profile point – removes key point from profile at specified position.

Delete profile – removes key points and set default profile - constant volume/balance level (confirmation will be requested).

FadeIn	applies (multiplies) FadeIn profile to current volume profile from start of clip to specified position.

FadeOut	applies (multiplies) FadeOut profile to current volume profile from specified position to end of clip.

Declick	commands for setting/removing declicks on audio clip (see also Audio Effects Settings).

FadeIn/FadeOut – set/remove declick at start/stop edges of clip.

Set both – set declicks on both start and stop edges of clip.

Clear both – remove declicks from both start and stop edges of clip.

Audio effects	commands for working with audio effects on audio clips.

Add new/Edit – calls Audio Effects list dialog to add/edit audio effects on clip.

Use – turn on (use)/off (bypass) audio effects on clip.

Delete – remove all effects from clip with confirmation.

Cut – move effects to clipboard

Copy – copy effects to clipboard

Paste – replace current effects with effects from clipboard

Add – add effects from clibpoard to effects already present on clip.

Note that you may paste/delete effects on many selected clips simultaneously (see Edit menu).

Statistics	calculates and shows Sound Statistics for one clip only (not for entire project as Statistics command on Command menu). This command is also available with ‘C’ key on keyboard. Press Shift+’C’ to calculate and show statistics for clip without audio effects on tracks, track volume/balance, master effects and master volume/balance.

You may also use keyboard accelerators for some clip operations.

Note that each audio clip besides volume and balance profiles has general volume and balance (Clip volume on local menu); each audio track and whole project also have master volume and balance levels. Volume at each point of clip is a sum (in dB) of volume profile at this point and all master volumes (project master volume, track master volume and clip master volume). The same thing is for balance.

Attention! Maximum volume amplification is 12 dB (4 times). At points where maximum amplification is reached, profile touches the top of clip rectangle and stays there while other profile key points may be moved with master volume change. Thus this profile is distorted and mixed signal may not correspond to your expectation. To avoid such situations please watch clip volume profile – it should not touch top clip edge.


Zoom buttons

Four zoom buttons are located in the lowest left corner of Project window. Click on these buttons changes size of Working Area – part of project that is displayed in window with clips on Video, Midi and Audio tracks.

 - zoom to the whole project.

 - zoom to current time Range bounds.

 - expand at right. Increment zoom factor, preserve left edge position.

 - shrink at right. Decrement zoom factor, preserve left edge position.

Note that equivalent commands are available - Zoom In (+),Zoom Out (–),Zoom to Project (/) in the bottom of View menu and Zoom in range (*) in the top of Range menu.

Working Area also may be changed in Project Overview window, in Set Size dialog and when Scale Step is redefined.


Working Area scrollbar
Time scrollbar

Shifts Working Area with step that is displayed in Scale Step window.


Audio tracks scrollbar

Vertical scrollbar appears at the right of working area when project contains many audio tracks and not all of them can be shown in project window.

Audio tracks are enumerated from the top to the bottom of project window, track numbers are shown in upper left corner of Track State windows.


Toolbar. Project 1
Toolbar. Project

Part 1   >>Part 2   >>Part 3

   >>   >>

First 5 buttons on Toolbar duplicate commands in File menu.

create new (empty) project. If any project is already opened and not saved confirmation will be requested to save changes in current Project and Clip Collection or cancel creation of new project.

open selected project file.

save changes in project and clip collection files. If new project is saved for the first time project file name will be requested. By default project file has .TML extension, clip collection file has .PRC extension.

save project with specified name. If new Clip Collection is saved for the first time its file name also will be requested.

calls Open Clip dialog to insert clip with reference to whole source file contents to project. New clip will be added to current clip collection too.

switches to Clip Collection. See also Clip Collection on Window menu.

Next 6 buttons on Toolbar duplicate commands in Command menu.

set current time to Playback start.

start playback from current time. Double-click in Working Area and Project Overview window starts playback from specified position.

stop playback.

move current time to previous video frame.

move current time to next video frame.

calls Audio Recorder dialog. When recording is done target file name will be requested (press Save button to insert recorded file to project and clip collection).


Toolbar. Project. 2
Toolbar. Project

Part 1<<   Part 2   >>Part 3

<<   [image]   >>

Buttons in this part of Toolbar duplicate commands in Edit menu.

clear Clipboard and move selected clip(s) to Clipboard.

clear Clipboard and copy selected clip(s) to Clipboard.

add all clips from Clipboard to project at current time to free tracks.

split all clips in project at current time, shift to right part of project after current time and insert clip(s) from Clipboard to this gap. If there is video data current time and gap width will be aligned to frame boundaries.

cancel last operation if possible.

repeat last cancelled operation if possible.

split selected clip(s) in two parts at current time. If clip(s) contain video data current time at first will be aligned to frame boundary. New clips preserve Clip Selection state of original and have their own copy of volume and balance profiles and audio effects.

enable editing of volume profile of Audio clips.

enable editing of balance profile of Audio clips (for stereo projects only).

turn on/off Add profile point mode, this allows to add new points to volume/balance profile in Audio clips.

turn on/off Multiselection mode, this allows multiple clips selection.


Toolbar. Project. 3
Toolbar. Project

Part 1<< Part 2<<   Part 3

<<   <<

mix audio in selected range and show resulting audio volume as color picture in Range window to check overflow. The picture reflects volume according to color thresholds in Audio meter Settings. Also shows Sound statistics dialog. Same as Statistics in Command menu.

Next 4 buttons duplicate commands on View menu.

Next mark Group, change current Place marks group number in cycle. See also Active group number in Alignment Settings.

Next selection group, change current Clip Selection group number in cycle. See also Active group number in Selection Settings.

Zoom In, shrink Working Area. Increments zoom factor preserving current time position.

Zoom Out, expand Working Area. Decrements zoom factor preserving current time position. See also zoom buttons and Project Overview window.

call Settings dialog (you can also press ‘F5’ to call it). Same as Settings in Options menu.


Accelerators
Accelerators (‘Hot keys’) of Project window

Action	First accelerator	Second accelerator

File operations

Open source file		‘F4’
New project	Ctrl+’N’	Shift+’F3’
Open project	Ctrl+’O’	‘F3’
Copy from project to clipboard	Ctrl+Shift+’O’	Ctrl+’F3’
Save project	Ctrl+’S’	‘F2’
Save project as	Ctrl+Shift+’S’	Shift+’F2’

Edit operations

Undo	Ctrl+’Z’	Alt+’Backspace’
Redo	Ctrl+’Y’	Alt+Shift+’Backspace’
Delete		‘Delete’
Cut	Ctrl+’X’	Shift+’Delete’
Copy	Ctrl+’C’	Ctrl+’Insert’
Paste	Ctrl+’V’	Shift+’Insert’
Insert	Ctrl+’I’	‘Insert’
Select all	Ctrl+’A’
Unselect all	Ctrl+’D’
Select next clip on track	‘Tab’
Select previous clip on track	‘Shift+Tab’

Zoom operations

Zoom in	Ctrl+’+’	‘+’
Zoom out	Ctrl+’-‘	‘-‘
Zoom to whole project	Ctrl+’/’	‘/’
Zoom in selected range	Ctrl+’*’	‘*’

Playback/current time position operations

Start/Stop playback	‘Space’	‘Enter’
Stop playback	‘Escape’
Rewind	‘Home’	Ctrl+’W’         ’W’
Go to next frame	‘Right arrow’
Go to previous frame	‘Left arrow‘
Go to next mark	‘PgDn’
Go to previous mark	‘PgUp’

Scroll operations

Scroll working area to right	Ctrl+’Right arrow’
Scroll working area to left	Ctrl+’Left arrow’
Scroll audio tracks up	Ctrl+’Up arrow’
Scroll audio tracks down	Ctrl+’Down arrow’

Moving of selected clip(s) (with left mouse button pressed)

Move to upper track	’Up arrow’
Move to lower track	’Down arrow’
Shift 1 ms to right (audio/midi)	’Right arrow’
Shift 10 ms to right (audio/midi)	Shift+’Right arrow’
Shift 100 ms to right (audio/midi)	Ctrl+’Right arrow’
Shift 1 ms to left (audio/midi)	’Left arrow’
Shift 10 ms to left (audio/midi)	Shift+’Left arrow’
Shift 100 ms to left (audio/midi)	Ctrl+’Left arrow’
Shift 1 frame to right (video)	’Right arrow’
Shift 10 frames to right (video)	Shift+’Right arrow’
Shift 100 frames to right (video)	Ctrl+’Right arrow’
Shift 1 frame to left (video)	’Left arrow’
Shift 10 frames to left (video)	Shift+’Left arrow’
Shift 100 frames to left (video)	Ctrl+’Left arrow’

Clip/profile operations (see also summary)

Add/Edit audio effects	‘A’
Use/Bypass audio effects	‘U’
Set Volume/Balance (or profile value)	‘V’
Set/change Volume of selected clips simultaneously	Shift+’V’
Split	‘S’
Add mark/Edit mark info	‘M’
Fade	‘F’
FadeIn	‘I’
FadeOut	‘O’
Add Fade	Shift+’F’
Add FadeIn	Shift+’I’
Add FadeOut	Shift+’O’
Add/Remove profile point	‘P’
Delete part of profile	‘D’
Delete profile	Shift+’D’
Move profile points	Arrow keys	PgUp/PgDn keys
Edit clip in external editor	‘E’
Clip Sound Statistics	‘C’
Local Clip Statistics	Shift+’C’

Track operations

Add/Edit audio effects	‘A’
Use/Bypass audio effects	‘U’
Set Volume/Balance	‘V’
Half height	‘1’
Normal height	‘2’
Double height	‘3’
Small height (locked)	‘0’

Other operations

Activate ‘Settings’ dialog		‘F5’
Activate ‘Clip Collection’ window		‘F6’
Activate ‘DDSound Volume Control’ window		‘F7’
Activate ‘Video’ window		‘F8’
Record audio	Ctrl+’R’
Exit	Ctrl+’Q’
Note: Clip operations are accessible when mouse cursor is over a clip, track operations are accessible when mouse cursor is over a track state window (at left) except keys for changing tracks height that work when cursor is on any place of track.

You may also read section about Clip Collection accelerators.


Clip management
Clip operations summary

Note: mouse cursor can change its shape to show which editing operation can be done.

General clip operations

Call clip local menu	Click right mouse button on a clip.

Start playback	Double-click starts playback of project from specified position to the end of window (working area).

Clip insertion	When a clip is dragged from clip collection (or source file is opened on a track) to project, it is displayed as black rectangle. Cursor may have one of the following shapes:

 – clip can not be inserted (for example if its sample rate or frames frequency or frame size is different from project);

 – clip can be inserted to current place of black rectangle;

 – clip can be inserted and right part of this track will be shifted to the right as a whole.

Clip is inserted to project at left mouse button click.

Set clip volume/balance

Select Clip Volume command from local menu or press ‘V’ key over a clip.

Split clip	Select Split command from local menu or press ‘S’ key on a desired place over a clip.

Add/Edit audio effects

Select Audio Effects group from local menu to add, edit, cut/copy/paste or enable/disable audio effects. You can also press ‘A’ key over a clip to add/edit audio effects.

Add mark/Edit mark info

Select Add Mark command from local menu or press ‘M’ on a desired place to add new mark to clip or edit an existing one.

View/Set properties	Select Properties command from local menu to activate dialog with clip properties.

Sound Statistics	Select Statistics command from local menu or press ‘C’ key on keyboard when mouse cursor is over a clip to check overflow/get statistics for one clip only. Press Shift+’C’ if you want to see statistics for clip without track volume/audio effects and master volume/audio effects.

Selection

Select one clip	Click on desired clip.

Select clips	Press left mouse button on place not occupied by clips and drag mouse. All clips rounded or touched by specified selection box will be selected.

Select/deselect many clips

Press Shift key or turn on Multiselection mode (Toolbar, Edit menu). When cursor has [image] shape, the following actions invert clip(s) selection state (change selected to unselected and vice versa):

1) Click on clip – for this clip;

2) Double click – for all clips on track after specified position. Use right Shift key to select all clips before specified position. Note that some keyboards do not distinguish right and left Shift keys.

3) Press Ctrl key instead of Shift and double-click at track to select all clips on all tracks after/before specified position. Note that some keyboards do not distinguish right and left Ctrl keys.

4) Press left mouse button and drag mouse – all clips rounded or touched by specified selection box.

Clear selection	Click on area not occupied by clips or select Deselect all command in Edit menu.

Select next clip on a track

If you have selected any clip on a track, press ‘Tab’ button to select next clip on the same track, or ‘Shift+Tab’ to select previous clip.

Moving

Move selected clips	 - press left mouse button and drag.

Move Left clip edge	 - press left mouse button and drag clip edge. If clip has video the first frame will be displayed on videoplayer.

Move Right clip edge	 - press right mouse button and drag clip edge. If clip has video the last frame will be displayed on videoplayer.

Move mark	 - press left mouse button and drag mark.

