Peak’s Batch File Processor is one of the most powerful, versatile, and useful additions to Peak 1.5. With the Batch Processor, you can carry out any series of Peak processes (called a batch script) that is applied to even thousands of files.
Peak’s Batch File Processor is split into three areas: Input, Process, and Save Changes. Sequence a series of steps for Peak to execute in the “Process” section, then set your output file settings in the “Save Changes” area. Once Peak’s Batch File Processor is configured, you may turn the Batch File Processor on in the “Input” area
Once the Batch File Processor is configured and turned on, any files you drop onto the Peak application’s icon in the Finder will be batch processed according to your settings. You can even drop folders or disks onto Peak’s icon and all of the supported contents will be batch processed. Supported contents include all file formats that Peak can read, including AIFF, Sound Designer II, QuickTime, Redbook, System 7 Sound, .snd, .au, and .WAV files.
New audio documents created with the Batch File Processor will have the same file name as the original input audio document.
** You must open an audio document and make a selection in the document before you can configure the Batch File Processor. The audio document and selection you make will be used for any previewing of processes sequenced into your batch script.
Input Area
The Input Area allows you to enable or disable batch file processing. Once the Batch File Processor is configured, you may turn it on with the “On” button. If you have finished batch processing and no longer need to batch process files, you can use the “Off” button to disable batch file processing.
Process Area
The Process Area shows two lists. The list on the left, labeled “Available Processes:” allows you to select processes that will be used in your batch script. Every process or plug-in available in Peak will appear in this list. The list on the right is labeled “Selected Processes For Batch” and contains the Peak processes in the current batch script.
Double click on a process in the “Available Processes:” list to add it to the “Selected Processes for Batch” list. Alternatively, click on a process in the “Available Processes” list and then click the “Add >>“ button.
When you add process to the “Available Processes” list, you may be required to supply settings for the process. The frontmost audio document and selection will be used for any previewing the process may support. Peak’s batch processor allows you to use multiple instances of a single process, each with its own settings.
** If you are going to process both stereo and mono audio documents, open a stereo audio document and make a selection before configuring the batch processor. This will allow the process to make decisions on how to process both mono and stereo input files using the Batch File Processor.
You may also specify while part of the file to apply the process to. Once a process has been added to the “Selected Processes for Batch” list, you may use one of the buttons “Entire File,” “Apply Just To First x Seconds,” or “Apply Just To Last x Seconds”. Use these buttons to configure how to apply the selected process to an audio document. For instance, if you are using a “Fade In” process and only wish to apply it to just the first three seconds of the audio document, click the “Fade In” process from the “Selected Processes for Batch” list and then type “3” into the “Apply Just to First x Seconds” edit text field. All processes are applied by default to “Entire File” unless you configure the process otherwise.
Save Changes Area
Use the Save Changes Area to configure how your audio documents will be stored after they have been saved using your batch script. Click the “Set...” button to specify the output document format and settings.
After clicking “Set...” you will be asked to provide the output file format, bit depth, and compression options using the “Save As...” dialog described in Chapter 4. Choose which folder to save the processed audio files into with the “Save As...” dialog.
You can create a text “Log File” during batch processing to keep track of which files have been processed. This is useful for lengthy batch processing sessions where the possibility of a power failure or other circumstance could prevent the batch process from completing. Click on the “Log File...” checkbox to specify that a log file for the batch process. After turning the “Log File...” feature on, Peak will ask you to provide a destination for the log file. The log file can be viewed using SimpleText or any application that can view text files. The Batch File Processor will divert any error messages to the log file if it is enabled. This is useful because any errors Peak encounters during batch file processing will not require user attention during processing. However, Peak will issue a System Beep sound if an error occurs during Batch File Processing. If this happens, check the log file for errors.
Save Script
Peak allows you to save your batch script into a settings file that can be recalled later. This feature is useful if you frequently process files using a specific sequence of processes. After configuring the Batch File Processor, click “Save Script...” to save your batch sequence into a Batch Script file. You will be prompted for a saving location and name for the batch script. The settings file holding your batch script will store the processes, each process’ settings, the and output file format.
Load Script
To recall a batch script settings file that was stored using the “Save Script” feature, described above, click this button.
Example:
To change a folder of files into AIFF IMA 4:1 files Normalized to 95% with a Log:
1. Open an AIFF file and make a selection.
2. Choose “Batch File Processor...” from the File Menu.
3. Double click the “Normalize”item in the “Available Processes:” list. Enter 95 into the following normalization settings dialog.
4. Click “Set...” in the Save Changes Area of the Batch File Processor. Choose “AIFF” from the “File Format” pop-up menu. Choose “IMA 4:1” from the “Compression” pop-up menu.
5. Choose the folder to save the output files into. Click “Save”.
6. You will be back in the Batch File Processing Dialog. Click “Log...”. Choose the output folder to save the log file into.
7. Click the “On” button in the Input Area of the Batch File Processor. The Batch File Processor is now turned on.
8. Click “OK” to close the Batch File Processor dialog.
9. Switch to the Finder and drag & drop a folder full of audio documents onto the Peak application’s icon.
10. Peak will process all of that were dropped onto it’s application icon from the Finder.
