Fairlight Tips & Tricks #5 Exporting to Other Programs, IBM & RTB Commands by Andy Somers Hello again, and welcome to another collection of Fairlight tips. Before we begin this issue, I'd like to mention that version 14.2.22 software is now in release, and if you haven't upgraded to it, you should contact Fairlight. Among other things, it features the new AudioBase™ sound file database, which allows searching both online and offline sound files, 64 levels of undo, scaling waveforms, and a few other very useful features. In other software news, version 14.3 software is in beta right now, and features 16, 18, 20 and 24 bit recording (with the amazing feature that you can mix and even cross fade between 16 and 24 bit sound files!). Plus, 14.3 allows you to directly import a Waveframe™ project (just stick the Waveframe™ drive into the Fairlight, and the Fairlight automatically converts it). And I'm told that direct ProTools imports will soon be possible without having to use OMF (OMF of course stands for Overly Mangled File, or alternately, Obnoxious Marketing Facade). MFX3plus version 14.3 provides for fading across multiple clips, automatic soloing, and a number of other clever features. Enough About The New Software, Now On To This Month's Tips Last time we were discussing a few "hidden" features, like the WAVX and WAVI command, for exporting and importing .WAV files. One reason you might want to do this is to send a sound to your MAC (or PC) for processing in some third party program. The way to do this is with the COMMS command. The COMMS command allows the Fairlight to talk to other computers through the serial port. To upload or download files between your MAC or PC and the Fairlight, connect a null modem cable from the Fairlight's RS232 port to the one on your PC or MAC. Use a term program (like ZTERM for the MAC) and set its parameters to: 1) Access the com port that is connected to the Fairlight, 2) 38400 baud, 3) 8N1, 4) flow control OFF, 5) When uploading/downloading use Xmodem1K. On the Fairlight, use the COMMS command like this: COMMS-?=/drive/directory/filename-x Here, replace the "?" with a "u" if you're uploading (going to your PC) or a "d" if your downloading. As an example, let's send a file called "boink.wav" (on your Fairlight's drive /sc20) from the Fairlight to the PC. In your PC's term program, set it to receive a file using Xmodem1K, then on the Fairlight issue the command: COMMS-u=/sc20/boink.wav-x The sound will be sent to your computer. To send it back, just reverse the process, and use a "d" instead of a "u". Return To Birthday This has nothing to do with the film 'Logan's Run'. (Remember? When you turned 30 you got a chance to "renew", returning to your birthday?? ...ahem). This command is about placing a clip back to the timecode it was originally recorded in at. Very useful for ADR or Foley when you want to put something back to where it was to start. The command? RTB (for "Return To Birthday"). Select a clip. Type "RTB" <return> and presto your clip is back exactly where it was recorded in at. IBM The IBM command has nothing to do with PC clones or Selectric typewriters. Here in Fairlightland, it means "Insert Beat Marks". It's a feature used a great deal in music recording, but has applications in post. What it does is place a bunch of equally spaced yellow on the blue timeline. It's quite useful for placing things like clock ticks, or anatomically correct heart monitor beeps. Use the command like this: IBM 100 1 72 This will place 100 marks at 72 marks per minute, starting at the cursor. For heart monitor beeps, just copy a beep clip to the clipboard, then JUMP to mark: press enter, jump, enter, jump, enter etc. and presto! A bunch of beeps, all nicely spaced. The first numeral in the command means the number of marks that you want to place, the second numeral indicates the number of beats per measure. For our purposes, we'll keep it at "1". The third numeral is the number of beats per minute. For our use, just think of it as the number of marks per minute. (60 sets them at one-second intervals, 90 sets them at one-foot intervals, etc.) To erase all of these "beat marks", type: IBM-d This removes these beat marks without removing any other marks you may have already placed in your project. On a final note, if you forget how to use a particular "special" command, you can temporarily exit to the shell (the thing that looks like DOS) and get help. To exit to the shell, type a "$" in the command line and press return. You're track display will disappear, and you'll see a command prompt in the upper left corner. Type the command, followed by a space and "-?", and you get information about that command. For instance, if you want to know more about the DISKINIT command for formatting hard drives, type: diskinit-? and <return>, you'll get a list of available parameters and how to use them. To leave the shell, so you can see the TRACK display again, press BLUE-T. That's all for this issue. Next time, I'll talk about conforming to picture changes. As always, if you have any questions you'd like me to address in this column, send me e-mail Also, these articles are available at my website. All for now, happy cutting!   Andrew Somers is a member of 776, and, in addition to picture and sound editing editing, he provides training and consultation on the Fairlight MFX series of workstations for union editors and signatory facilities.   Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter Vol. 19, No. 3 - May/June 1998   Guild Home | Newsletter Home | Top of Page   Copyright © 1998, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776