Monitoring

    You can monitor the input files using SurCode. If you are encoding Surround for audio CDs, you can also monitor the encoded files, provided that you have an outboard DTS decoder, plus a S/PDIF output on your soundcard.

    Figure 9-10 shows the recommended setup for monitoring.

Figure 9-10

    The analog outputs from the computer allow you to monitor the input soundfiles, and the S/PDIF output allows you to monitor the DTS-encoded soundfile.

    Figure 9-11 shows the monitoring section of the SurCode interface.

Figure 9-11

    The monitor section has a 5-button transport control. When you click on the play button, playback begins at the time location shown in the time dispay window. The time display keeps a running indication of where you are in the soundfile.

    You can play the 6 input soundfiles. The outputs are routed to 3 Windows .wav stereo output devices, typically analog outputs of a soundcard.

    If you have encoded for audio CD, you can play the destination (DTS-encoded) soundfile. It's output is routed to a Windows .wav digital output device, usually an S/PDIF output. Most decoders accept both the 6 analog inputs, as well as S/PDIF coax or optical. Usually the decoder will automatically sense when DTS-encoded material is present, and switch between the encoded and unencoded inputs.

    When you are playing from the 6 input soundfiles, you can solo or mute any of the 6 channels. The solo/mute buttons are to the left of the input channel browse buttons (see Figure 9-12).

Figure 9-12

    It is necessary for you to tell SurCode what soundcard outputs you want to play through (see See Device options.).

Using the transport to trim an encoded file

    The monitoring section makes it easy to trim up a file for encoding.

    The start and stop times for the encoder default to the beginning and end of the soundfile. To trim a file, you will want to change these times.

    There are two buttons next to the start time, and also next to the stop time. These buttons are labeled "S" and "R" (see Figure 9-13).

Figure 9-13

    When you click on "S", the time that is showing in the monitor time display is copied into the encoder time window next to the button. When you hit the "R", the time is reset to the default (which is zero for the Start time, and is the end-of-recording time for the End time).

    Say that there is some unnecessary silence at the end of the recording. You can listen to the recording, and hit the "S" button on the End time when you hear the recording ending. The time can transfer either on-the-fly or with the transport stopped. The encoder will now trim the recording to the new end point, eliminating the unnecessary silence on the end.