Batch Command Line

Batch Processing on the command line uses presets, so the first step is to use Batch Processing to create a preset that does the processing required.

The -process command line parameter starts GoldWave in Batch Processing mode and processes files given on the command line. The basic syntax is as follows:

 "C:\Program Files\GoldWave\GoldWave.exe" -process[:preset] <filespec> [<filespec> ...] 

If no preset is specified, then the default (previous) settings are used. The filespec can specify a single file or contain wildcard characters (* and ?). Quotes are required if the filespec contains any spaces. Other parameters include -proclog:filename to set a log file, -region:start,length to set the initial selection for processing, and -clipboard:filename to set the initial contents of the edit clipboard, and -outfolder:pathname to set the destination folder.

To convert all Wave files to MP3 on the command line, for example, first use the Batch Processing command to create a preset with conversion set to the "MPEG Audio" file type and save that preset as "MP3". On the command line, enter the following parameters:

 -process:MP3 "C:\My Music\*.wav" 

If the preset name contains spaces, use quotes around the entire parameter:

 "-process:Trim and convert" "C:\My Music\*.wav" 

To include all subfolders when processing, include the -subfolders command line parameter:

 -process:MP3 "C:\My Music\*.wav" -subfolders 

Make sure all folder settings under the Destination tab are set appropriately in the preset before using this parameter and specify the absolute pathname of the folder (do not use relative pathnames). To specify a different destination folder than the one contained in the preset, include the -outfolder command line parameter. The Preserve subfolder structure setting must be set in the preset if the hierarchy is to be preserved. Quotes must be used around the entire parameter if spaces are used:

 "-outfolder:C:\My Music\Batch Destination" 

During processing the progress windows is displayed in minimized form, usually just above the Windows Start button. Double-click on it to open it to monitor processing. If no errors occur, the window will disappear and GoldWave will close automatically. Otherwise the progress window opens so that errors can be viewed. To use a log file instead, so that GoldWave always closes regardless of errors, use the -proclog command line parameter to specify the name of the log file:

 -proclog:filename 

 "-proclog:C:\Log Files\Batch.log" 

All messages and errors are appended to the log file in unicode (UTF-16). If you do not require a log file, but still need GoldWave to always close, use nul as the filename:

 -proclog:nul 

To process many commands in a single instance, store the list of command lines in a text file and use the @ symbol to specify that file in the process parameter. For example:

 "C:\Program Files\GoldWave\GoldWave.exe" -process@batch.txt -proclog:batch.log 

If a log file is specified, it will be used by default for all command lines in the list file. A different log file may be specified within the list file too.

Each command line must be stored on a single line in the list file. Do not break a command line across multiple lines. A list file would look like this:

 -process:Trim *.wav -region:10.0,30.0 "-process:Convert to MP3" "C:\My Music\iTunes\*.m4a" -subfolders -proclog:itunes.log "-process:Match Volumes -18dB" *.wav