File name length issue

[plurye]

Here's something I just posted in the suggestion box on the MOTU site:

<< As someone who does a lot of TV work, I often embed a great deal of info in the names of my audio files, which means that my audio file names are quite long. Here's an example: "PSCloudMontageSongV2_101413Comp-44100". The name uses 38 characters. DP 8.05 has no issue with recording an audio file with a name of that length, and happily displays the full name in the "file" column of the soundbite window. However, if I want to CHANGE that name (say, the date is wrong), I get the following message: "The name cannot be longer than 32 characters. Please re-enter a shorter name." I'm sure this message dates from a time when long names were a problem. But by definition that must no longer be the case, since DP is happy to record audio files and with names of any length (I just did a test—there appears to be no limit to file name length during recording). Anyway, I would like to request that DP remove the file-name length limitation that is invoked when a user tries to change the name of an existing audio file whose name is more than 32 characters long. >>

(End of suggestion). So I'm curious—anyone else run into this problem? Please note—I'm NOT looking for a workaround; the workarounds are obvious and I use them. Just curious if anyone else is finding this frustrating.

Thanks,
Peter

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I wonder if is related to Windows compatibility now that we're cross platform?

[plurye]

I wonder if is related to Windows compatibility now that we're cross platform?

Nope—sorry, should have clarified that. It's actually been true for years, since way before Windows compatibility. Also, if it were about Windows compabitiliy, then DP wouldn't allow you to record an audio file with a name longer than 32 characters in the first place. Again, it has no problem recording such a file; it's only when you try to change the name that the problem arises.

PL

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Are you changing the name in the Finder or DP? If DP, which window (soundbites?) and which column?

If it's in the Finder it's a Mac problem and might be the way the drive is formatted. Do you also run Windows on that machine?

[plurye]

Are you changing the name in the Finder or DP? If DP, which window (soundbites?) and which column?

If it's in the Finder it's a Mac problem and might be the way the drive is formatted. Do you also run Windows on that machine?

The problem comes when I change the name in the "file" column of the Soundbites window. If you're interested, here's how you can reproduce the problem:

1. Give an audio track a name that's MORE than 32 characters long (that's essential to this experiment). Hit record to create an audio file (the audio content doesn't matter).
2. Open the Soundbites window, and option click on the file name (in the file column) of the file you just created. Attempt to change the name (without reducing the number of characters).
3. Hit return. You'll get the message I described, and you'll be forced either to shorten the file name or hit ESC to leave the file name as it originally was.

I walked MOTU tech support through this—they reproduced the issue and agreed that this was worth putting in the Suggestion Box. I do appreciate your spirit of helpfulness, but this is definitely not user error (and the workarounds are so obvious they don't need to be stated). What I'm curious about is whether or not other people have run into this and are frustrated by it—obviously, the more people report it, the likelier it is to change! :=)

Thanks,
Peter

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I never suggested it was a user issue. I'm just trying to get the specifics.

What if you change the name in the Finder? Can DP track the change or does it reject the name when you open the project.

[plurye]

I never suggested it was a user issue. I'm just trying to get the specifics.

What if you change the name in the Finder? Can DP track the change or does it reject the name when you open the project.

Sorry—I'm certainly not immune to user error! Just wanted to clarify that this is not one of those times.:=) I tried changing the name in the Finder with the project open—not surprisingly, DP crashed. Haven't tried closing the project, changing the name, and reopening, mostly because in that case the cure would be worse than the disease, as it were (my projects tend to be rather large). But thanks for the thought.

I know there was a time when Mac file names had a length limit—I think MOTU just never got around to changing their code to reflect the new reality (although, again, you can record audio files with names of any length).

PL

[stevenew]

Hi,

I just wanted to jump in and say I have had this exact issue in DP 7.24 this week.

I recorded a mix down to a single stereo file in DP, I named the track in the Tracks Overview window something like 'Mix Print - A Very Long Song Title - 201113 - Test 1' recorded the track, it appeared in the Soundbites Window with this name, I realised the date was wrong, went to change it from 201113 to 221113 and got the 32 characters message.

I know, the workaround is always check the days date:-)

Steve

[plurye]

Hi,

I just wanted to jump in and say I have had this exact issue in DP 7.24 this week.

I recorded a mix down to a single stereo file in DP, I named the track in the Tracks Overview window something like 'Mix Print - A Very Long Song Title - 201113 - Test 1' recorded the track, it appeared in the Soundbites Window with this name, I realised the date was wrong, went to change it from 201113 to 221113 and got the 32 characters message.

I know, the workaround is always check the days date:-)

Steve

Thanks, Steve. For me the way this often comes up is this: After I mix a song or cue, I'll punch into the file in various spots to make tweaks. Then when I'm done, I merge the audio files into one file for delivery (Shift-Opt-M, very useful command). That adds "-mg" onto the end of the file name. I then want to delete the "-mg" suffix before I deliver the file. But if that would result in a name that is longer than 32 characters, DP won't let me do that—even though the original file name is (and remains) longer than 32 characters.

PL

[bayswater]

I've noticed this from time to time as well. I never worried about it because I don't really need to have names that long. In my case, it happens with no Windows involvement at all.

Like you I assumed it was a left over from when Mac OS had a name length limit (Pre OS X). The odd thing is I think that limit was 31 characters, not 32. There are other applications that inherited the limit -- it's not just DP.

[plurye]

I've noticed this from time to time as well. I never worried about it because I don't really need to have names that long. In my case, it happens with no Windows involvement at all.

Like you I assumed it was a left over from when Mac OS had a name length limit (Pre OS X). The odd thing is I think that limit was 31 characters, not 32. There are other applications that inherited the limit -- it's not just DP.

Once again, the odd thing is that there ISN'T a name length limit in the recording phase, only when you try to change the name within DP. It's definitely not a Windows thing. I asked a friend who uses Pro Tools on Windows to see if he could record a file with a name longer than 32 characters—it was no problem. And re the other applications you mention, hopefully DP will lead the charge in removing the limit! :=)

[Shooshie]

I agree. MOTU needs to fix that.

While they are at it, they need to allow text-wrap in the Mixing Board track names, so we can read those longer names.

Shooshie

[plurye]

I agree. MOTU needs to fix that.

While they are at it, they need to allow text-wrap in the Mixing Board track names, so we can read those longer names.

Shooshie

Great idea!

PL

[Phil O]

Now this is strange. I was going to suggest trying to change it in the Sound File Information window, but thought I'd test it before posting the suggestion. I was not able to duplicate the problem. I created the track abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz, recorded a few seconds, then changed it's name in the SB window. No problem.

So, the question is what's different about my system that makes it work?

Phil

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I was wonder earlier about the drive format...