how do you...

  • Thread starter Thread starter rats
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rats

rats

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Some things that have been bothering me can't quite pin down.

First off, how do you set up a track to record in stereo without setting your default recording set up to stereo? I often only want one or two tracks in stereo and it's a pain to have to shut it down and restart it to get a stereo track.

Why 32 bit float? Aren't most bit rates 24 but standard? And what the hell does float mean anyway?

Oh yeah, I lost my access to volume and pan envelopes when I reinstalled my software. Is there a secret button somewhere? When I select show volume and pan envelopes under edit menu, I can see tehm but they are not adjustable!

maniacally yours,
rats:eek:
 
Hiya.

"First off, how do you set up a track to record in stereo without setting your default recording set up to stereo? I often only want one or two tracks in stereo and it's a pain to have to shut it down and restart it to get a stereo track."

I've got Version 1.2 - when I select a recording device for a track, I'm given a choice of left channel, right channel, or stereo. Easy.

"Why 32 bit float? Aren't most bit rates 24 but standard? And what the hell does float mean anyway?"

The advantage is primarily in dsp (digital signal processing). Cool's ability to process up to 32 bits allows it to make more accurate, less-damaging-to-the-sound calculations before it arrives at the 24-bit product file.

"Oh yeah, I lost my access to volume and pan envelopes when I reinstalled my software. Is there a secret button somewhere? When I select show volume and pan envelopes under edit menu, I can see tehm but they are not adjustable!"

Right click anywhere on the button bar at the top of the multitrack screen. You'll get a popdown menu that'll let you select and display any of the various button groups.
 
1st point- I think I have 1.2 as well, but I'm not sure what you're talking about. Where do you select the recording device?

2nd point- How does it arrive at the 24 bit product file? What is a product file? If you choose 32 bit playback and record, will it end up as 32 bit? What does float mean? How does this pertain to my finished .wav?

3rd point- I'll try that later!

THANKS dobie!
 
1 To the left of each track, next to the little volume window, there's a button that brings up the recording device for that track. Click on it, and it gives you some choices, one of which is whether that track is to be 'left channel', 'right channel', or 'stereo'. You have to do this on a track by track basis, so you can have Track 1 as stereo, and the other tracks mono if you like.

Another thing you select in that device dialog is bitdepth - your options are 16-bit or 32-bit.

2 When I said 'product file', that's my term, not Cool's. By that I mean that you can choose to save a 32-bit file as 24-bit if you want to (maybe you want to export a Cool track as a 24-bit file into another program, for instance). You do it by taking the track into edit view, clicking on Save As, and then clicking on Options. You get six choices, two of which are 24-bit files. But in most cases, you won't do that, because there's no need for it. In most cases, you'll let Cool operate in 32-bit floating point because, as I said earlier, you get better dsp, and then later, when it's time to make a CD out of your session, you dither down to 16-bit. There's usually no need to limit that 32-bit capability to 24-bit anytime before you 'convert sample type' to make your CD.

As for the gory details about exactly how 32-bit floating point works, I'm really hazy about that.
 
I don't get those choices that you mention.:confused:
Maybe I'm not using 1.2?
 
The 32 bit floating point is still maximun 24bit sound, it just internally converts it to 32 bit because higher resolution maths are better. Now recording a 32bit file from a 24bit sound card will still sound exactly like 24 bits so you wont even hear the difference in sound at all. 32bits main benifit is when you go to mix all those tracks together it does a much better job.

record one track at 24bit
record the same track at 24bit 32bit floating point
they will sound EXACTLY the same.

Record ALL at 24bit and mix down at 24bit
Record ALL at 24bit 32bit float and mix down at 32 bit

And the 32bit final stereo mixdown will sound much better.

So its all for the sake of better cleaner less digi sounding MIXING.
 
also, 32-bit is a native speed on binary systems ..(like your PC).. so its easier on your processor to run stuff at 32...?

xox
 
I would have thought a 32 bit audio file and a 32 bit operating system are two completely different things.
32 bit audio files are more strain on the cpu. I would think. Because there bigger files. Don't know for sure though.
 
Does anyone use a 1.0 or whatever where you don't have the options under your track details?:confused:
 
scott... could be. thus my little '?';)

I havent really reached into the 32-bit-being-easier-to-process issue... but I heard that that is why we use it..... cuz 16- and 32- and 8-bit math is easier than 25- and 30- and 7-bit math. But this is just dogma to me.

unlike the sonic superiority of 32-bit over 16bit. This is fact;)

xoox
 
OK last night I was tracking and stumbled on to the secret "recording device window". Yeah it was pretty cool, but I don't know how I got it and how to get it back. I right clicked, I left clicked, I rubbed the mouse across my sweaty balls, but I could not get it back. Dobro says there is a button but I don't see it. I know there's something there, though.

loss of basic comprehension skills #2: As you say dobro to Right click anywhere on the button bar at the top of the multitrack screen. You'll get a popdown menu that'll let you select and display any of the various button groups. - that is really not my problem, because I can SEE the envelopes: The little lines are all there on all the tracks they have previously been applied to. But I can NO LONGER EDIT THEM. There's no little white dots to move, just solid colored lines. AND I CAN"T BRING BACK THE DOTS. So where is the magic button? Where's the magic button?

Show me the buttons.
 
OK I figured out the recording device thingy. Yeah you right click ON THE TRACK ITSELF. Duh.

Allright. If anyone can help me get my dots back I'd be much obliged. Thanks.
 
there is a help section in cooledit, ya know....

now...trying dbl clicking on the lines...hey!!

mouse across sweaty balls....ugh!!
 
rats - there are three buttons for variable track panning and volume. There's a pan button, a volume button, and a third button that lets you add the white dots - the pan and volume points. It's the button with the three little white squares on it. If you don't click it, you can't change the pan and volume lines - it just displays them.
 
I have the manual for CEP... I could make it availible again..
 
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