Trainyourears Documentation

Transcript

TrainYourEars Documentation Release 2.0.0 TrainYourEars March 13, 2016 Documentation 1 Minimum Requirements 1.1 Mac (OSX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 PC (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 2 Installation 2.1 Mac (OSX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 PC (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 6 3 The Player Section 3.1 Three different options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Volume and other controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 10 4 Audio Player 4.1 Playlist Buttons . . . . . . . 4.2 Playlist . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 Random Player option . . . 4.4 Waveform . . . . . . . . . 4.5 Audio Player Controls . . . 4.6 Note: Audio may be muted . . . . . . 13 14 15 15 15 16 16 5 Noise Player 5.1 Pink Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 White Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 17 18 6 Live Player 6.1 External Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 Internal Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 19 20 7 General Options 7.1 SoundCard Options . . 7.2 Language . . . . . . . . 7.3 Audio Waveforms . . . 7.4 Keyboard Shortcuts . . 7.5 Total Score Calculation 7.6 VST/AU Plugin . . . . . . . . . . 27 27 29 29 30 30 30 Exercise Designer 8.1 Exercise List Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 Edit exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 34 34 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 8.3 9 Reset quizzes & score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 37 38 38 39 40 10 Training in Guess Mode 10.1 1. Listen to the original signal . . . 10.2 2. Listen to the equalised signal . . 10.3 3. Guess the parameters used . . . 10.4 4. Check if you were right or wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 45 47 48 51 11 Training in Correct Mode 11.1 1. Listen to the original signal . . . . . 11.2 2. Listen to the equalised signal . . . . 11.3 3. Make it sound like the original again 11.4 4. Check if you were right or wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 57 59 60 65 12 Reset preferences 12.1 PC (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.2 Mac (OSX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 69 70 ii Exercise Editor 9.1 Name . . . . . . 9.2 Description . . . 9.3 Mode . . . . . . 9.4 Audio Options . 9.5 Band Parameters 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 TrainYourEars EQ Edition is an ear training software for Mac and Windows, designed to help you understand equalizers and frequencies like never before. It speeds up your learning process exposing you to hundreds of random equalizations you have to guess. If you are wrong, it will let you know “how wrong”, and it will let you hear both your guess and the correct answer. In no time you will develop a frequency memory which will allow you to connect the sound you imagine in your head with the needed parameters you have to dial to get it, more quickly and easily than ever. If you don’t know it, check it out at the TrainYourEars website. Once there, be sure to take a look at introductory video. Documentation 1 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 2 Documentation CHAPTER 1 Minimum Requirements TrainYourEars works both in PC (Windows) and Mac (OSX). 1.1 Mac (OSX) • Mac Intel machine running OS X 10.5 or later. • 1Gb of RAM. • 800×600 display resolution. 1.2 PC (Windows) • Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10. • 1Gb of RAM. • Pentium 4, Celeron or higher processor. • 800×600 display resolution. • An ASIO-compatible sound card recommended for optimum audio performance and low latency. These are the minimum requirements but multicore processor and 2Gb of RAM is highly recommended. 3 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 4 Chapter 1. Minimum Requirements CHAPTER 2 Installation This document will show you how to get up and running with TrainYourEars. 2.1 Mac (OSX) To install TrainYourEars EQ Edition 2.0 on a Mac, follow this steps: 1. Once you have downloaded the .dmg file from your email double click on it. 2. Accept the terms and conditions. 3. You will see a new volume in your desktop which looks like this: 4. If it’s not already open, double click on it. 5. You will see an image like this: 5 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 6. Now just drag TrainYourEars and drop it on the Applications folder you see. 7. That will copy the TrainYourEars EQ Edition 2.app in your Applications folder so you can find it afterwards. 8. If you have already installed a previous version of TrainYourEars it will ask for replacement. Click on Replace. 2.2 PC (Windows) To install TrainYourEars EQ Edition 2.0 on a PC, follow this steps: 6 Chapter 2. Installation TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 1. Once you have downloaded the .zip file from your email double click on it and extract its contents. 2. Then, double click on the .exe file. 3. If Windows ask you for admin permissions, click on Yes. 4. Accept the terms and conditions. 