Processing

The following section provides details in using Sound Grinder Pro’s processing features.

Process

Process provides the primary way to interactively process audio assets with a myriad of options.

To Process Assets

1. Select the desired assets in the Asset List.
2. Select the Process tab in the Info/Processing Section.
3. Specify settings.
4. Click Process to initiate the process. A progress sheet will be displayed during the operation. You may pause the process by clicking on the Pause button and then resume the process by clicking on the Resume button.

The following sections describe the settings in detail.

General

Destination

Choose where the processed files will go.

• Same as source file(s) location - Places the processed files in the same folder as the source files.
• Specify a location - Click the Set... button and specify the folder to contain the processed files.

Retain Original Folder Structure

Turn this option on to recreate the entire folder structure in the destination location. This can be very helpful when you have a complex folder hierarchy that you wish to keep intact. !

Open With

Turn this option on to automatically open the processed files in another application, such as Pro Tools, Logic Audio, Quicktime Player, or others.

To Add an Application to the Open With Menu

1. Select Select Open With Application... from the File menu.
2. Select the application in the dialog box.
3. Click Choose and the selected application will be added to all application menus.

Portion

Export Entire Content

Export the entire source asset.

Export Specified Portion

Specify what portion of the source asset to export. Set the specific options by clicking the Settings... button.

• Duration - Specify the amount of time of the source asset to export.
• Portion - Specify whether to take the beginning, middle, or end of the source asset.
• Start - When taking the middle of the source asset, specify the time at which to start.
• Fade In - Specify to have a Fade In and the duration and type.
• Fade Out - Specify to have a Fade Out and the duration and type.

Export Regions

Export all regions defined for the source asset. Set the specific options by clicking the Settings... button.

• Export Options - Turn off to just rename existing regions.
  • Export existing regions only - Only export regions that have been previously created.
  • Perform Auto-Region only if no regions defined - Only perform auto-region if the source asset does not have any existing regions.
  • Perform Auto-Region always - Always perform auto region on the source asset, even if regions are already defined.
• Output File Naming - Specify how to name the output files.
  • Include original filename - Turn on to begin with the original asset filename.
  • Include original filename delimiter - Text to add after the original filename. This can be empty.
  • Text - Text to add to each output filename. This can be some text, a delimiter, a combination, or could be empty.
  • Region identifier - Specify whether to identify the region in the output filename by number or name.
• Replace current regions - Turn on to replace existing regions with the new regions.
• Pre-roll - Specify the amount of time to add before the first detected sample in the region.
• Fade In - Specify to have a Fade In and the duration and type.
• Threshold - Specify the threshold below which the audio content will be treated as silence.
• Post-roll - Specify the amount of time to add after the last detected sample in the region.
• Fade Out - Specify to have a Fade Out and the duration and type.
• Minimum silence between regions - Specify the minimum amount of “silence” time between regions.
• Naming - For each segment of the name, select “Auto-number” to automatically generate a number for this segment, or “Text” to specify the text for this segment
  • Prefix - Specify how the first part of the name is to be constructed.
  • Content - Specify how the main content of the name is to be constructed.
  • Suffix - Specify how the last part of the name is to be constructed.

Export Loops

Export all loops defined for the source asset. Set the specific options by clicking the Settings... button.

• Output File Naming - Specify how to name the output files.
  • Include original filename - Turn on to begin with the original asset filename.
  • Include original filename delimiter - Text to add after the original filename. This can be empty.
  • Text - Text to add to each output filename. This can be some text, a delimiter, a combination, or could be empty.
  • Loop identifier - Specify whether to identify the loop in the output filename by number or name.

Naming Options

Select how the processed files are to be named when exporting the entire content or a specified portion. Choose one of the built-in options below or create unlimited custom options in Preferences. Refer to the Preferences section of this document for more details.

• Original Filename (change extension) - The original extension will be removed and an extension will be added based on the output file type.
• Original Filename (add extension) - The original filename will be used entirely and an extension will be added based on the output file type.
• Original Filename (no change) - The original filename will be used.

Limit Filenames to 31 Characters

Turn this option on to limit the processed filenames to 31 characters. This may be necessary if the processed files are to be used with older OSs or older applications.

Audio

File Type

Select the desired output file type. Set the specific options for the file type by clicking the Settings... button.

Codec

Select the desired output codec. Set the specific options for the codec (if available) by clicking the Settings... button.

Bit Depth

• Select the desired output bit depth.
• Select Unchanged to use the bit depth of each source asset for its corresponding output file(s).

Sample Rate

• Select the desired output sample rate.
• Select Unchanged to use the sample rate of each source asset for its corresponding output file(s).
• If available, select one of the standard Pull-up/Pull-down sample rates.
• Select Adjust Source File Sample Rate to automatically apply the appropriate Pull-up/Pull-down adjustment to the sample rate of the source asset.
• Select Other... and enter a custom sample rate in Hz. For example, a sample rate of 10kHz would be 10000 at the prompt.

Channels

• Select the desired number of channels.
• Select Unchanged to use the number of channels of each source asset for its corresponding output file(s).

Format

• Select Interleaved Files to create one output file for each source asset.
• Select Split Files to create an output file for each channel for each source asset. Extension sets can be defined in Preferences. Refer to the Preferences section of this document for more details.
• Select Unchanged to create Interleaved or Split Files according to the format of the source asset.

Normalize

Turn this option on to adjust the gain of the audio content to a target level. Click the Settings... button to set the options.

• Select Peak to specify the target level of the peak sample.
• Select RMS (Root Mean Squared) to specify the target level of the perceived volume or loudness. Since RMS is based on adjusting a kind of average, it is possible to select a setting that will cause clipping. If this situation is detected, an alert will be displayed with a recommended maximum setting that will prevent clipping.
• Select a Specific value to specify the target level or select Match to minimum/average/maximum in set to adjust the levels relative to the set of source assets.

Note: If needed, during processing, the source audio assets will be analyzed to determine their current level.

Note: RMS normalizing can be very effective in adjusting the levels of a group of files so they all play at the same sound level. To do this, process all assets in the group at the same time.

Note: The best way to achieve an even sound level across files is to ensure that they are leveled properly during recording or when exported from a sound editor.

Retain Video Tracks

If available, turn this option on to copy the source asset video tracks directly to the output file.

Force Sample Rate

If available, turn this option on to process or export audio at a different sample rate than is actually specified. Click the Settings... button to set the options.

Dithering - Provided by POW-r Consortium, LLC

POW-r dithering provides digital audio word length reduction to 16-bit for files up to 32-bit while retaining a high degree of dynamics, and low noise. Choose from three types of dithering to meet your needs.

Visit Millenia Music & Media Systems for more information.