11 even more simple tips for Soundminer V6 PRO and HD Plus - if you know them

Author: Guido Helbling, Avosound - Last updated November 6th, 2018

The following 11 tips for the Soundminer software are aimed at both experienced users and beginners. As you are about to find out, these tips are even more simple than the original 10 tips for Soundminer...that is, if you know them!

Some of the tips are aimed exclusively at Soundminer V6 PRO users on Mac platforms. To balance things out, I promise to compile some tips for HD Plus users as well. Watch this space...

Send us your ideas, and we'll have a look at them. Feel free to post on Facebook (or other social media). We are a social medium as well and like to share our knowledge too!

Soundminer is a great sound design tool that can be used for all sorts of shenanigans. For example, you can use the REC switch in the player to record all the manipulations to the knobs and switches and the VST menu. During transfers, all settings are rendered; this means that the sound with all the effects is created as a new sound file.

But what if we want to record, for example, a reverb that extends beyond the sample length? Traditionally, the transfer process would render the new audio file in the selected length because it doesn't realise you want to extend an effect.

That's where the VST Tail Size value comes into play: it allows you to enter the additional length of the sample (e.g. to add reverb).

HD Plus currently has a fixed Tail Size of 1 second. However, this will be changed shortly, so that it can be adjusted manually.

1. Select the tracks in the browser window
2. Drag and drop picture (jpeg format) from the finder to the browser
3. Done.
4. Use the command Embed Metadata (pop-up window, right mouse click) to save the picture permanently with the audio file. It will be displayed with the file, even if copied.

The command Assign Artwork to Selection does exactly the same with Soundminer V6 PRO as Assign Artwork does with HD Plus. Soundminer will ask you for the picture and you can then attach it to the selected tracks.

Don't forget to embed, though: Embed Selected Records (pop-up window, right mouse click), or Embed Selected in HD Plus (also pop-up window, right mouse click).

Just as the name says, this command makes Soundminer V6 PRO add a picture from the clipboard to the files. First, however, you need to have a picture in the clipboard. Clipboard is a cache that allows you to save pictures from the internet via CMND C. You can then use the Assign Artwork from Clipboard command (pop-up window, right mouse click) to add the picture to the selected data files.

Please note that, unfortunately, you cannot select a picture in the Finder and copy it with CMND C. The OS is a bit too simple for this--it will only copy the file name into the cache. A real bummer, but we can't change it.

Attempting to create Scripts without the necessary know-how is asking for trouble...so make sure to get in touch with us here and we'll do our best to help you out with your Script and/or your ideas.

This is how to create a very simple script to fill out metadata fields that always contain the same information. You can download a sample Script at the bottom of the page.

Scripts are a bit like physics: rather confusing and unyielding. If you make a mistake, you will probably regret it for a long time. So make sure to follow these instructions!

1. Download a solid Text Editor if you don't have one already. We recommend the freeware TextWrangler from Barebones (Mac only). This software is used to create Scripts and will show you source texts and code tags in a variety of colours, which makes scripting a lot easier.
2. Download the sample Script and open it in your Text Editor. It should roughly look like this:
   
3. List one command per line for your data field. The space between the quotation marks contains the text that we want to pack into the data field.
   changedMetadata.[DATENFELD] = "TEXT"
4. This is what it will look like for several field. We selected the fields Designer, Manufacturer, Notes, Publisher, TrackYear and URL.
5. Installing the Script
   As soon as the Script is finished, you can save it with the ending [My Script].lua in the Soundminer system folder
   [YOUR USER]/library/application support/soundminer/Scripts
   
   Create a Folder called Scripts if there is no Scriptfolder in the /library/application support/soundminer/ folder!
6. Using the Script
   This is what it's all about! Let's see how this thing actually works! First, though, you have to exit Soundminer and restart it.
   Select the tracks in the Browser (use CMND A to select them all) that need to work with the Script and right-click to select Process Metadata Script/[My Script]. If the Script was created successfully, Soundminer V6 PRO will now use it.
7. Please note that the Script will now overwrite existing metadata in the data fields with values from the Script!

• If there is an error in the Script, your Script will not be displayed in the Script menu
• IfSoundminer V6 PRO crashes as soon as you have installed your Script, you have probably made a more serious mistake. Remove the Script from the folder to restart Soundminer
• Check your Script and make sure that text is between quotation marks: "Text"

Your edit system has to support the Spot to Timeline function. Intelligent Transfers is compatible with the following systems:

• Pro Tools
• Pyramix
• Nuendo
• Reaper

If you know that you will be re-using various bits and pieces from an audio file (e.g. footsteps from a step sequence), we recommend that you transfer the entire audio file.

You can now select individual clips from the file (e.g. steps, birds, etc) rather comfortably in Soundminer V6 PRO.

When transferring individual bits and pieces, they will now be automatically added to the timeline as clips.

It keeps getting better: your clips will automatically come with handles. Don't know what handles are? Read this first.

Depending on the audio bit's location in the audio file, the clip will come with handles. This means it can be extended at both ends, as the clip references the entire audio file which is generally much longer. If the audio bit is transferred as a new audio file, its length will be fixed and it will no longer reference the original file.

1. Set the length of the handles in Soundminer V6 PRO
   Preferences / Transfer - Handle Size
   
2. Set the length of the handles in Soundminer V4.5 Pro
   Preferences / Transfer - Handle Size
   
3. Set the length of the handles in Soundminer HD Plus
   Preferences (Gear Symbol), Handle Size
   

The values are in seconds.

