Audio FX Testing

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Selecting Effects->Audio FX launches the Audio FX testing dialog.

Microsoft DirectSound, which is part of the DirectX specification, supports various sound effects and distortions on audio files. The following is a brief description of the effects and their parameters, which are accessible through the Audio FX utility.

Chorus:
Chorus is a voice-doubling effect created by echoing the original sound with a slight delay and slightly modulating the delay of the echo.
Chorus Parameters:
Wet/Dry Mix: Percentage ratio of wet (processed) signal to dry (unprocessed) signal.
Depth: Percentage by which the delay time is modulated by the low-frequency oscillator, in hundredths of a percentage point.
Feedback: Percentage of output signal to feed back into the effect's input.
Frequency: Frequency of the low frequency oscillator in Hertz.
Delay: Number of milliseconds the input is delayed before it is played back.

Compressor:
Compression is a reduction in the fluctuation of a signal above a certain amplitude.
Compressor Parameters:
Gain: Output gain of signal after compression, in decibels.
Attack: Time before compression reaches its full value, in milliseconds.
Release: Speed at which compression is stopped after input drops below the threshold value (see below), in milliseconds.
Threshold: Point at which compression begins, in decibels.
Ratio: Compression ratio. The default value is 3, which means 3:1.
Predelay: Time after the threshold is reached before attack phase is started, in milliseconds.

Distortion:
Distortion is 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.
Distortion Parameters:
Gain: Amount of signal change after distortion, in decibels.
Edge: Percentage of distortion intensity.
PostEQ Center Frequency: Center frequency of harmonic content addition, in hertz.
PostEQ Bandwidth: Width of frequency band that determines range of harmonic content addition, in hertz.
PreLowpass Cutoff: Filter cutoff for high-frequency harmonics attenuation, in hertz.

Echo:
An echo effect causes an entire sound to be repeated after a fixed delay.
Echo Parameters:
Wet/Dry Mix: Percentage ratio of wet (processed) signal to dry (unprocessed) signal.
Feedback: Percentage of output fed back into input.
Left Delay: Delay for left channel, in milliseconds.
Right Delay: Delay for right channel, in milliseconds.

Flange:
Flange is 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. The term flange originated with the practice of grabbing the flanges of a tape reel to change the speed.
Flange Parameters:
Wet/Dry Mix: Percentage ratio of wet (processed) signal to dry (unprocessed) signal
Depth: Percentage by which the delay time is modulated by the low-frequency oscillator (LFO), in hundredths of a percentage point.
Feedback: Percentage of output signal to feed back into the effect's input.
Frequency: Frequency of the low frequency oscillator.
Delay: Number of milliseconds the input is delayed before it is played back.

Gargle:
The gargle effect modulates the amplitude of the signal.
Gargle Parameters:
Rate: Rate of modulation, in Hertz.

Parametric Equalizer:
A parametric equalizer amplifies or attenuates signals of a given frequency.
Parametric Equalizer Parameters:
Center Freq: Center frequency, in hertz.
Bandwidth: Bandwidth, in semitones.
Gain: Gain of signal after equalizing, in decibels.

Reverb:
The Waves reverberation effect is intended for use with music. Waves reverberation is based on the Waves MaxxVerb technology, which is licenced to Microsoft.
Reverb Parameters:
In Gain: Input gain of signal, in decibels.
Reverb Mix: Reverb mix, in decibels.
Reverb Time: Reverb time, in milliseconds.
HighFreq RT Ratio: High frequency reverb time ratio. Default value is 0.001, or 1:1000.

To add an effect to the currently loaded music file, simply select the checkbox next to the chosen effect. Use the corresponding radio buttons to select the effects parameters you wish to change. Note: Changing the parameters of an effect you haven’t selected won’t have any change on the audio output.

Wave Form:
Defines the waveform of the low frequency oscillator for the Chorus effect.

Phase:
Defines the phase differential between left and right low frequency oscillators for the Chorus effect.

Open File:
Browses your computer for an audio file.

Loop Sound:
Select this checkbox if you want the audio file to restart playing after it completes.

Play:
Plays the currently loaded sound file and applies the selected effects.

Stop:
Stops playback.

Help:
Displays this page.

Exit:
Closes the Audio FX dialog.