Note: This program feature is only available for audio files in WAV format and the Play Modifier Use DirectX checkbox must be checked.

The Fx Editor allows you to apply many Fx effects when playing a Sound Item.

Tip - Audio file characteristics - The Wav sound must be at least 1.5 seconds in length to use effects. All effects except Waves Reverb can process 8-bit or 16-bit Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) Wav data with one or two channels at any sample rate . Waves Reverb does not support 8-bit samples.

A note on Output Group - Fx Editor will only play on one device. It will use the first device specified in the Output Group for the Sound Item.

Fx Effects Types

• Chorus  - a voice-doubling effect created by echoing the original sound with a slight delay and slightly modulating the delay of the echo.
• Compressor  - a reduction in the fluctuation of a signal above a certain amplitude.
• Distortion  - achieved by adding harmonics to the signal in such a way that, as the level increases, the top of the Waveform becomes squared off or clipped.
• Echo  - causes sounds to be repeated after a fixed delay, usually at a diminished volume. As the repeated sounds are fed back into the mix, they are repeated again.
• Flanger  - an echo effect in which the delay between the original signal and its echo is very short and varies over time. The result is sometimes referred to as a sweeping sound.
• Gargle  - modulates the amplitude of the signal.
• Waves Reverb  - a sound reflection effect intended for use with music.
• Parametric Equalizer  - amplifies or attenuates signals of a given frequency. Parametric equalizer effects for different pitches can be applied in parallel by setting multiple instances of the effect on the same buffer. In this way, the application can have tone control similar to that provided by a hardware equalizer.

Each effect has its own configurable parameters and you can use any combination of effects. Recall that Sound Mill never modifies a Wav file directly. Effects are applied when you play the sound and can be changed as many times as desired without affecting the Wav file itself.

Using the Fx Editor

To apply effects, select a Sound Item from the Sound List panel, then click the Fx Editor button on the Editors toolbar toolbar. The Fx Editor pops up and loads the Wav file associated with the Sound Item.

Toolbar and General Controls

• Adding Effects - Click on the Add pull down menu and select an effect type. The effect is added to the effects list and the effect parameters can now be set by adjusting the sliders in the Parameters panel.
• Effect Name - You can change the Effect Name if desired. This is useful if you want to reuse the effect settings for other Sound Items. (ex. "Dream Echo" or "Alien Voice") These effect names appear in the Effects report.
• Delete an effect - Click on the effect in the effects list, then click the Delete button.
• Loop Play - Click the Loop Play button on the toolbar to make the sound play in a continous loop. Click again and loop play is cancelled (to Single Play).
• Delete All Effects - Click the Delete All Effects button to delete all current effects from this Sound Item.
• Apply - Click the Apply button to apply the Fx effects changes to the Sound Item. You need to click the Refresh button on the Play Controls panel to pick up changes applied in the Fx Editor.
• Close - Click the Close button to close the 3D Editor. Closing without applying changes, effectively cancels all changes made.

Figure 1. The Fx Editor

Effect parameters

Below are brief descriptions of effect parameters listed alphabetically. Change parameter settings in the Fx Editor and play the sound to hear the effects.

Fx Parameters

• Attack  - Time before compression reaches its full value.
• Bandwidth  - Bandwidth, in semitones.
• Center  - Center frequency, in hertz.
• Delay  - Number of milliseconds the input is delayed before it is played back.
• Depth  - Percentage by which the delay time is modulated by the low-frequency oscillator (LFO), in hundredths of a percentage point.
• Edge  - Percentage of distortion intensity.
• Feedback  - Percentage of output signal to feed back into the effect's input.
• Frequency  - Frequency of the LFO.
• Gain  - Output gain of signal after effect is applied.
• High Frequency Rt Ratio  - High-frequency reverb time ratio.
• In Gain  - Input gain of signal, in decibels (dB).
• Pan Delay  - Value that specifies whether to swap left and right delays with each successive echo.
• Phase  - Phase differential between left and right LFOs.
• Post-Eq Bandwidth  - Width of frequency band that determines range of harmonic content addition.
• Post-Eq Center Frequency  - Center frequency of harmonic content addition.
• Pre-delay  - Time after Threshold is reached before attack phase is started, in milliseconds.
• Pre-Lowpass Cutoff  - Filter cutoff for high-frequency harmonics attenuation.
• Rate Hz  - Rate of modulation, in Hertz.
• Ratio  - Compression ratio.
• Release  - Speed at which compression is stopped after input drops below Threshold.
• Reverb Mix  - Reverb mix, in decibels (dB).
• Reverb Time  - Reverb time, in milliseconds.
• Threshold  - Point at which compression begins.
• Waveform  - Waveform shape of the LFO.
• Wave Shape  - Shape of the modulation Waveform.
• Wet/Dry Mix  - Ratio of wet (processed) signal to dry (unprocessed) signal.

Recording Sounds

You can record the applied Fx effects to a new Wav file and save it, however Sound Mill does not record sounds. To record, you would play the sound in Sound Mill and simultaneously record it with a recording program. Most sound cards come with a decent recorder program. And there are dozens of recording programs available for download on the Web. Audacity is Free and is a fairly high function Wav editor/recorder. The Windows Sound Recorder will work but it is a low function program and may not produce a high quality recording.