How to edit a WAV file using Cubase LE

 

Remember, it’s ok to experiment.  Use edit | undo to back out your steps.  Or, simply start all over again with your original WAV file (which will be untouched by the process).

 

Here are main concepts:  Create a “project” and “import” the WAV recording.  Edit the recording, and “export” the result to a new WAV (or MP3) file.

 

  1. Make sure your computer’s audio sound output is turned on.
  2. Create a directory/folder for your project, and copy into it the WAV file you want to edit, e.g. “STE-000.WAV”.
  3. Fire up CubaseLE.
  4. Use file|NewProject and the Stereo Mastering Setup template.  It will ask you to select a directory; point it to the directory created in step 2.
  5. Use file|Import|AudioFile and in the file selection dialog box, point to the WAV file, e.g. “STE-000.WAV”.  Click Open, check the “Copy file to working directory” option, and Click Ok.
  6. You should see a gray box containing the wave forms for the left and right channels of your recording.  You can use the buttons in the “transport box” at the bottom of the screen to play and rewind your recording.  You’ll notice a vertical bar (a sweep cursor) sweep across the screen as the recording plays.
  7. Above the gray wave form box is a black box that looks like a ruler.  Right click anywhere on the black, and change the measure to “24 fps.”
  8. Also in the black ruler-like box, you will see two little triangle arrowheads pointing at each other with a turquoise line in between.  Eventually, these will mark the beginning [L] and end [R] of your song and will have to be adjusted accordingly (step 11).
  9. Getting ready to edit.  Decide what you want to get rid of by playing the recording and watching the sweep cursor.  You can set the sweep cursor anywhere by left clicking on the black ruler bar.
  10. Now we edit:
    1. Simple.  If you only want to cut some space off the front and back, then left click on the [L] triangle described in step 8, and drag it to where you want the song to begin.  Left click on the [R] triangle and drag it to where you want the song to end.
    2. “Real” Editing.  Right click anywhere in the gray waveform box and select Range Selection.  (There is also a button up near the top that will accomplish the same thing.)

                                                              i.      Then left click in the gray waveform box and drag.  You will create a turquoise selection area.

                                                            ii.      Select (make turquoise) the part of the recording that you want to delete.

                                                          iii.       Right click in the turquoise selection area, and choose edit | delete.  The whole selection area will disappear, including the gray box.  If this is simply at the beginning or end of the recording, you’re done.  If you deleted something in the middle, then proceed to next paragraph.

                                                           iv.      If you deleted an area in the middle of the song, you’ve created a split.  Right click in the gray, and select Object Selection.  Then left click in the gray to the right of the split, and drag the gray area to the left until it butts up against the other and the split is gone.

  1.   As described in step 8, drag (left click and hold down) the [L] triangle to where you want the output to begin, and drag the [R] triangle to where you want the output to end.
  2.  Then (way back up at the top) select file | export | audio mixdown.  Give the file a name like V1 (version 1).  It’s at this point that you can create a WAV or MP3 file (or one of each, just do this step again).  Click Save and you are the proud owner of an edited music file.
  3. Copy V1.WAV (or whatever you named the final product) to its final destination and rename it. 

 

Send me an email if you need more help:  gerry@ragtime88.com.