Accessibility

Interface
If a screen reader is active when starting GoldWave, the program automatically changes its interface slightly to be more screen reader friendly. Screen reader mode can be switched on manually by using GoldWave Setup in the Windows Start menu and checking the Force screen reader mode box.

The status visual in the becomes a text box that gives the elapsed time, the current status, and the peak levels (in parentheses). The peak levels are updated only while holding the Ctrl key. When the key is release the highest level is shown. The level is reset whenever the Ctrl key is press again. The levels are given in percentages, but tabbing to the text box and pressing D changes it to decibels. Pressing D again changes it back to percentages.

All images are removed from the menus so that standard Windows text menu items are used instead of custom drawn ones, ensuring that menus are easily readable. If menus cannot be read, be sure to uncheck the "Tool bar images in menu" box under .

Also when a screen reader is active, GoldWave defaults to instead of exclusive playback so that the screen reader can share the audio device with GoldWave.

Almost all windows in GoldWave provide edit boxes where values and settings can be entered rather than relying on visual controls only. Use the Tab key to move between controls.

Use Alt+F6 to switch between GoldWave's and . Use the Tab key to move through the buttons and faders. The arrow keys change the fader settings. Unless you need to access the volume, balance, or speed faders, it is best to dock the Control window. Use the Tool | Control command to dock or undock it.


Finding certains parts of a sound file is done through keyboard navigation, which involves playing the file and moving the until the area if interest is located. GoldWave includes many keys for playing different parts of the sound. They are listed in the following table. The amount that the cursor is moved depends on the zoom level, explained in the section below.

The menu item must be checked for keyboard navigation to work.

Table: Keyboard Navigation
Keystroke Action
Space Starts playback or stop it (toggles playback). The region that is played depends on the button settings.
J, K, L Rewinds, plays, and fast forwards respectively. Playback always starts at the cursor's position.
Shift+J, Shift+K, Shift+L Makes the playback speed slower, normal, and faster respectively.
F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8 Plays 1, plays 2, plays 3, rewinds, fast forwards, pauses, and stops respectively. See for the play button settings.
Ctrl+G Moves the cursor to a specific time (go to).
H Starts playback relative to the mouse's horizontal position in the waveform.
Shift+[ Plays three seconds of audio up to the start marker.
Shift+] Plays three seconds of audio up to the finish marker.
Ctrl+[ Plays from the start marker.
Ctrl+] Plays from the finish marker.
Left Move the cursor backward.
Right Move the cursor forward.
Page Up Moves the cursor one screen backward.
Page Down Moves the cursor one screen forward.
Home Moves the cursor to the start marker's position.
End Moves the cursor to the finish marker's position.
Ctrl+Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the sound.
Ctrl+End Moves the cursor to the end of the sound (playback stops).


In addition to using the and the Edit | Marker | Drop... commands, there are a number of ways of changing the with the keyboard. They are listed in the following table. The amount that the selection markers are moved depends on the zoom level, explained in the section below.

Table: Keyboard Selection
Keystroke Action
Shift+Left, Shift+Right Moves the start marker left or right (backward or forward). See the playback setting.
Ctrl+Shift+Left,
Ctrl+Shift+Right 		Moves the finish marker left or right.
Ctrl+A Selects the entire sound.
Shift+Home Moves the start marker to the beginning of the sound.
Shift+End Moves the start marker to the finish marker's position.
Ctrl+Shift+Home Moves the finish marker to the start marker's position.
Ctrl+Shift+End Moves the finish marker to the end of the sound.
[ (left bracket) Drops the start marker at the playback cursor.
] (right bracket) Drops the finish marker at the playback cursor.

After deleting or cutting the selection, the selection is empty, so if the playback buttons are set to play the selection, nothing will play. Use Ctrl+A to select the entire file.

Keep in mind that most of the playback keys stop playback at the finish marker and there may be more audio beyond it. Use Edit | Trim to remove any audio outside the selection, if you only want to save what is in the selection.

If recording is stopped, the finish marker is moved to the stop time. To continue recording from that point, use Shift+End to move the start marker to the finish marker, then use Ctrl+Shift+End to move the finish marker to the end. Starting recording will continue from where it was stopped.


The view and zoom level control how much audio is displayed on the screen (or page). By default, GoldWave displays the entire file. Use the to change the amount of audio displayed. This also changes the amount the playback cursor and selection markers are moved with each keystroke. The cursor is moved one tenth of the screen size. Selection markers are moved one hundredth of the screen size. Using View | 10 Seconds displays 10 seconds of audio in the view. The Page Up or Page Down key moves the cursor 10 seconds backward or forward. The Left or Right key moves the cursor 1 second backward or forward. The selection keys move the start or finish marker a tenth of second (0.1). Using View | 1 Second displays 1 second of audio. At that level, the page, arrow, and selection keys move 1 second, one tenth of a second, and one hundredth of a second respectively.

The Shift+Up and Shift+Down keys zoom in and out by 75%. The status bars display the selection range and the current zoom level.

Use options to change the default initial zoom level when a file is opened.