Audio volume/balance profile editing

Add key point to audio profile

Press Control key or turn on Add profile point mode (Toolbar, Edit menu). In this mode cursor has [image] shape. Each click inside audio clip rectangle adds new key point at specified position. You can also press and hold ‘Ctrl’ and click on any place of clip to add new prifile point or remove existing. ‘P’ key will add/remove profile point without changing current profile value. You can use this to quickly add 4 points to a horizontal profile and move up/down a segment of profile (add 2 points at the left corner of segment and 2 points at the right one).

Move profile key point	 – press left mouse button and drag. If you press and hold ‘Alt’ key before this, the point preserves its profile value.

You can also set mouse cursor over a point and use arrow keys and PageUp/PageDown keys on keyboard. Use ‘Shift’ or ‘Ctrl’ keys with arrow keys to change step of point moving.

Move horizontal profile segment

 – press left mouse button and drag up or down horizontal segment of profile (between two key points of audio clip profile with equal profile values).

Shift sloping/vertical profile segment

 – click left mouse button and drag to left or to right the sloping/vertical segment of profile (between two key points of audio clip profile with different profile values).

Delete profile point	 – call local menu (right-click) and select Profile/Remove profile point or press ‘P’ over a point.

Clear audio profile	Call local menu (right-click) and select Profile/Delete profile, or press ‘Shift+D’ when mouse cursor is over a desired clip. This resets profile to default 0 dB constant (0% for balance profile).

Clear part of profile	Press ‘D’ on a desired place of profile, a part of profile will be deleted. Left part of profile is deleted if you press ‘D’ closer to left edge of clip, right part otherwise.

FadeIn/FadeOut	Move mouse cursor to a point where fade should be applied, and press ‘F’ key. FadeIn is applied if you press ‘F’ closer to left edge of clip, FadeOut otherwise. Use ‘I’ key to set FadeIn, ‘O’ key for FadeOut. Fades replace part of profile.

Add FadeIn/FadeOut	If you press and hold ‘Shift’ key before pressing ‘F’, ‘I’, ‘O’, fade is only added to profile, and not replaces existing profile.

Set Profile value	Select Set profile value command on local menu or press ‘V’ key when mouse cursor is over profile point [image] or horizontal fragment of profile [image].


File menu. Project
File menu

This menu allows you to save/open projects, and save result of work to multimedia files.

Project files (with TML file name extension) typically are associated with Clip Collection files (with PRC file name extension). One clip collection may be used with different project files. Save project and Open project saves and opens both project and clip collection associated with it.

New project	creates new (empty) project.

Open project	opens project and associated clip collection.

Add source File	calls Open Clip dialog to select source file and add clip with reference to whole source file content. Multiple files can be added simultaneously in Clip Collection only.

Save project	save changes to project and clip collection files.

Save project As	save project to specified project file (in a new location). For new Clip Collection clip collection file name will be requested.

Save All	copy project, clip collection and all source files into specified directory. Source files that are present in clip collection but not used in project may be excluded from copying.

Save result of work to external multimedia file:

Export	Mix active tracks of project in specified range (or whole project if no range is selected) and save result to a file of selected format (please note that MIDI files are not included in mix):

AVI	write resulting video and audio data into specified AVI-file.

Wave	write resulting audio data into specified WAVE-file (standard Windows audio format).

Multiwave	write parts of resulting audio data to several WAVE-files. With this command you can prepare audio files for audio CD tracks. For more details read section about multiple files export.

Aiff	write resulting audio data into specified AIFF-file (Mac audio format).

Exit	exit from DDClip.

Recent files	Contains list of most recently used project files. You can select any of recent projects to open it by its name in the list. Error message may appear if project file does not exist in its original location. If project was moved to other place, open it with Open Project command.

Recent clip folders

Contains list of most recently used folders for clips opening. Select any of folders to add a file to project and clip collection.


Edit menu. Project
Edit menu

This menu provides commands for various editing operations.

Undo	cancel last operation, if possible.

Redo	repeat last canceled operation, if possible.

Most of next commands are available only if group of clips (at least one) is selected:

Delete	remove selected clips from tracks.

Cut	move selected clip(s) to Clipboard.

Copy	copy selected clip(s) to Clipboard.

Copy from file	copy all clips from specified project file to Clipboard.

Paste	add all clips from Clipboard to project at current time position to free tracks.

Insert	split all clips at current time, shift them to right and insert clips from Clipboard in this gap. If clips contain video data, current time and gap width will be aligned to frame boundaries.

Split	split selected clip(s) in two parts at current time. If clips contain video data, current time will be aligned to frame boundary. New clips will preserve Clip Selection state of original ones and have their own copy of volume/balance profiles and audio effects.

Cross fade	available only if exactly two overlapped audio clips are selected. Applies FadeOut to left clip and FadeIn to right clip in overlapped region.

Delete profile	delete profile on all selected clips (reset profile to 0 dB), confirmation is requested.

Declick	Set/remove declicks for group of selected clips. Sumbenu commands are: Set FadeIn/FadeOut/Both (set declicks to start/end/both edges of clips), Clear FadeIn/FadeOut/Both (remove declicks from start/end/both edges of clips with confirmation).

Audio effects	allows to add/delete, switch on/off audio effects on all selected clips (available only in DDClip Pro). Submenu commands are: Delete (remove audio effects from clips with confirmation), Paste (replace effects on clips by effects from Clipboard with confirmation), Add (add effects from clipboard to effects already present on clips). Both Paste and Add commands require that you copied any effects to Clipboard. Set using/Clear using – switch on/off (bypass) effects on clips.

Editing modes:

Edit volume profile	switch to volume profile editing mode of audio clips.

Edit balance profile	switch to balance profile editing mode of audio clips (for stereo projects only).

Add profile point mode	allows to add new points to volume/balance profile in audio clips.

Multiselection mode	allows multiple clips selection.

Select All	select all clips of project (reset other selection groups).

Deselect All	deselect all clips of project (reset other selection groups).

Invert selection	select all unselected clips and deselect selected ones in current selection group.


DDClip Clipboard

Clips in Clipboard preserve their relative time position and track number. Each Cut/Copy command clears previous Clipboard contents. Copy/Add commands from Clip Collection window add clips to first track only.


Add profile point mode

Cursor shape [image] indicates that Add profile point mode is on (Toolbar, Edit menu, or when ‘Ctrl’ key is pressed). Each click in audio clip rectangle adds new point to volume/balance profile at specified position.


Multiselection mode

Cursor shape [image] indicates that Multiselection mode is on (Toolbar, Edit menu or while ‘Shift’ key is pressed). In this mode the following actions invert clip selection state (change selected to unselected and vice versa):

1) click on clip - invert selection of this clip;

2) double click on track - invert selection of all clips on track after specified position;

3) press left mouse button and drag - invert selection for all clips touched by or within specified selection rectangle.

See also Clip Selection.


View menu. Project
View menu

This menu defines appearance of elements in Project window. Most commands of this menu are also available on Toolbar.

Next mark Group	change current Place marks group number in cycle. See also Active group number in Alignment Settings.

Next selection group	change current Clip Selection group number in cycle. See also Active group number in Selection Settings.

Show Video tracks	enables displaying of video tracks.

Show Midi track	enables displaying of midi track.

Show Audio tracks	enables displaying of audio tracks.

Show audio meter(faders)	shows Audio meter (Faders) window. Same as Audio meter (Faders) on Window menu (or press ‘F7’ key).

Audio tracks height	submenu commands – Double, Normal and Half change height of ALL audio tracks in project window. See also Track State window.

Next 3 commands allow to select current format for time values.

Time in Frames	time as frame counter.

Time in SMPTE	“Hours: Minutes: Seconds: Frames”.

Time in milliSeconds	“Hours: Minutes: Seconds: Milliseconds”.

Next 3 commands allow to change size of tracks working area. See also zoom buttons and Project Overview window.

Zoom In	Increment zoom factor, preserve current time position.

Zoom Out	Decrement zoom factor, preserve current time position.

Zoom to project	Expand working area to fit entire project.


Command menu. Project
Command menu

This menu provides generic operations for working with project. Most of them are available through keyboard hot keys.

Play	start playback of current project.

Stop	stop playback.

Record audio	May request target file name before recording (when name is defined press Save button to continue). Calls Audio Recorder dialog.

Next frame	move current time to next frame.

Previous frame	move current time to previous frame.

Rewind	move current time to Playback start (to start of project or selected range).

Master volume	set project master Volume and Balance. If the Audio meter (Faders) window is opened, it will be activated with focus set to master volume fader.

Master effects	commands for working with master audio effects that are applied to entire project (not available in DDClip LE). Submenu commands are: Edit (add or edit audio effects), Use (switch effects on/off), Delete (remove effects), Cut (move effects to clipboard), Copy (copy effects to clipboard), Paste (replace effects to effects from clipboard), Add (add effects from clipboard to current ones).

Normalize audio	calls Normalize Level dialog, where maximum output audio level is requested, then adjust project master volume to normalize audio to selected level.

Statistics (Check overflow)

mixes audio on active tracks in selected range, shows resulting audio volume as color picture in Range window. The picture reflects volume level thresholds according to colors in Audio meter Settings. After calculations shows Sound statistics for analyzed audio.


Range menu. Project
Range menu

Range is a user-defined time interval used in various operations (playback, export to file etc). Selected interval is displayed as blue box in Range window.

Zoom in range	defines working area that is equal to selected range.

Include all clips	sets range that covers all clips in project, except clips on switched off tracks.

Editing commands below operate on clips on tracks within range and/or on parts of clips within range, if range bounds across clip. Each operation may have following submenu commands - all tracks, active tracks, selected clips, which allow to select for editing all tracks in project, only tracks included in playback (active), only selected clips in current selection group.

Copy	copy clip(s) and/or part of clips from all tracks or active tracks to Clipboard.

Cut	cut clips (parts of clips) from all tracks or active tracks to Clipboard, then shift right part of each track to left to fill the gap.

Clear	clear part of project on all tracks or active tracks.

FadeIn	applies FadeIn profile within range to audio clips on all tracks, or active tracks, or only selected clips.

FadeOut	same as above for FadeOut profile.


Tools menu. Project
Tools menu

Each menu item launches corresponding application defined in Configure external applications dialog.

Volume control	starts ‘volume control’ application (standard “sndvol32.exe” by default, you must have installed it in your system).

Audio editor	starts ‘audio editor’ application.

Midi editor	starts ‘midi editor’ application.

Video editor	starts ‘video editor’ application.

Up to 5 commands defined in Configure external applications dialog may appear in menu. For example, in accordance with dialog image there should be 2 commands:

Recorder

Calculator

Last command:

Configure	call Configure external applications dialog.


Range menu. Project
Options menu

Settings	calls project Settings dialog.

Fade profile	calls Fade profile dialog.

Font for labels	allows to set font for displaying labels in Project window, in particular time labels values in Time Ruler, Current Time window.

Font for clip name	allows to set font for displaying clip names for clips on tracks.

Save Options	save program settings save. Really it is not necessary, because all settings are saved when you exit from DDClip or save project.


Window menu. Project

Clip Collection	activate Clip Collection window.

Audio meter (faders)	activate Audio meter (Faders) window.

DDSound Volume control

activate window of DDSound Volume Control application that can be used to adjust settings of audio devices.

See also Audio Devices Settings.

Video	show Video preview window, if possible.


Help menu

This menu is almost the same in Project and Clip Collection windows.

Project window description	appears in Project window.

Clip Collection window description	appears in Clip Collection window.

Overview	general notes about DDClip.

Contents	help contents.

Audio effects	Help for audio effects

Using help	standard Windows Help (about using and customizing help system).

About	information about DDClip authors and registration.


Settings

This dialog comprises various settings and options for current project on following tab panels:

General	project limits, undo and playback options.

Audio	audio settings (playback format and options).

Audio devices	audio devices selection.

Audio effects	audio effects settings.

Video	video options (framerate and playback options).

Troubleshooting	special troubleshooting modes.

Audio meter	volume indicator settings.

Alignment	alignment and snapping to marks options.

Selection	selection options.

Scrubbing	scrubbing options.

Save	save and autosave options.

Colors	colors of user interface elements.

Summary	embedded info fields (text information saved with project and to output files).

This dialog can be called in Project window with Settings command on Options menu and from Toolbar (or just press ‘F5’ key when project window is active).


General Settings

Show image

‘Project limits’ group is for setting main parameters of project.

Project size – duration of the whole project.

Audio tracks – number of audio tracks available in project.

Undo/Redo depth – number of Undo/Redo operations.

‘Playback’ group is for selecting different modes of playback.

Repeat playback sets how many times repeat playback on ‘Play’ command.

Start video playback sets mode of playback of project with video: immediately or on keyboard event (you will need to press ‘Space’ key after ‘Play’ command).

Start playback from current time position turns on ‘VTR playback’ mode. In this mode ‘Play’ command starts playback from current time position, ‘Stop’ does not change it after playback is stopped. When this switch is turned off, Playback Start and Playback Duration windows define playback start position. ‘Stop’ command reverts current time position to a previous one that was before start of playback.