5. Choose the folder where you want to install TrainYourEars. 2.2. PC (Windows) 7 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 6. Finally, click on Install. 8 Chapter 2. Installation CHAPTER 3 The Player Section Selecting some audio from the Player section should be your first step each time you want to train. One of the many advantages of TrainYourEars is that it let’s you choose the audio you want to train with. You have three options. 3.1 Three different options 9 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Each screen let’s you select different audio signals. 3.1.1 Audio Player Play your own files. You can use songs or even tracks. It depends on what you are trying to learn. Note: For example, if you want to learn how different Low Cut filters affect a guitar you’ve just recorded, just load that track and setup an exercise with different Low Cuts. Check Audio Player for more info. 3.1.2 Noise Player Use a noise generator with pink or white noise. This is recommended only for the first steps of the beginners. Check Noise Player for more info. 3.1.3 Live Player One of the most requested features of TrainYourEars: choose any external source. This Live Player allows you to route software playing in your computer, like iTunes, Spotify or even websites (SoundCloud?) straight to TrainYourEars, so you can train with it. Check Live Player for more info. 3.2 Volume and other controls You can control the volume of the audio input in any of those screens, using the fader on the right. 10 Chapter 3. The Player Section TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 There are controls for Mute and Mono as well, and an output vumeter to evaluate the volume of the incoming signal. 3.2. Volume and other controls 11 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: You have to be careful when setting up your volume. Remember that TrainYourEars applies a random equalization to the signal. If it applies a boost, it will rise the volume several dBs and it could clip the output. 12 Chapter 3. The Player Section CHAPTER 4 Audio Player In the Audio Player you can load and play audio files. The type of files supported by TrainYourEars are wav, aif, mp3, ogg and m4a. If you haven’t added any files yet, you will see this screen: You can drag and drop files, folders or click on the Open File or Open Folder buttons. If you choose Open Folder or drag a folder it will search in the subfolders as well. Once you have added some files, you will see the Audio Player: 13 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: You can still drag and drop files or folders in this screen and they will be added to the playlist. The Audio Player has different sections. Let’s see what they do: 4.1 Playlist Buttons 4.1.1 Add File Add a file to the playlist. 4.1.2 Add Folder Add a folder to the playlist. It will search in the subfolders as well. 4.1.3 Delete Selected Remove the selected audio file from the playlist. 14 Chapter 4. Audio Player TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 4.1.4 Delete All Clear the playlist and go back to the Drag and Drop screen. 4.2 Playlist Use it to select the song you want to play. 4.3 Random Player option TrainYourEars can jump to a random song each time you start a new quiz. This is interesting because each quiz will be totally different from the previous one. It is recommended when you want to make the current exercise more challenging. 4.4 Waveform 4.2. Playlist 15 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Click to jump to different parts of the song or create loops (explained in the Audio Loop section.) 4.5 Audio Player Controls You can go the previous song, the next song, stop, pause and play. There are two additional buttons. The first one let’s you loop over a defined section (Audio Loop) and the second one over the whole song (Song Loop). 4.5.1 Audio Loop If you click and drag on the waveform you will create a loop, marked in red (as seen in the waveform image). If you select the button labeled as Loop, the audio will be looped over that section. Note: If you have activated the Random Player option, the loop will be lost once you start a new quiz and TrainYourEars jumps to another song and time. 4.5.2 Song Loop If you click on the button labeled as Song the whole song will be played again once it has finished. 4.6 Note: Audio may be muted Sometimes you can see an advice like this: This happens when your current exercise has the option Mute and play it only for X seconds. Don’t worry if you don’t hear anything, the audio will start when you start the quiz. 16 Chapter 4. Audio Player CHAPTER 5 Noise Player In the Noise Player you can select Pink Noise or White Noise. Noise is usually recommend for training, but only in the beginning. 5.1 Pink Noise It is defined by: “Each octave carries an equal amount of energy.” 