GoldWave Manual > Using GoldWave > File Menu Commands > Batch Processing

Batch Processing

Batch Processing in the File menu.
Coming soon to mobile.

Batch Processing is a powerful tool for processing and converting a set of files automatically.

Use Batch Processing to:

Each tab contains settings to configure edits and effects, conversions, destination folder, and file information. These are explained below.

When everything is configured, you can use the preset controls to save all the settings, then choose the Begin button to start processing all the files. A status window will appear showing the progress and listing any errors that occur.

Files are processed one at a time in the order they are listed. Each file is processed as follows:

  1. The file is opened (if not currently opened) and decompressed or decoded into GoldWave's internal audio format. Memory or hard drive storage is used depending on the Options | Storage setting.
  2. Effects and editing commands are executed in the order they appear on the Process tab.
  3. File information is changed based on the settings on the Information tab.
  4. The file is converted, compressed, or encoded into the file type and attributes specified on the Convert tab and saved in the destination folder specified on the Destination tab.
  5. The original file is overwritten or deleted only if that option is selected on the Destination tab.

To process raw files that GoldWave cannot open automatically, such as .vox or .pcm, use Options | File Formats to add a default format for that type.


Source Tab
Use these controls to specify files to process. Select Current Sound window to process the currently active Sound window opened in GoldWave. Only items on the Process tab are applied. No other changes are made. The file is not converted and the information is not changed. Select All Sound windows to process all opened Sound windows in GoldWave in the same manner.

Select Files and folders to create a list of files to process. Add files with the Add Files button or drag-and-drop a group of files from Windows Explorer. Add an entire folder (including subfolders) or all the files in a folder of a specific type by using the Add Folder button. Remove items from the list by selecting one or more of them and choosing the Remove button. The Clear button removes all files and folders from the list.

Process Tab
To apply effects or edits to a group of files, use this tab to add a set of effects, edits, or chains to the list. If no effect processing is required, remove all effects by using the Clear button on this tab. To remove a single effect from the list, select the effect and use the Remove button. To change the order of processing, drag-and-drop items within the list or use the Up or Down button.

To add an effect, use the Add Effect button to display a tree list of all effects available and their presets. Select the preset you want to use. If you require custom effect settings, you must create new presets for the effect outside of Batch Processing. To do that, open a file, display the effect window, adjust the settings, then add a preset. Chains may be added by using the Add Chain button. Effects and chains are performed on the entire file by default. To perform them on part of the file only, add an edit to set the selection first (see the fade in/out example below).

To add an edit, use the Add Edit button. The Set Marker/Selection edit command sets the part of the file (the selection) to use for all subsequent effects and edits during processing. The selection can be specified using time, percent, or cue point names or indexes. If using the Cue option to set the selection, the first cue point matching the given name is used. If a number is given, cue points are searched for a name matching the number. If no such cue point is found, then the number is used as an index in the list of cue points. So if the number 6 is given, for example, a cue point with the name "6" is searched for first. If that name isn't found, then the sixth cue point is used. The Quick selection drop down list contains many examples of selection settings.

To change settings for an edit or effect, remove it, add a new one with the correct settings, then drag-and-drop it to the correct position in the process list (if necessary). If you require effect settings that are not available in any of the current presets, open a file and use the Effect menu or the Effect Chain Editor tool to create a new preset or chain with the settings you require prior to using Batch Processing.

To add or edit a comment, either double click a line in the process list or select a line and press the Ctrl+N key. If you are changing or adding a comment to an existing preset, be sure to update the preset by choosing the preset Add Add button.

Process Example
You have hundreds of songs and want to create a 10 second sample file for each song, with the beginning faded in, the end faded out, and the volume maximized. To set up that processing requires adding eight edits and effects, as explained below.

After performing all these steps, the process list will contain eight edit and effect items. Use the Convert and Destination tabs to set the file type and destination folder for the 10 second sample files (so the original files are not overwritten). Add all the songs in the Source tab and begin processing.

To use clipboard related edit commands, it may be necessary to open a file and copy it prior to using Batch Processing. For example, to paste or mix an announcement at the beginning of many files, first open the file containing the announcement, use Copy, then use Batch Processing and add a Paste or Mix edit command to the Process list.

Convert Tab
If the Convert files to this format box is checked, then files are converted to the format specified on this tab. Otherwise no conversion is performed and a processed file will have the same format as the original file, if possible. If the same format cannot be used, then an error is reported.