Hide cursor during playback – if checked, current time mark will not be drawn over project tracks. Current time line will be drawn in Time Ruler and Range windows only. This option reduces system load during playback.

Enable solo/mute control during playback allows to dynamically include/exclude audio tracks from mixing during playback. If this option is turned off, ‘Solo/Mute’ buttons will be disabled during playback.


Audio Settings

Show image

‘Output Format’ group defines audio format of playback for current project.

Ratio defines audio sample rate (in Hz, or samples per second). All audio clips on tracks must have the same ratio (first audio file added to empty project automatically determines it). Predefined values may be selected from list (standard ratios up to 48 kHz are supported by aslmost all sound cards). Arbitrary values can be set manually (not in DDClip LE). If you change project ratio, all clips with audio will be removed from project (confirmation will be requested).

Resolution defines audio sample resolution (number of bits per sample) for current project. In professional package of DDClip you can select 20/24 bits per sample. If your soundcard does not support 20/24-bit formats but you want to playback such projects, you may turn on ‘Limit playback to 16 bit’ option in Audio Devices Settings.

Stereo sets numbers of channels in project (mono/stereo).

Advanced button calls advanced format selection dialog to select different modes of 24-bit format (in DDClip Pro only).

‘Optimization’ group allows to tune parameters that may improve performance of playback.

Buffer size sets premix buffer size in seconds. With very small values you may encounter breaks in sound during playback, try to set higher value in this case (this may not help if your computer is not fast enough for mixing and playback many tracks in real-time). This parameters also affects amount of delay between moments of manual change of track volume (in Faders window) and real change.

Waveform controls quality of waveform pictures which are displayed on audio clips. Fine picture takes more resources and may slow down DDClip for complexive projects (with many clips on tracks). If you encounter very slow redrawing of audio clips, try to decrease quality to ‘draft’ or turn off waveform pictures.

‘Dither’ group defines dithering parameters for audio playback.

Type of dithering: truncating, rounding (round then truncate) or dithering (add noise then truncate). If ‘dither’ type is selected, next two lists are available.

Depth – amplitude of noise being added to audio signal. Default value 0.54 is good for most applications. Possible values are from 0.01 to 2.0 bits.

p.d.f. – probability distribution function of generated noise. Possible types are rectangular, triangular and Gaussian (different types give different sound). Please note that generating noise requires additional calculation time.

Auto-compensate DC-offset – if this option is on, all new audio files added to project will have DC-offset auto-compensated. That means that file will be centered around zero sample, so you may change volume of this file without getting distortions caused by non-zero DC-offset. You may turn on/off DC-offset compensation on any audio file in Clip Collection (see audio properties of file).

Show clip volume on clips – turn this option on if you want to see clip volume on clips (shown in parentheses with clip name). Note that clip volume is not shown if it is 0 dB (set by default).


Video Settings

Show image

Frame rate sets project video frame rate. First video clip that added to project with empty video tracks redefines this value.

Show information about dropped frames. During playback some video frames may be dropped. When this box is checked dropped frame information will be displayed in dialog window after playback.

Draw first and last frames at clip edges turn on drawing of first and last frames at left and right edges of each video clip.

Start from Key frame only. Video in AVI-files may have not only key frames. If video clip starts not from key frame then during playback first frames of this clip (up to next key frame) may be drawn with a noise in Video window. Those frames will be drawn with red border. When this switch is checked application prevents from setting of clip left edge (time In) at not key frame. In any case exported AVI-file will have correct video data.

“AVI” group.

Playback mode list selects mode of decompressing and drawing video data. Video codec may not support some of playback modes.

Full screen - video codec decompresses and draws frames on external monitor or full screen.

Decompress directly to window - video codec decompresses and draws frames directly in Video window.

Decompress and then draw - video codec only decompresses frames and DDClip draws them on videoplayer (Video window).

None - DDClip will not playback video.

Default - DDClip tries to find playback mode for codec starting from Full screen mode.

Always on top keeps Video window always on top.

Synchronize to audio turns on synchronization of video playback to audio playback. In this mode if audio playback is delayed, then next video frame will have same delay.

Never yield hardware device normally should be unchecked. May by useful in special cases, when DDClip works with hardware video CODEC on air. When checked, application does not release CODEC when project window is minimized, or DDClip launches external applications.

Zoom list selects scale factor for Video window.


Troubleshooting Settings

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Use playback starting delay in full-duplex mode. Successive start of playback and record sometimes may help when drivers for some sound card’s can not correctly do playback and record audio simultaneously.

Delay sets delay duration in milliseconds.

Reopen video codec at any operation. In this mode video codec is reopened at each access. This allows to work correctly with hardware video codecs such as one for miroVideo DC20. Attention! This mode may decrease video performance for most video codecs.


Audio meter Settings

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Audio volume indicator is used in Audio Recorder and A.Meter(Faders) dialogs. Statistics (check overflow) command on Range window local menu also uses the same associations between volume level and its color representation.

‘Thresholds’ group sets correspondence between audio volume level and color on indicator. Delimiting values may descend from 0 dB to –144 dB. Intervals can not overlap.

Meter Size defines audio volume range presented on indicator. Top value is always ‘absolute’ digital 0 dB (in DDClip this value corresponds to a maximal absolute sample value of 32768.0).

Peak hold enables display of peak mark (thin color band in meter). It shows maximal peak level found during playback/recording. To clear peak mark just click on meter or select appropriate command from local menu.

Always on top keeps audio A.Meter(Faders) window always on top (above Clip collection and the main Project window).

‘Labels’ group controls volume text labels (shown close to meter).

Automatic – automatically select some values in dB and display as text labels with reasonable distance between them. Otherwise, up to 10 pairs of Volume – Name can be defined manually.

“0” position defines position of label “0” for automatic text labels. Note that zero shift or ‘0.000’ value is used by default.


Alignment Settings

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‘Time alignment’ group:

Align current time mark to the nearest frame turns on alignment of current time mark and left edge of clips being moved to the nearest video frame.

Snap current time mark to place marks enables snapping of current time position cursor to all Placed marks.

‘Snap’ group:

Active group number selects group of Place marks that will be active. Other groups became inactive.

Snap Distance defines maximal distance of snapping objects. For example, if “snap time position to marks” option is on, when you drag current time position and mouse cursor is close to a mark, it jumps exactly to mark (“snaps” to it). Snap distance defines maximal distance between objects when thay start to snap to each other.

Snap clip edges to current time position – when you move a clip, its edjes will snap to current time cursor. It may be used to align clip edges to the same time.

Snap selected clip edges to non-selected clip edges – edges of only selected clips will snap to non-selected clips.

‘Snap to marks’ group defines conditions when objects will be snapped to marks during moving:

Active mark group defines number of active group of marks (objects will snap to marks of active group only).

Marks inside active group – if this option is on, marks of active group will snap to each other.

Mouse position – mouse cursor position will snap to marks when dragging clips and time position. When mouse cursor remains within snap distance, selected clips are not moved.

Leftmost edge of selection – leftmost edge of selected clips aligns to marks.

Left edges – left edge of each selected clip aligns to marks.

Rightmost edge of selection – rightmost edge of selected clips aligns to marks.

Right edges – right edges of each selected clip aligns to marks.


Selection Settings

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Active group number sets active Clip selection group number. Other groups became inactive.

Exclusive “Solo”. In this mode, if track is marked as “solo” then only this track will be included in playback.

Do not drag current time mark. If is not set current time mark is also dragged, when time range is defining in Range window.


Save Settings

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‘Save with Clip Collection’ group defines which additional information is saved with clips in Clip Collection.

Thumbnail picture turns on saving of thumbnail picture for each video clip in Clip Collection.

Waveform picture turns on saving picture of waveform for each audio clip in clip collection. When you open clip collection next time, it will be done without recalculating waveform pictures of audio files.

‘AutoSave’ group defines when and where autosaving of project and clip collection is done. If your system or DDClip crashes, you will be able to restore your work in state of moment when autosaving was done.

Save project and clip collection every XX minutes/YY actions. Turns on saving of current Project and Clip Collection at specified period (XX minutes) and/or after specified number of project changes (YY actions).

Temporary directory defines directory for autosaved files named autosave.tml and autosave.prc. Read/Write access to this directory is required (C:\ by default). If you run DDClip after program or system crash, and DDClip founds autosaved files in specified directory, you will be asked to open autosaved project. If you open it, you will need to save project to desired place manually.


Colors Settings

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Here you can adjust colors of almost all elements of user interface in DDClip. You can select desired item by its name in drop-down list or click on item at sample picture. It is possible to keep mouse button pressed and move around with cursor.

Change color calls standard color selection dialog, where any color can be set for selected item. Color settings are reflected in picture.

Colors combination can be stored in files that have .CLT extension by default. To save color settings click Save scheme, then select directory and file name.

Load Scheme allows to restore previously saved colors combination from file.

Default scheme resets colors to predefined color scheme.

When you press Apply button, all colors changes are reflected in DDClip immediately.


Summary Settings. Embedded info fields
Summary Settings

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Various information fields can be embedded in exported audio and video files (File | Export in Project window). Some of these fields are presented in this dialog. Text strings with up to 255 characters can be entered as any field value.

Don’t export fields – if not checked, all non-empty fields will be included in output file. Two additional fields are always saved. One is the name of software package “DDClip Multitrack Audio and Video Editor” (with appropriate version that you are using). Another one is creation date of output file in the form YYYY-MM-DD; for example, “1998-05-01” for the first of May 1998.

Extended allows to view and edit ALL available fields in Extended Summary dialog.

Set as Default allows to save all currently defined fields to use them later as default settings for new created projects.


Extended Summary dialog

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Fields that can be embedded in exported audio and video data files are available for editing in this dialog. Some of them appear also in Summary Settings. Each field is presented by its short name and human readable name. Text string with up to 255 characters can be entered as field value. If field has no associated text string, it has “(Empty)” at the right in list box. Empty fields are not saved, see also Don’t export fields switch in Summary Settings.

Reset button clear summary info fields.

Set as Default button allows saving of currently defined fields for later usage as default settings for new created projects.

Dialog can be called from Summary panel in Settings dialog.


Audio Devices Settings

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‘Devices’ group allows to select audio devices for playback and recording sound from devices installed on your system.

Output – device for playback digital audio (in WAVE format).

Input – device for recording digital audio (in WAVE format).

Midi – device for playback MIDI music. Please note that DDClip plays MIDI through system midi-stream, that works on MIDI mapper only, so you can’t select actual MIDI device here. You should open system’s Control Panel (open Settings/Control Panel from Windows Start menu), double-click Multimedia icon and select desired default MIDI Out device in MIDI tab.

Click here to see an example of MIDI device selection in Windows 98 control panel (‘DS-XG Synthesizer’ is selected as default MIDI device, DDClip will play MIDI through it).

Limit playback to 16 bit – if you opened a project with 20/24-bit audio output format (see Audio Settings) but your soundcard can play only 16-bit sound, turn this option on to limit output quality to 16-bit. If you have a soundcard that plays 20-24 bit sound, you may turn this option off.

‘DDSound Volume control’ (mixer) is and additional application included with DDClip, you can use it to adjust your audio devices settings. It allows to set volume, turn on/off audio outputs for playback and select source inputs for recording. Mixer is more comfortable in use than standard system’s one (however, you can run it using Volume Control command on Tools menu). With mixer you can adjust volume in dB, save state of any audio device and restore any state in the future.

Show mixer on startup – turn this option off if you do not want to see mixer’s main window on DDClip start (however, it will run and still active).

Automatically change mixer state – when you start playback/recording in DDClip, mixer recalls and activates appropriate state of audio device saved for playback/recording.

Configure mixer – activates mixer’s window. You may also use DDSound Volume Control command on Window Menu or press ‘F8’ key.


Scrubbing Settings

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‘Scrubbing’ group parameters allows to control application behavior when dragging current time position mark by left mouse button or setting current time in Time Ruler. These switches are duplicated on Time Ruler local menu.

Show video enables showing of current frame on videoplayer.

Play audio enables audio scrubbing (drag current time position with left mouse button). Sound will be played in small pieces of Min. duration. If current time is changed during this small piece playback, next piece will start from new current time position. If current time does not change, piece of audio up to Max duration will be repeated until you release or move mouse. In other words, Min value sets the minimal duration of playing; if mouse is not moved when next piece playing is started, duration will be Max.

Auto-scroll rolls changes scrolling mode of working area. When current time position mark is dragged outside project window, the working area shifts automatically to follow current position. If this option is turned on, the working area slides smoothly while left mouse button is kept pressed outside window. If it is turned off, the working area shifts at a step when current time mark reaches the working area edge. It looks like as time position and its associated cursor jumps back in this moment. It may be useful if you do not want autoscrolling of working area.

Pick current time marker on clips – if this option is on, you can drag current time position mark when it is over a clip, but you can’t access clip items and move clip when mouse cursor is on time position cursor. If you turn it off, you will be able to move clip in any case, but you can’t move current time position until mouse cursor is not on a clip.


