The following points are essential to operate AudioTools. Please take a moment to read at least this page.
1. AudioTools is accessed via the main menu. To open it, simply click AudioTools.
2. The name of the screen you are currently viewing is shown in the top left corner. Click it for context-sensitive help.
3. On most screens, you can immediately see a result when you have entered a number. To confirm your entry, press <enter> or click outside the field. Some fields (displayed in
pink) require clicking a button before you can see the result.
4. All colored buttons are clickable. Red buttons perform an action, blue buttons are for help.
5. Purple fields can not be edited. They display calculated information.
---------
To get the most out of AudioTools, please read this help file. Underlined text refers to another help topic, and bold text refers to a button.
If your question is not answered in this manual, please send email to support@rootsolutions.de.
YesfJ
YesfJ
YesfJ
click on a topic
chapter
AudioTools is a set of production calculators and utilities that are commonly needed during music production.
Key features
setup help for effect processors, such as delay, reverb, etc.
conversion factors for loops and time dilation.
conversion factors for loops and detuning.
any Midi tuning scale to cents and vice versa.
sequencer ticks from sample event position.
glossary of audio terminology.
quick reference for orchestral instruments.
tap tempo feature.
patch number c
onversion utility.
pitch to frequency and pitch to Midi note number conversion.
interactive circle of fifths
A-440 tuning reference
sample size calculation
AudioTools is one of many modules of the StudioSystem, an integrated administration package for musicians, producers, and recording studios. You can save money by downloading and registering the complete version. However, if you feel that you do not need all the functionality of the StudioSystem, you may simply register Audio
quickstartF
general: using the StudioSystemW:tutorial
introduction
main menu: about
main menu: graphicsYEtutorial
introduction
main menu: about
main menu: graphics
quickstart
The StudioSystem helps you minimize the time spent on management and administration chores of your studio(s). Logical links between the files help you get to any information quickly. To download a copy, please visit www.rootsolutions.de. If your computer is set up for internet access, just click internet... in the main menu.
Key features:
- point-and-click interface: no knowledge of Filemaker Pro required. With more than 1600 field definitions, you can enter as much detail as you wish
or just use the modules that you find most useful.
- integration: access all information from within one application. The StudioSystem is communication and accounting software, archive, address, and inventory database, studio calculator, appointment keeper, label and track sheet printer, and more for all studio activity.
- cost-effective: solutions of this type are typically custom-programmed and cost hundreds of dollars. The StudioSystem costs no more than a roll of multitrack tape.
-Tools by itself.
For an overview of StudioSystem features, please see about the StudioSystem in this help file. For late breaking news about this and other products, please visit www.rootsolutions.de. If your computer is set up for internet access, you can simply click internet... in the main menu.
about AudioToolsF
general: relationships
You may include personal notes for each help topic by clicking the annotations tab. A red dot appears on the button if you have entered annotations for the current help topic. You can also move to your annotations by clicking the dot in the help topics overview.
Printed forms you create with the StudioSystem use Helvetica and Times fonts. If you do not have these fonts installed, they will be substituted. This may create spacing problems and it is recommended that you install them. YB
ou can change the font on printed forms, however, you will not be able to set a new default font. To change the font/size/style in a field, control click the field. You may also apply the change to selected text.
W4tutorial
project logging
main menu: about
quickstartYEtutorial
project logging
main menu: about
quickstart
about AudioTools
The main menu appears by default when you open AudioTools. From the main menu, you can open the AudioTools or help module by clicking the navigation buttons. If you register your copy, you can skip the main menu and jump directly to the AudioTools module.
shrink closes all modules except the main menu. This may be useful if you have other FileMaker files open and are low on memory, or to avoid too many 'This file was not closed properly' messages after a system crash. To shrink, choose
the command from the Scripts menu, or press Cmd-2 (Mac) or Ctrl-2 (Windows) whenever the main menu window is in front.
The register button lets you register and personalize your copy of AudioTools. For more information on registering, please check the enclosed ReadMe.
Click internet... to connect to the rootsolutions website. If the connection fails, your computer is probably not set up for internet access. You can always type www.rootsolutions.de into your browser window manually.
- support for international users: customize all printable forms with local language templates (English, German, French, and Italian already included).
