The Compression dialog box gives you tools for testing or `previewing' various compression
types on your selected Samples, comparing the original audio to the compressed versions, and
assigning your preferred compression type to the Samples.
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If the selected Samples have been previously compressed or previewed with the selected compression
type, then the compressed size will appear below the list. Notice the difference in compressed
and uncompressed size.
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1 Compression Types listbox
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To select a compression type, click on it. To avoid all data
compression, select no compression.
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- Note: The compression types listed here may vary from
Sample to Sample because some of the compression
types won't work for certain kinds of Samples - i.e. particular
sampling rates, numbers of channels, and/or bit
depths.
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2 Player 2.0.x and Beatnik Xtra
Compatible Types Only checkbox
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To ensure that your RMF files' MP3 compression will be
backwards-compatible with more versions of the Beatnik
Player for Web browsers and the Beatnik Xtra for Macromedia
Director, be sure to check this checkbox.
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- Note: Until such time as later versions of the Beatnik
Player become well-distributed, Web developers who
require compatibility with the installed base of Beatnik
Players should use this option.
- Several new MP3 sample compression settings became
available in version 2.0, some of which were not supported
in the earlier versions. When this item is
checked, the Compression Types listbox (1) will only
offer those compression types that the Beatnik Player,
versions 2.0.x, and the Beatnik Xtra are able to play.
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Plays the original, uncompressed version of the Sample.
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Previews the effect of the selected compression type on the
indicated Sample, without selecting that type.
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- Note: If you entered this dialog with multiple Samples
selected, a Preview for: menu will appear above the Preview
button. Use this menu to indicate which of the
selected Samples you want to preview before you click
the Preview button.
- If the selected Samples haven't yet been compressed
with the selected compression type, a Compression
Progress dialog box will appear briefly.
- During preview playback, the Preview button will
change to a Stop button. Use it to cancel playback
before the Sample finishes playing.
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Applies the selected compression type to the selected Samples,
and closes the dialog box.
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Closes the dialog box without applying the selected compression
type.
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Setting a Compression Type
To set the compression type for the selected Samples:
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- If your RMF file will be played in Web pages by the Beatnik Player for Web browsers, and it's important to you that it play with the maximum number of existing users' Beatnik Player installations, then check the Player 2.0.x and Beatnik Xtra Compatible Types Only checkbox.
- Select a compression type from the list.
- Click the Preview button and listen to the compressed Sample.
- If this Sample hasn't been compressed with this compression type before, there
may be a delay while the Sample is compressed and added to the sample cache
(see About the Sample Cache below).
- Note the difference between the Sample's uncompressed and compressed sizes.
- You can preview as many different compression types as you like before settling
on the one you want to use. If your disk fills up with too many compressed alternatives,
use the Clear compression cache dialog box (see About the Sample Cache
below).
- Once you've decided which compression type to use, select it in the list and click the OK button.
In the Samples tabs of Session windows, a Sample's Compression type will appear after the Sample's
name, in parentheses.
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About Compression
Compression saves disk space and speeds your listener's download times by reducing the size of
the Custom Samples in your exported RMF files.
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In a Beatnik Editor Session, compression is treated as a property that's applied to a Sample for the
RMF export - your original Sample remains uncompressed, and a compressed copy is generated
for use in the RMF file export. That means it's safe to experiment with changing the compression
type for any Sample as many times as you like - your original uncompressed Sample is always
kept safe in the Session document.
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- Note: By contrast, earlier versions of the Beatnik Editor would apply compression to the
original Sample in the Session file, which could lead to a fidelity loss if you later changed
your mind about the compression type.
Such experimentation is usually worth the effort, as different compression types are better suited
for different kinds of sounds - some compression types can produce bad-sounding artifacts with
some kinds of sound material. You'll want to carefully evaluate how good each compression type
sounds to find the best balance between fidelity and file size for each Sample.
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The Beatnik Editor supports several different data compression algorithms, including MP3.
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Compression Type
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Description
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No compression
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Use the original Sample directly, applying no data compression.
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ADPCM compression (IMA
4:1)
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Adaptive Delta Pulse-Code Modulation, which reduces files to 25% of original size. Compatible with the International Multimedia Association (IMA) specification.
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uLaw 2 to 1
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Used on many UNIX-based computers. (Pronounced "mew-law")
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aLaw 2 to 1
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Used on many UNIX-based computers. (Pronounced "A-law")
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MPEG Layer 3
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The same compression type used in MP3 files, where the data compression ratio is user-controllable. Higher bit rates provide better sound quality, whereas lower bit rates provide quicker downloads - and you get to set that tradeoff.
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About the Sample Cache
For faster comparison of different compression types, the Beatnik Editor preserves every compressed
Sample version you've ever previewed in a disk file "cache," instead of re-compressing
every time you ask for a preview. If the compression type you want to preview has already been
made for that Sample, the cached version is instantly played.
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The sample cache ordinarily grows until you close your Session file or quit the Beatnik Editor, at
which time it's deleted. If you run out of disk space during a Beatnik Editor session, you can
reclaim the cache disk space with the Clear compression cache... command.
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- Note: Although not encouraged, you can also remove the original, uncompressed Sample
from your session with the Delete uncompressed originals dialog box.
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