The Acoustic Labs Multitrack Recorder is an eight track digital audio recorder, editor and mixer. One track can be viewed at a time. To view a track simply click the "View" button located on the Mixing Board Area (visual aid item #21). The current track view is important because anytime you perform any editing operation or apply any of the audio tools or effects the operation will be applied to the currently viewed track.

There are a few different ways to navigate within a project and select the position that you wish playback of audio to begin at. Most users find that using the tracking bar is a good way to select the playback starting position. To set the starting playback time at a specific position of a waveform, simply click the left button of the mouse on that specific part of the audio waveform. You'll see the project time (visual aid item #32) update to the selected position time.

Another very effective way to navigate to various parts of a project is by using the project position slider (visual aid item #39). By moving the slider left and right you can adjust the playback starting position to any part of the project. For example, if you wish to move the playback starting position to the very beginning of the project, slide the project position slider to the far left. If you would like to start playback in the middle of the project, simply move the slider to the middle position. Also, the rewind and fast-forward buttons (visual aid item #34 and #35) can be used to quickly move to the beginning and end of the project.

Waveform navigation is covered in greater detail in Section 6: Waveform Navigating.

To playback the current project simply press the play button (visual aid item #33). Playback will begin at whatever position the current project time (visual aid item #32) is set to. Playback of the project will mix all tracks together in real-time resulting in the audio you will hear from your PC speakers or headphones connected to your PC. As playback occurs you'll notice the project time value shows the current position of the project that is playing back. Also, the playback level monitor (visual aid item #17 and #18) allows you to monitor the output level. Audio playback and real-time settings are discussed in farther detail in Section 5: Real-Time Playback Features.

When starting the Acoustic Labs Multitrack Recorder for the first time the Demo Project will load up and begin playback. The Demo Project is useful for getting started as far as learning your way around the Multitrack Recorder. To start a new project simply click the "New" button located on the top toolbar or use the pull down menu system (visual aid item #1) and select "File" and then "New". This will clear all audio, level settings and descriptions for all tracks.

To save a project select "Save" either from the top toolbar or the pull down menu system. This will save all of the project's audio, level settings and descriptions for all tracks. When saving a project you will most likely want to save it as a "Mixer" file. Saving in this format will ensure that all tracks are kept separate and all description and level settings are also saved. File formats are discussed in farther detail in Section 4: Different Audio File Formats. To open an existing project select "Open" either from the top toolbar or the pull down menu system. After selecting "Open" the open file dialog box will appear. Simply select the project you wish to open.

To record new audio to a track first select the "Arm" button of the track you wish to record to (visual aid item #22). Then click the "Rec" button (visual aid item #37). This will bring up the recording dialog box as shown to the right. The left and right channel audio input levels are shown on this dialog box. To start recording simply press the "Start" button. You'll notice that the "Audio Recorded" time value will start counting the amount of audio that has been recorded. Also, any existing audio in the project will playback simultaneously as you record new audio.

When you're finished recording new audio simply click the "Stop" button on the "Record Audio" dialog box. The dialog box will disappear and the Multitrack Recorder will display the waveform data of the newly recorded audio. You may also notice the Punch In/Out feature located on the record audio dialog box, these features and more are covered in Section 10: Advanced Recording Features.

The following keyboard strokes can be used to perform the stated action:

Ctrl N: Start a New Project Ctrl O: Open a New File/Project Ctrl S: Save the Current Project F1: Help Topics Ctrl Space: Play/Stop Toggle Ctrl R: Record Audio Ctrl I: Monitor Input Ctrl Z: Undo Last Operation Ctrl Y: Redo Last Undo Operation Ctrl 1-8: Change View to Tracks 1-8

Ctrl C: Copy Highlighted Section to Clipboard Ctrl X: Cut Highlighted Section to Clipboard Ctrl V: Paste Audio from the Clipboard Delete: Delete Highlighted Section Ctrl A: Arm the Current Track Ctrl L: Solo the Current Track Ctrl M: Mute the Current Track Ctrl +: Zoom In on Audio Waveform Ctrl -: Zoom Out of Audio Waveform Ctrl Left Arrow: Rewind Ctrl Right Arrow: Fast Forward