Realtime Playback Features

This section discusses the features that are available to the user during playback of a project's audio. Many of the editing features and file access features are unavailable during playback, however, audio level displays and settings, as well as the option to mute or solo a track are all available.

Monitoring Playback Levels and Project Time

During playback of audio the user can monitor the current realtime output level of the audio being played back by viewing the Playback Level Monitor (visual aid items #17 and #18). The Playback Level Monitor displays audio levels in decibels. No special actions or operations are needed to activate the playback level monitor, it will analyze any audio currently being played back from the Acoustic Labs Multitrack Recorder. Also during playback the current time position of audio being played back will be displayed in the Project Time window (visual aid item #32). Once playback stops the Project Time will reset to what it was originally set to before playback started.

Using the Audio Level Sliders

A track's left and right audio level sliders can be used at anytime to adjust the output level of individual tracks or the main volume slider can be used to adjust the entire project's output level. Visual aid items #25 and #26 show the audio level sliders for Track 1. Visual aid item #16 shows the audio level slider for the entire project. Also, you'll notice above each slider is the actual level in decibels that the track is set to. The available settings range from -50 decibels to +10 decibels. A setting of 0 decibels is no amplification change. A positive change in decibels will increase the audio level and a negative setting will cause a decrease in volume of the audio. It is often useful to use the audio level sliders in realtime as audio plays back to get the audio level of a track just right.

Using the Solo and Mute Buttons

The "Mute" and "Solo" buttons can both be used during realtime playback of audio. You'll notice each track has a "Solo" button (visual aid item #23) and a "Mute" button (visual aid item #24). When selecting the "Mute" button the given track's audio will not playback - it will be reduced to silence. When selecting the "Solo" button the given track's audio will play solely by itself while all other tracks are muted.