Use the Save as type drop down list to select the destination format for the conversion, then use the Attributes drop down list to select the specific attributes to use for the destination type. If a save type supports customized attributes, use the Custom button to display a configuration window.

If the attributes allow any sampling rate to be used, you can specify the destination rate to use by checking the Rate box and entering the rate in the box. Some attributes have a fixed rate, so a separate rate cannot be specified for those. If no rate conversion is needed, make sure the Rate box is not checked. In that case, a processed file will have the same rate as the original file.

Destination Tab
To stored all processed files in the folder where they currently reside, select Store all files in their original folder.

To store all processed files in a specific folder, select Store all files in this folder and specify a folder in the box provided. You can click on the folder button to browse for a folder.

When adding an entire folder with subfolders by using the Add Folder button, select Preserve subfolder structure to ensure that the relative subfolders are maintained when storing processed files in a different destination folder. If this item is not checked, all files are stored in the destination folder and no subfolders are created. Folders listed in the file list will have double backslashes. The part before the double backslashes will be replaced by the destination folder. For example, if the destination folder is C:\Folder1\ and the added folder (with subfolders included) is C:\Source1\Source2\, then the file list may look something like this: 

C:\Source1\Source2\*.*
C:\Source1\Source2\\Source3\*.*
C:\Source1\Source2\\Source4\*.*
C:\Source1\Source2\\Source4\Source5\*.*

Note the double backslashes. The destination folders will be: 

C:\Folder1\*.*
C:\Folder1\Source3\*.*
C:\Folder1\Source4\*.*
C:\Folder1\Source4\Source5\*.*

Taking the last item, the folder is divided into three parts with the following colour coding: the original source root folders, the subfolders, and the pattern.
C:\Source1\Source2\\Source4\Source5\*.*
The destination folder is:
C:\Folder1\
The original source folders are replaced by the destination folder to give:
C:\Folder1\Source4\Source5\*.*

Using the Add Folder button more than once when preserving subfolders is not recommended unless you fully understand how the source folder, subfolders, and destination folder are manipulated.

To overwrite any files having the same name and folder as the processed file, check the Overwrite existing files checkbox. GoldWave fully processes original files before overwriting them. Check the Only if older than the original checkbox to process and overwrite files that have not been processed or modified recently. Files are processed only if the destination file does not exist already or if the destination file is older than the original file. Selecting the Delete original files checkbox removes the original files after processing. Note the warning below.

Overwriting or deleting original files is not recommended. Processing lossy formats such as MP3 and iTunes M4A reduces the quality. Always keep a copy of the high quality original files.

Use Create log file to save the processing details shown in the progress window to a text log file that can be viewed and searched later (in the Notepad accessory, for example).

Information Tab
Use this tab to control how information is processed. See File | Information.

Information Tab Settings
Setting Description
Retain current text information Keeps the file's current information unchanged.
Replace text information Replaces all of the information with new information provided using the Set Info button. Any blank entries are removed from the file.
Replace specified text information only Replaces the information with new information provided using the Set Info button. Blank entries are not removed or changed, except the Title. GoldWave uses the file's name as the Title text when a file currently has no Title.
Remove text information Removes all text information from the processed file. The Title is not set.
Remove text information and pictures Removes text, cover art, and other pictures.

If the Track number is set to ##, GoldWave replaces it with a sequential number based on the order in which the files are processed. The first processed file will have a track number of 01, then the next file will have 02, etc. If the Title is left blank and the file does not have a title, GoldWave sets it to the file's name.

Depending on the settings used, all processed files may have exactly the same information (except for ## track numbering and title mentioned above), so care must be taken when specifying file specific information such as the Title. Also note that not all file types can store information.

When retaining information and converting to a different file type, some information from the old file type may not be valid for the new file type. GoldWave does not verify any information, so care must be taken when retaining information while converting.

Batch Add Folder Window

Add Folder button on the Source tab of Batch Processing window.

Use this window to add an entire folder or file type to Batch Processing source list.

Enter the folder path in the Folder box or use the folder button to browse for a folder.

Specify the file type in the Type filter box. To add all files in the folder, select the *.* item from the drop down list. To add Wave files only, select the *.wav item. To add MP3 files, select *.mp3. Other unlisted items can be entered manually, such as *.abc.

Use the Include all subfolders checkbox to include all subfolders within the given folder. The entire tree of subfolders will be added to the list for processing. Use the Preserve subfolder structure checkbox on the Destination tab of Batch Processing to maintain the relative subfolder structure when storing processed files.

Batch Add Edit Window

Add Edit button on the Process tab of Batch Processing window.