Audio Effects Settings

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‘Quality of audio effects processing’ group is for setting quality of processing sound by audio effects in differents modes. Lesser quality requires lesser calculations, is may be useful if your computer can’t play complexive project with many audio effects in real-time. Please note that not all audio effects support this feature and process sound only in the highest quality (see help for audio effects).

Real-time quality sets playback/preview quality (real-time operations).

Final quality sets quality for exporting project to resulting file.

Frequency response calculation sets quality for calculation of frequency and phase response of audio effects.

Other functions sets quality for normalize/statistics functions.

There are three possible modes of processing quality: ‘draft’ (fastest), ‘medium’ and ‘fine’ (slowest). Usually there is almost no audible difference between them. Is is recommended to use ‘draft’ quality for real-time operations (playback) and ‘fine’ quality for exporting project to resulting file to get best result. You may set ‘other functions’ quality to ‘draft’ to get faster normalize/statistics functions, but you may get some small errors in calculations of volume levels.

‘Declick FadeIn/FadeOut’ group defines parameters of declick FadeIns/FadeOuts on audio clips.

Type defines the form of fade: linear of bell profile. Bell profile usually gives better sound than linear even when very loud clip breaks instantly.

Length defines length of declick fades. If you set declick but it does not remove very loud click at a clip edge, try to increase length of declick. Possible values are from 0.01 to 100.0 milliseconds.

Auto set FadeIn/FadeOut – if this option is on, any new audio clip inserted to any track will have both declicks set automatically. You can turn on/off declicks manually from local menu of audio clip. If you want to set/remove declicks for group of selected clips, use appropriate command in Edit/Declick menu.

Single click to open effect list – if this option is on, you can open effect list on clip, track or entire project by single click of left mouse button at triangle mark meaning presence of audio effects. If option is off, you will need to double-click triangle to open effects list.


Declick
Declick is a short optional FadeIn/FadeOut that can be applied to egdes of audio clips. It can eliminate clicks on boundaries of clips caused by non-zero DC offset of clip or when clip was cut on non-silent place. Declick may have linear or bell profile (bell profile gives good sound even if clip was cut on very loud place).


DC-offset
DC-offset is a constant component of audio signal. It may be caused by DC-offset of soundcard used for recording audio (almost all soundcards have non-zero DC-offset, even professional ones). It means that if you record audio signal with constant volume (e.g. sinusoidal wave) you will get a file with non-equal absolute values of negative and positive samples. This may cause problems when you increase volume of such file, you may get distortions. DC offset can be almost eliminated by subtracting average sample value from all samples of audio file.


Dithering
Dithering means converting high-resolution audio (24-bit) to a lower resolution (8/16 bit) with adding noise. Internal audio format of DDClip is 24-bit, so converting is needed when playing or writing audio in 8/16 bit formats. If 24-bit audio is just truncated or rounded to 16 bits, you may get audible distortions in very quiet sounds. If very quiet noise is added to last bit of signal before truncating, distortions are almost eliminated (become non-audible).


Advanced 24-bit audio format
Advanced audio Format

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In this dialog you can select specific type of 24-bit audio format. Standard format is “24-bit packed int”, professional 24-bit soundcards should support such format for playback/recording. This format is used by default.

Additional 4 formats may be unsupported, please read documentation for particular soundcard. However, DDClip can open and save audio files of all these types, you can play them on any soundcard in any mode supported by it (e.g. 16-bit).

Please note that all such formats really are 24-bit only: float formats have 24-bit mantissa (only 24 accuracy bits are significant), and “32-bit unpacked int” format really uses only 24-bits.

Warning: please be careful when trying to play audio on your soundcard in non-standard modes for first time! Depending on soundcards’ settings you may get very loud noise that can damage your headphones, speakers and ears!

Please set minimal volume on your amplifier and/or take off headphones when testing you soundcard in 24-bit modes for first time. Set normal volume only when you have tested your soundcard in mode being used.


Image. General Settings


Image. Audio Settings
Image. Audio Settings.


Image. Video Settings


Image. Troubleshooting Settings


Image. Audio Meter Settings


Image. Alignment Settings


Image. Selection Settings


Image. Save Settings


Image. Colors Settings


Image. Summary Settings


Image. Extended summary dialog


Image. Audio devices Settings


Image. Scrubbing Settings


Image. Audio Effects Settings


Image. MIDI device selection
Image. Midi Device Selection (Audio Devices Settings)


Image. Advanced audio Format selection
Image. Advanced audio format selection dialog


Clip Collection

Show Hotspot image

Clip Collection may be considered as a handy storage of multimedia data that can be used in projects. It contains list of source multimedia files with additional information, for example pictures of audio waveforms (it allows to open projects almost instantly without re-scanning audio files each time) and preview images for video clips.

Clip collection can be saved to file (with .PRC file name extension by default). When a project is opened, collection file associated with it is opened too. While working on project, other collections may be opened and saved.

There are different ways to add source files to collection: you can drag files from Windows Explorer window, through “Add source file” command of “File” menu, through local menu (click right mouse button on background of collection and select “Add source file” command) or just double-click at Clip Collection window (last three commands open Open Clip dialog where you can add many files simultaneously). When source file is opened in DDClip, a new clip with reference to whole file content is added to Clip Collection. To change position of Clip Info window, drag it with left mouse button or use Up/Down/Left/Right keys while Shift key is pressed (select clip before doing this – just click at it).

Each clip in Clip Collection window is represented by Clip Info window. Clips can be dragged from Clip Collection to Project window – move black box to desired place and release mouse button to place clip to a track (if you decided not to add clip to project, don’t release mouse and just drag clip back to collection). You can keep in collection not only source files, but particular clips with edge positon and duration different from source file (copy clip from track to clipboard and paste it to collection).

Right click in background of collection calls local menu with following commands:

Add source File	calls Open Clip dialog to add clip(s) with reference to whole source file(s) content.

Paste	adds all clips from Clipboard to Clip Collection.

Next 4 commands control appearance of Clip Info windows:

Full Info	shows maximum information about clips.

Basic Info	shows basic information about clips.

Large Icons	shows clips as large icons.

Small Icons	shows clips as small icons.

Clip Collection window has accelerator keys, Toolbar and the following menus:

File  Edit  View  Command  Tools  Options  Window  Help


Image. Clip Collection
Hotspot Image. Clip Collection.


Clip Info window

Each clip in Clip Collection window is represented by its Clip Info window. There are four variants of view:

Full Info is the most informative. It provides clip name, source file path, audio parameters (sample rate, bits per sample or audio format type, stereo/mono or ‘No sound’), video parameters (width*height, framerate in frames per second or ‘No Video’), time In and time Out (beginning and end position in source file), duration. Thumbnail picture is drawn at left.

Basic Info is more compact. Except source file path, time In and time Out, it provides the same information as Full Info.

Large Icons and Small Icons presents only clip name, but have different sizes.

Note that if clip from Clip Collection is not used in current project, its information, such as clip name, is drawn in blue.

Current presentation of Clip Info windows can be selected on Toolbar, on local menu (right-click in background), on View menu. Thumbnail picture (frame) for Video clip can be selected on Thumbnail panel of Clip Properties dialog, Audio and Midi clips have predefined pictures.

Following icons show what type(s) of multimedia data clip contains:

 , [image] - video.  , [image] - audio.  , [image] - Midi-sound.

If icon is grayed, that means that clip parameters differ from project settings. Tools menu may help in conversion to desired parameters.

Clip may contain both audio and video data; in this case both icons are displayed. You may disable usage of audio or video in clip (for example if you opened source file with both video and audio, but you want to use video only), see Use Video and Use Audio in Clip Properties dialog. If audio or video is disabled, corresponding icon is displayed with red cross over it:

, [image], [image] or [image].

Right-click on Clip Info window calls local menu.


Clip Info window local menu
Local menu of Clip Info window

Each clip in Clip Collection window is represented by Clip Info window.

Right-click on Clip Info window calls local menu with following commands:

Play	playbacks this clip.

Change project video parameters	redefines project video parameters (such as frame rate and size of video frame) to match parameters of current clip.

Change project audio parameters	redefines project audio parameters (such as audio sample rate) to match parameters of current clip.

These two commands are available only if tracks of project are empty.

Launch Video editor

Launch Audio editor

Launch Midi editor	command(s) Launch ‘data type’ editor item appears if clip contain corresponding multimedia data type(s). ‘Editor’ path may be set in Configure external applications dialog. ‘Editor’ application is launched with the clip source file name added to application’s command line.

Copy	clears Clipboard and add selected clip to Clipboard (clip is placed on first track).

Add	adds this clip to Clipboard (clips are added consequently on first track).

Paste	pastes all clips from Clipboard in Clip Collection.

Delete	removes this clip from Clip Collection.

Properties	calls Clip Properties dialog.


Full info
Clip Info windows in Clip Collection. Full Info


Basic info
Clip Info windows. Basic Info


Large Icons


Small Icons


Selected clip with video

Basic presentation of Clip Info windows.


Clip with audio

Basic presentation of Clip Info windows.


Clip with audio and video

Clip is not used in current project.

Basic presentation of Clip Info windows.


Clip with midi

Clip is not used in current project.

Basic presentation of Clip Info windows.


File menu. Clip Collection

New collection	creates new (empty) Clip Collection.

Open collection	opens selected Clip Collection file.

Add source File	adds clip with whole source file content.

Add from collection	adds all clips from selected clip collection file to current collection.

Save collection	saves changes in current clip collection file.

Save collection As	saves changes in new clip collection file.

Note that saved clip collections has file name extension .PRC.

Recent files	Contains list of most recently used clip collection files (with ‘prc’ filename extension). You can select any of recent collection file to open it by its name in the list. Error message may appear if collection file does not exist in its original location. If clip collection was moved to other place, open it with Open Project command.

Recent clip folders

Contains list of most recently used folders for clips opening. Select any of folders to add source file to clip collection. Many files can be selected and added simultaneously.

Menu commands actions also available with buttons on Toolbar.


Edit menu. Clip Collection

Change project video parameters	redefines project video parameters such as frame rate and size of video frame.

Change project audio parameters	redefines project audio parameters such as sampling rate.

Launch Video editor

Launch Audio editor

Launch Midi editor	command(s) Launch ‘data type’ editor appears if clip contain corresponding multimedia data type(s). ‘Editor’ path may be set in Configure external applications dialog. ‘Editor’ application is launched with the clip source file name added to command line.

Purge	removes clips, which are not used in current project, from current collection.

Copy	clears Clipboard and add selected clip to Clipboard (clip is placed on first track).

Add	adds this clip to Clipboard (clips are added consequently on first track).

Paste	pastes all clips from Clipboard in Clip Collection.

Delete	removes this clip from Clip Collection.

Properties	calls Clip Properties dialog.


View menu. Clip Collection

First 4 commands control appearance of Clip Info windows:

Full Info	maximum information about clips.

Basic Info	basic information about clips.

Large Icons	clips as large icons.

Small Icons	clips as small icons.

Next 3 commands control clips order in Clip Collection window:

Auto Sort	if on clips in collection are sorted each time new clip is added.

Sort by Type	sort clips in collection by it’s type in following order: Video&Audio clips, Video clips, Audio clips, Midi clips.

Sort by Name	sort clips in collection by clip name.

Next 3 commands allow to select current format for time values.

Time in Frames	time as frame counter. One second “25” or “25fr” for video frame rate 25 fps.

Time in SMPTE	“Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames”. One second 00:00:01:00” or “00:00:01:00fr”

Time in milliSeconds	“Hours: Minutes : Seconds : Milliseconds”. One second 00:00:01:000 or 00:00:01:000ms

Buttons on Toolbar duplicate menu commands.


Command menu. Clip Collection

Move selected clip to the project

add selected clip to project. You can just drag clips to Project window with mouse.

Move unused clips to the project

add to project all clips that are in clip collection but are not used in project.

Move all clips to the project

add all clips from clip collection to project.

Play	start playback of selected clip.

Stop	stop playback of clip.


Tools menu (clip collection)
Tools menu. Clip Collection

Convert WAVE	converts source audio file into another WAVE-file with different parameters.

Convert AVI	launches AviEdit application that allows to convert source AVI-file into another AVI-file with different parameters. In AviEdit select Save Options on File menu, choose video or audio stream, then press Options… button, etc..

Convert MScamcorderAVI	prior to use this command, consider possibility to update corresponding CODEC, see URLs below. This update allows to use conventional Convert AVI command. Alternatively, use Convert MScamcorderAVI. Choose source file, then define output AVI-file. Source AVI will be played on screen and grabbed into output AVI. Wait until end of conversion, do not open or minimize windows, etc.

Link to file with Microsoft Camcorder update:

http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/netshow/download/mscamupd.exe

See also update related information:

http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/imedia/netshow/netshow2/tools/cam.asp

Both URLs were last checked on 23rd of July 1998.