17 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 The frequency balance is perceived as “flat” for the human hear. It can be good to use it for a while when you have never trained with this method before and need to figure out how it works. Once you get the concept of this training, it’s best to move to the music you are interested in. 5.2 White Noise It is defined by: “Each frequency carries an equal amount of energy.” To the human ear, it appears to have more energy in the high frequencies. It is less recommended for training but it can be useful when you want to keep training with noise during more time and you have already learn how the Pink Noise sounds exactly. 18 Chapter 5. Noise Player CHAPTER 6 Live Player In the Live Player you can route whatever you want, like an external source (iPod, radio, instrument, other computer) or an internal source (iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud). 6.1 External Source 1. Connect the signal you want to use to the inputs of your audio interface. 2. Click on the Open SoundCard Options button and choose your audio interface as Input Device. 19 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 3. Finally, choose the input channels you are using to route the signal. 6.2 Internal Source In order to route audio from other programs running inside your computer, you need an internal router. We use SoundFlower in OSX and VB-CABLE in Windows. Both are free and work really well. 6.2.1 OSX Internal Routing with SoundFlower First, install Soundflower. 1. Download Soundflower to your computer. 2. Open the dmg file. 3. Launch Soundflower.pkg to install it. 4. Agree to the License terms and install it. 5. Restart your computer. 20 Chapter 6. Live Player TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Now, open TrainYourEars and route the signal. 1. Choose Soundflower (2ch) as input in TrainYourEars. 2. Alt+click on the volume icon of the menu bar. 3. Choose Soundflower (2ch) as output in your system. 4. Now any signal played in your computer should be routed to TrainYourEars. Once you have finished your training, remember to select your normal output again. 6.2. Internal Source 21 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: If you hear noises try switching to ad_portaudio Core Audio driver instead. In certain computers it works better than Core Audio. 6.2.2 Windows Internal Routing with VB-CABLE First, install VB-CABLE. 1. Download VB-Cable to your computer. Scroll down until you see the orange DOWNLOAD button: 2. Unzip the zip file. 3. Right click on VBCABLE_Setup_x64.exe and choose Run as Administrator. 22 Chapter 6. Live Player TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: If your system has only 32bits, run VBCABLE_Setup.exe instead. 4. Click on Install Driver. 5. Restart your system. Now, open TrainYourEars and route the signal. 1. Choose CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable) as input in TrainYourEars. 6.2. Internal Source 23 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 2. Right click on the volume icon and choose Playback Devices 3. Click on Cable Input and then on Set Default. 24 Chapter 6. Live Player TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 4. Now any signal played in your computer should be routed to TrainYourEars. Once you have finished your training, remember to select your normal output again. 6.2. Internal Source 25 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 26 Chapter 6. Live Player CHAPTER 7 General Options In this screen you can configure the general options of TrainYourEars. Keep scrolling for a detailed explanation of each option. 7.1 SoundCard Options Here you can choose between your audio interfaces, drivers and other stuff like latency or input/output channels. 27 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 7.1.1 Audio Driver The first thing you need to choose is the audio driver. In OSX, Core Audio is recommended. In Windows, it depends on the audio interface you are using. If it is a built-in sound card which doesn’t support ASIO, you can use either Direct Sound or MME. If you are using an ASIO-compatible sound card then choose ASIO because the latency will be way much smaller. When you have selected the audio driver you want to use, various input (Input Channels, Input Device, and Input Source) and output (Output Channels, Output Device) settings will become available based on the audio driver you choose. 7.1.2 Input Device If you are using the Live Player, you will have to select the input device here. Click on the Input Device pop-up menu and choose the source you want to use from the menu. 7.1.3 Output Device Click on the Output Device pop-up menu and choose the destination you want to use from the menu. 28 Chapter 7. General Options TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 7.1.4 I/O and Signal Vector Sizes Use them to adjust the latency of your soundcard. If you hear clicks or pops, increase their values. 7.1.5 Monitoring CPU usage CPU Utilization displays a rough estimate of how much of your computer’s CPU is being allocated for crunching audio in TrainYourEars. You can limit it if you want, but it is not recommended. 