XCDRDAO(1X)							   XCDRDAO(1X)



NAME
       xcdrdao - Graphical front end to cdrdao for composing audio CDs

SYNOPSIS
       xcdrdao [toc-file]

DESCRIPTION
       xcdrdao allows the creation of toc-files for cdrdao and can control the
       recording process. Its main application is the composition of audio CDs
       from  one or more audio files. It supports PQ-channel editing, entry of
       meta data like ISRC codes/CD-TEXT and non destructive cut of the	 audio
       data.

       If  a  toc-file	is  specified it will be read and the referenced audio
       data will be displayed.	It is also possible to specify a ".cue" file.

       The GUI	periodically  polls  all  configured  CD-ROM  and  CD-recorder
       devices	(see section DEVICE CONFIGURE DIALOG) to retrieve their status
       (ready, busy, no disk). This is done by sending a TEST UNIT READY  com-
       mand to the devices. Following problems may arise:

       o      Some  devices (e.g. the Philips CDD2600) block the SCSI bus when
	      a TEST UNIT READY is issued while it logs in a new medium.  This
	      will  cause  a  buffer  under  run  for  all currently recording
	      devices that are connected to the same bus.

       o      The GUI cannot detect if a device is used by another program. It
	      will continue to poll the device which may disturb the operation
	      of the other program.

       The GUI supports recording of the same or different projects on	multi-
       ple  devices in parallel. However, there are some caveats and your sys-
       tem must meat some prerequisites:

       o      Under Linux a kernel  version  >=	 2.2.6	should	be  used.  The
	      generic  SCSI  device of older kernels does not support parallel
	      access to multiple devices.

       o      The bandwidths of the disks that contain the source data and the
	      involved	busses	must  be  big  enough  to  serve  all recorder
	      devices.

       o      Some recorder devices may block the SCSI bus when	 the  disk  is
	      ejected  by  the	software  after	 the burning process (e.g. the
	      Plextor PX-R412).	 For this reason a  warning  message  will  be
	      displayed	 if the "Eject" button is checked in the "Record" dia-
	      log. Manually ejecting a disk seems not to be a problem.

       o      ATAPI devices supported by the 'generic-mmc' driver  will	 block
	      the  IDE bus while writing the lead-in and lead-out. Thus paral-
	      lel writing with such devices connected to the same IDE  channel
	      will  not	 work. There is a way to avoid this blocking with some
	      ATAPI devices but it is not implemented, yet.


CONCEPTS
       The main idea of this GUI is to maintain a continuous stream  of	 audio
       data that can be composed of several audio files. It is possible to use
       only portions of audio files in the audio stream	 which	is  the	 basic
       idea for the non destructive cut capability.

       For example, if you cut out some samples in the middle of an audio file
       the result will be a portion that starts at the beginning of the	 audio
       file  and  ends at the beginning of the cut region and a second portion
       that starts at the end of the cut region and reaches until the  end  of
       the  audio  file.  Of  course, all of this is hidden by the GUI and you
       will just see the result.

       Track and index marks are placed relatively  to	the  continuous	 audio
       stream.	It  is	not  necessary	to have a separate audio file for each
       track. Track/index marks can be set, moved and deleted  without	influ-
       encing the audio data stream.


   Sample Marker
       A  sample  marker serves as an insertion position for audio data. It is
       equivalent to the cursor of a text editor. All  functions  that	insert
       audio  data  require a defined marker. At most one sample marker may be
       active at any time.


   Sample Selection
       A sample selection specifies a continuous range of  audio  samples.  At
       most one sample selection may be active at any time.


   Track Mark
       A track mark specifies a point in the audio stream where the track num-
       ber or the index number changes. Track marks are written as a  pair  of
       two  numbers like 5.1 for track 5, index 1. Track numbers may be in the
       range 1..99, the valid range for index numbers is 0..99. Index 0 repre-
       sents the pre-gap of a track where the track relative time counts back-
       wards down to zero. Index 1 marks the real start	 of  the  track.  This
       position is stored in the central toc of the CD and is used by CD play-
       ers to directly jump to a track. All index numbers > 2 may be  used  to
       subdivide  a track but have no further effect. Some CD players may jump
       to such index marks.

