Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q:  Will BWF-Widget run on my MAC?

 

A: BWF-Widget only runs natively on a Windows PC running the English version of Windows 9x, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.  However it will run (although much slower) under a Virtual PC version of  Windows  on a  MAC running OSX.  Windows Media Player 9 or later is required for playback of files with Time-Code. although playback Under Virtual PC on a MAC may not be possible without dropouts or stalling.

 

Q: Will BWF-Widget print out my custom Sound Report?

 

A: BWF-Widget can print out its data in a neat formatted layout either in portrait or Landscape.  If you want to incorporate the metadata in a custom Sound report with other data like Track assignments or printed takes there is a way.  Create a template of your Sound report in Excel or other spreadsheet program. Leave the cells below the header blank.  Then after BWF-Widget gathers your metadata into a GRID, Use the mouse to select the columns you want to include in your report. Right click on your selection and choose "Copy selection to Clipboard".  Then bring up your template in your spreadsheet program and select the upper left hand cell for the data to be pasted.  Type "Ctrl V" or choose Paste from the context menu and all your metadata will flow neatly into the cells of the spreadsheet. You can then edit, re-format or ad notes to the line items or add instructions for Post.

 

Q. Can I edit or change the Meta-Data in the original Sound Files?

 

A: No, This version of BWF-Widget only reads data from your files. It doesn't write any data to the disk other than database text files that it creates.  Once you save out the metadata to a text file or paste it into a spread-sheet you can then add to or change the info, but this will not affect the original metadata contained in the Broadcast Wave Sound files.

 

Q:  Why won't my 24 bit files playback in BWF-Widget with Time Code?

 

A:  They will if your computer sound hardware can natively support 24 bit and 96khz or Multi-Track (more than 2) files.  See the other file from this section  called "Notes on Using BWF-Widget" available on the same page where you opened this file.  There is a work-around for 16 bit hardware mentioned in that document. If you do have 24 bit hardware, make sure to uncheck the choice in the Options menu that limits playback to 16 bit 48khz files.

 

Q: When I quit BWF-Widget and return. It doesn't seem to have saved my settings. Why?

 

A: You need to exit the program through the File Menu or the Hot Key Combo "Ctlrl-X". This will save your current directory and file selection as well as you options selected in the options menu.  You must re-load the Data Grid each time you start the program though.  If you simply close the window using the x button in the upper right of the program window,  any changes you made to the options menu or your current path will not be saved.

 

Q: My files were recorded at 25 Frame Time code, but BWF-Widget shows them to be at 30:00-ND.  Why?

 

A: Not all recorders properly store the SMPTE TC Frame-rate in the metadata of the file. If BWF-Widget finds a meta-data tag labeled "SPEED=xx.xxx-ND" it will assign that frame rate to the Time Code.  If no such tag is contained in the file, BWF-Widget will assign its default Frame Rate.  You can select the Default Frame Rate in the Options Menu.  Please urge your recorder manufacturer to change their firmware to include the "Speed="Setting for all Time-Code files.   This eliminates any ambiguity about what rate was used when the file was created and prevents the TC numbers from coming out completely wrong.  If the Frame-Rate Shown in the Meta Data area of BWF-Widget is RED, then it was taken from the Default TC setting in the Options menu. If it is Black in color, then it was read from the meta-data in the sound file.

 

Q: BWF Widget shows all zeros (00:00:00:00) for the time code. What's up.

 

A: There is probably no proper Time code stored in the WAV file or it was set to 0.  If BWF-Widget finds no broadcast wave chunk, it will show some basic data about the file and play the file with the time-code clock set to start at 00:00:00:00.  Be for-warned that many Audio Editing packages can load and Edit the files. But unless they specifically support the Broadcast Wave Format, when you make any changes or save the file out you will loose any time-code stamp and the metadata stored in your BWF file will probably be un-recoverable.