Backup Files: ------------- In addition to the wave file output, starting with version 1.03, the stats.txt file is now suffixed with your mix file name (as named in the first line of the faders.txt file). Also, the faders.txt file is copied and saved as a new file which is also suffixed with your mix file name. Both of these features allow you to stay organized if you want to revisit a mix or check its statistics since all names will match. Let's say you had two mixes of the same song called mix1 and mix2. The wave outputs will be called mix1.wav and mix2.wav. The statistics will be stats_mix1.txt and stats_mix2.txt. And the backup of your fader file will be faders_mix1.txt and faders_mix2.txt. Remember, if you do not change the name in the first line of the faders.txt file, you will overwrite all these files in the same directory, which is good or bad depending on what you intended to do. The bottom line is if you want to save anything important either move or copy the files to a new directory or rename the first line in the faders.txt file. Beginning in version 1.091 you can override the name at the top of the faders.txt file. In the preferences file you simply start a line with "oname", then tab, and then your output file name. If you have specified a mix directory (see below) the directory will be added to this name. Directory Options: ------------------ In the prefs.txt file you may specify a file where preview wave files are saved, one for mix files, and one for the text backup and statistics files. The commands are "predir", "mixdir", and "bakdir" respectively. "wavdir" is used to specify the source directory of your wave files if you do not wish to add it to the track file list directly. Use a tab between the command and directory name. And, add the "/" at the end of the directory name. For example, mixdir NameOfMixDirectory Beginning in version 1.13, if a preview directory is not specified then the mix directory will be used for preview.wav files, if specified. Bit Depth: ---------- The bit depth defaults to 24, even when source files are 16 bit. For a dithered 16 bit output, add a line starting with "outbits" in the preferences file, followed by a tab and then 16. There are no plans to support any lossy formats. Sample Rate: ------------ The final mix is always built at the same sample rate as the source tracks. There is no sample rate converter at this time. Peaks: ------ Peak values will print out so you can check if you have overloaded the mixer. A typical maximum peak level on both channels and the mix output should be between -12 dB and -3 dB. See the trimming section for overall level adjustments. Filenames: ---------- The mix file name will be read from whatever you type in the first line of the faders.txt file (the .wav extension will be added to this). An exception is when operating in preview mode when the mix output will be called "preview.wav". Any existing mix file with the same name in the same directory will be overwritten, so use caution and change the first line in the faders.txt file before running the mixer if you want to keep alternate mixes. Alternatively, you could change the name of a mix file with your file browser before or after running the mixer. Playback: --------- To listen to your mix, use Mixer4's built in playback (Mac and Linux), or open it in your DAW or a waveplayer. Usually you will be able to leave this file cued up to play even as you generate a new mix in either preview mode or regular mode. You will hear the changes when you replay the mix. The only thing that typically does not update is the picture of the waveform in your DAW unless you ask it to be rebuilt. See the audio playback section. Mono Output: ------------ Beginning in version 1.095 you have the option for the mix output to be a mono file. In the prefs.txt file, add a line that begins with 'mono', then a tab, and then the amount of attenuation in dB such as 0, -3 or -6. Master output levels display the peak as you would expect, after the left and right channels are combined. Mono output is useful for checking mono compatability, especially when using the delay pan. Also, perhaps you have an existing session in another mixing program and just want to use Mixer4's compressor on a bass guitar, for example. By setting Mixer4's output to mono you can apply the effects to a mono source track and get a processed mono output file to be added back into your other mixing program. Dither: ------- Dither is a low level signal of noise added to an audio signal before reducing bit depth in order to reduce the amount of digital distortion. By default, Mixer4 adds dither signal at the lowest bit level. In other words, one bit of noise is added. You can adjust the level of dither noise in the prefs.txt file by adding a line that begins with "dither" and then the number of bits to dither separated by a tab. For example, dither 2 would dither the lowest two bits. Dither can be turned off completely by setting the dither bits to 0. For a 24-bit file output, the dynamic range is 144 dB and a 2-bit dither signal would have a maximum signal of -132 dBFS. If the output is a 16-bit file, the dynamic range is 96 dB and a 2-bit dither signal has an amplitude of -88 dBFS. Therefore, the output file resolution selected affects the dither signal level. Increasing the dither signal should reduce quantization distortion at the expense of increased background (dither) noise. Each bit increases the level of dither noise by about 6 dB. The maximum number of dither bits is set at 8, but not recommended to be used unless your destination is an 8-bit audio file. Dither noise shaping has not yet been implemented, so experiment with dither in the 1-3 bit range.