HD24/96 Technical Reference | 12 |
The top portion of the screen contains the Tools/Meters panel and Transport Controls. The transport control buttons will be used throughout all project operations, whereas Meters are typically used during Tracking and Tools are typically used during Edit operations. This is why that portion of the screen is shared between the two functions.
The Transport Control section is always visible (unless covered by a floating window) and acts as the general location display, reading either SMPTE time code (hours:minutes:seconds:frames), BBT (bars:beats:ticks based on the preset tempo), or, for the serious propellerheads, time in hours:minutes:seconds:milliseconds or number of samples.
Clicking on the two graphic 'folder tabs' at the top right corner of the Tools/Meters window selects which of the two screens is displayed.
One very handy bit of information relevant to tracking is the virtual gas gage. This tells you how much recording time you have left on the disk and is found both in the Tools window and on the bottom line of the HDR24/96 front panel LCD. While Editing doesn't take up much hard disk space, tracking sure does - so take a peek at this readout from time to time to be sure you don’t run out in the middle of the killer take. Notice that the “Time Available” follows the number of channels you’ve selected for recording, the sample rate, and bit depth. Clever!
The major action on the GUI screen is the Tracks window, an expandable 24 track view of the recorded regions. The tracks are bordered on the left by the 'Track Info, Record and Monitor' panel. This contains the track numbers 1 through 24, Record Ready buttons, the virtual track (“take”) expansion button, the active take selector, and Solo and Mute monitor buttons.
Clicking on the Take number button brings up a list from which you can select the active take for recording or playback. Clicking on the take expansion button (→) displays the eight virtual tracks for the selected track. Clicking it again collapses the display to the single active take for each track.
The track display is bordered on the right by the retractable List panel. When opened with the stubby ← at the right of the track display, the List panel displays the Regions, Cues (including Locate points) and History List of editing operations. Clicking on the graphic 'folder tabs' at the top of the List panel selects the displayed list. Clicking on the stubby → puts away the List panel and extends the tracks to the full screen width.
Floating windows (normally closed and out of view) are opened from the Windows menu. Floating windows include the multifunction Setup window, Region Editor, the Shortcut list and the infamous About Box, which tells you what version of software you're using and who the heck is responsible for much of this wunderbox.
If you’ve never used a GUI before, the following section explains the basics of operation of the mouse, keyboard, and how to make selections. If you’re already familiar with computer GUI operation, there’s nothing new here other than to remind you that clicking in the top right hand corner closes HDR24/96 windows. A left corner click to close a window has gone out the window.
If you’re comfortable with GUI operations, feel free to jump ahead to the good stuff about Project Information and HDR features and functions. Otherwise, here are some GUI basics: