Audio Plug-ins for Adobe Premiere™ and Macromedia Deck II™ Version 2.5
from InVision Interactive, Inc.
DEMO VERSION USER MANUAL
Table of Contents
Introduction
Thank you, and welcome!
Overview & product features
Installation
System requirements
Installing the software
Quick Instructions
Selecting CyberSound FX plug-ins
Selecting InVision templates
Preview and Bypass
Customizing and saving templates
Important note
Reference Section
The CyberSound FX window
Audio Application Tips
Troubleshooting
Glossary of terms
Credits
Introduction
Thank you for trying CyberSound™ FX Audio DSP plug-ins for Adobe Premiere and Macromedia Deck II version 2.5 from InVision Interactive! With this powerful yet easy to use software, you can dramatically enhance the audio portion of your presentations and QuickTime™ movies.
By applying such effects as EQ (tone equalization), Reverb, Delay, and Echo (ambience), Pitch Shifting, Flange, and Chorus (special effects), and Normalization/Compression (dynamics processing) to your audio tracks, a whole new dimension of creativity can be realized.
The product consists of 15 software plug-in modules, each performing a specific processing function. The included plug-ins are:
• Chamber Reverb
• Chorus
• Compressor
• Delay
• Dynamic Filter
• Flange
• Large Hall Reverb
• Multi-tap Delay
• Normalize
• Parametric EQ
• Phaser
• Pitch Shift
• Shelf EQ
• Small Hall Reverb
• Tremolo
Some of the powerful features include:
• Easy to install and use. Just drop the filters into the plug-ins folder. Select pre-defined parameter settings from a list of templates within the filter module.
• Preset templates defined by audio specialists. Professional results no longer require knowledge of potentially complicated parameters! A wide variety of templates are provided for instant, “tweak-free” results in typical applications.
• User-definable custom templates. Settings may be modified to suit personal tastes then saved with a new name and comments for future use.
• Preview mode. Results can be heard from within the filter module. A real time saver!
• On-line help. Instructions, module and parameter descriptions, and application tips are always just a mouse click away.
• Consistent user interface. All of the modules operate the same way.
• Multiple effects. Need EQ, chorus, echo, AND reverb? No problem. Stack’em up!
• Native PowerPC code. For fast previewing and rendering on Power Macs.
• Small size. Less than 1 megabyte of disk space is required for full installation.
• Supports all audio file formats. Stereo, mono, 8-bit, 16-bit, and all sample rates.
• Professional sound quality. Create great sounding audio tracks!
This demo version allows you to select the plug-ins, enter the CyberSound editor window, select InVision templates, customize and save parameters, and preview the resulting audio. It is functionally identical to the full product in every way, except that you cannot render movies.
Installation
System Requirements
CyberSound FX can be used with Adobe Premiere version 3.0 or higher, and Macromedia Deck II version 2.5 or higher. The system requirements for CyberSound FX are the same as the requirements of those products. CyberSound FX requires 1 megabyte disk space.
Installing the software
1. Insert the CyberSound FX demo floppy disk.
2. Double-click the compressed, self-extracting application named ‘CyberSound FX demo.sea’.
3. Navigate to the Adobe Premiere or Macromedia Deck II "Plug-Ins" folder within the application folder for the destination of the plug-ins.
4. Click Save. A new folder named “CyberSound FX folder” which contains the individual filter modules is copied to your hard disk.
5. Important information for Premiere v3.0 and Deck II 2.5 users:
Premiere 4.0 will properly recognize plug-ins within a folder. If you are running Premiere 3.0 or Deck II v2.5, you will need to move the individual plug-ins from the CyberSound FX folder to the root level of the Plug-Ins folder.
6. Re-launch Premiere or Deck II for the new plug-ins to be recognized. That’s it!
Quick Instructions
• Selecting CyberSound FX plug-ins
First, select the audio clip you want to process in the Premiere construction window. Then select Filters... from the Clip menu. This will bring up the Premiere filters dialog for selecting which plug-in module to use. Double-click one of the CyberSound FX plug-ins in the left-hand list to bring up the editor window and template list.