       Track marks may be selected to show data about a track  or  to  perform
       operations  on  the  complete  track.  At  most	one  track mark may be
       selected at any time.


   Times
       The time is usually displayed as m:s:f.x where m represents minutes,  s
       represents  seconds  (0..59),  f represents frames (0..74, 1/75 second)
       and x stands for samples (0..587, 1/44100 second).


MAIN WINDOW
       The  main  window  consists  of	a  menu	 bar,  a  sample  display,   a
       marker/selection line, a button line and a status line.

       The  title  of the main window shows the current toc-file name. A "(*)"
       behind the name indicates that changes have not been saved.


   Menu Bar
       The functions that are accessible via the menu  bar  are	 described  in
       section MENU FUNCTIONS.


   Sample Display
       The sample display provides a visual representation of the audio stream
       and the placed track/index markers.

       The samples are displayed as two separate graphs for the left and right
       channel where the x-axis represents the time and the y-axis denotes the
       amplitude (linearly scaled). If a pixel represents more than  1	sample
       the  maximum and minimum amplitude of all samples that fall within this
       pixel is displayed. It is possible to zoom in and out  and  change  the
       displayed portion with the scroll bar.

       The track/index markers are shown on top of the two graphs. Track marks
       with index 1 are represented by filled track symbol.  All  other	 track
       marks  use  a  hollow track symbol. The track/index number pair is dis-
       played on the right side of a track symbol.

       Track marks can be selected or moved by clicking or dragging  with  the
       mouse pointer located over a track symbol. The track/index number pairs
       are not sensitive.


   Marker/Selection Line
       This line shows the actual cursor and active marker  position  and  the
       active sample selection.

       The  cursor  field  is read-only and shows the time value of the actual
       mouse pointer position within the audio stream if it is located	inside
       the  sample  display.  During  playback the cursor field shows the time
       value of currently audible sound.

       The marker field shows the time value of	 the  active  marker.  A  time
       value  may  be  entered	and hitting the return key sets the new marker
       position if the time value is valid.

       The sample selection fields show the active selected sample range. Time
       values may be entered and hitting the return key in one of these fields
       sets the new sample selection if the time values are valid.


   Button Line
       The zoom/select radio buttons specify the behavior when	dragging  with
       the mouse in the sample display. If "zoom" is active the sample display
       will zoom to selected sample range. If "select" is  active  the	active
       sample selection will be set to the selected sample range.

       The play button will playback the currently active sample selection via
       the sound card. If no sample selection is  active  the  currently  dis-
       played  sample range will be used. While playing the current project is
       set to read-only state and all operations that would modify the project
       are disabled.


   Status Line
       The  status  line shows more information about the last executed action
       or an error message if an action could not be executed.


MENU FUNCTIONS
   File->New
       Starts a new project. If the current work is not saved  a  confirmation
       box will be opened.


   File->Open
       Opens  a	 file  selector	 box  to select a toc-file or a .cue file that
       should be read. If the current work is not  saved  a  confirmation  box
       will pop up.


   File->Save
       Saves current work as a toc-file with the current file name.


   File->Save As
       Opens  a file sector box to select a toc-file to which the current work
       is saved.


   File->Quit
       Quits xcdrdao. If the current work is not saved a confirmation box will
       pop up.


   View->Zoom To Selection
       Zooms  the  sample display to the currently active sample selection. If
       no sample selection is active nothing will happen.


   View->Zoom out
       Doubles the range of displayed samples.


   View->Fullview
       Shows all samples of the audio stream in the sample display.


   Edit->Cut
       Removes the active selected sample range from  the  audio  stream.  The
       audio  file on the disk will not be touched by this operation. The sam-
       ple marker will be set so  that	a  following  "Paste"  operation  will
       revert the effect of this operation.