7.1.6 Input and Output Channels If you want to monitor the signal for other outputs different than 1-2, then choose them here. If you are using Live Player with an external input, you can choose the input channels here as well. 7.2 Language Choose the language of TrainYourEars Right now, only English, Spanish, German, French and Dutch are available, but we want to add more. If you want to help us with the translation of any other language not currently available in TrainYourEars, or the translation of these docs to your language, send us an email to [email protected]. 7.3 Audio Waveforms You can turn off the generation of audio waveforms. This can be useful in old computers with only one core, or if you use very big files. 7.2. Language 29 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 7.4 Keyboard Shortcuts You can assign different shortcuts for the common buttons of the Training process. To assign a new shortcuts, just press on Choose another and then on the key you want to use. Please note that only letters and numbers are allowed. 7.5 Total Score Calculation You can change the number of quizzes used to calculate the Total score value of each exercise. It is useful so you don’t have to reset the score and quizzes of your exercises, you can keep doing them and the Total Score will reflect your improvements in a more accurate way. Reduce it if you want to give more importance to your last results. Increase it if you want to know how well you are doing from a longer time. Changes will affect only after a restart of TrainYourEars. 7.6 VST/AU Plugin You can use monitoring plugins inside TrainYourEars, like IK Multimedia ARC 2 or Redline Monitor. 30 Chapter 7. General Options TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Click on Load Plugin and go to the plugins folder: • In OSX the AU plugins folder is on /Library/Audio/Plugins/Components and the VST plugins folder is on /Library/Audio/Plugins/VST. You can use either 32 or 64bit plugins. • In Windows the VST plugins folder is usually on C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPlugins. Right now it only supports 32bit plugins. 7.6. VST/AU Plugin 31 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: There is a bug with the VST version of IK Multimedia ARC 2 in OSX, so please load the AU version. 32 Chapter 7. General Options CHAPTER 8 Exercise Designer In this screen you can choose the exercise you want to use and create new ones. 33 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 8.1 Exercise List Buttons 8.1.1 New Create a new exercise at the end of the list. Once you have created it, select it and click on the Edit exercise button to change its name and parameters. 8.1.2 Duplicate Same than New but creates a duplicate instead of a new one. Click on Edit exercise to change it. 8.1.3 Delete Delete the selected exercise. Be aware, this cannot be undone. 8.1.4 Import Select an exercise file (in json format) in your hard drive and load it into TrainYourEars. 8.1.5 Export Save the selected exercise to your hard drive so you can recover it later or send it to your friends. The exercise is saved in json format. 8.2 Edit exercise Click here to go to the Exercise Editor screen to edit the selected exercise. 34 Chapter 8. Exercise Designer TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 8.3 Reset quizzes & score Click here to reset both quizzes and score to 0 for the selected exercise. Note: If you want to improve the score of your exercise you can keep doing quizzes, you don’t have to reset it if you don’t want to. Remember that the score is calculated with the last X quizzes. X is selected on general-options. 8.3. Reset quizzes & score 35 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 36 Chapter 8. Exercise Designer CHAPTER 9 Exercise Editor In this screen you can edit the selected exercise and adjust its parameters. Changes in this screen will be saved automatically. 9.1 Name Change the name of the exercise. Note: If you are editing a new exercise, please give it a proper name first. 37 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 9.2 Description Change the description of the exercise. If you share your exercise with others, or you designed the exercise some time ago, the description will help you remember what you were thinking when you created it in the first place. 9.3 Mode TrainYourEars 2 has two different modes, Guess and Correct. 9.3.1 Guess This mode is the same that was available on TrainYourEars 1. You have to guess the parameters used in the random equalisation just by listening to the modified signal. It has these 4 steps: 1. You hear the original signal. 2. Your hear it again, but this time with a random equalisation applied. 3. You guess which parameters were used, and you enter them in the software. 4. You finally see if you were right or wrong. Note: This method has been used for over 40 years by many teachers. In the past, there were exercises saved on CD’s or even tapes, where you had to write down the answers. Now with TrainYourEars you don’t have those limits anymore. 