The following modules are included:
main menu: central navigation, password protection, language setup, and other system-wide settings.
archive: keep track of your tape libraries and work information.
audio tools: a complete set of production calculators and other utilities.
budget: make detailed project estimates for yourself and/or clie
calendar: enter appointments and booking information for all your studios/suites.
contacts: name/address database with support for faxes/letters, envelopes, mailing lists, etc.
cue sheet: create cue sheets for film/TV work and share them with others using 'CueImport'.
inventory: your studio inventory's serial numbers, value, wiring info, etc.
invoicing: print invoices with only a few mouse clicks. Track overdue payments and view income by client, period, etc.
label print: print prof
essional looking labels for most media types.
lyrics: enter lyric sheets and link them to projects.
messages: virtual bulletin board for studio and production personnel.
notepad: jot down reminders and call them up from anywhere in the StudioSystem.
projects: track daily studio activity and link records to related modules (archive, invoicing, track sheet, etc.).
sound lib: manage your sample and sound library with intuitive key word searches.
supplies: a database of the goods and services F
your facility offers.
to do: keep a list of pending tasks. Supports chainable and renewable items.
track sheet: print track, outboard recall, and locator sheets for your sessions.
The effects section helps you with the setup of certain effects processors. Most functions immediately display a result when you have entered a value. However, some fields are shown in pink to alert you that after entering values you must press a button before you can see the result.
delay
Your basic digital delay calculator. Press [Tab] or click in the bpm field and enter the tempo of your sequence. Commonly used results appear in bold type. You may wish to try those first, but check out
some of the other values, too.
reverb
This screen lets you calculate the apparent room size from the supplied predelay setting or vice versa. Even though this figure does not give any indication about the nature of the room, it will tell you the distance from the first reflecting surface. This can help you construct rooms of realistic (or fantastic) sizes. To calculate the predelay from a room size in feet instead of meters, enter the number of feet into the pink box and click size/ft. T
import... button is inactive, as AudioTools currently does not support any user data.
quit closes all related files first and then quits the application.
main menu: aboutF
main menu: preferences
Collapsing the main menu appears to allow for quicker navigation among the modules. However, when you open modules from the floating palette without clicking done in open modules, a sizable number of windows can be open in no time. If you also require user files, you can can have a couple of dozen files open quickly and it's easy to lose track of what's where, not to mention the fact that you will constantly be dragging windows around to see more information than can be displayed at one
time. At this point it may be good to remember that clicking Cmd-2 (Mac) or Ctrl-2 (Windows) performs a shrink command in either collapsed or expanded view, as long as the main menu is the active window.
You may consider using 'relative' navigation instead (set in the main menu: preferences). Collapsing may be useful if you typically only work with a few modules or if you want to drag and drop text between different modules.
Wamain menu: preferences
main menu: graphics
main menu: password
main menu: user files
introductionYrmain menu: preferences
main menu: graphics
main menu: password
main menu: user files
introduction
main menu: about
The sequencing section gives you a set of calculators that are commonly needed during music production. Most functions immediately display a result when you have entered a value. However, some fields are shown in pink to alert you that after entering values you must press a button before you can see the result.
loop tools
A set of calculator tools when dealing with mismatched tempi. Results are displayed in cents (there are 100 cents to a semitone). Both time dilation and detune optio
ns are addressed. To fit 'loop tempo to song tempo' using detuning instead of time dilation, you may wish to convert cents to coarse and fine tune increments, where each coarse tune increment is a semitone and the fine tune increment depends on your particular instrument. This is usually a +/- scale, where the maximum and minimum settings are exactly halfway to the next semitone. If your sampler has fine tune increments of +/- 50, enter 50 in the pink midi scale field. The result field
brief
commonly
desired
every
internet
making
numeric@
predelay@
reset@
shown@
type@
possible
rename
episode/series
useful
his converts the size to meters and displays the result.
dynamics
This screen lets you study the behavior of compressors and expanders by looking at instantaneous levels. Of course, these levels are not really derived from any actual audio; instead, you enter the values. You can enter values either directly or by clicking the +/- buttons. The top module represents a compressor, the bottom module an expander. The resulting levels from editing input value, threshold, and ratio can be vi
ewed in the displays and numeric readouts. The display follows the standard convention of displaying the gain reduction of compressors as a bar graph meter 'right-to-left' and the gain reduction of expanders 'left-to-right'. By clicking link, you can simulate the behavior of a combined unit where the expander follows the compressor: it matches the input level of the expander to the output level of the compressor. When auto-link is enabled, the link status is always maintained. The pink
field color alerts you that it only works if you adjust the parameters using the +/- buttons. Directly entering values into the fields still requires clicking link. To get a feel for how the 'controls' interact, view the sample settings by clicking sample, heavy limit, and noise gate. Click bypass to reset the controls. Note: to give you more real-life results, theoretical results max out at a noise floor of -96 dB. Ratios must be in a range of 1:1 to 50:1 and input levels must be bF
etween -60 dB and +6 dB.
