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Is there a way to import multi-channel audio files into DP that are (I guess) non-standard?

A while back I bought an effects library that consists of 5.0-surround .wav files that I can not drag, or otherwise import into DP. The only way is to save them first as a .mov. Then I can drag them into DP where they show up as 5.1. There's hundreds of files so I don't really want to have to convert them all to .movs. Is there another way?

More recently I saw that RODE had put a large library of ambisonic effects (plus the plugin that supports the format) up for free, so I tried to check them out. Get-Info for the files says they are 4 channels .wavs. Even though DP's busses and outputs can be configured as Quad or LCRS, the files from RODE can not be imported without first making them into .movs. Then you can drag them into DP where, for whatever reason, can only be bussed or output as "LCRS", not Quad. ...Something above my pay grade is definitely going on there! I don't understand the dif between those formats.

Any idea what's going on here, or how one might be able to import these weirder formats into DP?

The RODE free ambisonics library is here FYI https://library.soundfield.com Predictably DP is not listed as supported DAW for the plugin, but thought I'd give it a try.

Bump.

Has anyone been successful importing audio files with obscure channel formats? Ones that aren't necessarily listed in DP's Bundles as an available channel format.

Here's a 4ch wav, and a 5ch wav neither of which I can not drag into DP. If someone can confirm they have the same experience I'd appreciate it - they can be dragged in, but just show up as mangled mono Thx!

RODE Ambisonic 4.0 channels (24 bit 44.1khz) http://prayforrain.com/misc/stringquartet.wav.zip
5.0 Wind (24 bit 96khz) http://prayforrain.com/misc/5.0Test-Wind.zip

Really? No one has tried to import less common file formats into DP?

[I've edited the Subject Line to something a bit more desperate. Maybe that will get someone's attention. ...If not, I guess I'll submit a TechLink]

Not me, sorry dix. Techlink time...?

Oh, well. Thanks for responding. TechLink it is. ....there's links to examples above if anyone is so inclined.

dix wrote:Bump.

Has anyone been successful importing audio files with obscure channel formats? Ones that aren't necessarily listed in DP's Bundles as an available channel format.

Here's a 4ch wav, and a 5ch wav neither of which I can not drag into DP. If someone can confirm they have the same experience I'd appreciate it - they can be dragged in, but just show up as mangled mono Thx!

RODE Ambisonic 4.0 channels (24 bit 44.1khz) http://prayforrain.com/misc/stringquartet.wav.zip
5.0 Wind (24 bit 96khz) http://prayforrain.com/misc/5.0Test-Wind.zip

This is interesting.

MediaInfo reports the first file as 5 channels and the second as 4 channels. It says the codec is some Microsoft thing but doesn't give any leads.

Logic shows them the other way around in the channel strips, but only shows two channels in any editors if you "open with" Logic. But if you drag these files into an already open project and tell it to create new tracks, it shows the first file as 4 separate mono tracks. It shows the second file as 5 separate mono tracks. Note that in Logic's media window, you can select multiple files and export/convert them. Perhaps this would work to get them into some format that DP can deal with, even if it's all sets of Mono files. Even if you can't use the media function, you could make a monster project in Logic by dragging them all in the arrangement window, and exporting all the tracks as Mono audio.

DSP-Q sees the first file as 4 channels (3.1), but won't play it, and the second file a 5 channel (4.1). It agrees with MediaInfo.

DP imports them as Mono, as you say. I didn't look to see if it mixed the channels down, or just imported on of them.

Note VLC seems to know what these are, but I can't figure out how to get it to export audio files, even though it is supposed to be able to do this.

Thanks for all the research and testing bays! Some unexpected info came from all that for sure. The Microsoft codec stuff must be from the Rode ambisonic file, no? I'd expect embedded info in that. The other was sold as a straight forward "5.0 wav" with meta tags for sfx library searches.

I haven't heard from MOTU yet, but the bottom line appears to be: no, there is not a way to import files in those formats into DP . At least not without help from another app. RX, QT7 Pro and a few other apps, including Logic apparently, can get me there, but I was trying to avoid the hassle.

In light of that, a PSA heads-up for DP users to not buy sound effects libraries that come in "5.0.wav format" These were from TONSTURM (who had no suggestions on how to import to DP btw). ....at least not until I hear back from MOTU with a way to use them.

Thanks again!

dix wrote: The Microsoft codec stuff must be from the Rode ambisonic file, no? I'd expect embedded info in that.

I think it was, yes.

Are these some sort of orphan files? All the apps saw them differently, suggesting there isn't much of a generally accepted standard.

I think if you are generally familiar with Logic, it would not be that complicated or time consuming to do a batch export to a more universal format. Remember, Logic can do 1,000 tracks now. Or was that 10,000? A lot. Not as many as DP.

The 5.0 wind file is from a library I bought, the Rode file I just grabbed off their site to see if it'd work in DP.

It's like a couple/four hundred files (of wind!) that I'd like to convert. I once was familiar with Logic and keep a currentish version around. That route sounds like my best bet as a way to get them to 5.1.

Thanks again, bayswater. It's appreciated!

Good luck with it.

i got the jazz and cello files to import to a quad channel in DP, but the speed was half of what it should be. I used soundbites mini menu to change the header and they played fine. couldn't get the rode plugin to work though. You have to have a quad audio track and a quad master I believe

mrgkeys wrote:i got the jazz and cello files to import to a quad channel in DP, but the speed was half of what it should be. I used soundbites mini menu to change the header and they played fine. couldn't get the rode plugin to work though. You have to have a quad audio track and a quad master I believe

Thanks so much for trying out the files mrgkeys!

Interesting. Yes, per the specs, the RODE's ambisonic plugin isn't compatible with all DAWs. I was hoping we might get lucky in DP, but no-go apparently. No real point in pursuing I guess

The 5.0 files, that I paid $ money for, seem like they'd be a simpler matter. I'd like to be able use those if there's a way, but as far as I can tell there is not.