Introduction

Corel Sound lets you record, playback, and edit WAV files. This chapter describes how to use the features provided with Corel Sound.


Before you begin

Corel Sound provides the software to record WAV files, but your system must include the necessary hardware. For example, you may need to add a sound board and microphone before you can record sound.

For your convenience, many commands are available from shortcut menus that appear when you click the right mouse button. The commands available from a shortcut menu depend on the current context. For example, if you "right-click" a sound clip, the shortcut commands may include Copy, Paste, and so on.


Concepts

This topic is intended to familiarize you with WAV file concepts. More details about the concepts may be provided throughout this chapter, but the following definitions give you a basic understanding.

WAV files and waveforms

When you open a WAV file in Corel Sound, the physical representation of the sound (or signal) is called the waveform. A WAV file stores a digitized version of an audio signal. The size of the WAV file is directly related to the quality of the digitized sound: the better the quality, the larger the WAV file. The quality of the digitized signal is based on three characteristics: sample rate, bits per sample, and number of channels.

Sample rate

The interval at which the original sound was sampled to convert it to digital sound affects the sound quality of a WAV file. More frequent sampling provides better sound quality, but requires more space to store the file.

Bits per sample

The number of bits used to store each sample affect the sound quality of a WAV file. A 16 bit resolution provides better sound quality than an 8 bit resolution, but requires more space.

Number of channels

The number of channels determines whether a sound is played in stereo or mono. Sound recorded in stereo is comprised of two waveform signals while mono recordings are comprised of only one signal. In stereo, each signal is sent through its own channel. Stereo provides better sound quality than mono, but requires twice the space.


Viewing WAV files

You can open one or more WAV files at a time in the Corel Sound editor. Each WAV file is displayed in its own window. The window of each WAV file displays status information and includes a Zoom Level bar that you can use to change the resolution of the file.

You can tile and cascade the WAV files using the Window commands. These commands are useful when you have more than one WAV file open in the editor.


Setting preferences

Four types of preferences are available for Corel Sound: Resource Usage, Directories, Display, and Defaults. In most cases, you shouldn't need to change the default preferences.

To set preferences:

1.	Click Preferences from the File menu.

2.	Select a property page and set its preferences.

Resource Usage property page

The Resource Usage preferences balance the memory and disk space used with the application's performance.

Cache/Read

The cache can reduce the number of times that Corel Sound must read WAV file data from the hard disk. The Cache/Read settings define the size and number of blocks read into the cache. Higher Cache/Read numbers mean that more data can be kept in the cache, but requires more memory. Lower numbers mean that data must be read from the disk more frequently, but more time is required to scroll WAV files, copy clips, and so on.

Disk Space

By default, when you open a WAV file, Corel Sound makes a working copy of the file. When you make changes, such as applying effects, the changes are made to the copy. The original file is changed only when you save the changes.

If you need to make more memory available, you can disable the Use Work Copy check box. However, be aware that changes are made to the original file. Using the Undo command, you can usually reverse the most recent change, but all previous changes are permanent.

The Enable Undo check box activates the Undo command on the Edit menu. This feature, however, requires more disk space because your last action must always be saved on disk.

Performance

When you open a WAV file, Corel Sound tries to display the file at the resolution specified in the Max Zoom On Startup text box. The larger the resolution, the longer the file will take to open.

You can apply effects such as echo and fade to WAV files. For each effect, you can preview the result of the change. The Effects Preview Length box defines the length, in seconds, of the preview.

If the Background Processing check box is enabled when you open a WAV file, Corel Sound begins allocating data in the background, The allocated data speeds up further operations such as scrolling and zooming.

Directories property page

The working directory that you select is the location where working copies and other temporary files created by Corel Sound are kept.

Display property page

Corel Sound includes a Main Toolbox, a Playback/Record Toolbar, and a Level Meter. You can disable one or more of the check boxes on the Display property page to hide its associated item.

Defaults property page

When you create a new WAV file, its default format is determined by the settings on the Defaults property page. The Current Format displays a summary of the existing settings while the New Format displays a summary of the settings that will take effect when you choose the OK button.

The Sample Rate list boxes let you choose a predefined sample rate or enter a custom sample rate. Corel recommends that you use the predefined sample rates. You can also set the Sample Size and Channels applied to new recordings.


Creating WAV files

To create a WAV file, you open a new window in the Corel Sound editor and then you record to the window. You can also add sound by copying or cutting clips from other files.

To create an empty WAV file:

Click New from the File menu or the Toolbar.


Saving WAV files

The sounds that you record are saved as WAV files. Modifications to the sound clip are kept in memory until you save the changes to the WAV file. If you forget to save changes before exiting Corel Sound, you're prompted to save the changes first.

To save WAV file:

1.	Click Save from the File menu or Toolbar.

2.	If this is the first time you've saved the layout, select the location where you want to store the WAV file and name the file using the extension .WAV. Then choose the OK button.