• Selecting InVision templates
Once you are within a specific plug-in window, select a pre-defined template of optimized settings by clicking on a template name in the list window. InVision factory templates (indicated by a bullet) are read-only, and cannot be deleted or overwritten.
• Previewing results
Check Preview to audition the template settings result. The mouse cursor changes to a clock while the computations are made. You can’t make changes while it’s calculating, and you’re not hearing the displayed settings until the mouse clock changes back to an arrow. The duration of the clip preview is set in Preferences: Audio... from the Premiere file menu. Keep this preview duration short, typically between 1-5 seconds.
• Bypass
Check Bypass to audition the dry, unprocessed sound for comparison. Preview must also be checked to engage Bypass mode. If you want to change more than one parameter at a time, check Bypass so you don’t have to wait for each re-computation.
• Customizing and saving templates
Settings may be modified to suit your tastes using templates as starting points. Click Save As... to name your template, add a comment, and add it to the list. Each template must have a unique name. To change (overwrite) a stored custom template, click Save.
Important note
Most settings interact with a high degree of sensitivity. Very wide parameter ranges are provided for maximum control and flexibility in every situation. Depending on the source material, unpredictable results may occur with extreme settings. Exercise caution by lowering speaker volume to avoid overload. InVision template settings are optimized by audio experts for sound quality and are appropriate for most applications.
Reference Section
The CyberSound FX window
(increase window size to view entire screen shot)
Each CyberSound FX plug-in module (except Normalize, which has no window) has a nearly identical window. The only difference between the various plug-in windows are the quantity and names of parameter sliders, and the templates. The name of the currently selected plug-in is displayed in the window title bar.
Description of window components
• Parameter sliders
The parameter sliders control the sound of the plug-in, defining how the sound clip will be processed. Above each slider is a parameter name; below each slider is that parameters’ current value. Slider values can be changed in three different ways: 1) Click, hold, and drag the horizontal slider thumb; 2) Increment and decrement by a value of one by clicking at the top or bottom of the slider; or 3) Increment and decrement by 10% of the total range by clicking on the vertical slider line, between the horizontal slider bar and the end of the slider range.
• Parameter names
Each parameter defines one aspect of the plug-in. A parameter is named according to its function. The quantity of parameters vary, depending on the complexity of the plug-in. For a complete description of each plug-in, its parameters, and their function, refer to the on-line help.
• Template list window
A template is a complete set of parameters stored with a name and (optionally) a comment. Templates are selected by clicking on a template name in the list window; parameter sliders are updated to show the current values for the selected template. InVision factory templates (indicated by a bullet) are read-only, and cannot be deleted or overwritten.
• Preview
Settings can be previewed to hear the result without leaving the window. Click the preview box to audition the current parameter settings. The mouse cursor changes to a clock while the computations are made. You can’t make changes while it’s calculating, and you’re not hearing the displayed settings until the mouse clock changes back to an arrow. The duration of the clip preview is set in Preferences: Audio... from the Premiere File menu. Keep this preview duration short, typically 1-5 seconds. The resolution of the preview mode is set in the Preview Options... from the Premiere Make menu.
• Bypass
When Preview is checked, clicking bypass allows you to hear the audio clip without processing. This is handy for comparing the processed and unprocessed sound. If you want to change more than one parameter at a time, check Bypass so you don’t have to wait for each re-computation.
• Save As...
You can create custom templates after modifying parameter values to suit your tastes. Click Save As... to name your custom template, add a comment, and add it to the list. Each template must have a unique name. Any comments added in the Save As... comment box are displayed beneath the template list window when that template is selected. Custom templates are stored in preference files in the active system folder.
• Save
When an existing custom template is modified, the Save button becomes active. At this point you can change (overwrite) the existing custom template by clicking Save. If the button does not become active after changing a parameter value, it is because the current template is read-only (indicated by a bullet). In this case, use Save As... instead. Caution: any custom templates overwritten using the Save command cannot be recovered.