9.3.2 Correct This mode is new in TrainYourEars 2. In this mode you have to find the opposite of the random equalisation to get the sound of the original signal again, but this time you can listen while you guess. The tricky part is that you cannot go back and listen again to the original signal. It has these 4 steps: 1. You hear the original signal. 2. You here it again, but this time with a random equalisation. 3. You use the EQ to correct the signal and make it sound like the original again. 4. You finally see if you were right or wrong. Making the signal sound like the original again means you have to find the opposite EQ, so the result is flat again. Note: The person who suggested this method to us in the first place was Bob Katz, a renowned mastering guru. We tested it, we loved it, so here it is for all you to enjoy! 38 Chapter 9. Exercise Editor TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 9.4 Audio Options Here you can configure the things which happen after, before and in between of the Original and the Equalised signals. 9.4.1 Original Audio There are two options: • If you choose the first one, you will have to listen to the Original signal before clicking on the Start Quizz button. • If you choose the second one, the audio will be Muted until you click on the Start Quizz button. Once you have clicked, you will hear it only for the time selected in the box. This makes the exercise more challenging. 9.4.2 Audio between Original and Equalised This is the audio you hear between the Original and the Equalised signal. When you hear both signals (Original and Equalised) one right after the other it is easier to pinpoint the difference. If you want to make the exercise more challenging, you can use a silence, a distraction voice or a sound between both signals. There are four options: • Don’t do anything: It will play the Equalised signal right after the Original signal. • Play silence for X seconds: It will mute the signal during the time selected. • Play a distraction voice: It will play a voice after the Original signal. • Play a distraction sound: It will play a sound after the Original signal. This sound does a sweep of all frequencies. 9.4. Audio Options 39 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 9.4.3 Equalised Audio There are two options: • Don’t deactivate: Hear the equalised signal as much as you want. • Auto-deactivate after X seconds: Hear the equalised signal only for the time selected. Note: This option is only used in Guess mode. In Correct mode, you will hear the Equalised signal always while equalising to get the sound of the Original signal again. 9.4.4 Audio between Equalised and Original This is similar to Audio between Original and Equalised but used after hearing the Equalised signal. Like the other ones, use this option to make the exercise more challenging. 9.5 Band Parameters This is one of the most important screens because it lets you configure the exercise. 40 Chapter 9. Exercise Editor TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 It has 8 different parts. Let’s see what they do. 9.5.1 1. Active Bands Toggle active bands for the current exercise. Most beginner exercises only have one band. But when you improve your skills, training with more than one band at the same time will be very useful. Note that many real sound engineering tasks involve more than once frequency balance issue at the same time, so get prepared for it! 9.5.2 2. Selected Band Click in the different bands to edit them. 9.5.3 3. Frequencies The frequencies you choose here will be used to generate the random equalisation. If you click on 1 Octave or 1/3 Octave it will override your settings with those common values. 9.5.4 4. Gains The gains you choose here will be used to generate the random equalisation. If you want to train only boosts, unselect all the negative values and if you want to train only cuts, unselect all the positive values. 9.5. Band Parameters 41 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Note: Low Cut, High Cut and Band Pass filters do not have a gain value, so this won’t have effect if the random equalisation ends up selecting one of those filters. 9.5.5 5. Q factors The Q factors you choose here will be used to generate the random equalisation. Q factor controls the bandwidth—or number of frequencies—that will be cut or boosted by the equaliser. • The lower the Q factor, the wider the bandwidth (and the more frequencies will be affected). • The higher the Q factor, the narrower the bandwidth (and the fewer frequencies will be affected). 9.5.6 6. Filter Types The filter types you choose here will be used to generate the random equalisation. There are 6 different filter types: • Band: it makes a boost (peak) or a cut (dip) in the frequency response. It is the most common filter and it is also known as peak filter. • Low Cut: it doesn’t modify the part of the signal with a frequency higher than its cut frequency but it removes the part of the signal with frequency lower than its cut frequency. It is used to cut unwanted low-frequency signals and it is also known as high-pass filter. 