File | Convert wave
Convert WAVE

Tools | Convert WAVE command in Clip Collection window allows to convert source audio file into new WAVE-file with different parameters. Choose input file and define output file name. Then select desired parameters for output WAVE-file and press OK.


Options menu (clip collection)
Options menu. Clip Collection

Font…	sets font for displaying clip information.

Color…	sets color for clip name in Small Icons Clip Info windows presentation.

Skip video	don’t use video from all source files when adding new clips to project from Clip Collection.

Skip audio	don’t use audio from all source files when adding new clips to project from Clip Collection.

Save Options	save program settings.


Options | Save options
Save options

DDClip automatically saves current program settings on exit. These settings will be used next time when you run DDClip. If DDClip was terminated abnormally, program setting will not be saved. Save Options commands on Options menu in Project window and on Options menu in Clip Collection allows to save program setting any time.


Window menu (clip collection)
Window menu. Clip Collection

Project	activate Project window.

Faders	activate Faderswindow.

DDSound Volume Control

activate DDSound Volume Control window

(see also Audio Devices Settings).

Video	show Video preview window, if possible.


Clip Properties

This dialog can be called for clip in Clip Collection with Properties commands on Clip Info window local menu and Edit menu. The following tab panels present various clip parameters:

General	clip name, source file name, size, etc.

Video, Audio, Midi	multimedia data specific info. Use Video and Use Audio switches.

Thumbnail	video frame for thumbnail picture.

Summary	information fields embedded into data source file.


Clip Properties. General
Clip Properties. General.

Show image.

Clip Name is an arbitrary label that may be associated with clip. By default, a name of source file is assigned. Clips with different parameters may have same name. Clip name does not identify clip uniquely.

File Name shows path to source file.

File Size shows source file size in bytes and kilobytes (KB), 1 KB=1024 bytes.

Created and Modified show source file creation and modification dates.

‘Time’ group parameters present in current time format following:

In, Out – begin and end of clip in source file.

Duration – clip duration, effectively difference between Out and In.

Displayed values depend on current value of video Frame rate on Video tab panel.


Clip Properties. Video

Show image.

This panel appears if clip source file contain video data.

Use Video, if unchecked disables usage of video data from source file. This has meaning when source file contains both video and audio.

Frame rate is measured in frames per second and determines duration of playback for video. Frame rate of source file is displayed in info area at right of Open Clip dialog. Frame rate can be changed, if there is no clip(s) in current project that reference video data in source file.

Width and Height presents geometrical parameters of video frame.

Codec name and short name provides two variants of video CODEC name.

Data size shows size of video data in source file.

Data rate is calculated video data stream, see note below on Frame rate changing.

Duration shows in current time format how long it takes to playback all video from source file.

NOTE, that current frame rate is used in calculations of Data rate and Duration, see above, and In, Out, Duration fields in General panel. In no way frame rate changing affects duration of audio playback. If both Use Video and Use Audio are enabled and current frame rate value is increased or decreased from one in source file, then on inserting in project audio will be correspondingly truncated or padded with zeros. It may be found convenient to duplicate clip, then enable only Use Video in one copy and only Use Audio in another.


Clip Properties. Audio

Show image.

This panel appears if clip source file contain audio data.

Use Audio – if this option is off, it disables usage of audio data from source file. This has meaning when source file contains both video and audio.

Ratio – sample rate of audio in source file.

Bits – number of bits per sample (audio format).

Channels shows ‘mono’/’stereo’ for one or two channels correspondingly.

Data size shows size of audio data in source file.

Data rate is calculated audio data stream.

Duration shows in current time format how long it takes to playback all audio from source file.

‘Compensate DC offset’ allows to compensate DC offset of audio in source file automatically. See also Audio Settings. Note that it requires additional calculations and may decrease performance during playback.

Left/Right – DC offset in each channel of audio in sample values. If is 0, no DC compensation is needed. You can adjust it manually (however, it is not needed in most cases).

Refill waveform and DC – press this button to re-read audio from source file, refill its waveform picture, recalculate DC offset and show it in Left/Right.


Clip Properties. Midi

Show image.

This panel appears for midi clips only

Duration shows in current time format how long it takes to playback source midi file.


Clip Properties. Thumbnail

Show image.

This panel appears, if clip source file contain video data.

Slide bar allows to select video frame, which will be used as identifying picture for clip in Clip Collection with window.


Clip Properties. Summary

Show image.

Clip source file may have various embedded information fields. Some of these fields are presented on this tab panel. See also description of Summary Settings.

Extended calls Extended Summary dialog (show image) that provides information on ALL fields. If field has no associated text string, it has “(Empty)” at the right in list box.


Image. Clip Properties. General
Image. Clip Properties. General.


Image. Clip Properties. Video
Image. Clip Properties. Video.


Image. Clip Properties. Audio
Image. Clip Properties. Audio.


Image. Clip Properties. Midi
Image. Clip Properties. Midi.


Image. Clip Properties. Thumbnail
Image. Clip Properties. Thumbnail.


Image. Clip Properties. Summary
Image. Clip Properties. Summary.


Image. Extended summary dialog. Clip Properties. Summary.
Image. Extended Summary dialog.

Called with Extended Button on Summary panel of Clip Properties dialog.


Toolbar. Clip Collection. 1
Toolbar. Clip Collection

Part 1   >>Part 2

   >>

First 5 buttons on Toolbar duplicate commands on File menu.

creates new (empty) clip collection. Confirmation requested to save or not changes in current Clip Collection, or cancel creation of new collection.

opens selected clip collection file.

saves changes in current clip collection file. For new created collection file name requested. By default, clip collection file has .PRC extension.

saves changes in new clip collection file.

calls Open Clip dialog to add new clip in current clip collection.

switches to Project window. See also Project on Window menu.

playbacks selected clip. See also Play on clip local menu.

stops started playback. See also Stop on clip local menu.

Clipboard commands also available on Edit menu and clip local menu. Note that clips in clipboard from Clip Collection will be inserted in Project on first track of appropriate type.

clears Clipboard and add clip to Clipboard (clip is placed on first track).

adds this clip to Clipboard (clips are added consequently on first track).

pastes all clips from Clipboard in Clip Collection.


Toolbar. Clip Collection. 2
Toolbar. Clip Collection

Part 1<<   Part 2

<<

Buttons in this part of Toolbar duplicate commands on View menu.

First 4 buttons in this part control appearance of Clip Info windows.

Full Info, maximum information about clips.

Basic Info, basic information about clips.

Large Icons, clips as large icons.

Small Icons, clips as small icons.

Next 3 buttons control clips order in Clip Collection window.

sorts clips in collection each time when new clip is added.

sorts clips in collection by it’s type in the following order: Video&Audio clips, Video clips, Audio clips, Midi clips.

sorts clips in collection by clip name.

Next 3 buttons allow to select current format for time values.

Time in Frames, time as frame counter. One second “25” or “25fr” for video frame rate 25 fps.

Time in SMPTE, “Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames”. One second 00:00:01:00” or “00:00:01:00fr”

Time in milliSeconds, “Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Milliseconds”. One second 00:00:01:00 or 00:00:01:00fr


Clip Collection Accelerators
Clip Collection Accelerators (hot keys)

Action	First accelerator	Second accelerator
File operations
Open source file(s)	‘Insert’	‘F4’
New clip collection	Ctrl+’N’	Shift+’F3’
Open clip collection	Ctrl+’O’	‘F3’
Add from clip collection(s)	Ctrl+Shift+’O’	Ctrl+’F3’
Save clip collection	Ctrl+’S’	‘F2’
Save clip collection as	Ctrl+Shift+’S’	Shift+’F2’
Edit operations
Delete		‘Delete’
Add to clipboard	Ctrl+Shift+’C’	Ctrl+Shift+’Insert’
Copy to clipboard	Ctrl+’C’	Ctrl+’Insert’
Paste from clipboard	Ctrl+’V’	Shift+’Insert’
Remove unused clips		Shift+‘Delete’
Arrange operations
Move current clip up	Shift+’Up arrow’
Move current clip down	Shift+’Down arrow’
Move current clip to right	Shift+’Right arrow’
Move current clip to left	Shift+’Left arrow’
Select operations
Select upper clip	’Up arrow’
Select lower clip	’Down arrow’
Select right clip	’Right arrow’
Select left clip	’Left arrow’
Other operations
Playback clip	‘Enter’	‘Space’
Stop clip playback	‘Enter’	‘Space’     ‘Esc’
Show Project window		‘F6’
Show ‘Faders’ window		‘F7’
Show ‘DDSound Volume control’ window		‘F8’
Show ‘Video’ window		‘F9’
Exit	Ctrl+’Q’


Audio meter (Faders)
Audio meter (Faders) window

Show image A.Meter.   Show image Faders.

Audio meter (faders) command on Window menu of Project activates window that can be shown as A.Meter or Faders, depending on state of Faders switch (see below). With this window you can control tracks and master volume/balance (pan) and audio effects on tracks/project.

Output volume indicator (audio meter) is always present at right of the window. Indicator is divided into 5 intervals. Output audio volume within each interval is painted in corresponding color (dark blue, blue, green, yellow and red from minimal to maximum volume consequently). Thin lines mark maximum peak volume encountered during playback (if Peak hold is enabled in Audio meter Settings). These marks are reset at playback start or by click on indicator. Color intervals delimiting values, displayed volume level range and level text labels representation can be changed in Audio meter Settings and from local menu (press right mouse button on indicator).

Project master volume can be set with vertical fader shown at right, or by editing volume value in text box above it (see also note about editing numerical values in DDClip). Horizontal slider and corresponding text box control project master balance (pan).

Meter – enables monitoring of output audio volume on indicator.

Faders control presence of faders (volume controls of tracks) at left. When this option is off, the window contains only volume indicator and master fader (window title is A.Meter). When Faders is on, the window changes its title to Faders and shows track faders with Solo / Mute and audio effects buttons (please note that effects are not present in DDClip LE).

‘<<’ and ‘Play’ buttons allow to rewind current time position and to start playback directly from Faders window.

‘Edit FX’ buttons allow to call Effect List dialog to add/edit track/master audio effects.

‘Use FX’ turn on (use)/off (bypass) track/master audio effects.

You can use Edit/Use buttons to control audio effects during playback of project.

Faders window shows faders for 6 tracks (track numbers are displayed at top of faders). If current project has less than 6 tracks, unused faders will be grayed and not accessible. If project has more than 6 tracks, scrollbar at bottom of the window allows to select which 6 tracks are displayed. You can also use Volume and Balance dialogs to set volume and/or balance (pan) for project, track, clip and profile.

It is possible to dynamically change master and track volume/pan during playback. Attention! Changes will always made with some delay, it depends on value of Buffer size in Audio Settings.


Image. Audio meter window
Image. A.Meter window


Image. Faders window

Faders window without audio effects buttons (DDClip LE)

Faders window with audio effects buttons (DDClip SE and Pro)


Volume and Balance dialogs

Show sample images.

Volume and/or balance dialogs may be called from various menus. Depending on context, dialog change its name and may have either “Volume” or “Balance” group, or both groups.

Dialog have ‘Profile’ and ‘Clip’ names, when called with Set profile value and Clip volume on Audio clip local menu.

Dialog is named ‘Track’, when called with Track Volume on Track State window local menu.

Master volume on Command menu changes master volume and balance for whole project, dialog is named ‘Project’ in this case.

Note that master volume and balance for project and audio tracks can be set in AudioMeter(Faders) window, where it is possible to dynamically change volume and balance during playback.

Note that volume at each point of clip with audio is a sum (in dB) of all master volumes (project master volume, track master volume and clip master volume) and volume profile value at this point (for audio clip clip). The same is true for balance.

Balance value can be set from –100 (Left) to 100 (Right).

Nominal volume value is 0 dB or 100 %.

Attention! Maximum volume amplification is 12 dB (4 times). At points where maximum amplification is reached, profile touches the top of clip rectangle and stays there, while other profile key points may be moved with master volume change. Thus the profile is distorted and mixed signal may not correspond exactly to your expectation. To avoid this watch the clip volume profile - visually it should not touch top clip edge.


Image. Volume and Balance dialogs


Open clip dialog

Show image.

This dialog allows to add clip with reference to whole source file content. If file is added to Project window from local menu on track, new clip is inserted not only to track but it is added to Clip Collection too.

Info area at right of the dialog displays information about selected source file (audio format of file etc.). Please note that DDClip can not include compressed audio files to project (such file may be decompressed to a new file and then inserted to project). Files with sample rate different from project can not be added to project too (such file may be converted to a new file to match project’s sample rate).

Preview button starts playback of selected file.

Auto preview enables automatic playback start when any file is selected.

Add button appears only if dialog is called from Clip Collection window. It adds clip with selected source file to Clip Collection and does not close dialog. You can add multiple files simultaneously to clip collection only.

You can call this dialog from Project window dialog with Add source File commands on File menu and Working Area local menu (press right mouse button at any place not occupied by clips) and also with button on Toolbar.

In Clip Collection window this dialog can be called with Add source File commands on File menu and local menu on background, and with button on Toolbar.

