Effects and Processing

Choose from over 40 audio effects and processes with more than 200 presets, including 18 DirectX® Audio Plug-Ins and over 10 new automatable effects.
Create Normalize, EQ, Delay, Chorus, Volume, Dynamics, Noise Gate, Pitch Shift, Flange, Vibrato and other effects by utilizing new automated FX parameters and envelope control!

Presets

Some effects come with a series of options known as "Presets". The idea behind presets is to save you having to fiddle around with the numbers, which is great if the numbers don't mean a lot to you. Instead, you can just browse the preset list and select the option which best describes the effect you are trying to achieve.

Amplify

To 'amplify' is to increase the loudness or volume of the selected region. To make a part of the recording softer or louder, select it and then use the menu Effects -> Amplify. The volume is entered in percent (100 being no change, 50 being -6dB softer or 200 being +6dB louder).

Normalize

To 'normalize' is to adjust the volume so that the loudest peak is equal to (or a percentage of) the maximum signal that can be used in digital audio. Usually you normalize files to 100% as the last stage in production to make it the loudest possible without distortion.

High-Pass Filter

A high-pass filter (sometimes called a low cut filter) removes all low frequencies below a specified Hz. This is useful if you want to make your recording sound 'clearer' or less 'muddy'. It is very usual to use a high-pass filter of about 300Hz on all voice recordings to improve intelligibility.

Equalizer

An equalizer changes the frequency response of a signal so it has different tonal qualities.

After you select Effects menu -> Equalizer you will see a graph of amplitude against frequencies. Left click on any slider bar to create a new band point.

To assist you with shaping the Equalizer graph in the way you want, there is a preset list that displays the most common sorts of filters used in the Equalizer graph. You can choose any preset filter from the list and then manipulate the filter to achieve the effect you desire.

If you are using the equalizer simply to drop lower frequencies, you should always try the High Pass filter first (Effects menu -> High Pass Filter), because it is better and faster for very low frequencies.

Echo

You can use this function to create single echoes, as well as a number of other effects. Delays of 35 milliseconds (ms) or more will be perceived as discrete echoes, while those falling within the 35-15 ms range can be used to create a simple chorus or flanging effect. (These effects will not be as effective as the actual chorus or flanging effects, as the delay settings will be fixed and will not change over time).

For more information about delay effect see: http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Delay

Reverb

Reverb is many small reflections of the sound that come after a set time. It usually occurs when someone is speaking in a room, hall etc. More reverb is called wet, no reverb is called dry.

For more information about flanging effect see: http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Reverb/

Reverse

This effect reverses the selection in the same way playing a record or tape backwards would.

Fade In

Fade Out

Fade Out and Trim

To fade in or out use the menu Effects -> Fade In or Effects -> Fade Out.

The fade out and trim option is a combined function which fades out over the selection then marks the end of the selection as the end of the file. This is frequently used at the end of music tracks.

Envelope

The 'envelope' is the change in volume of the select region over time. This can be used to make fine adjustments to the volume over time or even more crude changes like fade in or fade out.

Select the region you want to change the volume over and use the menu Effects -> Envelope. Click on any point to adjust its volume.

Speed Change

Normal speed changes changes the pitch in proportion to the speed. If you want to change the speed but keep the pitch the same use this function.

Pitch Change

This changes the pitch of the recording without changing the speed (i.e. the converse of the above).

Dynamic Range Compressor

A Dynamic Range Compressor limits the volume levels of a sound recording so that it stays within a certain loudness range.

An example of where it is used is in TV broadcasting, where it ensures that the volume levels of ads are perceived as being louder than the television program itself (without any change in the actual broadcast volume).

It also has a use for recording audio from one medium to another, where the two mediums are not capable of handling the same range of volume levels (e.g. A CD can handle a much greater range than a cassette tape).

The "Threshold" setting works by detecting when the sound recording volume exceeds a defined decibel level. It then gradually attenuates the sound to bring it down below the dB level, and does it in such a way that the listener will not be aware the attenuation is occurring.

Flanger

Flanging is created by mixing a signal with a slightly delayed copy of itself, where the length of the delay is constantly changing. It is actually one specific type of phasing (Phaser).

For more information about flanging effect see: http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Flanging

Reverb

It is the sound you hear in a room with hard surfaces where sound bounces around the room for a while after the initial sound stops.

For more information about flanging effect see: http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Reverb

Chorus

The Chorus differs from the Flanger in only a couple of ways. One difference is the amount of delay that is used. The delay times in a Chorus are larger than in a Flanger, usually somewhere between 20 ms. and 30 ms. (the Flanger's delay usually ranges from 1 ms. to 10 ms.) This longer delay doesn't produce the characteristic sweeping sound of the Flanger. The Chorus also differs from the Flanger in that there is generally no feedback used.

For more information about chorus effect see: http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Chorus