You can save an existing WAV file using a different filename or location using the Save As command of the File menu. For example, you may want to save different versions of the files to keep a history of the changes.


Opening and closing WAV files

When you open a WAV file, its contents are displayed in a window in the Corel Sound editor. You can open more than one WAV file in the editor.

To open a WAV file:

1.	Click Open from the File menu or Toolbar.

2.	Locate the WAV file and then double-click its name. To preview the WAV file before opening it, choose the Preview button.

On the File menu, Corel Sound lists the last four files you opened. You can simply click the name of the file to quickly open it.

If you haven't yet opened any WAV files, the Recent command is displayed in the location where the files will be listed.

To close a WAV file:

1.	If more than one WAV file is open, select the file you want to close.

2.	Click Close from the File menu.


Using playback/record controls

The playback/record controls let you record and listen to sound clips. For example, you can start, pause, and stop playing the current sound clip.

To do this:	Click this...

Start recording	Record

Begin play at cursor	Play

Move cursor to start of file	Rewind Cursor

Move cursor to end of file	Cursor to End

Pause/resume play	Pause

Stop play	Stop

Play clipboard contents	Play clipboard


Undoing actions

If you make a mistake, such as pasting a sound clip into the wrong location, you can undo it using the Undo command of the Edit menu or Toolbar. You can undo only your last action.


Copying and pasting sound clips

You can copy sound clips to the clipboard. When you copy other sound clips, they replace the current contents of the clipboard. You can paste the contents of the clipboard into the current WAV file or another WAV file.

You can paste sound clips from the clipboard as many times as you like. When you paste sound clips, the clipboard object overwrites the existing sound clip, starting at the cursor position. When you mix paste sound clips, the clipboard object is merged with the existing sound clip, starting at the cursor position.

To copy or cut sound clips:

1.	Select the sound clip by dragging the cursor.

2.	Click Copy from the Edit menu or the Toolbar.

To paste sound clips:

Click Paste or Mix Paste from the Edit menu or the Toolbar.


Applying effects

You can apply several types of effects to change the sound clips. Most of the effects can be applied to the entire WAV file or selected clips of the WAV file. When applying some effects to stereo WAV files, you can set the left and right channels individually. For example, you can choose to amplify the left channel, but not the right channel.

Saving effect attributes as presets

Amplify

DC Offset

Echo

Fade

Flange

Format Conversion

Graphic EQ

Invert

Pitch Shift

Pop Removal


Saving effect attributes as presets

For each of the effects that you can apply to a sound clip, you define attributes of the effect. For example, when creating an echo, you define three attributes: delay mix, delay time, and feedback.

Presets are useful for quickly setting attributes that you frequently use. After creating a preset, you just select its name and all the attributes for the current effect are returned to their preset values.

To create a preset:

1.	Select the name of the effect from the Effects menu.

2.	Set the attributes as described in the remainder of this chapter.

3.	Type a name for the set of attributes in the Preset list box and choose the Save button.

To delete a preset:

1.	Select the name of the preset from the Preset list box.

2.	Click the Delete button.


Amplify

Amplitude affects the volume of a signal by changing the height of the waveform. Increasing the amplitude makes the signal louder while decreasing the amplitude makes the signal quieter.

To change the amplification:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

2.	Click Amplify from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the amplification level.


DC Offset

A waveform has a DC offset when it isn't centered on the baseline, which may have been caused by problems with the hardware used to record the WAV file. When you apply other effects to an offset waveform, noise, hissing, and other problems may occur. Typically, DC Offset is used to shift the waveform toward the baseline.

To set the DC offset:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click DC Offset from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the numeric value of the shift. Values for 8 bit files range from -128 to 127. Values for 16 bit files range between -32768 and 32767. Choose the Preview button to review the effect and then choose the OK button.


Echo

An echo copies the original waveform and plays the copy after a delay, using feedback to enhance the echo. Typically, echo effects fade over time.

To create an echo:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Echo from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The dry output indicates the volume of the original sound. The delay mix indicates the volume of the echo in the final mix, relative to the original sound.

The delay time indicates the length of time between the start of the original sound and the start of its echo.

The feedback indicates the number of repeating echoes and the length of for the echoes to fade out: the higher the feedback value, the longer the echoes continue.


Fade

Fades are typically used to provide smooth transitions into and out of the WAV file by slowly increasing the amplitude at the start of the waveform and slowly decreasing the amplitude of the end of the waveform.

To apply a fade:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Fade from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The initial and final fade levels determine how gradually the sound fades at the start and end of the WAV file. For example, if you set the final fade value to 0%, then the sound fades completely by the end of the selected portion of the file.

The crossfade conversions let you switch fades between both channels of stereo files.


Flange

The Flange effect distorts the sound using delays, which creates the illusion of multiple sounds. This effect is similar to an echo, but the delay is variable for the flange and fixed for an echo.