You can add source multimedia files just dragging them from Windows Explorer to project window (single files only) or clip collection (multiple files).


Image. Open clip dialog
Image. Open Clip dialog.


Clip Properties (on track)
Clip Properties dialog

Show image

Clip Name is an arbitrary label that may be assigned to a clip. By default, name of source file is assigned. Clips with different parameters may have the same name. Clip Name does not identify clip uniquely.

File Name shows path to source file.

‘Source position’ group fields present (in current time format) values of following parameters:

In, Out – begin and end of clip relatively to source file start.

Size – clip duration, effectively difference between Out and In.

Source – duration of whole source file data.

Start and Stop – start and stop clip positions in project.

‘Audio’ group is present only in properties of Audio Clip.

Volume – clip Volume.

Balance – clip Balance.

Use audio FX – turn on/off (bypass) audio effects on clip (if effects are present on this clip).

Declick in/out – turn on/off declick on edges of clip. Declick may be set automatically on any clip added to project (see Audio Effects Settings).

Show In/Out frame is identical to Show video in General Settings and Time Ruler local menu. If this option is on, corresponding frame is displayed on videoplayer (Video window) when you change In or Out fields. Is available only for Video clip.

This dialog is called with Properties command on local menu of clip on track in Working Area. Another dialog, Clip Properties, can be called for clip in Clip Collection.


Image. Edit Clip dialog
Image. Clip Properties dialog


Repeat clip dialog

Show image

This dialog is used to create additional copies of any clip on track in Working Area and (may be called with Repeat clip command on local menu of a clip). Each created copy is an independent clip, but initially copied clips are identical (except position in project). Each copy inherits general clip parameters, such as clip duration, position in source file, place marks, and also properties specific for clip type, such as volume and balance profiles and audio effects for Audio clip.

Values of time position or time interval are presented in current time format.

Copy count sets the number of new copies. For example with counter value 4 you will get 5 identical clips.

Time shows value of time interval occupied by new created repeated units - ‘period’ multiplied by number of copies.

Pause sets duration of pause inserted before each new copy.

Clip shows clip duration.

Period sets total duration of unit ‘pause + clip’ that will be repeated.

Maximum values of all parameters depend on free space after clip and are interdependent. Beware that arbitrary values may be set while doing field editing. Sum of Pause and Clip can not exceed Period. Period interval can not be set larger, if there is no enough space for Copy count number additional copies, etc. It is recommended to switch to another field with mouse of Tab key to see actual field value and then press OK button.

Note, that if time is measured in frames or SMPTE, displayed time interval value is rounded to start time of nearest frame. This may be a bit misleading. Dialog in sample image was called for project with framerate of 10 frames per second. After simple multiplication value ’00:00:09:02’ may be expected for Time field. To see that everything is consistent choose Time in milliseconds as current time format.


Image. Repeat Clip dialog


Normalize audio

Normalize Level dialog requests maximum output audio level and adjusts project master volume (level can be set in percents or decibels).

The program mixes audio in selected range and finds maximum volume. Project master volume is adjusted to match resulting maximum volume of audio to specified level.

This operation does not change volume/balance profile, master volume of clips or tracks, it changes only master volume of project.

Normalize audio command is available on Command menu and on local menu of Range window.

Attention! Maximum volume amplification is 12 dB (4 times). Thus, the program can not normalize file with maximum level less than 25%. Second, if resulting amplification for clip sample exceeds 12 dB then mixed signal may not correspond to your expectation. To avoid this watch the audio clip volume profile – it should not touch top clip edge.


Audio Recorder
Audio Recorder dialog

Show image

DDClip may request target file name before displaying this dialog (when you defined file name press Save button to continue) if Ask name before run option is on.

Device defines audio device for recording (see also Audio Devices Settings). Please be sure that you properly selected input source on selected device (line/microphone/CD input etc.) and connected all cables before recording.

Current name of recorded file is shown in ‘File’ group. You may select any other name with full path using Browse button (select or type desired name and press Save button to continue).

Ask name before run – if this option is on, DDClip requests target file name for recorded audio before running recording dialog. Otherwise file name is requested only when you recorded a file and press Ok or Insert buttons.
Auto increment name – use this option to record many takes. When you defined name of first file (for example “Sound00.wav”), filenames of all following takes will be incremented automatically (“Sound01.wav”, “Sound02.wav” etc.) when you press Insert button to add recorded take to project without closing audio recording dialog.

‘Input format’ group defines recording audio format.

Ratio – sample rate, Resolution – audio sample resolution.

You can select number of channels with dropdown list: Mono (one channel), Stereo (two channels), Left/Right (one channel will be recorded from left/right channel of selected audio device).

Advanced button is available only for 24-bit resolution, it calls advanced format selection dialog.

Note that your soundcard must support selected format for recording. Arbitrary sample rates and 20/24 bit resolutions are avaiable in DDClip Pro only.

V.Control – if this option is on, DDClip shows window of DDSound Volume Control application to adjust settings of audio device selected for recording (see also Audio Devices Settings).

Always on top keeps recorder window always on top (over project and clip collections windows).

Synchronize playback turns on playback of current project during recording. This allows to playback current project and record audio simultaneously (for example, when recording many musical instruments successively). Project or its part will be played in correspondence with General Settings or within selected Range only.

Note that your soundcard must support full-duplex mode (simultaneous playback and recording in selected format).

DC Adjust – turns on/off real-time compensation of DC-offset during recording. You may also use automatic DC-offset compensation during playback (see also Audio Settings).

Rec.Delay sets delay time between click on Record button and actual start of recording.

Status shows current state of recorder.

Time shows current time position in recorded file.

 Rewind and [image] Fast Forward buttons rewind to begin or forward to end of recorded file. The end of resulting file will be at the end of last recorded fragment.

 Stop button stops recording. To record next fragment press Prepare /  Record buttons another time. Use Rewind button if you want to re-record file from beginning.

 Record button starts recording (does not guarantee instant start of recording if Prepare button was not pressed before).

Prepare button makes preparations for recording process, it allows to start recording almost instantly with Record button. Preparing is especially important when recording in full-duplex mode (when Synchronize playback is on).

Meter controls displaying of input audio volume level on indicator. Indicator is identical to one used in Audio meter (Faders) dialog; and its parameters can be changed in Audio meter Settings.

OK button closes dialog and inserts recorded file to project and clip collection. If you used Synchronize playback mode, file will be inserted at current time position (on first free track), or you will need to place file manually with mouse.

Insert button inserts recorded file to project and clip collection without closing dialog, so you may record many takes of desired fragment, and listen to recorded fragment without closing recording dialog.

Note: recorded clip is inserted to first empty track. You may need to move clip to any other track without changing clip’s starting time. To do this, press left mouse button on clip, hold it and press up/down arrow keys on keyboard. Release mouse button when clip is moved to desired track. When you record many takes, you shouldn’t have all them included in playback. Use “Mute” buttons on track state window of corresponding track to exclude it from playback. Use Always on top if you want that recording dialog does not hide when you press “Mute/Solo” buttons in Project window.

Close button closes dialog and deletes recorded file.

Recording dialog may be called from Command menu, with button on Toolbar or pressing Ctrl+’R’ on keyboard (see also section about keyboard accelerators).


Image. Audio Recorder


Configure external applications dialog

Show image

This dialog sets correspondence between commands on Tools menu and external applications to launch (external editors, calculator etc.).

‘Basic applications’ group defines external applications that are associated with first 4 commands on Tools menu, corresponding items are always present in the menu. Item names are displayed as text labels to the left of input text boxes.

‘Additional applications’ group defines additional applications that are optional. If any text label in Item name column is non-empty, it will appear as command name in Tools menu.

Path contains path to external application.

‘+ clip filename’ – if this option is on, clip source file name is added to application command line when launching it through local menu of clip.

Browse button allows to select application executable file with standard Open File dialog manually.

This dialog is called with Configure command on Tools menu.


Image. Configure external applications dialog


Fade Profile dialog

Show image.

Options | Fade profile command in Project window calls this dialog.

This dialog specifies shape of ‘FadeIn’ profile. ‘FadeOut’ profile is the same as ‘FadeIn’ profile, but reversed in time. Profile is shown in both linear and logarithmic scales. Between adjacent points profile is interpolated linearly (in logarithmic scale it looks like a bend). Any selected key point is surrounded by pink square.

Linear buttons set points equidistantly in corresponding scale.

Volume - allow to set volume of selected point in corresponding scale.

Point – shows selected point number, allows to change selection to point with specified number.

Time – allow to set time position of selected point.

Add point mode allows to add key points to profile. Each click in profile window adds new key point.

Delete point deletes selected point from profile.

Save profile saves current profile into file. By default file has .FPR extension.

Load profile loads profile from file.

When cursor approaches key point, it changes shape and appears as cross, click selects key point. Selected point can be dragged with mouse. Key point can not be placed before and below previous point and after and above next. First and last points can not be moved.

FadeIn and FadeOut commands multiply current volume profile of clip(s) by fade profile. Profile scales to specified time interval, interval definition depends on from where command is issued.

FadeIn on Audio clip local menu applies (multiplies) fade profile to clip volume from start of the clip to point, where local menu was called with right mouse button; FadeOut applies fade profile from specified point to the end of clip.

If commands is issued from Range menu, profile is applied to range interval.

Edit | CrossFade command is available only if exactly 2 overlapping clips are selected, and is equivalent to FadeOut in first clip and FadeIn in second in overlapped interval.


Image. Fade Profile dialog
Image. Fade Profile dialog.


Place marks

Project window Hotspot image

Place marks can be used for alignment and synchronization of clips and for marking clips and Time Ruler with text labels. Various objects can be attracted (snapped) to marks: current time position, clip edges and marks on clips when moving them. Object types, snapping distance and other alignment parameters are defined in Alignment Settings.

Mark can be set in Time Ruler or in clip on a track. Mark in Time ruler has fixed ‘absolute’ time position from the start of project. Mark on a clip has fixed time position from the beginning of clip, and is moved with clip. Clip resizing does not affect positions of marks on clip.

When mouse cursor is close to mark, it changes its shape to [image]; mark can be dragged and moved with left mouse button. When mark is dragged in Time Ruler, current time position is also changed.

Local menus of Time Ruler and clips on tracks have the following commands:

Add mark	sets place mark at specified position.

When local menu is called on existing mark (mouse cursor has [image] shape) the following commands replace Add mark:

Set mark position	calls dialog to set mark time position.

Mark info	allows to set mark name, text information and change number of group that mark belongs to, in Mark info dialog.

Remove mark	removes mark.

Marks can be arranged in groups (up to 9 groups). Only one group can be active. Next mark group on Toolbar or View menu changes active group in cycle. Number of active group may be also set in Alignment Settings.

Mark of active group is displayed as a solid green triangle, of inactive group – as solid gray triangle.

How all this works. By default any mark attracts current time position. Let’s suppose that you set place mark on Time Ruler. When you drag current time position and distance between it and mark becomes less than predefined snap distance, current time position will jump to position of mark. While distance between cursor and place mark is less than snap distance, current time position is kept position of mark. Alignment of all other objects is done in the similar ways: clip edges, mouse cursor (point on clip where mouse button was pressed to drag it) and marks on clips. You can define which abjects can be snapped to marks in Alignment Settings.


Mark info dialog

Show image.

With mark info dialog you can set text label (name) for mark, text information (comments, remarks etc) and select mark group that mark belongs to (in the list at topmost right edge of dialog). Text label is shown together with mark symbol (triangle), text information is shown when you move and hold mouse cursor on a mark for about one second.


Image. Mark Info dialog
Image. Mark Info dialog window


Clip selection

Each clip on a track is displayed as rectangle with clip name on its topmost left corner. Rectangle height is equal to track height. Rectangle width is determined by clip duration and current zoom factor. Clip background color corresponds to clip selection state.

One or many clips may be selected, see Selection in Clip operations summary. Clips in current selection group are displayed in dark green. Clips of other groups are displayed in dark blue. Unselected clips are displayed in dark gray color.

Up to 9 clip selection groups may be defined. It is possible to change number of current clip selection group in Selection Settings. Next selection group command on Toolbar or View menu changes active group in cycle.

Delete, Move, Cut, Copy and some other operations (see Edit menu, Clip operations summary) work with all clips in current clip selection group.


Time Format

DDClip can show time values in following formats:

Time in Frames

The time is measured in frames. Current Frame rate, see Video Settings determine duration of frame playback. For example, at 25 fps frame rate one second time label will be displayed as “25” or “25fr”.

Time in SMPTE

SMPTE format - “Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames”

See Video Settings for current value of Frame rate. For example, one second time label will be displayed as “00:00:01:00” or “00:00:01:00fr”.

Time in milliSeconds

Following format: “Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Milliseconds”.

For example, one second time label will be displayed as “00:00:01:000” or “00:00:01:000ms”.

Current time presentation format can be selected in Clip Collection window on View menu and Toolbar, and on View menu in Project window.