       If no sample selection is active nothing will happen.


   Edit->Paste
       Pastes  the samples that were previously removed with "Cut" at the cur-
       rent sample marker position. The sample selection is set to the	pasted
       samples	so  that a following "Cut" operation will revert the effect of
       this operation.

       If no sample marker is set nothing will happen.


   Edit->Add Track Mark
       Adds a track mark with index 1 at the active  sample  marker  position.
       The  position will be rounded to the next frame boundary. If the previ-
       ous or the new track would be shorter than 4 seconds no track  mask  is
       created.

       If no sample marker is active nothing will happen.


   Edit->Add Index Mark
       Adds  a track mark with index > 1 at the active sample marker position.
       The position will be rounded to the next frame  boundary.  Index	 marks
       cannot be created in the pre-gap area of a track.

       If no sample marker is active nothing will happen.


   Edit->Add Pre-Gap
       Adds  a	track  mark with index 0 (pre-gap) at the active sample marker
       position. Index 0 can only be added right  before  a  track  mark  with
       index  1.  If  the length of the previous track would be shorter than 4
       seconds after inserting the pre-gap this operation is not performed.

       If no sample marker is active nothing will happen.


   Edit->Remove Track Mark
       Removes selected track mark with any index. If a track mark with	 index
       1 is removed all track marks of this track will be removed.

       If no track marker is selected nothing will happen.


   Tools->Disk Info
       Opens  the non modal "Disk Info" dialog box. See section DISK INFO DIA-
       LOG for more details.


   Tools->Track Info
       Opens the non modal "Track Info" dialog box.  See  section  TRACK  INFO
       DIALOG for more details.


   Tools->Append Track
       Opens a non modal file selector dialog box to select an audio file that
       will be completely appended to the audio	 stream.  A  track  mark  with
       index 1 is added at the beginning of the appended audio data.

       The  non	 modal	file selector box is shared for "Tools->Append Track",
       "Tools->Append File" and "Tools->Insert File".


   Tools->Append File
       Opens a non modal file selector dialog box to select an audio file that
       will be completely appended to the audio stream.

       The  non	 modal	file selector box is shared for "Tools->Append Track",
       "Tools->Append File" and "Tools->Insert File".


   Tools->Insert File
       Opens a non modal file selector dialog box to select an audio file that
       will  be	 completely  inserted in the audio stream at the active marker
       position. If no sample marker is active nothing will happen.

       The non modal file selector box is shared  for  "Tools->Append  Track",
       "Tools->Append File" and "Tools->Insert File".


   Tools->Append Silence
       Opens  a non modal dialog box that can be used to append silence to the
       audio stream.

       The non model dialog box is  shared  for	 "Tools->Append	 Silence"  and
       "Tools->Insert Silence".


   Tools->Insert Silence
       Opens  a non modal dialog box that can be used to insert silence in the
       audio stream at the active marker position.  If	no  sample  marker  is
       active nothing will happen.

       The  non	 model	dialog	box  is shared for "Tools->Append Silence" and
       "Tools->Insert Silence".


   Settings->Devices
       Opens the non modal "Configure Devices" dialog box. See section	DEVICE
       CONFIGURE DIALOG for more details.


   Actions->Record
       Opens  the non modal "Record" dialog box. See section RECORD DIALOG for
       more details.


DISK INFO DIALOG (Tools->Disk Info)
       This non modal dialog shows summary information about the whole project
       and allows editing of meta data that is valid for the complete disk.

       The  "Apply" button must be used to make changes permanent. If the sum-
       mary information changes before the "Apply" button  was	hit,  e.g.  by
       adding a new track, all changes will be lost.

       The "Cancel" button withdraws all changes and closes the dialog box.


   Summary Frame
       Shows the total number of tracks, i.e. number of track marks with index
       1, and the total length of the audio stream.


   Sub-Channel Frame
       Allows entry and editing of data that is written to the sub-channels of
       a disk. The scope of this data covers the whole disk.

