Transforms (Alter a Selection)

Transforms are tools that allow you to alter your selection. You can use the transform feature to alter track portions, or entire tracks. To use a transform:

1. Make a selection (select a portion or select all using Edit > Select All).
2. Choose transform from the Transform menu.
3. Select one of the effects from the Available Transforms list below.

Available Transforms

Every transform has a more or less standard interface that allows transform specific settings, and the ability to preview the effect.

Adjust Volume

Some songs you have on your computer may be too quiet or too loud compared to others in your collection. To balance the volume, click and slide the volume bar to the desired level (-100% creates silence, and +100% doubles the volume (+6dB)). You can then preview the transformed track and compare it to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply”.

Silence

Changes the audio to pure silence.

Normalize

This is a good feature for increasing volume without creating sound distortion. Just click and drag the "Peak level" bar to the right. If you normalize to 100%, you are increasing the sound to the maximum volume achievable without sound distortion. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Dynamic Boost

This effect allows you to boost your sound even if the volume is as high as sound distortion will allow. It does this by boosting lower volume sections more than high volume sections. This is a good transform to use when trying to make the music or voice more "even", and it will increase the apparent loudness. There are no settings to configure. You can preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Fade

This transform will make particular tracks fade in and/or out. First select a portion of a file to fade in or out. Then click Transform > Fade; you will see that the "Preset" is set to "Original." If you want to fade in or fade out, choose "Fade In" or "Fade Out" from the drop-down menu. Sliding the Start and Finish volume bars can also alter settings. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Stereo Mixing

This makes it possible to change the stereo settings of the sound coming out of your speakers. It allows you to mix the audio according to its middle/side properties. Middle is everything that the channels have in common, and side is everything that's different between the channels. For example, boosting the side level (Stereo Boost) can create a wider sound because it emphasizes the differences between the speakers.

When you click on "Stereo Mixing," you'll notice the default preset "Original." If you click on the drop-down menu, you'll see three other presets: "Stereo Expansion," "Voice Removal" and "Stereo Removal." You can also alter these three presets (and the "Original" preset as well) by sliding the four bars to the left or to the right. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Reverb

Reverb lets you add an "echo" sound to your music that is comparable to music heard in a concert hall. Just increase the reverb "Settings" bar to the desired percentage. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Equalize

Allows the selection to have different frequencies boosted or cut, much like the equalizer included in Media Center. To change the equalization levels of a track, slide any of the 10 bands to the desired level. Bass levels are to the left while treble levels are to the right. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."

Winamp DSP

This transform allows you to use Winamp DSP plug-ins installed in Media Center to transform your audio.

Just as you can change the equalization levels for tracks, you can also apply Digital Signal processing (DSP) plug-in settings to tracks. Under "Plug-in Selection," select "Plug-in" and then choose from among the Media Center DSP plug-ins you have downloaded.

DSP plug-ins are available at http://accessories.musicex.com/mediacenter/accessories.php

When you select a plug-in, it will open and you can make changes to the available settings. The settings you choose will be applied to the track in Media Editor. You can then preview the transformed track and listen to the original. To load the transformed track, select "Apply."