Play audio files in the Audio File Editor

Play audio files in the Audio File Editor

There are a number of playback options in the Audio File Editor. Playback of audio files in the Audio File Editor occurs independently of the project playhead position. To hear the audio file in the context of your arrangement, you should use the control bar buttons.

The Mixer’s Prelisten channel strip is used for monitoring in the Audio File Editor. You can access the Prelisten channel strip by clicking the All button in the Mixer menu bar. The Prelisten channel strip is located to the right of the highest-numbered audio channel strip.

Important: Some audio interface hardware can layer direct current (DC) over the audio signal. This results in a vertical shift of the waveform position that can be clearly seen in the Audio File Editor. It can also cause crackling sounds at the start and end of the audio region during playback. Choose Functions > Remove DC Offset to center the waveform around the zero amplitude line.

Audio File Editor playback key commands

You can use the following key commands to enhance your playback options:

  • Play/Stop All: Plays back the whole audio file, regardless of the selected area.

  • Play/Stop Region: Toggles between playback of the region start and end points—regardless of the selected area.

  • Play/Stop Region to Anchor and Play/Stop Region from Anchor: Allow you to check the region anchor position by listening to the parts just before and after the anchor.

Control playback with the Prelisten button

  1. Control-click the Prelisten button, then choose an option from the shortcut menu:

    Figure. Prelisten button in the Sample Editor.

    • Auto-select Channel Strip: Plays the region displayed in the Audio File Editor through the audio channel strip assigned to the region’s source track (shown in the main window).

    • Prelisten Channel Strip: Plays back using the Prelisten channel strip. You can access the Prelisten channel strip in the Environment’s Mixer layer. It’s located to the right of the highest-numbered audio channel strip.

  2. Click the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, Control-Space bar) to start playback.

  3. Click the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, Control-Space bar) to stop playback.

Control playback with the ruler

  • Double-click the ruler at the point where you want playback to begin. A second double-click stops playback.

Control playback with the waveform overview

Do one of the following:

  • Click-hold at the point where you want playback to begin. The pointer turns into a Prelisten icon. Release the mouse button to stop playback.

    Figure. Sample Editor with the Prelisten icon over the waveform overview.

  • Double-click at the point where you want playback to begin.

Scrub audio

  • Click-hold the ruler and move the pointer.

    Figure. Sample Editor with the Prelisten button over the ruler.

Audio playback follows the speed and direction of your pointer. This technique helps you to quickly locate a particular position within an audio file.

Repeat the selected area continuously

  1. Click the Cycle button.

    Figure. Cycle button in the Sample Editor.

  2. Click the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, , Control-Space bar).

You can change the start and end points of the selected area during looped playback, to create a perfect drum loop cycle, for example. When you’re satisfied with the loop, you can make the selected area a new region.