• Delete
Custom templates can be permanently deleted from the template list by clicking Delete. Read-only InVision templates (indicated by a bullet) cannot be deleted. Caution: deleted custom templates cannot be recovered.
• Help...
Clicking the Help... button displays an online description of the plug-in, parameter definitions, and application tips. Each plug-in has a unique online help screen. The help screen displays another button, called Basics... which includes basic instructions for using the CyberSound FX plug-ins.
• OK
Clicking OK closes the CyberSound FX window and returns you to the Premiere filters dialog box. In this demo version, the plug-in is not placed in the list on the right. The commercial version would place it in the list on the right, applying the plug-in to the clip and allowing you to render the movie. At this point, you would be able to add additional processing by selecting another plug-in from the list on the left.
• Cancel
Clicking Cancel closes the CyberSound FX window and returns you to the Premiere filters dialog box without placing the plug-in in the right-hand list. At this point you may select a different plug-in for processing, or click cancel again to return to the construction window without applying a plug-in.
• Version
The software version of the plug-in is displayed for reference purposes.
Audio Application Tips
• Use special effects sparingly. Too much processing (especially time-based effects such as reverb and delay) can produce a muddy, unintelligible result. By using just enough processing to hear a difference, clarity is maintained while still enhancing the overall sound. Heavy processing is often best used for dramatic effect in smaller doses.
• Listen to the soundtrack on more than one audio playback system. What sounds great on your high fidelity multimedia speakers might sound lousy through an internal Mac speaker (and vice-versa). By auditioning the audio on more than one system, you can make adjustments for the best overall sound quality in the environment it is intended for.
• Use the highest possible quality source recordings. The soup always tastes better when you use quality ingredients! When digitizing audio, use a 16-bit, 44.1k sampling rate at the highest possible level without overload clipping for CD quality audio tracks. If using pre-recorded clips, consider the reputation of the vendor, and consider quality versus quantity.
• Render with the highest audio resolution possible. Even though audio is often the first place to turn to conserve disk space and thoughput, consider that an excellent soundtrack can have as great (or greater!) an impact as the visuals. However, if your audio source clips are 22k 8-bit sounds, you won’t “get your quality back” by rendering at a higher resolution.
• Try the same filter on various source materials. Audio processing results are source-dependent. Recording quality, sample rate & bit resolution, harmonic content and density, rhythmic complexity, layering, and other factors all effect how a particular plug-in module will sound. The same template might sound radically different on a different source file. If you try an effect and don’t like the way it sounds, don’t give up on it permanently; try it again sometime on different source material and you may find it useful after all.
• Apply multiple filters in series to the same sound. Many types of sounds can benefit from multiple processing. For example, a particular music clip may sound dull and lifeless. But after adding EQ for tonal balance, a bit of Reverb for ambience, some Compression for punchiness, and Normalization to bring up the overall level, that same clip now has a completely new character. This is one way sound designers get that big “broadcast quality” in blockbuster movies.
• Let your ears be the judge. Sometimes it’s best to toss the rules and guidelines out the window, and throw caution to the wind. Go ahead and experiment. This is the art of creativity; do what sounds right to you!
Troubleshooting
Problem:
The CyberSound FX plug-ins are not listed in the Premiere Filters dialog box.
Solution(s):
1. Make sure the plug-ins were installed into the Premiere Plug-ins folder within the Premiere application folder, and check the Preferences: Plug-ins... from the Premiere file menu to make sure Premiere is pointing to the correct Plug-ins folder.
2. Make sure to re-launch Premiere after installation of the plug-ins.
3. If using Premiere version 3.0, the plug-ins must be removed from the CyberSound FX folder, and placed in the root level of the Premiere Plug-ins folder.
Problem:
Preview computations take too long.
Solution:
1) Reduce the preview duration time. The duration of the clip preview is set in Preferences: Audio... from the Premiere “File” menu. Typical preview times are 1-5 seconds.
2) Make only one setting change at a time, being careful not to click more than once at a time. If you want to change several parameter values, check bypass first, then uncheck it after making your changes.
