Thanks, Rick. I appreciate that's one way of doing it, but drawing envelope points for every breath might slow me down a bit. Since I last posted, I bound a hotkey to the Volume window. Everytime I open it, it remembers the last setting I used (I'm using the same volume drop for every breath), so at least it's just a two-click operation now: hotkey and then RETURN. Could be worse, so it'll do me for now. I was kind of hoping one key could do both... but maybe I just need to stop being lazy. 😄

Thanks a mill for your quick response.

@Paul-Fegan This script calls a preset named Reduce Volume -8 dB in the Volume effect and applies it to a selection. If you save this in a text file with the file ending cs to your Sound Forge script folder and rescan the folder you can add a shortcut to this script inside the Customize Keyboard options. Then it's only a single button press instead of hotkey and Return.

For it to work, you need to save a preset with your desired settings and the name mentioned above in the Volume Effect. Of course, you can simply change the name in the script if you want to call it something different.

/* ==========================================================================
 *    Script Name: Reduce Volume -8 dB
 *    Description: This script takes a selection in an open file and applies the Volume effect preset named Reduce Volume -8 dB
 *
 *    Initial State: A file open with a selection
 *
 *    Output: Done with success or failure
 *
 * ========================================================================== */

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SoundForge;

//BEHAVIOR: Takes a selection in an open file and applies the Volume effect preset named Reduce Volume -8 dB

public class EntryPoint {
public string Begin(IScriptableApp app) {

   ISfDataWnd wnd = app.ActiveWindow;
   if (null == wnd)
      return "Open a file before running this script.";

   SfAudioSelection asel = wnd.Selection;
   if (asel.ccLength == 0)
   {
      DPF("No selection in the active window - quitting");
      return "Choose a selection before running the script.";
   }

   ISfFileHost file = wnd.File;

   bool fCancel = false;
   int idUndo = file.BeginUndo("Reduce Volume -8 dB");

   file.DoEffect("Volume", "Reduce Volume -8 dB", new SfAudioSelection(wnd.Selection.ccStart, wnd.Selection.ccLength), EffectOptions.EffectOnly);
   
   SfStatus result = file.WaitForDoneOrCancel();
   if (result != SfStatus.Success)
      fCancel = true;   

   file.EndUndo(idUndo, fCancel);
   DPF("Done - {0}", fCancel ? "failed and rewound changes" : "success");
   if(fCancel)
      return "Script canceled.";
   else
      return null;
}

public void FromSoundForge(IScriptableApp app) {
   ForgeApp = app; //execution begins here
   app.SetStatusText(String.Format("Script '{0}' is running.", Script.Name));
   string msg = Begin(app);
   app.SetStatusText(msg != null ? msg : String.Format("Script '{0}' is done.", Script.Name));
}
public static IScriptableApp ForgeApp = null;
public static void DPF(string sz) { ForgeApp.OutputText(sz); }
public static void DPF(string fmt, object o) { ForgeApp.OutputText(String.Format(fmt,o)); }
public static void DPF(string fmt, object o, object o2) { ForgeApp.OutputText(String.Format(fmt,o,o2)); }
public static void DPF(string fmt, object o, object o2, object o3) { ForgeApp.OutputText(String.Format(fmt,o,o2,o3)); }
} //EntryPoint

Hi SP, wow, this is exactly what I was hoping for. However, I'm having trouble with it. Here's what I've done:

1) copied exactly what's in the grey box above into a TXT file and renamed that as a .CS file

2) added it to SF's scripts folder

3) re-scanned my scripts in SF 18

4) the script showed up fine in the list

5) created a preset in Process > Volume called "Reduce Volume -8 dB" and set the volume parameter for -8 dB

6) bound a hotkey to the script (which I've also called "Reduce Volume -8 dB" — does it matter what I call it?)

7) selected a breath and pressed the hotkey; it didn't work

8) selected a breath and tried to run the script from the scripts menu; that didn't work either

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

Many thanks. If I can get this working, it will make such a difference to my work flow.

P.S. Here's the file I created in case you can see anything wrong with it:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t73risoeusdv2cdhzzqge/Reduce-Volume-8-dB.cs?rlkey=g1dsdn6nbz9cpya3c8htc5m50&st=ukt3tq18&dl=0

SP, you're a genius! I followed the steps to the letter and it wasn't working at first. In fact, the Volume process wasn't working at all, no matter what preset I used. Then I clicked on a different audio file that was open on the workspace and tried it there and it worked! When I returned to my original file, it was suddenly working there, too. Seriously, this has vastly improved my work flow and I am so grateful to you. Thank you very much.

@Paul-Fegan Excellent! Yeah, SF18 seems to be somewhat sensitive. I also got an error message pop-up after changing EffectOptions.DialogFirst back to EffectOptions.EffectOnly and running the script the first time.

The only problem is, if you want to edit the preset you'll need to change the script so that the dialog is visible again and edit and save the preset there. I personally use SF12 and there this problem doesn't exist. It seems like something changed in newer versions and presets created by the user are stored in a different location than presets looked up by scripts.

That's quite the rigmarole, isn't it. I wonder why they change such things and then don't test them fully. I mean, you clearly know what you're talking about when it comes to scripting and it's even quite the run-around for you. The rest of us "uninitiated" have no chance.

I also use Reaper and I love the way it just has an actions list where you can make your own processes very easily. And each group process even has a checkbox so that you can undo all events in your action at once, rather than having to step back through them one by one. It's so intuitive that even I can manage it.

Anyway, thanks a mill for doing what I couldn't have in a billion years. And it's probably saved me a billion years in post. 😁🙏

I often use "Edit> Repeat" for repetitive processes and have a single key shortcut. (F8 in my case).

Scripts are great though and we are fortunate to have @SP. participating who understands it. Thanks SP.