audio tools: effectsF
cue sheet: preferencesU
It is not possible to rename an episode/series. You can work around this by creating a dummy session log with the same name as the the episode. Use the rename function in the session log and then delete the session.V
preferencesY preferences
audio tools: effects
The utilities section serves as a handy reference during music production.
patch change
This screen provides you with a handy conversion function for some patch numbering conventions in MIDI instruments. MIDI internally always uses patch numbers 0-127. However, some synths label them differently. A couple of the most common alternatives include one-based numbering and octal numbering. One-based numbering adds 1 to every patch change, resulting in a range 1-128. While this is straight
forward, it can cause headaches when converting between one-based and octal numbering. In octal numbering there are no 0's and 9's. This system is typically found in older synths, e.g. from Roland. The first patch (MIDI 0) is called 11 and it continues to 88 (MIDI 63). In case the synth can accommodate 128 patches, there are banks, such as A11...A88 and B11...B88. The StudioSystem displays octal conversions in the lower bank with a bracketed 'A' (there may or may not be a bank number
s display dashes when midi scale has not been clicked. Another useful application, particularly when loading samples from read-only media, such as CD ROM, is using pitchbending to adjust the tempo. In this case, you would enter the value required to bend the pitch by half of a semitone into the pink midi scale field. Pitch bending has a range of +/- 8192. If this range bends the pitch by a whole step (the default for most sound modules), a half step would be 4096. Therefore, you would
enter 2048 into the midi scale field (halfway to the next semitone).
time dilation
Here, you can calculate the time dilation factor, if you have detuned pitched material (such as a guitar or vocal phrase) and you need to adjust it to the original tempo (for loop based time dilation calculations, click the 'loop tools' tab). Time dilation is calculated from the number of cents. There are 100 cents to a semitone. If you don
t know the number of cents, you can also enter the detune figur
es as coarse/fine tune increments for your sampler, and click midi scale. For example, if you have detuned a phrase by a semitone up (coarse = 1) and adjusted the fine tuning to -23 on a scale of +/- 50, you will get a result of 77 cents.
quantization
sequencer tick from sample event position: a calculator to extract groove quantization grids from actual audio samples. You need to specify the ticks per quarter note resolution of your sequencer (usually some factor of 240). See your seq
uencer documentation if you are unsure about its resolution. In the graphic editing screen of your sampler, note the exact position of the event you would like to extract (zoom in as necessary), as well as the total sample length.
note length from tempo change: this calculator may come in handy if you have a sample (or midi note containing tempo information) and you need to change the tempo without modifying any audio. For example, you may have a continuous film score track which does no
t contain tempo changes. If the track is set to 120 bpm, and you place a 4-bar loop at 92 bpm, then the length will not be 4 bars in MIDI time, making it difficult to copy the loop so that its edges make a perfect loop. Simply enter the length of the loop in ticks (at its original tempo), the ticks per quarter (your sequencer's quarter note resolution), and the original and desired tempi. The new length is displayed. Optional: if the original sound has an even number of quarters, you can cHaalculate the length in ticks, if you supply the number of quarters and click number of quarters.
audio tools: sequencingF
cue sheet: detailsW
detailsY
details
audio tools: sequencing
==audio tools: effects
open file
status bar
network
close file
show topics
show related
show related (debug)
pick topic
go to topic
go to annotation
jump to annotation
go to tips
jump to tips
init all
print current page
print related topic(s)
print...
print all topics
cancel/finish print
clear sort icons
sort topic#
sort abc
renumber topics
add 1 to topic numbers
?sorting
?help
?pro feature
----- help topics -----
quickstart
introduction
general: project logging
find screens
overviews
audio tools/fx
involved). Higher numbered patches are prefaced with a 'B'. To convert, simply enter the source patch number and select a format. Both other formats are automatically displayed. The bank number (A or B) only affect an octal number entry.
tap tempo
For your convenience, a tap tempo function has been included. Please note that because of FileMaker's internal timing resolution (1 second) the accuracy is limited. To get useful results and to minimize rounding errors, tap several bars befor
e a readout and repeat your tap once or twice. If you get a different reading, try to get a reading that matches a previous try. To use tap tempo, click start. A dialog box pops up. When you click 'tap', it becomes your first tap, so use the enter key rather than the mouse. Then, tap the 0-key (zero) on your keyboard in the desired tempo and finish off with <enter> (not return!). The field where you typed will be cleared and the calculated result displayed in bpm.