       The  "Toc Type" option menu can be used to select the type of the table
       of contents that will be written to the disk. Currently,	 for  projects
       that are solely created with this GUI only the type "CD-DA" or "CD-ROM-
       XA" makes sense. If you read a toc-file that contains data track speci-
       fications another type may be displayed.

       The  "UPC/EAN"  edit field sets the catalog number of the disk. Exactly
       13 digits must be entered to set the catalog number. To clear the cata-
       log number the edit field must be completely cleared.


   CD-TEXT Frame
       CD-TEXT	data  can  be  specified for up to 8 different languages. Each
       language is reference by a language number  0..7.  The  first  language
       should have language number 0. Language numbers should be used continu-
       ously.

       The actual language for a language number is specified with  the	 "Lan-
       guage"  option  menu: The option "Unknown" is shown for an unknown lan-
       guage code (e.g. if the toc-file was edited manually). It is not possi-
       ble  to	select	this option. Option "Undefined" means that no language
       was assigned for this language number. It is possible to enter  CD-TEXT
       data and the entered data will be saved to the toc-file but it will not
       be recorded to a CD-R/CD-RW. The remaining options select  the  desired
       language. Each language can be assigned only to one language number.

       The remaining CD-TEXT fields contain ASCII data. It is not necessary to
       use them all but at least "Title" and "Performer" should be filled.


TRACK INFO DIALOG (Tools->Track Info)
       This non modal dialog shows information	about  a  selected  track  and
       allows  editing	of  track  specific  meta  data.  If  no track mark is
       selected all fields will be cleared and set insensitive.

       The "Apply" button must be used to make changes permanent. If the track
       information changes, e.g. by adding a index mark, or another track mark
       is selected before the "Apply" button was hit all changes will be lost.

       The "Cancel" button withdraws all changes and closes the dialog box.


   Summary Frame
       Shows the length of the pre-gap (0 if no pre-gap is defined), the abso-
       lute  start and end time, the track length excluding the pre-gap length
       and the number of index marks > 1.


   Sub-Channel Frame
       Allows editing of all data that is written to the Q sub-channels of the
       track:


       Copy:  Digital copy permitted when selected.


       Pre Emphasis:
	      Audio data of track has pre emphasis when selected.


       Two/Four Channel Audio:
	      Select  "Four Channel Audio" if the audio data encodes more than
	      two channels. Of course, only two real channels will be recorded
	      on a CD-R/CD-RW in any case.


       ISRC:  Allows  to  edit	the  ISRC  code of the track. The first fields
	      holds the country code; it will only accept capital letters. The
	      second  field  holds  the owner code, capital letters and digits
	      are allowed. The remaining fields holds the year	and  a	serial
	      number and will only accept digits. All fields must be filled to
	      set the ISRC code and all fields must be cleared to remove it.


   CD-TEXT Frame
       Allows to enter and edit the CD-TEXT data of each language  number  for
       this  track.  All  fields  are  optional but at least "Title" and "Per-
       former" should be filled.


DEVICE CONFIGURE DIALOG (Settings->Devices)
       This non modal dialog shows the settings of all attached SCSI or	 ATAPI
       devices that identify themselves as CD-ROM or WORM device.

       All  device settings that differ from the default settings will be per-
       manently stored in the $HOME/.xcdrdao configuration file.

       The "Apply" button must be used to  make	 all  changes  permanent.  The
       "Reset"	button	reverts all changes since the last apply or the dialog
       box was opened. The "Cancel" button withdraws all  changes  and	closes
       the dialog box.


   Devices Frame
       The  browser  shows  the SCSI address (bus,id,lun) and the vendor/model
       string of all available	devices.  If  devices  are  not	 automatically
       detected	 it  is	 possible  to add devices manually to the browser (see
       "Add Device" Frame).

       The "Status" column shows the actual device status:


       Ready: Device has a disk loaded and is ready for an action.