If no metadata is displayed in the Finder info window, your computer system is either having a laugh or the metadata was created before version 214. In the case of the latter, you simply need to embed the sounds with an Soundminer V4.5 Pro version higher than 214 or Soundminer V6 PRO.

The info will then be updated and displayed in the Finder info window.

But how do you know which Soundminer V6 PRO version you have? Please scroll down a bit to see the answer...

As soon as several users are logged into a network, the need for rights administration arises. To prevent chaos, these rights can either be granted or revoked.

Soundminer HD Plus for Windows and Mac can easily be used to access the central server databases in a Soundminer network. The Musicminer web interface can also access the Soundminer databases, allowing you to store all sounds and music in a central hub.

You will need to backup a database occasionally. This is recommended if you're changing metadata and would like to make the changes across all files. Such an operation can quickly result in chaos. The easiest way to save a database is by backing up the four database files. For this, you have to access the [YOUR USER]/library/application support/soundminer/ folder and copy the four connected database files.

Important: if something goes wrong and you would like to move back the database, make sure to close Soundminer before playing around with the files.

Option 2: in case you embedded all the metadata (as recommended), you can also load the metadata from the audio files with a Rescan (right mouse click).

This is also possible with HD Plus, of course, but the databases are hidden somewhere else:[YOUR USER]/library/application support/soundminer/

Windows is a bit more complicated because it hides away the folder. This should not concern us, however, as we do not need to memorise where the folder is hidden.

Simply use the command Reveal Support Folder in the Soundminer menu of HD Plus (Windows and Mac) and Soundminer will show you the Support Folder.

In order for databases to work efficiently, so-called indexes are created. These indexes work like the table of contents in a phone book and enable the database to access data very quickly.

Now, you're probably asking yourself why you should know all this boring stuff...

Well, it is actually important to know that Soundminer uses the database system mySQL in the background in order to run your search inquiries. But more about this later -- including searching for files in Soundminer (these are also handled by mySQL, with the efficient help of the indexes).

It is, however, important to know that mySQL will list search results according to the table indexes. If data is included in table columns but not indexed, the columns will not be included in a search.

You might think this is stupid...surely there must be a better way to handle this?

Turns out the reason for this is simple: speed. With so much data and such large databases, each field would need to be searched, which would take forever. Not necessarily an efficient way of working -- hence indexes.

There is, however, a catch to all this: indexes are limited; mySQL only has 16 fields (maximum) per database available for indexing.

This is not too bad, however, as these 16 fields can be adjusted.

So if a description from a metadata field does not pop up among the search results, it is probably because the field is not indexed. In which case we can simply adjust the index.

1. Adjusting the search index with Soundminer V6 PRO
   All metadata fields of the current database are displayed with Database/Modify Search Index. The checked fields are indexed and will hence be searched during a full text search. Check the fields you need, but remember that there are no more than 16 available. Pressing Save creates a new index, which can take a while depending on the size of the database. Also, please be patient and don't force the process -- else the whole databank could be jeopardised!
2. Adjust search index with HD Plus
   All metadata fields of the current database are displayed under Database/Change FullText Index. You have a choice of 16 fields max. Select the fields you want to search and click ok.

If you now enter a text search in the Soundminer tool bar (FYI: this is a full text search, but more on that later) you should get results with the text in question.

• Indexes are created per database - because databases can feature different metadata fields
• Creating indexes can take some time. Please be patient and don't stress your computer (!) until the index has been created. If the process is interrupted, the database might become corrupted...and by corrupted we mean completely unusable!

Soundminer allows you to change the file name of audio material during transfer. This includes a prefixed text, a single character or a complete transfer — Soundminer will create a new filename according to the metadata fields.

Because it is an extremely useful tool that keeps even the most chaotic session clearly arranged - particularly when editing sound for film. For example, if you add 'SFX_' to the transfers, all transferred files will be added to the project folders and audio lists with the SFX_ prefix. Files will now be named as follows:

• SFX_Kick.wav
• SFX_Kick_in_the_Face.wav
• SFX_Hook_to_the_Chin.wav
• SFX_Blow_below_the_Belt.wav

If this tip is news to you and gets you all excited about the numerous possibilities it offers, please do not stop reading yet! Take a seat instead, as things are about to become even more interesting.

What if you could generate the filename of a transfer logically? Well, this great feature actually exists and it's called File Naming Scheme - for Soundminer V6 PRO and HD Plus.

Although the setup for Soundminer V6 PRO is identical, I'll quickly explain both. First up is Soundminer V6 PRO.

File Naming in Soundminer is a bit more comprehensive than just adding text prefixes. With a structure you can create a filename based on the metadata fields. After all, we have a lot of information in the fields for a reason, so why not use it?

<ShortID:2>_<Filename:wc:ns:3>_<Source:1>

Will transform the following metadata fields...

...into these new filenames:

• WTR_Water-Splash-Loud-01_Avosound.wav
• AMB_Berlin-City-Ambience-03_Avosound.wav

The principle of the File Naming Scheme is the same for Soundminer V6 PRO as for Soundminer HD Plus, but the setup is slightly different. You will find the instructions for HD Plus below.

The File Naming Scheme also includes a few spelling features. The following explains how to add text options to the metadata field:

<Filename:wc:ns:3>

The following options are available:

• ns: no space: remove all spaces: Fox in Socks = FoxinSocks
• Nv: no vowels: remove all vowels, Fox in Socks = Fx in scks
• Ss: substitute spaces: replace spaces with '_', Fox in Socks = Fox_in_Socks
• Ac: all caps: capitalise all characters, Fox in Socks = FOX IN SOCKS
• Wc: word caps: capitalise all words, FoX iN sOcKs = Fox In Socks