glossary
The gloss
ary contains brief explanations of terms that you may encounter when dealing with studio equipment. Simply choose a term from the popup menu. To the right is a scrolling list of cross-referenced entries, if any. Simply click on another term to look up its definition.
ranges
If you are using MIDI instruments to create orchestral scores, you can use this screen as a quick reference for actual instrument ranges. If the score stays 'MIDI', you only need to look at the 'range' field. If yo
u intend to replace a MIDI part with an acoustic instrument later on, check the best range, transposition, and comments fields for additional information. The transposition shows the written interval, e.g. 'up 2 (Bb)' means that the part sounds two semitones lower than written. Pitches in the range fields are 'sounding' notes, in the comments field they are 'written' notes (transposed).
circle of fifths
Look here if you want to explore the infamous circle of fifths. Select a key from t
he popup menu, and you can instantly see its key signature, its harmonically related key, and its position along the circle of fifths. You can also click a key along the circle to see it's key signature, or add sharps or flats by clicking the add sharp/5th up and add flat/5th down buttons, respectively.
The patch convert section converts an entered note (where middle C is C4) into both frequency and MIDI note number. This can be useful for things like generating test tones from your
synth at a certain frequency or estimating economical sampling rates, if your sampler has less than enough memory. Frequencies are rounded to one digit after the decimal point.
The sample size calculation field lets you quickly calculate the size (in Kbytes or Mbytes) of a digital audio sample, based on its duration, bit resolution, sample rate, and number of channels.
Click the speaker icon to play an A-440 tuning reference pitch. The tone plays for some seven seconds and stops by it
self. To make the tone longer, enter a repeat number into the number field before clicking the speaker. If you can't hear the tone, check that your computer's speaker is turned up and that QuickTime is installed.
The time calculator is very handy when adding up things like song durations. To speed up data entry, you can enter the durations without any delimiters. For example, entering 12 means 0:12; 123 means 1:23, etc. Subtracting times is currently not possible. The range must be betweJ
en 0 and 23:59:59. You can use the keyboard shortcuts Cmd-2 (Mac) or Ctrl-2 (Windows) to quickly clear the entry field and enter another time.
audio tools: utilitiesF
introduction
find screensY0introduction
find screens
audio tools: utilities
userB poweruser
Helvetica
Geneva
Monaco
Avant Garde
Times
Verdana
audio tools/seq
audio tools/util
archive: details
archive:prefs
bookings
budget:details
budget:prefs
calendar:appointments
calendar:prefs
calendar:bookings
planner:overview
contacts:details
contacts:prefs
contacts:forms
contacts:birthdays
contacts:address formats
contacts:import
appendix a
cue sheet:details
cue sheet:prefs
invoicing:details
invoicing:prefs
inventory:details
inventory:preferences
inventory:forms
label print:details
label print:prefs
label print:forms
lyrics: details
lyrics: prefs
main menu: about
main menu prefs
main menu import
main menu graphics
main menu:user passwd
main menu: user files
messages
notepad
projects:details (std)
projects:prefs (std)
projects:details (pro)
projects:prefs (pro)
sessions: details
sessions: prefs
session timer
soundlib:details
soundlib: prefs
studios
supplies: details
supplies: prefs
to do: details
to do: prefs
tracksheet: details
tracksheet: prefs
A open file
print current page
print all topics
Cancelue\
URLotl
Print
This will print a complete reference manual, requiring about 50 pages. To order a nicer looking, bound hard copy, click URL. Print anyway?B+
) = 2
ClosekZkZkZ
g9kZg9kZg9kZg9kZg9
Cancel9kZg9kZkZkZkZkZkZkZkZkZg9kZ
ZkZkZkZkZkZg9kZg9kZg9kZg9g9g9kZg9This file cannot be opened because the main menu was not found. Please make sure that all studio system files are in the same folder.
