Pro Tools session into DP 7.22

[Dan Walsh]

I've been approached to mix a project for a band. They recorded the material in a pro tools studio (PT 7 I believe as the files are .ptf). The band has given me the harddrive with everything on it including all the audio takes. My question-is there a way to import the pro tools session directly into DP as opposed to loading each audio file into the project?

I've done some searches, and I'm thinkin' that the engineer who tracked on pro tools would have to convert his .ptf files to either AAF or OMF for me to import. Am I correct in thinking this?

Ultimately, for those who have had experience in this, what would be the best way for me to get this project into my rig?

Any help is greatly appreciated....

[Phil O]

I went through this this past summer. In this case it was PT8 LE, which does not support OMF export without the purchase of additional software, so we went the export tracks to WAV route. He had all the tracks starting at time zero, so syncing thing up was pretty easy. The only glitch was that all the files came into DP at time 1:00:00 and I had to move them back to time zero. I don't know what that was all about.

I'd do a quick test on a few tracks to make sure there are no bugs before proceeding with the whole project, whatever method you decide to use. BTW, this guy is hardcore PT and he was amazed at the stuff I could do (and the speed at which I could do it) in DP. "I didn't know DP could do that" was a common phrase around here last summer.

It might be worth it to investigate OMF if that studio has the capability. I've never used it, but I'm told it's a lot less work. I'm pretty sure it's the only way to import it as a project vs individual files. Someone else might chime in and correct me on this if I'm wrong.

Phil

[Dan Walsh]

Thanx Phil. I've already noticed the 1:00:00 thing when I was testing last night. The prob I'm havin with the AIF audio is that there are punch ins in the recording and obviously they don't start at zero, so it's gonna be real difficult to line em' up. Plus it appears as though there are multiple takes and I gotta sift thru that also so figure out what goes where.

I was hopin' there was a simple solution but I'm gonna call the studio where it was recorded and see if he has the OMF capability. Short of that, the only thing I can think to make this work is that he re-sends me the files with everything starting at zero. I'm thinkin' that may be a fair amount of work for him.......

[David Polich]

Dan - ask the studio guy to do the following:

1. Highlight all audio tracks from 0:00:00 to wherever all of them end,
and then consolidate those files ("consolidate" is PT speak for "merge
soundbites"). Then he can go to the audio files window and export all
the consolidated audio tracks to a single folder on his desktop.

2. Save the PT project as a Standard MIDI File Type "1", so you have
the tempo and any tempo map changes there might be.

3. Send you the audio files and the MIDI file,via something
like YouSendIt, or in a public MobileMe folder, or burn them onto DVD's.

4. When you get the files, open DP, then import the Standard MIDI File.
Create audio tracks corresponding to the audio files you received. Import
the audio files to DP. Drag each audio file to the very beginning of
its corresponding DP audio track. It should all line up and you're good to
go.

This is the ONLY way to ensure 100% translation between PT and DP. This
is the method I use when exchanging projects. Since you're obviously
going to mix this project, you'll be starting over and won't need any
of the automation or effects that were in the original PT project.

If you know all of this already, I apologize.

[Dan Walsh]

Thanx so much David. This is exactly what I was looking for. I kinda thought the other guy would have to do some type of merge, as this is what I do in DP but honestly, I know absolutely nothin' about Pro Tools.

[Phil O]

Thanks, David. I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than I would chime in. I just didn't want to leave Dan hangin'. I'm no ProTools expert either.

Phil

[David Polich]

You'd be surprised at how many PT users don't know how to export
projects in the "Universal Format" I described. Many PT users
just assume everyone is on Pro Tools or should be. You ask them
for the project files, and that's what they send you - in PT format,
which is useless.

[waitsongs]

You probably already solved the problem with David's great workaround, but figured I should mention Digitranslator, since it's Digidesign's (Avid's) ridiculously expensive, but somewhat useful tool for converting to AAF or OMF. I've used it a lot, and it saves a little time, although just gives you the basic tracks with their edits... no plug-ins, MIDI, tempo, or anything else you might want. I usually save the PT file as a standard MIDI file for any MIDI or tempo information, and then export the audio as AAF, then combine the two in one DP chunk. I haven't been able to export as OMF, but AAF works fine.

Of course, this only matters if the PT guy has Digitranslator, or possibly PT 9, as I believe it's now built into the program as Avid has become "generous" enough to include a few things in PT 9 that should have been included all along.......

[stevekdrum]

Hello Gents!
I'm new to the board.

Sounds like you figured out how to do the PT export/DP inport. Thought I'd add a few words on the topic.

I'm a die hard motu guy since 1991. PT has always been the problem with exporting, not DP importing, so you had to export each track one at a time, line it up at zero, etc. DP also let you move files to their original time stamp. I regularly use that command when my buddy sends me files from PT. That makes it really easy. Drop all your files in to a track. Select all, and use the move to original time stamp command. Very helpful if tracks don't start at "the beginning".

I recently added PT9 to my set up so I can end the age old "compatibility" issue. Now that Pt finally includes their digitranslator softward in 9 so you don't have to pay extra to export files, I'm hoping PT guys get hip!

With the PT9 upgrade, I've dabbled with importing and exporting sessions this way to see what works best to export a PT session to DP. There are several export options to select depending on needs. Once I've done a few more, I'll post some feedback.

I've regularly export DP to PT with the AAF exchange and so I'm hoping that with PT's "upgrade" that more file exchanging will go on and in a much easier way!

All the best to everyone.
Steve