42 Chapter 9. Exercise Editor TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 • High Cut: it doesn’t modify the part of the signal with a frequency lower than its cut frequency but it removes the part of the signal with frequency higher than its cut frequency. It is used to cut unwanted high-frequency signals and it is also known as low-pass filter. • Low Shelf: it doesn’t modify frequencies above its shelf frequency but it increases or reduces frequencies below its shelf frequency. It is used to correct low frequency signal unbalances. • High Shelf: it doesn’t modify frequencies below its shelf frequency but it increases or reduces frequencies above its shelf frequency. It is used to correct high frequency signal unbalances. 9.5. Band Parameters 43 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 • Band Pass: it passes frequencies within a certain range and rejects (attenuates) frequencies outside that range. It is not used in audio applications, but can be useful to train. 9.5.7 7. Low/High Cut and Shelf Q factors Sometimes you want to train at the same time with Band and Low/High Cut or Low/High Shelf filters, but you don’t want to train Q factors. This option freezes the Q of those Low/High filters to 0.8 and 1.2Q, which is the standard. The Band filter will have the Qs you choose in the Q factors section. Remove this option only when you want to specifically train the Q factors of Low/High Cuts and Low/High Shelf filters. 9.5.8 8. Add “no change” If you check this option, the random equalisation generator can assign “no change” to this band and the original signal won’t be affected. Note: If you are training with more than one band, the other bands can still modify the original signal. 44 Chapter 9. Exercise Editor CHAPTER 10 Training in Guess Mode Time to start the training! First, we will explain how to train with a Guess exercise. This was the only mode available on TrainYourEars 1. Remember, in Guess mode you have to guess the parameters used in the random equalisation just by listening to the modified signal. Each quiz has these 4 steps: 1. You hear the original signal. 2. Your hear it again, but this time with a random equalisation applied. 3. You guess which parameters were used, and you enter them in the software. 4. You finally see if you were right or wrong. Note: This method has been used for over 40 years by many teachers. In the past, there were exercises saved on CD’s or even tapes, where you had to write down the answers. Now, with TrainYourEars, you don’t have limitations anymore. 10.1 1. Listen to the original signal This the first screen you will see before starting the quiz: 45 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 All you have to do is listen carefully to the Original signal. Once you think you are ready, press the START QUIZ button to hear the Equalised signal. If your current exercise has the Muted option activated, you won’t hear anything and you will see this screen instead: 46 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Don’t worry, just press the START QUIZ button and you will be able to hear the Original signal for the number of seconds you have selected in the Exercise Editor option. Note: If you have selected Silence, Distraction voice or Distraction noise between the Original and the Equalised signals, you will hear it before the next step. 10.2 2. Listen to the equalised signal Now you are listening to the equalised signal. The program has applied a random equalisation based on the ranges you have selected in the Exercise Editor. For example, if you selected two gains, +12dB and -12dB there is a 50% of chance that TrainYourEars will choose +12dB and a 50% of chance that TrainYourEars will choose -12dB. 10.2. 2. Listen to the equalised signal 47 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 10.3 3. Guess the parameters used In Guess mode you can go back and forth between the Original and the Equalised signal so feel free to click on the Listen Original button if you are not sure about the answer. Note: If you have selected Silence, Distraction voice or Distraction noise between the Equalised and the Original signals, you will hear it when you click on Listen Original again. As you can see some Answer Bands have appeared in the screen. You will have to used them to select your answers. 48 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 10.3.1 Answer Bands They have three fields, Filter type, Q factor and Gain. 1. Filter type: • If you have selected more than one Filter type or your exercise has more than one band with different Filter types, you can select here the type of filter you think the answer is. • If there is only one Filter type available, it will just appear in green. 2. Q Factor: 10.3. 3. Guess the parameters used 49 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 • If you have selected more than one Q factor or your exercise has more than one band with different Q factors, you can select here the type of Q factor you think the answer is. • If there is only one Q factor available, it will just appear in green. 