Numvers editing
Numbers editing

It is possible to use mouse when editing numeric fields in almost all dialogs.

Place cursor to desired digit, press and hold right mouse button. Selected digit will be displayed in contrast color. Holding the button, drag mouse up/down to increment/decrement digit value and/or the whole number.

You may also use up/down arrows and PageUp/PageDown keys on keyboard to increment/decrement numeric values by one step. When you edit integer value (such as number of tracks), up/down arrow keys increment/decrement it by 1, page up/down keys by 10. When you edit floating point values (such as decibels in Clip Volume), up/down keys typically add/subtract 0.1, page up/down keys add/subtract 1.0.


Clips volume offset dialog

Show image.

With this dialog you can change or set volume of group of selected clips simultaneously. This dialog can be called with Clips Volume Offset command of local menu on any selected clip or pressing Shift+’V’ (see section about keyboard Accelerators).

When Offset is selected, you can type any offset of volume in active edit box at right to increase or decrease volume of all selected clips simultaneously. For example, if you have selected two clips with volume of –1dB and 2dB, set volume offset of 3 dB, you will get clips with volumes of 2 dB and 5 dB.

When Set is selected, you can set equal volume of all selected clips.

Note that you can use mouse and up/down keys on keyboard when setting values in edit boxes (see note about numbers editing).


Image. Clips Volume offset dialog
Image. Clips Volume offset dialog window

Changing volume of group of clips

Setting volume of group of clips


Frequency and phase response dialog

Show image.

The diagram in this dialog allows you to visually analyze frequency and phase response of any audio effect or chain of effects (effects list). In other words, you can see how audio effects affect processed sound at any frequency. In stereo mode response can be shown for both channels or only for left/right channel separately. You can also use sinusoidal test signal to analyze frequency shifts and harmonics made by effects.

‘Data’ group defines main parameters of data analysis.

FFT Size (128 up to 64K) – number of points in fast Fourier transform. Select greater values to obtain more accurate response but calculation will take longer time.

Window – defines which windowing function (or none) is applied to frequency response. This setting is available only for sinusoidal test signal (when Sin instead of Impulse is selected in ‘Test with’ group).

‘Scale’ group defines horizontal scale type and frequency range.

Freq Scale (Log/Linear) – logarithmic/linear frequency scale. Logarithmic scale is useful for analysis of such effects as graphic equalizer where center frequencies of filters differ one from another in octaves (relatively). Linear scale is useful for such effects as delay where frequency notch points are equidistant in frequency.

Min Freq (Hz) – minimal frequency of shown range. You can select any predefined value from list or just type desired one. Minimal frequency must be less than Max Freq and greater than zero for logarithmic scale.

Max Freq (Hz) – maximal frequency of shown range. You can select any predefined value from list or just type desired one. Maximal frequency must be greater than Min Freq and less than a half of sample rate.

Note: you can use “Zoom” function to magnify any frequency range to fit entire diagram. To do this, press and hold left mouse button at first point of desired range then drag lens mouse cursor [image] to second point and release mouse button. Click right mouse button at the diagram or press Out button to return to previous frequency range. Press Full button to return to full frequency range immediately.

‘Show’ group defines which response(s) to show and type and range of shown values.

Freq – show/don’t show frequency response.

Hz/Norm – show frequency at cursor in Hz or normalized to sampling frequency form in ‘Data at cursor’ group. Frequency is alawys shown in Hz on diagram.

Value (dB/Dec) – show frequency response in decibels or decimal form.

Range: Auto – use/don’t use automatic vertical range zoom if frequency response is shown in decibels. Range is only automatic for decimal form.

Positive – positive range in decibels if Auto Range is off. You can select any predefined value from list or just type it.

Negative – negative range in decibels if Auto Range is off. You can select any predefined value from list or just type it.

Phase – show/don’t show phase response. Phase response is not shown if testing signal is sinusoidal (when Sin instead of Impulse is selected in ’Test with‘ group).

Note: At least one from frequency or phase response must be shown, or you can show both. If you use sinusoidal test signal, frequency response is shown obligatory. If frequency response is shown in decibels, red dotted horizontal lines show minimal, maximal and 0 dB levels. To see minimal and maximal levels of phase response, turn off frequency response.

Colors button shows color selection dialog for frequency and phase response.

Refresh button updates diagram. You can see evolution of response in time for effects that change its characteristics in time (such as flanger or variable filter etc.).

Reset button sets all effects to its initial state and updates response.

Note: you do not need to press these two buttons when you change any settings in effect’s parameters to reflect changes in response. When you change list of effects or any parameter, response is updated automatically.

‘Test with’ group denotes which form of signal is generated for analysis.

Impulse – generates single impulse, normal for frequency and phase response.

Sin (Hz) – generates sinusoidal wave to show how effects affect to signal of specified frequency. You can see additional harmonics and appreciate distortions of sound being processed. You can select any predefined value from list or just type it.. Frequency must be greater than zero and less than a half of sample rate. It is useful to set Auto Range or show frequency response in decimal form in this mode. You can use windowing functions in this mode if you turn on Window checkbox in ‘Data’ group and select desired function from dropdown list.

Note: when you type any value manually, you may update diagram just clicking on it with left mouse button, or wait for about a half of second, diagram will be updated automatically.

Next three groups show corresponding data in two columns in stereo mode: first column shows data in left channel and second one shows data in right channel. In mono mode only first column is active.

‘Data at cursor’ group shows values at cursor when it is on diagram as vertical line.

Freq – current frequency at cursor. You can show it in Hz or normalized to sampling frequency form using Hz/Norm combo box.

Value – current value of frequency response at cursor.

Angle – current value of phase response (phase shift) at cursor.

Value Range group shows minimum and maximum of frequency response.

Max Value at… – maximum of frequency response discovered at shown frequency.

Min Value at… – minimum of frequency response discovered at shown frequency.

You can see these values in decibels or decimal form using dB/Dec combo box.

Angle Range group shows minimum and maximum of phase response.

Max Value at… – maximum of phase response discovered at shown frequency.

Min Value at… – minimum of phase response discovered at shown frequency.

Stereo Mode group is active only for stereo sound and allows to select which channels of response to show.

Both Ch – show response for both channels.

Left Only – show response for left channel only.

Right Only – show response for right channel only.

Note: Stereo mode means that frequency response is shown for effects list that is applied to stereo clip or when project is stereo and list is applied on track or project. At the top of diagram you can see which responses are shown and its corresponding colors.

Note: when you press Close button, all parameters of this dialog are stored in initialization settings.


Image. Frequency and Phase response dialog
Image. Frequency and phase response dialog window


Audio Effects list
Audio Effects List dialog

Show image.

This dialog allows you to create and modify sequence (chain) of audio effects to process audio clip, track or entire project depending on from where you add or edit audio effects (title of this dialog would be “Clip effects list”, “Track effects list” or “Master effects list” respectively). Sound will be processed in correspondence with order of effects in this list, from top of list to its bottom.

All buttons have tooltips so you can see short text function descriptions of all buttons. Just move mouse cursor and hold it above any button with image.

‘Effects’ group is for working with one effect. You can add/remove or locally rename effects, edit its parameters, view frequency and phase response of selected effect (available only in DDClip Pro). You can change order of effects in chain, copy/paste effects to/from clipboard, turn on/off any audio effect using checkboxes at left of its names in list (when checkbox is checked effect is on) or in effect’s dialog using Bypass checkbox (when Bypass is checked effect is off and does not process sound).

 Add Above button – select effect from list of available effects and add it above current selected effect in list.

 Add Below button – select effect from list of available effects and add it below current selected effect in list.

Note: you can get message “No audio effects are installed on your system”. You may see it if you have both Windows 95/98 and Windows NT on your computer and installed DDClip Pro under one system and then run it under other one. You should install DDClip Pro under all systems.

 Remove button – remove selected effect from list.

 Edit button – run setup dialog of setting parameters of current effect. You can also double-click at name of effect to run its setup dialog.

 Move Up button – move current selected effect up to one step in list.

 Move Down button – move current selected effect down to one step in list.

 Name button – type new name of effect to rename it. You can restore original name of effect from local menu.

 Frequency Response button – show frequency and phase response of current selected effect.

Local menu is called by pressing right mouse button at any effect in list. Commands available in this menu are:

Edit – same as [image] button.

Bypass – turn on/off current effect. When Bypass is checked effect is off (you can use Bypass checkbox in effect’s dialog). You can use checkbox at left of effect’s name. If it is checked effect is on (bypass is off).

Change name – same as [image] button.

Restore name – restore original name of effect.

Show frequency response – same as [image] button.

Copy this effect only – copy current selected effect to clipboard.

Paste effect(s) – paste effect(s) from clipboard and insert after current effect.

Delete – same as [image] button.

‘Effects List’ group is for working with entire list. You can save, load and clear list, run real-time preview to hear how chain of effects affect processed sound or view frequency and phase response of entire chain of effects. You can copy/paste effects to/from clipboard (use local menu to copy only one effect). You can turn on/off entire list of effects using Skip All checkbox (when it is checked effects don’t process sound).

 Copy button – copy entire effects list to clipboard.

 Paste button – paste effect(s) from clipboard after current selected effect in list.

 Clear list button – clear entire list. remove all effects from list. You must confirm list cleaning.

 Preview button – run real-time preview. This button starts playing of current part of project (audio clip, track or entire project) processed with current effects chain. When playing you can press [image] button or double-click at name of any effect to run its dialog for changing any parameters of sound processing. All changes will reflect almost immediately, so you can control sound processing when playing. Playing is repeated until you press [image] (the same) button.

Note: real-time preview works without breaks in sound only if your computer is capable to process sound in real-time with current chain of effects. You need to have central processor fast enough. To increase performance of some effects you may also select faster processing for real-time preview in Audio Effects Settings.

 Load button – restore effects chain (saved earlier) from external file.

 Save button – save current effects chain with all settings to external file.

 Frequency Response of List button – show frequency and phase response of entire chain of effects.


Image. Audio Effects list
Image. Audio Effects List dialog window


Audio Effect selection
Audio Effect Selection dialog

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This dialog shows list of available audio effects for DDClip installed on your system. You can choose any of them by double-clicking at its title or by pressing Ok button.

Note: when you run this dialog first time, DDClip searches for installed effects so it can take some time. Next time searching is no longer needed. But if you install new effects you need to exit from DDClip Pro and run it again.

You can get message “Can’t create audio effect”. You should reinstall DDClip or get a newer version in this case.


Image. Audio Effect selection
Image. Audio Effect Selection dialog window


Fast Fourier Transform
Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a fast modification of Fourier Transform that maps source signal from time-domain to frequency-domain, it allows to get and analyze its frequency and phase components. The main request of FFT to work is that number of points in processed signal must be power of 2.


Windowing functions
Windowing function is multiplied to response before doing Fourier transform. These functions are used to obtain prominent frequencies in spectrum more visible. Seven functions are implemented: Hann (Hanning), Hamming, Bartlett (triangular), Gauss (Welch), Kaiser, Blackman 1 (standard) and Blackman 2 (optimal). See literature about digital signal processing to get more information about windowing functions.


Response Colors Selection dialog

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This dialog allows to change colors of all elements of frequency and phase response diagram.

You can click at any color square to select corresponding color from standard system color selection dialog.

‘Freq Response’ group denotes colors of frequency response.

Freq Min/Max – color of dash-dotted line indicating minimum and maximum levels in frequency response.

Left/Mono Freq – color of frequency response for left channel in stereo mode or for mono sound.

Right Freq – color of frequency response for right channel in stereo mode.

‘Phase Response’ group denotes colors of phase response.

Phase Min/Max – color of dash-dotted line indicating minimum and maximum levels in phase response.

Left/Mono Phase – color of phase response for left channel in stereo mode or for mono sound.

Right Phase – color of phase response for right channel in stereo mode.

‘Diagram’ group denotes colors of other diagram elements.

Background – background color.

Grid – grid color.

Text – text color.

Cursor – vertical line (diagram cursor) color.

Load button – load color scheme from file.

Save button – save current color scheme to file.

Defaults – restore all diagram colors to defaults. You must confirm this command.

Note: when you change any color or load/save/restore color scheme the diagram immediately changes its colors so you can see the result. Press Ok to keep current colors or Cancel to restore previous color scheme (you can restore previous colors after pressing Defaults button too).


Image. Response Colors selection dialog
Image. Response Colors Selection dialog window


Sound Statistics

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Sound statistics dialog shows the following information about sound in each channel:

Total samples, Time – number of samples and duration of analyzed audio.

Clipped samples – number of clipped samples (that have sample value more than 0 dB).

Note: 0 dB level is assigned to maximal absolute sample value 32768. All values below are shown in samle and dB values relatively to 0 dB level (normally all values should be less than 0 dB or you will have clipping elsewhere).

Positive max level – maximal level of positive samples.

Negative max level – maximal level of negative samples.

Average level – average absolute level of all samples.

Average RMS level – average RMS (root mean square) level. If you add 3 dB to this value you will get RMS power of sound so you can estimate average power of sound.

