Apple Loops Utility 3 User Manual
Copyright © 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Final Cut Studio or Logic Studio software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services.
Contents Preface 5 5 6 6 Welcome to Apple Loops Utility About Apple Loops Utility About the Apple Loops Utility Documentation Additional Resources Chapter 1 7 7 14 14 16 17 18 18 Using Apple Loops Utility About the Apple Loops Utility Interface Opening Files in Apple Loops Utility Tagging Files in Apple Loops Utility Working with Transients Saving Changes to Files Removing Files from the Assets Drawer Apple Loops Utility Preferences Appendix 19 19 20 20 21 21 Apple Loops Utility Keyboard Shortcuts
Preface Welcome to Apple Loops Utility Some audio files you use in Soundtrack Pro can include metadata called tags. Tags provide information about the audio recorded in a file. Apple Loops Utility is a companion application to Soundtrack Pro that you can use to view and manage tags in audio files.
About the Apple Loops Utility Documentation The Apple Loops Utility User Manual (this document) describes the Apple Loops Utility application only. For information about Soundtrack Pro, see the Soundtrack Pro User Manual. • Apple Loops Utility User Manual: This comprehensive document describes the Apple Loops Utility interface, commands, and menus.
Using Apple Loops Utility 1 You use Apple Loops Utility to view and manage metadata tags in audio files. Some audio files you use in Soundtrack Pro include tags. Tags provide information about the audio recorded in a file. This chapter covers the following: • About the Apple Loops Utility Interface (p. 7) • Opening Files in Apple Loops Utility (p. 14) • Tagging Files in Apple Loops Utility (p. 14) • Working with Transients (p. 16) • Saving Changes to Files (p.
The interface consists of a window with two tabs: the Tags tab and the Transients tab. The bottom of the window includes a set of playback controls and file management buttons. Apple Loops Utility also includes an Assets drawer, located to the right of the main window, where you manage open files.
Tags Tab The Tags tab includes areas for different types of tags, as well as a set of playback controls you can use to listen to a file open in Apple Loops Utility. Listening to a file can help you decide which tags are appropriate for the file. Property Tags These tags let you specify a variety of information in a file. • Number of Beats field: Displays the number of beats in the file. • File Type buttons: Set the file type, which can be Non-looping or Looping. • Key pop-up menu: Sets the key of the file.
Search Tags These tags are used by the Search feature in Soundtrack Pro when you search for files matching specific criteria. • Collection: Displays the name of the collection the file is affiliated with, if one exists. You can enter new data by typing in the field. • Theme: Displays the name of the theme the file is affiliated with, if one exists. You can enter new data by typing in the field. • Genre pop-up menu: Displays choices for the musical genre of the file.
Transients Tab The Transients tab contains a large waveform display, with a Beat ruler and a horizontal scroll bar. Markers indicate the position of transients in the file. Typically, transients correspond to the peaks or most pronounced amplitude changes in a sound’s waveform. The Transients tab includes controls for the beat division and sensitivity with which Apple Loops Utility detects transients in the file.
Assets Drawer The Assets drawer lists the files open in Apple Loops Utility. The drawer is open by default when you open Apple Loops Utility. Tabs Main window Playback controls µ 12 Assets drawer To show or hide the Assets drawer Click the Assets button at the bottom of the Apple Loops Utility window.
The Assets drawer contains a Name column that lists the name of each open file and a Changes column that indicates which files have changes applied. Add File and Remove File buttons Changes column Playback and File Management Controls The bottom of the Apple Loops Utility window contains a set of playback controls so that you can listen to the file in Apple Loops Utility. The playback controls do not affect the file’s tags, only the playback of the selected file.
• Tempo slider: Sets the playback tempo of the selected file. You can also enter a value in the field. • Volume slider: Sets the playback volume of the selected file. You can also enter a value in the field. • Assets button: Shows and hides the Assets drawer. • Save button: Saves your changes to the currently selected files in the Assets drawer. Opening Files in Apple Loops Utility You can open audio files from within Apple Loops Utility or directly from a Soundtrack Pro project.
When you make changes to a file’s tags, a dot appears in the Changes column next to the filename to indicate that the file has been changed. You can select a file or group of files and make one or several changes, and then select another file or group of files and make different changes. Apple Loops Utility remembers all the changes you make as you work with different files.
Working with Transients Transients are the points in an audio file where beats occur. Typically, transients occur at the widest areas of a waveform in the waveform display. During playback, Soundtrack Pro adjusts looping files using a technique called stretching to achieve the best audio quality, based on the loop’s transients. Non-looping files are not affected by stretching.
µ To change the sensitivity of transient detection Drag the Sensitivity slider to the left to decrease the sensitivity, or to the right to increase the sensitivity of transient detection. To remove a transient Do one of the following: µ µ Click the transient’s handle in the area above the Beat ruler, then press the Delete key. Drag the transient out of the area above the Beat ruler.
Removing Files from the Assets Drawer You can remove files from the Assets drawer. µ To remove files Select the file or files in the Assets drawer, then click the Remove File button at the top of the drawer (or press the Delete key). If you remove files to which you have applied changes, a dialog appears letting you choose whether to save or discard your changes.
Appendix Apple Loops Utility Keyboard Shortcuts You can use the following keyboard shortcuts to work quickly and efficiently in Apple Loops Utility. This appendix covers the following: • General and File (p. 19) • Navigation (p. 20) • Key and Scale Type Tagging (p. 20) • Descriptor Tagging (p. 21) • Transients (p. 21) General and File Keyboard shortcut Function N Creates a new, blank Apple Loops Utility window and opens the Open dialog.
Keyboard shortcut shift Function A Selects all files in the Assets drawer. Navigation Keyboard shortcut Function Makes the Tags tab active. F1 Makes the Transients tab active. F2 Makes the Assets drawer active. F3 Key and Scale Type Tagging Keyboard shortcut Turns on keyboard tagging. esc Sets the key to A. A shift A Sets the key to C. C C D Sets the key to F. F F M 20 Sets the key to F# (F-sharp). Sets the key to G. G shift Sets the key to D# (D-sharp). Sets the key to E.
Keyboard shortcut shift M shift B N Function Sets the scale type to Minor. Sets the scale type to Both. Sets the scale type to Neither. Descriptor Tagging You can use the following keyboard shortcuts when working with descriptor tags. For the following descriptor keyboard shortcuts, pressing the key once selects the first (left) item, pressing the key again selects the second (right) item, and pressing the key a third time selects Neither (the center button).
Keyboard shortcut Function Decreases sensitivity. shift shift + Increases sensitivity five times. Decreases sensitivity five times. Nudges the selected marker by one pixel to the left. Nudges the selected marker by one pixel to the right. Selects the previous marker. Selects the next marker.
