• Consider the soundfile(s), your essence, to be processed and associated metadata files (if available) to store in a convenient disk-directory of your computer. 
• Start STx.
• Create a new Project-File (DataSet-File) preferably at the primary disk location of the soundfiles.
• Input a singe soundfile or a collection of soundfiles into the STx-DataSet by drag and drop from the Windows Explorer into the Workspace window of STx or use the STx-tool FindFile (see below).
• Record new soundfile(s) if appropriate by using the STx-Recorder.
• Observe that STx has accepted the soundfiles as compatible by checking the content of the STx-soundfile list.
• Double-Click on a Soundfile-Entry. STx opens the Sound-Segment list of the selected soundfile.
• To play the content of the soundfile double-click on the automatically created segment entry Signal.All.

Note 1: Click on the progress bar during sound reproduction in order to listen into any part of your soundfile (see Play).

The STx-Project is now ready for further processing. 

Note 2: New soundfiles can be added to your project (DataSet) at any time. Important: Deleting a soundfile in the soundfile list does not touch the soundfile itself. Functions from the Signal Modification section of STx only change the content of the soundfile(s), that's why soundfile copies should be used in these cases. STx currently provides no UNDO function on sound signals.

In order to start a recording session in STx, proceed as follows:

• Select Recorder Setup
• Specify record settings (sampling frequency, # of channels etc.)
• Select preferred recorder layout. Note: auto-run RTAnalyser is only available under Windows XP and Vista due to system limitations in Windows NT and 2000.
• Specify theTemp-Directory for the recorder soundfile location (or use default)
• Start recording:  

Note: The default soundfile naming uses the actual date and time, such as rec-2008.06.05-12.55.37.wav. 

Note: externally recorded (alredy existing) soundfiles can simply be imported into STx by just drag and drop the soundfile from the Explorer into the STx-workspace or use the FindFile tool of STx to import the files into the STx-DataSet, finally the File->Soundfile->Open option from the pop up menue can be applied.

Note: The STx-Recorder automatically creates a soundfile segment named Signal. All  in the soundfile segment list with the start address 0 samples and the duration of the recorded signal in xxxxyyy samples.

STx currently works with samplimg frequencies selectable from 500 Hz to 2 MHz at word lengths of 8 /16/ 24 Bits, provided that these formats are supported by the hardware and driver of your sound subsystem under Windows 2000/NT/XP or Vista. Up to 64 channels (48 kHz, 24 Bits) have been recorded simultaneously by means of an 8 x 8 microphone array. A binary word length of > 24 bits, higher sampling frequencies and alternative soundfile formats are available on request. For further hints about performing digitization see the Sections STx-Recorder Setup, I/O and General Soundfile Setup.

The Recorder Setup show PPM bars pecifies the basic parameters, such as sampling frequency, mono/stereo, word length, maximum signal duration etc. in the left section of the dialog. Read more: Extended Recorder Setup for Online Signal Segmentation. 

A sound segment (audio segment) is a selected and named sequence of contiguous sound samples in a signal stream. Segments are located in sound files. Access to STx generated sound segments is provided by means of the Segment-List-Window, which opens when a sound file is selected from the sound file list of the STXDataSet. Segment lists specify segment addresses (cue in - cue out time pointers) and associated metadata (attributes and annotations). They support the management of named sound segments of continuous stored signals, whether located in the associated sound file or in an other sound file.

Sound segments are defined by a SegmentName (ID), SegmentStartAddress and Segment Duration within a soundfile. The SegmentStartAddress is relative to the beginning of the soundfile, and the SegmentDuration begins at the SegmentStartAddress. Alternatively the SegmentEndAddress can be specified.

Several software products, such as MS Power Point, accept *.wav files to be reproduced in presentations. In order to make STx sound segments available for that purpose the Export to Soundfile function is provided. Select the appropriate sound segment and open the pop up dialog by right mouse click and select Export->Export to Soundfile.

Export Metadata (Ctrl+M) saves the metadata for the selected file to disk.

Note that you can use the export.sts toolbox to export multiple segments to disk in the format <soundfile>.<segment>.wav 

Assuming, you want to concatenate arbitrary sound segments from one or more soundfiles in consecutive order into one or more already existing soundfiles:

• Open the sound segment list of the source file by selecting the file from the filelist of the STx-Workspace.
• Just copy and paste (Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V) the selected sound segment(s) from the segment list into the segment list of the destination soundfile. Multiple selections from the STx segment list of a source soundfile are possible.

Note: The destination soundfile must already exist in the STx-soundfile list. Sampling rate and sample word length of source files(s) and destination soundfile(s) have to be compatible. Channels have to be specified.

• Copied sound segments will automatically be appended at the end of the destination soundfile.

Note: Segment annotations are taken over from the segment list of the source file(s).

For further options of signal and segment manipulation see STx-Sequencer. 

Der Real Time Analyser analysiert in Echtzeit Soundinputs, die entweder über das Mikrophon oder direkt von gespeicherten Sounddateien bzw. Radio, etc. eingespielt werden können.