DC offset – constant offset of sound (is shown in sample value and percents). If it is not 0% maximum positive and negative levels may be different so sound is not centered around zero sample.

Copy button allows to copy all data shown in dialog to clipboard in text format, so you can paste it in any text editor, save to file, print etc.

Note: You can also use sound statistics as audio “effect” to see statistics in realtime playing.

This dialog is shown after Statistics (Check overflow) on Command menu or from Range window local menu.


Image. Sound Statistics dialog
Image. Sound statistics dialog window


Working with audio effects

Audio effects can be applied to audio clips, tracks and entire project (mix of all audio tracks). Please note that audio effects are present not in all packages of DDClip.

Effects are organized as effects lists that can include almost unlimited chains of effects. All effects can process audio in real-time (you must have computer fast enough to mix many tracks with audio effects applied in real-time; however, any effects can be applied even on slow computers when exporting project to resulting file) without any changing of source and use of temporary files. You can change any parameters of processing during playback of audio clip, track or project and hear the result almost instantly. For some audio effects you can change quality of processing (see Audio Effects Settings), that allows to increase performance of DDClip when playing in real-time.

Effects can be applied and edited through corresponding local menus of audio clips and tracks, and through Edit and Command menus. You can cut/copy single effects and effects chains to clipboard, paste and save/load them using Effects List dialog.

Any effect or chain of effects can be turned on (used)/off (bypass) without removing and re-adding them. If you added effects to clip or track, it will be shown as a small triangle on left bottom edge of clip or track state window (triangle for master effects is shown on current time window). Triangle is green if effects are on, and red otherwise (these colors may be changes in Colors Settings). You can access effects list by clicking or double-clicking at triangle (you may change it in Audio Effects Settings), or pressing ‘A’ key on keyboard when mouse cursor is on clip or track (see also section about keyboard accelerators).

You can add/paste effects from clipboard to many selected clips simultaneously: copy desired effects to clipboard, select group of clips and use ‘Audio effects’ submenu of Edit menu. Use the same menu if you want to remove or turn on/off effects on many clips (note that audio effects on clips are present in DDClip Pro only).

You may control parameters of audio effects in real-time playing by various ways: use “Preview” button in Effects List dialog, or you may start playback of project and call effect list of any track or entire project (master effects) using ‘A’ key on track or through Faders window. This way allows to control parameters of audio effects during playback on different tracks and master effects simultaneously.

All these features provide very effective and flexible work when mixing and processing audio with DDClip.


Export audio format dialog

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You can specify audio format different from current settings of project when exporting audio to resulting AVI, WAVE of AIFF file.

‘Audio sample format’ defines output format of resulting file.

Bits/Type defines resolution and type of resulting audio file. You can select desired type from list (from 8 to 32 bits with different types; AIFF files can be only 8, 16 and 20/24 bits of integer type). Please note that selected format will be used next time by default! Look at format information in “Export Audio” dialog before saving file to be sure that you are selected format that you need.

Channels shows that file is saved with number of channels defined in project (mono/stereo). You can not change number of channels here, you should set it in Audio Settings of project.

‘Dither’ defines dithering parameters when exporting audio to 8/16 bit fomats.

Sense of Type, Depth and p.d.f. is described in section about Audio Settings of project. These parameters are the same as in project (if you change them here, the same parameters will be used when playback of project).

Convert sample rate allows to save audio with sample rate different from project. For example, if you have a professional soundcard, you can record, process and mix audio with maximum quality (24 bit/96KHz), then save result of your work into WAVE file(s) for audio CD (16 bit/44100 Hz). DDClip can resample audio to almost any sample rate (from 5000 to 999999 Hz) using very fast and high-quality algorithm.

From shows original sample rate of project.

To allows to select desired output sample rate. You can select any predefined value from list or just type any value manually (not in DDClip LE). Please note that if you resample to sample rates less than original, you will get loss of high-frequency components!

Quality defines quality of resampling. You can select any predefined value or ‘Custom’ to set all parameters manually (Configure button will become available in DDClip Pro and SE). Higher quality requires more calculations and gives better result, but even ‘Fast’ of ‘Default’ presets usually give satisfying results in most cases.

Preview button allows to hear result of resampling in real-time and compare it with original sound (available only if your soundcard supports playback at required sample rate). Resampling with high quality may require a lot of calculations, so your computer must be fast enough to mix several audio tracks and resample result in real-time. Please note that there may be a short delay (up to some some seconds on slow computers) before actual start of playback when you press Preview button (delay is shorter when you press Preview next time).

Configure button is available (not in DDClip LE) only if you selected ‘Custom’ quality of resampling. It shows Resample Audio dialog where you can set all parameters of resampling manually. It is recommended for advanced users only.


Resample Audio dialog

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‘Parameters’ allows to set main parameters that denote quality of resampling.

Accuracy defines how precisely resampling is done. This parameter affects only to amount of memory used for calculations.

Pass and Size attn denote parameters of resampling filter. Side attn is approximate attenuation of filter in stopband (than greater is attenuation, than better is the filter), Pass defines approximate relative steepness of filter in percents (relative width of filter’s passband is 100% minus Pass). If you change any of these two values, filter will need recalculation. It may require some seconds on slow computers, so press Recalculate button when defined values. Points will show length of resampling filter response (than greater is response length, that better is the filter).

Pre/Post filter denotes parameters of anti-aliasing filter used before (pre-filter) or after resampling (post-filter).

Filter On means that anti-aliasing filter is applied to audio signal being resampled.

If you resample audio to sample rate less than original one, using of pre-filter is highly recommended (is removes high-frequency components that can’t be present in audio with resulting sample rate), especially if you significantly reduce sample rate (e.g. from 48 kHz to 8 kHz). You may get audible distortions without use of pre-filter in this case.

If you increase sample rate, use of post-filter means that only high-frequency noise is suppressed, it is not required if you set high quality of resampling filter (with greater length of response; see above). If you use any of predefined values when select quality of resampling, pre-filter is always used (when sample rate is decreased), and post-filter is never used (when sample rate is increased).

Length defines length of response of anti-aliasing filter (only odd values are admissible). You may see frequency response of calculated filter pressing Response button.

FFT Size defines length of fast Fourier transform used in fast convolution algorithm for applying pre/post filter. It is almost no matter which length to use, default value (1024 points) is best in most cases, other values may give a bit faster or slower calculations on different processors.

Please note that applying pre/post filter requires additional calculation time, it may decrease performance when resampling audio in real-time with Preview button. You may try to turn off filter and listen to result of resampling. If you consider that it is good, you don’t need pre-post filter to be applied.


Pre/Post-filter Response dialog
Pre/Post-filter response

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The diagram in this dialog shows frequency response of pre/post lowpass filter used when resampling audio to a new sample rate. With this diagram you can visually estimate quality of pre/post filter applied before or after resampling. The main requirement to such filter is to suppress high-frequency components of audio being filtered (lowpass filter).

White line on the diagram shows frequency response of filter. Vertical line shows edge frequency: you can see that at the left of it response is flat (filter does not change frequencies less than edge), and at the right of line filter suppresses frequency components. For pre-filter edge frequency is a half of resulting sample rate (frequencies greater than it can’t be present in resulting signal, filter must remove them before resampling), for past-filter it is a half of original sample rate (high-frequency noise of frequencies that were not present in original signal should be filtered after resampling).

Typically it is enough if filter suppresses high-frequency components of signal by 60 dB or more (greater length of filter gives more suppression).

FFT Size defines length of fast Fourier transform used to calculate response. Greater values give more accurate response.

Max dB/Min dB define vertical range of diagram in decibels.

Log Scale switches between logarithmic and linear horizontal scale of frequency values on diagram.

An example of filter is on sample image that shows frequency response of post-filter used after resampling audio from 44100 Hz to 96 kHz. Filter length is 255 points, it suppresses high frequencies better than 100 dB.


Image. Export audio format dialog


Image. Resample Audio dialog


Image. Pre/Post-filter Response dialog


Fast Convolution
Fast Convolution algorithm is used to filter audio with FIR (finite impulse response ) filters. Such filters are used to filter digital signals without distortions in phase, it is very important when processing audio. Linear convolution is simple and very slow filtering algorithm, fast convolution is a modification of filtering algorithm with use of fast Fourier transform. It allows to use highest-quality FIR filters for processing audio in real-time.


Resampling Filter
Resampling filter is used to get high quality of resampling. When audio signal is resampled to other sample rate, the simplest way is to add more samples to signal (when sample rate is increased), or to keep away unnecessary samples (when sample rate is decreased). This simplest method gives great distortions in resampled signal. Resampling filter is used to significantly improve quality of resampling algorithm. The main characteristic of quality it the length of resampling filter response. Even if length is small (some points) distortions are almost inaudible. To get higher quality of resampling, greater length of filter is required (one-two hundred points gives very high quality).


Resampling
Resampling means changing sample rate of digital audio signal. This is not a primitive task, it means that all samples are recalculated to get signal of other length, and new signal must sound as original one with no audible difference and distortions. DDClip uses fast and high-quality filtering algorithm to perform resampling of audio.


Sample Rate
Sample rate (ratio) means sampling frequency of digitized audio signal. Than greater is sample rate, than higher fequencies may be present in signal: according to the sampling theorem, digitized signal can contain components of frequencies from zero to a half of sampling frequency. Sample rate is measured in samples per seconds or in Hz, both have the same sense: how many digital samples of signal are played during one second of playback (or recorded when digitizing signal). For example, audio CD-quality signal is sampled at 44100 Hz, such signal can contain frequency components of up to 22050 Hz.


Sample Resolution
Sample resolution (bits depth) denotes precision of digital signal representation (accuracy of analog-to-digital converter when digitizing signal, for example when recording digital audio from analog source such as line or microphone input of soundcard) and possible maximum dynamic range. 8-bit audio usually has audible distortions because of high level of digital noise (dynamic range of only 48 dB); 16-bit audio is much more convenient for almost all purposes, for example audio CD (96 dB dynamic range), 20/24-bit is a professional-quality audio (120/144 dB dynamic range), soundcards with such quality and very low level of noise usually are very expensive. DDClip Pro allows to playback/record audio in all these resolutions.


Frequency Response
Frequency response of digital filter (or any processing algorithm/device) is a characteristic that describes how filter affects amplitude of various frequency components of audio signal being processed. Frequency response describes amplification/notch of signal at all frequencies from 0 Hz to a half of sampling frequency.


Phase Response
Phase response of digital filter (or any processing algorithm/device) is a characteristic that describes how filter distorts phase at all frequency components of audio signal being processed. Phase response describes phase-shift in signal at all frequencies from 0 Hz to a half of sampling frequency.


Audio formats
Audio formats supported by DDClip are:

Standard formats:

  8-bit (packed int, type 1)

  16-bit (packed int, type 1)

Extended formats:

  20-bit (packed int, type 1)

  24-bit (packed int, type 1)

  32-bit (unpacked int, type 1)

Float formats (32-bit):

  ‘24.0’ (type 1)

  ‘16.8’ (type 1)

  ‘0.24’ (normalized, type 3)

DDClip can open/export uncompressed audio files of such formats,

and playback/record audio (in formats supported by soundcard being used).


Multiple WAV files export

With this command you can write parts of project (resulting audio only) to separate WAVE files. You must mark out places in project, where project will be separated to parts when saving resulting files.

To do this, set marks on desired places on timeline window (Time Ruler) where project must be cut to parts (note that marks on clips can not be used). Select mark group ‘Export separator’ for marks that will be used as separators of parts of project. Press right mouse button on mark, select Mark info item on local menu, select ‘Export separator’ in dropdown list at right top edge of mark info dialog. For example, if you have a project with 1 minute of audio, and set a mark at 20 sec on timeline (don’t forget about ‘Export separator’ flag!), you will have two parts: one of 20 sec duration, and 40 sec another one.

When you select ‘Multiwave export’ command on File menu, each part will be saved to a separate file. Type name of resulting WAVE files. Names of files will be auto-incremented. For example, if you enter “track” as file name, you will get files “track01.wav”, “track02.wav” etc.

With this command you can prepare tracks for audio CDs. DDClip can’t burn CDs itself, but you can prepare WAVE files for audio tracks. You must select the following format for audio CD: sample rate 44100 Hz, 16-bit format, Stereo. You may create a project with such audio parameters (see Audio Settings), or you may select output format when exporting files (press “Options” button in Save dialog where you select file name, and set required 16-bit format and 44100 Hz sample rate in Export Audio format dialog); however, you must have Stereo project in any case.

Duration of resulting audio files is always adjusted to 1/75th of a second, you can get audio CD with no pauses between tracks (you must have CD-recorder with support of recording in “Disk-at-once” mode, read documentation or contact manufacturer of particular CD-recorder for more information). When you got audio files of 44100Hz/16-bit/Stereo format, you can record them to audio CD with any software that comes with CD-recorder (read documentation for software to know how to record audio CDs).

Note: duration of last part of project is not adjusted to 1/75th of a second!