       Busy:  Device is active with an unspecified action.

       Recording:
	      Device is recording.

       No disk:
	      Device has no disk loaded.

       Not available:
	      Device cannot be accessed.

       The "Rescan" button can be used to start the automatic drive  detection
       process.	 All  changes will be lost and the newly detected devices take
       immediate effect without hitting "Apply".

       The "Delete" button removes the selected device. The change takes imme-
       diate effect and all other changes will be lost.


   Device Settings Frame
       This  frame  allows  to	edit  the  settings  of the currently selected
       device.


       Device Type:
	      This option menu defines the device type which is used  to  con-
	      trol  which  actions  can be performed with this device: CD-ROM:
	      read only device, CD-R: CD-R recorder device, CD-RW:  CD-RW/CD-R
	      recorder device.


       Driver:
	      Option  menu  to	select	the  driver that is used to access the
	      device. If the device is known by the internal  device  database
	      the  correct  driver is selected automatically. Otherwise "Unde-
	      fined" will be shown and a  suitable  driver  must  be  selected
	      before any action can be performed with this device.


       Driver Options:
	      Enter  special  driver  options  here. The available options are
	      described in the README (the documentation will be moved to this
	      place soon). If the device is known by the internal device data-
	      base the correct option flags are selected automatically.


       Device Node:
	      This field is only required for operating	 systems  that	cannot
	      access  a SCSI device by the bus,id,lun triple. In this case the
	      device node that must be used to access  the  device  should  be
	      entered here.


   Add Device Frame
       This  frame can be used to manually add a device. The bus,id,lun triple
       of the device and the vendor/product string must	 be  specified	before
       the  "Add"  button  has	an  effect. It is not possible to overwrite an
       existing device with the same bus,id,lun triple. Use the "Delete"  but-
       ton of the "Devices" frame first in this case.


RECORD DIALOG (Actions->Record)
       This non modal dialog can be used to record the actual project on a CD-
       R/CD-RW. It is possible	to  record  the	 actual	 project  on  multiple
       recorders simultaneously.

       The  "Start"  button will start recording processes on all devices that
       are selected in the "Available Recorder Devices" browser. For this pur-
       pose  the  cdrdao  executable will be called and should be available in
       your PATH.  For each selected device a non modal progress  dialog  will
       be opened.

       After  the  recording is started on all selected devices it is possible
       to load another toc-file or continue editing the existing  project.  It
       is also safely possible to quit the GUI. The recording will continue in
       background but you will have no feedback about the progress.

       The "Cancel" button will close the dialog box.


   Available Recorder Devices Frame
       The browser shows all devices with device  type	CD-R  or  CD-RW.  Only
       devices with "Ready" status are selectable.


   Record Options Frame
       Simulate/Write:
	      Selects between simulated or real writing process.


       Close Disk:
	      If  selected disk will not be appendable. Otherwise the recorded
	      session is kept open.

	      Note: The drivers 'generic-mmc-raw',


       Eject: If selected the disk will be ejected after a successful  writing
	      process.

	      Warning:	This  may  cause buffer under runs with certain device
	      combinations if multiple devices are recording.


       Recording Speed:
	      May be used to set an upper limit for the used recording	speed.
	      If  a  recorder device does not support the speed the next lower
	      possible speed is used.


       Reload:
	      If selected the  disk  will  be  automatically  reloaded	if  it
	      appears  to  be  not  empty  or not appendable. This is required
	      after a simulation  run  for  some  devices  (e.g.  the  Philips
	      CDD2x00 recorder familiy).

	      Warning:	This  may  cause buffer under runs with certain device
	      combinations if multiple devices are recording.


FILES
       cdrdao:
	      executed for recording

       $HOME/.xcdrdao:
	      stores settings permanently


AUTHOR
       Andreas Mueller mueller@daneb.ping.de

SEE ALSO
       cdrdao(1), cdda2wav(1), cdparanoia(1)



				 Oct 10, 1999			   XCDRDAO(1X)