To create a flange:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Flange from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The dry output mix indicates the percentages of the original sound and the wet output mix indicated the changed sound that's kept in the final mix.

The delay indicates the length of time between the start of the original sound and the start of its echo.

The sweep rate indicates the rate at which the delay is varied. The sweep depth indicates the maximum deviation of the delay.


Format Conversion

You can convert WAV files to other WAV formats. Format conversions are always applied to the entire WAV file. To reduce the size of a stereo file, you can convert it to mono. Converting files to lower formats, such as stereo to mono or 16 bit to 8 bit, always decreases the quality of the sound.

 Even though converting WAV files to higher formats doesn't increase the quality of the sound, some cases may occur where this conversion is necessary. For example, some applications won't accept WAV files unless they're in a 16 bit stereo format.

To convert a sound format:

1.	Click Format Conversion from the Effects menu.

2.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The Current Format displays a summary of the existing settings while the New Format displays a summary of the settings that will take effect when you choose the OK button.

The Sample Rate list boxes let you choose a predefined sample rate or enter a custom sample rate. Corel recommends that you use the predefined sample rates. You can also set the Sample Size and Channels.


Graphic EQ

The Graphic EQ lets you change the amplification of certain frequencies. For example, if a baritone voice is too loud, you can lower its frequency. Working with Graphic EQ is mostly trial and error unless you know the frequency of the sounds you want to modify. You may find that the easiest way to work with this feature is to change only one band at a time.

To change the band frequencies:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Graphics EQ from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the change in frequency for each band and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.


Invert

An inversion flips the waveform vertically. Where the signal originally increased, it decreases after the inversion. Assume that you have two waveforms that you want to include in a new file. If the first waveform ends with an increasing signal and the second waveform starts with an increasing signal, you'll hear a "pop" where the signals don't meet properly. However, if you invert the second signal, the two waveforms blend together.

To invert channels

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Invert from the Effects menu.

3.	Enable the Invert check box and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.


Pitch Shift

When you shift the pitch of a waveform, the sounds are transposed up or down by semitones. For example, a song that was originally played in the key of C can be transposed up two semitones into the key of D.

To shift the pitch:

1.	If you want to apply the effect to only a portion of the WAV file, select the area by dragging your mouse.

 2.	Click Pitch Shift from the Effects menu.

3.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The dry output mix indicates the portion of the original sound that's kept in the final mix. The wet output mix indicates the portion of the transposed sound that's kept in the final mix. Any dry setting other than 0 creates a second copy of the waveform, giving a "chorus" effect.

The pitch change is measured in semitones. Each semitone is one-half step above or below the previous tone.


Pop Removal

The Pop Removal effect minimizes the pops and clicks from lower quality recordings. For example, you can hear these sounds when you play an old album on a record player. The Pop Removal effect is applied to an entire WAV file.

To apply a pop removal:

1.	Click Pop Removal from the Effects menu.

2.	Set the attributes and choose the Preview button to review the effect. Then choose the OK button.

The window size dictates the precision of the filtering used to remove the pops. A large window takes a significant length of time to process, but removes more pops. In most cases, the value "10" provides the best compromise between the length of time required to process the change and the number of pops removed.

The pop width measurement allows you to fine-tune the filtering. For example, if a pop occurs over five samples, then a pop width of 2 won't effectively remove the pop. You should set this value based on the average width of pops.


Exiting Corel Sound
Exiting

You can quit Corel Sound using the Exit command of the File menu. You're always prompted to save any unsaved changes before exiting.


Help commands

The Help menu includes commands that display online information while you work and version information about the applications you're using.

You can access two types of help. Using the Help Topics command, you can view an online User's Manual. Using the F1 key, you can display context-sensitive help about commands and dialog boxes.


New Toolbar button


Save Toolbar button


Open Toolbar button


Copy Toolbar button


Paste and Mix PasteToolbar buttons


List and Details Toolbar buttons


Sort Toolbar buttons


Sort Toolbar buttons


Add Items Toolbar button


Add Tracks Toolbar button


Reorder Files Toolbar button


Find Files Toolbar button


Play Toolbar button


Prerecord to WAV File Toolbar button


Edit WAV File Toolbar button


Print Toolbar button


Record Toolbar button


Play Toolbar button


Rewind Cursor Toolbar button


Cursor to End Toolbar button


Pause Toolbar button


Stop Toolbar button


Play Clipboard Toolbar button


Undo Toolbar button


Align Toolbar button


Cut and Copy Toolbar buttons


To Front and To Back Toolbar buttons


Paste Toolbar button


Jewel Front, Jewel Back, and Disc Label Toolbar buttons
Views Toolbar button


Grid Toolbar button


Left, Center, and RIght Justify Toolbar button
:Left, Center, and Right Justify Toolbar buttons


Undo Toolbar button
One and Two Column Toolbar buttons


Undo Toolbar button
Zoom Toolbar button