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Monitor / Import Overview

The SoundCode Dolby E Monitor / Import tool operates as a standalone application, a realtime AAX Native plug-in, or a non-realtime AudioSuite plug-in. It implements Dolby E decoding and multi-channel, multi-program audio playback and import.

The standalone application can decode and import faster-than-realtime, or decode-and-monitor in realtime, and features hot folder decode-and-import processing. In Pro Tools, the plug-in types are located in the Sound Field category.

The AUDIO PLAYBACK section can monitor/import polyphonic / multi-program WAV files. Polyphonic or multi-program means the file contains multiple mixes, similar to a professional video tape — SoundCode can choose which program to monitor. For example, you can monitor a WAV file that has a 5.1 PCM mix and a stereo Dolby E pair.

Plug-in and application windows

AAX Native Window

The Dolby E Monitor operates as these realtime types: stereo-to-stereo, stereo-to-5.1, and stereo to 8-outputs (auxiliary output stems in Pro Tools). In Pro Tools, open them by clicking a channel insert on a stereo track and navigating the AAX Native multichannel popup menu.

The user interface is divided into three sections:

  • INPUT — selects the input to be decoded and monitored. The AAX Native plug-in can decode-and-monitor a file using Direct File Monitor technology, controlling which file is played and what time code it synchronizes to.
  • AUDIO PLAYBACK — controls which program(s) should play.
  • STATUS — displays information about the file and metadata, plus output meters.

AudioSuite Window

Open the AudioSuite plug-in window from the AudioSuite menu in Pro Tools. It has the same INPUT, AUDIO PLAYBACK, and STATUS sections as the AAX Native interface, plus an additional popup at the top for choosing the output order (Film or SMPTE) used when importing files into the session.

Standalone App Window

The standalone application has the same INPUT, AUDIO PLAYBACK, and STATUS sections as the AAX Native interface. It also has an IMPORT section that lets you perform a faster-than-realtime operation and set up hot folder processing.

Hot Folder Processing

The standalone application features hot folder importing. Drop Dolby E stream files (for example) into a folder, and SoundCode automatically detects and decodes them to a consistent location.

SoundCode looks for a special file named SoundCodeProcessTemplate.xml in the hot folder to tell it how to perform the import process. The easiest way to create one:

  1. Set the import window controls (the Location is most important).
  2. Select the menu item Export XML Process… and save it with the name SoundCodeProcessTemplate.xml.
  3. Tell SoundCode where your hot folder is by clicking the Browse button in the HOT FOLDER section.

See the Controls Reference for a detailed description of every control.