Problem:
Sound quality is not very good in preview mode.
Solution:
Increase the preview playback resolution. The resolution of the preview mode is set in the Preview Options... from the Premiere “Make” menu. Select 16-bit mode if your hardware supports it; try matching the sample rate of the majority of your audio clips.
Problem:
Some parameter settings cause bad sounds (distortion, breakup, etc).
Solution:
Reduce the value of the parameter(s). Most settings interact with a high degree of sensitivity. Very wide parameter ranges are provided for maximum control and flexibility in every situation. However, depending on the source material, unpredictable results may occur with extreme settings. Exercise caution by lowering speaker volume to avoid overload. InVision template settings are optimized by audio experts for sound quality and are appropriate for most applications.
Problem:
A template sounds great on one file, but not so good on another, very similar file.
Solution:
This is caused by audio clips recorded at different sample rates. Some parameters (delay times, modulation rates, and others) are affected by the sample rate of the audio clip. The solution is to modify the parameter values.
Problem:
After saving a custom template, not all the characters from the comments window are saved.
Solution:
The comments buffer only stores 64 characters; keep comments within this limit.
Problem:
Unable to overwrite or delete templates with a bullet in the name.
Solution:
InVision templates (indicated by a bullet) are read-only; they cannot be overwritten or deleted.
Glossary of terms
• AMBIENCE: 1) The perception that a sound is emanating from an acoustical environment. By adding ambience to a sound, it can appear to be originating from a symphony hall, bathroom, echo canyon, etc. 2) A very expensive restaurant with fabulous decor.
• CLIP: 1) Video and/or audio files, assembled by Premiere into a movie. 2) In audio lexicon, refers to a signal overload which causes distortion. “To be avoided except for special effect”.
• DSP: Digital Signal Processing. The technology used to produce CyberSound FX.
• DYNAMIC RANGE: The volume range between the softest and loudest passages in a sound. While desirable for reproducing high-fidelity classical music on a CD, it is usually undesirable when delivering a multimedia presentation through a computer speaker. Dynamic range can be reduced (or eliminated) with audio compression.
• EQ: Equalization. Refers to making adjustments to the timbre (“tone”) of a sound by boosting (adding) or cutting (subtracting) certain portions of the audio spectrum (such as bass and treble), which changes the tonal characteristics of the sound. EQ can take many forms, such as Shelving, Parametric, or Graphic. See “filter”.
• FILTER: 1) An individual software plug-in module which performs a specific DSP function. 2) In audio lexicon, refers to an EQ which boosts or cuts (“filters”) certain portions of the audio spectrum, changing the tonal characteristics of a sound.
• MODULATION: A parameter value that varies over time, usually controlled automatically by a low-frequency oscillator. Many of the more “animated” CyberSound FX plug-ins use modulation to add a sense of movement and/or richness to a sound.
• PARAMETER: The control for a particular function within a plug-in. A plug-in may have several parameters, depending on its complexity.
• PLUG-IN: A software “extension” module that provides additional functionality to an existing software application, typically providing various DSP effects. See “filter”.
• TAP: In a delay line, a tap is where the sound is “grabbed” from the delay timeline, determining the duration of the delay time. In a multi-tap delay, multiple points are “tapped”, resulting in echos of multiple lengths.
• TEMPLATE: A complete set of parameter values and a name, saved to a list within a plug-in. InVision provides a wide assortment of “read-only” factory templates (indicated by a bullet) for each plug-in, so that no knowledge of potentially complicated audio parameters is necessary for professional results.
Credits
Product & Software Design:
Steve O’Connell
Product Test, Template Design, User Manual:
Theo Byassee
Packaging, Manufacturing, Inspiration:
Candice Denton
Logo design:
Faia Design
Graphic design:
Ajax Design, Santa Cruz, CA
Special Thanks:
Mike Farrell, Jeff Matulich, Nick Schlott, Sara Daley, John Carscadden, Dave, Barbara, and the rest of the Adobe team.