Use this window to add edit commands to Batch Processing process list. Supported commands are listed in the Edit command listbox. Additional settings may appear in the Settings area when a command is selected. Some commands do not have any additional settings.

To add edits and/or change the selection:
  1. Select the edit command from the Edit command list.
  2. Enter settings, if any.
  3. Choose the Add button.
  4. Repeat the above steps to add more edit commands.
  5. Choose Close to close the window.

When changing the selection, use the Quick settings drop down list to see examples of selections. If using the Cue option, the first cue point matching the given name is used. If a number is given, cue points are searched for a name matching the number. If no such cue point is found, then the number is used as an index in the list of cue points. So if the number 6 is given, for example, a cue point with the name "6" is searched for first. If that name isn't found, then the sixth cue point is used.

For more information about each command, look up the command in the Edit Menu Commands.

See Also: Editing Overview, Batch Add Effect Window

Batch Add Effect Window

Add Effect button on the Process tab of Batch Processing window.

Use this window to add an effect to the Batch Processing process list. The tree list shows all plug-in modules.

To add GoldWave effects:
  1. Expand the GoldWave* branch to list all built-in effects.
  2. Select and expand the an effect branch under the GoldWave* branch to list all presets available for that effect.
  3. Select one of the presets.
  4. Choose the Add button.
  5. Repeat the above steps to add more effects.
  6. Choose Close to close the window.

To use effect settings that are not available in any of the current presets, open a file and use the effect to create a new preset with the settings you need.

To select an effect from a different plug-in module, scroll down the list and select the module name to expand its branch.

To use the effect on part of the file only, add an edit command to set the selection first.

See Also: Editing Overview, Edit Menu Commands, Effect Menu Commands, Presets

Batch Add Logic Window

Add Logic button on the Process tab of Batch Processing window.

Use this window to add logic to the Batch Processing process list. Construct a logic statement or add labels by using the drop-down list boxes and edit boxes. See the tables below for details.

To add logic to skip mono files:
  1. Select "If value of" from the first box.
  2. Select "channels" from the second box.
  3. Select "is equal to" from the third box.
  4. Select "parameter" from the fourth box.
  5. Enter 1 in the edit box below the parameter.
  6. Select "cancel processing this file" from the fifth box.
  7. Choose the Add button.
  8. Choose Close to close the window.
To add logic to paste the clipboard enough times to fill at least 5 minutes:
  1. Select "Label" from the first box.
  2. Enter "Loop" for the label in the right edit box.
  3. Choose the Add button.
  4. Choose Close to close the window.
  5. Choose the Add Edit button to add a Paste command.
  6. Choose the Add Logic button.
  7. Select "If value of" from the first box.
  8. Select "file length" from the second box.
  9. Select "is less than" from the third box.
  10. Select "parameter" from the fourth box.
  11. Enter 5:00 in the edit box below the parameter.
  12. Select "goto" from the fifth box.
  13. Enter "Loop" in the edit below below "goto".
  14. Choose the Add button.
  15. Choose Close to close the window.
Logic Statements
Statements Description
None Use this statement to unconditionally change the flow of processing by performing a command.
Label Labels are used by the goto command to skip ahead or loop back to a specific point in the processing list.
If value of Compares the value of two parameters using the selected comparison operator. Parameters are listed below.
Parameters Description
channels The number of channels in file. This would be 1 for mono, 2 for stereo, 6 for 5.1 surround sound, etc.
sampling rate The sampling rate of the file, such as 44100, 96000, etc.
start marker The position of the start marker in time, such as 00:12.34.
finish marker The position of the finish marker in time, such as 1:23.45.
selection length The duration of the selection.
file length The duration of the entire file.
clipboard length The duration of the audio in the clipboard.
file number The sequential number of the file being processed. The first file processed is 1, the second is 2, the third is 3, etc. Use If value of file number is equal to parameter with parameter set to 1 to do a command for the first file. Or use If value of file number is equal to file count to perform a command for the last file.
file count The total number of files being processed.
parameter Allows you to enter any value for the parameter in the box below this drop-down list.

Logic Commands
Command Description
goto Skips ahead or loops back to the given label in the processing list. Enter the label in the box below this drop-down list. Use the Label statement to add a label in the list.
cancel processing this file Stops processing the current file and starts processing the next file.
error Stop processing and displays an error message. Enter the message in the box below this drop-down list.
terminate all processing Stops all processing. Processing of the current file is stopped and no other files are processed.

See Also: Editing Overview, Edit Menu Commands, Effect Menu Commands, Presets