cancel/finish print
sort topic#
renumber topics
{m ag<aU
7gg<gag<gag`a*
g<g<gag<gag<agaU
T8ag<gag<gag<g
T8ag<gaa+
add 1 to topic numbers
notepad
""notepad: details and preferences"
notepad: details and preferences
projects:details (std)
) = 1
Continue\
Printl
Please make sure you have enough paper loaded and that your printer is turned on and ready.E+
) = 0
) = 0
find screens
"find screens"
find screens
overviews
"overviews"
overviews
projects:prefs (std)
""projects: preferences (standard)"
projects: preferences (standard)
invoicing:prefs
"invoicing: preferences"
invoicing: preferences
invoicing:details
"invoicing: details"
invoicing: details
contacts:prefs
"contacts: preferences"
contacts: preferences
contacts:birthdays
"projects: details (standard)"
projects: details (standard)
contacts:forms
"contacts: forms"
contacts: forms
contacts:details
"contacts: details"
contacts: details
archive: details
"archive: details"
archive: details
archive:prefs
"archive: preferences"
archive: preferences
quickstart
"quickstart"
quickstart
inventory:details
"inventory: details"
inventory: details
inventory:preferences
"inventory: preferences"
inventory: preferences
"contacts: birthdays"
contacts: birthdays
tracksheet: details
"track sheet: details and forms"
track sheet: details and forms
tracksheet: prefs
"track sheet: preferences"
track sheet: preferences
inventory:forms
"inventory: forms"
inventory: forms
label print:forms
"label print: forms"
label print: forms
label print:details
"label print: details"
label print: details
main menu: about
"main menu: about"
main menu: about
audio tools/fx
calendar:prefs
"calendar: preferences"
calendar: preferences
calendar:appointments
"calendar: appointments"
calendar: appointments
to do: prefs
"to do: preferences"
to do: preferences
to do: details
"to do: details"
to do: details
main menu prefs
"main menu: preferences"
main menu: preferences
----- help topics -----
calendar:bookings
"calendar: bookings"
calendar: bookings
label print:prefs
"audio tools: effects"
audio tools: effects
budget:details
"budget: details"
budget: details
budget:prefs
"budget: preferences"
budget: preferences
close file
main menu graphics
"main menu: graphics"
main menu: graphics
contacts:address formats
"contacts: address formats"
contacts: address formats
main menu: user files
"main menu: user files"
main menu: user files
audio tools/seq
"audio tools: sequencing"
audio tools: sequencing
"label print: preferences"
label print: preferences
audio tools/util
"audio tools: utilities"
audio tools: utilities
introduction
"introduction"
introduction
supplies: details
"supplies: details"
supplies: details
general: project logging
"project logging"
project logging
session timer
"session timer"
session timer
pick topic
show topics
soundlib:details
"sound lib: details"
sound lib: details
soundlib: prefs
"sound lib: preferences"
sound lib: preferences
main menu:user passwd
"main menu: password"
main menu: password
?sorting
Cancel
g9g9g9g9kZg9g9g9kZg9Sort topics by clicking the 'abc' or 'chapter' button. Click on a topic to read it. Click the bullets (
) to jump to annotations or additional tips, if any.
messages
#"messages: details and preferences"
!messages: details and preferences
supplies: prefs
cue sheet:details
"cue sheet: details"
cue sheet: details
cue sheet:prefs
"cue sheet: preferences"
cue sheet: preferences
jump to annotation
init all
BEa bozo script step to avoid an current error from the preceding loop.C
go to topic
"supplies: preferences"
supplies: preferences
status bar
!) = "user" !W
& = 1
= "larger"
larger
sessions: prefs
"sessions: preferences"
sessions: preferences
sessions: details
"sessions: details"
sessions: details
clear sort icons
sort abc
" ==" &
go to annotation
go to tips
= ""
OK1F1F1JRF1
0JRF1F1F1F1B
Cancel
F1F1F1F1F1F1JRF1F1F1JRF1JRSorry, no tips for this help topic. When there are any, a bullet is displayed on the 'tips' tab (details) or the 'tips' field (overview).
bookings
#"bookings: details and preferences"
!bookings: details and preferences
studios
"studios: details"
studios: details
contacts:import
"contacts: import"
contacts: import
projects:prefs (pro)
projects:details (pro)
"projects: details (extended)"
projects: details (extended)
planner:overview
"planner: overview"
planner: overview
appendix a
"appendix a - contacts fields"
appendix a - contacts fields
network
lyrics: details
"lyrics: details"
lyrics: details
?help
""projects: preferences (extended)"
projects: preferences (extended)
show related
jump to tips
= ""
OK1F1F1JRF1
0JRF1F1F1F1B
Cancel
F1F1F1F1F1F1JRF1F1F1JRF1JRSorry, no tips for this help topic. When there are any, a bullet is displayed on the 'tips' tab (details) or the 'tips' field (overview).C
print related topic(s)
print...
) = 0
Tutorial9c
Topics
g9g9g9g9kZg9g9g9kZg9For an introduction to the StudioSystem, take the tutorial tour.
To browse all available help topics, click 'Topics'.B+
) = 2
) = 3
?pro feature
Tutorial9c
Topics
g9g9g9g9kZg9g9g9kZg9Chapters marked as 'pro feature' describe features which may require a 'pro' license of the StudioSystem. More information on licensing can be found in the ReadMe.
(.txt)