Mixing between two different DAWs. What file type?

[zac2944]

A question for you recording experts. How do I transfer sessions between DAWs?

I just did a recording with my band and spent a few day doing a rough mix. I know a guy who claims to be a mixing engineer and will do some work on the mix for me, but I'm not sure how to get him the files he needs. The recording and rough mix was done on Sonar, and the mixing engineer uses Digital Performer.

What type of file is used to transfer the session from one DAW to another?

Is there some sort of standard file?

The mixing engineer doesn't mind starting from scratch, so if the file doesn't contain the edits from the rough mix that is fine.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Doc Labyrinth]

Save it as .OMF (open media framework). This file type works in most any DAW.

[Charling]

Originally Posted by zac2944

A question for you recording experts. How do I transfer sessions between DAWs?

I just did a recording with my band and spent a few day doing a rough mix. I know a guy who claims to be a mixing engineer and will do some work on the mix for me, but I'm not sure how to get him the files he needs. The recording and rough mix was done on Sonar, and the mixing engineer uses Digital Performer.

What type of file is used to transfer the session from one DAW to another?

Is there some sort of standard file?

The mixing engineer doesn't mind starting from scratch, so if the file doesn't contain the edits from the rough mix that is fine.

Thanks in advance for any help!

the standard audio interchange file is either AIFF or WAV, they are preferred one way or another for certain formats (macs generally AIFF so that would probably be preferable for someone running digital performer) but essentially any audio program worth its salt will take both as long as they are not of a wierd bit rate or similar. (for example logic 8 doesnt seem to like 32 bit files).

they are both uncompressed and full quality.

for a good mix the engineer is expecting a wav or aiff of each track in your project as a separate file. some programs can do this with a batch export or consolidate audio command, others you have to solo each track individually and bounce to disk 1 by 1, i've never used sonar so I cant help you there!

re ^^^ yeah OMF is another good option but it can be an error ridden process, especially if sonar and DP havent got there support for the format sorted out, and sometimes files just WON'T transfer...

[Doc Labyrinth]

Originally Posted by Charling

the standard audio interchange file is either AIFF or WAV, they are preferred one way or another for certain formats (macs generally AIFF so that would probably be preferable for someone running digital performer) but essentially any audio program worth its salt will take both as long as they are not of a wierd bit rate or similar. (for example logic 8 doesnt seem to like 32 bit files).

they are both uncompressed and full quality.

for a good mix the engineer is expecting a wav or aiff of each track in your project as a separate file. some programs can do this with a batch export or consolidate audio command, others you have to solo each track individually and bounce to disk 1 by 1, i've never used sonar so I cant help you there!

If you use an .OMF you won't have to set up a new session and drag each track in separately, you wil be able to open the session file as is and it will translate everything to whatever DAW you are using.

[Charling]

Originally Posted by Doc Labyrinth

If you use an .OMF you won't have to set up a new session and drag each track in separately, you wil be able to open the session file as is and it will translate everything to whatever DAW you are using.

yes, but omf, as well as the other file interchange formas, is not certain to work and its always good to be able to do the other way!

logic 8 has given me trouble importing omf's before, cubase sx has given me trouble making them and the whole system is limited to 2gb (or perhaps 4gb) meaning that big projects are out!

but if it works, its great.

[zac2944]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to have the recording engineer burn the .OMF to a DVD and we'll have to see how it goes in DP. I work near the studio, so I can always drop in to get a .WAV batch is the .OMF doesn't work out.

[Doc Labyrinth]

If you save a project as .OMF, you still have access to the audio files (wavs or aiffs) even if the .OMF doesn't work. It saves an audio files folder just as it would with any save, so if the .OMF fails you can still drag in the audio files track by track.

[zac2944]

Originally Posted by Doc Labyrinth

If you save a project as .OMF, you still have access to the audio files (wavs or aiffs) even if the .OMF doesn't work. It saves an audio files folder just as it would with any save, so if the .OMF fails you can still drag in the audio files track by track.

Sweet. That's great to know. Thanks!

[projectMalamute]

If this guy is a mixing engineer he should be able to tell you exactly what he needs.