Prior to making selections and performing edits on an audio document, you will typically play the audio to locate likely sections for editing. There are a number of ways that you can do this, each of which is explained below.
The Transport
The Transport is a useful tool for initiating both playback and recording. In addition it provides a digital counter-type display of the current playback location and playback level meters. You will find it useful to use this window when working with audio documents.
To display the Transport window:
1. Choose Transport from the Windows menu. The Transport appears.
To start playback from the beginning of a document:
1. Press the Return key to rewind the insertion point at the beginning of the audio document. Click the Play button on the Transport. Playback begins from the beginning of the document.
2. To stop playback, click the Stop button on the Transport.
Spacebar Playback Behavior
You can control how Peak plays using the spacebar from the "Playback Preferences" option under the Preferences menu.
Playback Using “From Insertion Point” setting
If “From Insertion Point” is marked, Peak will always play from the insertion point. If there is a selection made, Peak will play the selection only. The following behavior applies to the spacebar when “From Insertion Point” is marked:
Spacebar
Start playback from insertion point or play current selection if one exists
Command-Spacebar
Play from selection start or insertion point using preroll
Spacebar
Stop playback and place insertion point at playback stop point unless playing an audio selection
Return (during playback)
Stop without moving insertion point.
Return (when stopped)
Return insertion point to beginning of audio document (rewind)
Shift spacebar
Stop playback and extend selection to playback stop point
Command spacebar
Stop playback and place insertion point at playback stop point (pause)
Playback Using “From Beginning” setting
Spacebar
Play from beginning of file
Option Spacebar
Play selection only
Command Spacebar
Play from selection start or insertion point
Return or spacebar
Stop playback
Shift spacebar
Stop playback and extend selection to playback stop point
Command spacebar
Stop playback and place insertion point at playback stop point (pause)
Auditioning Audio with Preroll
It is often useful to audition a selection along with just a bit of audio preceding it—without actually including this material in the selection itself. Peak’s Auditioning command allows you to do this by specifying a desired amount of preroll when you play the selection.
To audition audio with preroll:
1. Choose Auditioning from the Preferences menu.
2. Enter the desired amount of prerolland click OK.
3. Click the cursor in the track where you wish to begin playback with preroll.
4. Press Command-space bar. Peak plays the selection, adding the amount of preroll that you specified.
Triggering Playback of Multiple Audio Documents
Peak allows you to have multiple audio documents open at the same time. Peak assigns each of these documents a number based on the order in which it was opened. Peak provides you with a convenient way of triggering playback of any open audio document by pressing a number key on your computer keyboard. This can be a very useful feature for applications such as “live” sound effects playback, since you can open multiple audio documents and play them from your Macintosh keyboard.
To trigger sequential playback of multiple audio documents:
1. Open several audio documents, taking note of the number that Peak assigns them in the Windows menu. (This is based on the order in which the documents were opened.)
2. Press the number which corresponds to the document(s) you wish to play. You don’t need to wait until a document has finished playing to press the next number: typing a numerical sequence on your keyboard will “cue up” all of the corresponding files. They will then play in order.
3. If you wish to stop playback and jump to the next document in line, press the Return key. Peak initiates playback of the next document in sequence.
Playback Buffer
Peak 1.50 allows you to control the amount of RAM the program uses when playing back audio documents. In general, 64k to 128k is a good general setting. If you are experiencing clicks in your playback, working with fragmented files, or are using a slow hard drive, you may need a larger playback buffer setting.