3. Gain: • Select the gain you think the answer is. 50 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 10.3.2 Valid Answers When you have selected those three fields correctly, the band becomes a Valid Answer and a green checkmark appears above it. It looks like this: Be aware: A ‘Valid Answer’ doesn’t mean you are right, it only means TrainYourEars will validate it once you click on the ‘SHOW SOLUTION’ button. Once you have selected all the answers, it’s time to see if you were right or wrong. 10.4 4. Check if you were right or wrong Click on the SHOW SOLUTION button. You will see a screen like this: 10.4. 4. Check if you were right or wrong 51 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Let’s analyze the things that changed. 10.4.1 Answers and Solution Bands Answers have turned orange and Solutions have appeared below in blue. A cable connects each Solution with the closest Answer and above the answer the Score of that match, from 0 to 100. If the random equalisation selected was No-Change you will see this symbol in the Solutions section: Or in red if you didn’t answer correctly: 52 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 10.4.2 Equaliser Section In the equaliser section you can compare the three signals: 1. Equalised: Click on the blue EQUALISED button. 10.4. 4. Check if you were right or wrong 53 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 2. Your Answer: Click on the brown YOUR ANSWER button. 3. Original: Click again on the EQUALISED or the YOUR ANSWER button and you will hear the Original signal. If you failed, compare the signals until you think you got the difference between them. Don’t worry too much if it seems difficult at first, you will learn it by repetition. 10.4.3 Score The average score for all the bands of the current exercise appears in the left corner of the equaliser: 54 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 This is different from the Total Score which appears in the title bar, which means the average score of all the quizzes you have done so far. Once you are ready to start a new quizz, click on RESET QUIZ button. 10.4. 4. Check if you were right or wrong 55 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 56 Chapter 10. Training in Guess Mode CHAPTER 11 Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars has a new training method called Correct. In Correct mode you have to find the exact opposite EQ of the random equalisation so they cancel each other out. This time, you can listen what you are doing, so it’s not a blind test like the Guess mode. The trick here is that you can’t go back to hear the original signal once the quiz has started. Each quiz has these 4 steps: 1. You hear the original signal. 2. Your hear it again, but this time with a random equalisation applied. 3. You use the EQ to correct the signal and make it sound like the original again. 4. You finally see if you were right or wrong. Note: The person who suggested this method to us in the first place was Bob Katz, a renowned mastering guru. We tested it, we loved it, so here it is for all you to enjoy! 11.1 1. Listen to the original signal This the first screen you will see before starting the quiz: 57 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 All you have to do is listen carefully to the Original signal. Once you think you are ready, press the START QUIZ button to hear the Equalised signal. If your current exercise has the Muted option activated, you won’t hear anything and you will see this screen instead: 58 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Don’t worry, just press the START QUIZ button and you will be able to hear the Original signal for the number of seconds you have selected in the Exercise Editor option. Note: If you have selected Silence, Distraction voice or Distraction noise between the Original and the Equalised signals, you will hear it before the next step. 11.2 2. Listen to the equalised signal Now you are listening to the equalised signal. The program has applied a random equalisation based on the ranges you have selected in the Exercise Editor. For example, if you selected two gains, +12dB and -12dB there is a 50% of chance that TrainYourEars will choose +12dB and a 50% of chance that TrainYourEars will choose -12dB. 11.2. 2. Listen to the equalised signal 59 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.3 3. Make it sound like the original again As you can see some Answer Bands have appeared in the screen. You will have to use them to select your answer. In Correct mode you have to use those Answer Bands to modify the signal and make it sound like the original again. That means you will hear the changes and can keep modifing the signal until you are confident you are hearing a flat (no equalised) signal. Unlike the Guess mode, you can’t go back to hear the Orginial signal. You have to remember how it sounds and try to match that sound. This is the mental effort of this method. 60 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.3.1 Answer Bands They have three fields, Filter type, Q factor and Gain. 1. Filter type: • If you have selected more than one Filter type or your exercise has more than one band with different Filter types, you can select here the type of filter you think the answer is. • If there is only one Filter type available, it will just appear in green. 2. Q Factor: 11.3. 3. Make it sound like the original again 61 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 • If you have selected more than one Q factor or your exercise has more than one band with different Q factors, you can select here the type of Q factor you think the answer is. • If there is only one Q factor available, it will just appear in green. 3. Gain: • Select the gain you think the answer is. 62 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.3.2 Valid Answers When you have selected those three fields correctly, the band becomes a Valid Answer and a green checkmark appears above it. In that moment, you will hear its effect in the signal. It looks like this: There are two really important things to note here: 1. A Valid Answer doesn’t mean you are right, it only means TrainYourEars will validate it once you click on the SHOW SOLUTION button. 2. You won’t hear any change in the sound until an answer is a Valid Answer. That means that even if you choose a Gain you won’t hear it until you choose a Filter type and Q factor and the green checkmark appears. 11.3.3 Graphic Equaliser In Correct mode you can see the EQ applied by you with the Answer Bands in the graphic equaliser. When there isn’t any Valid Answer you will be hearing only the signal with the random equalisation (blue question mark): 11.3. 3. Make it sound like the original again 63 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 When you select a Valid Answer, you will hear that EQ applied to the signal. You will be listening to both the random equalisation (blue) and your guess (orange) at the same time. Once you have selected all the answers and you think the signal sounds like the Original again, it’s time to see if you were right or wrong. 64 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.4 4. Check if you were right or wrong Click on the SHOW SOLUTION button. You will see a screen like this: Let’s analyze the things that changed. 11.4.1 Answers and Solution Bands Answers have turned orange and Solutions have appeared below in blue. A cable connects each Solution with the closest Answer and above the answer the Score of that match, from 0 to 100. If the random equalisation selected was No-Change you will see this symbol in the Solutions section: 11.4. 4. Check if you were right or wrong 65 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Or in red if you didn’t answer correctly: 66 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.4.2 Equaliser Section In the equaliser section you can compare the three signals: 1. ORIGINAL: Click on the blue ORIGINAL button. Although you are listening to the Original signal, which is flat and doesn’t have any EQ applied, you will see two things in the graphic equaliser: 1. The light blue curve is the random equalisation. 2. The dark blue curve is the solution: the exact opposite of the random equalisation. When both curves are mixed together, the result is a flat signal. 2. EQ + ANSWER: Click on the EQ + ANSWER button. If you compare both equalisers one after the other, you can see how far where you from the correct solution: If you failed, compare the signals until you think you got the difference between them. Don’t worry too much if it seems difficult at first, you will learn it by repetition. 3. EQUALISED: Click again on the ORIGINAL or the EQ + ANSWER button and you will hear the EQUALISED signal. 11.4. 4. Check if you were right or wrong 67 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 11.4.3 Score The average score for all the bands of the current exercise appears in the left corner of the equaliser: This is different from the Total Score which appears in the title bar, which means the average score of all the quizzes you have done so far. Once you are ready to start a new quizz, click on RESET QUIZ button. 68 Chapter 11. Training in Correct Mode CHAPTER 12 Reset preferences Sometimes things can go wrong and you may want to reset the preferences to see if it helps. Or maybe you want to start again from scratch. Note: Whichever it is, remember to export any exercise you want to preserve before reseting the preferences. 12.1 PC (Windows) Go to C:/Users/YOUR-NAME/AppData/Roaming/Cycling’74/ and delete the TrainYourEars EQ Edition 2 folder. The folder AppData is hidden, but you can see it activating Hidden Items in the View menu. 69 TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Finally, empty the Recycle Bin. 12.2 Mac (OSX) Go to Delete the folder /Users/your-name/Library/Application Support/ and delete the TrainYourEars EQ Edition 2 folder. Library is a hidden folder but you can open it using the Finder option Go->Go to Folder... and entering ~/Library/Application Support. 70 Chapter 12. Reset preferences TrainYourEars Documentation, Release 2.0.0 Finally, empty the Recycle Bin. 12.2. Mac (OSX) 71