How do I transfer a DP3 file, to a Protools file?

[Dean Landon]

I'm working on a project where all producers, no matter what format they're working on, have to end up in Protools for mixdown.

Usually, I record in DP3, transfer digitally to ADAT's, then transfer to a 3348 if the engineer prefers to.

I have 48 to 60 audio tracks recorded in DP3. How do I also transfer so that everything plays where they should?

Thanks in advance.
Imagine

[soapbox]

Imagine, if you don't need to save automation and plug-in settings, here's the easy way to get your Digital Performer files into ProTools:

First, use the "Merge Soundbites" command to make sure that each track contains only one audio file that starts at the top of bar one and lasts until there is no more audio information. Then, save the file as a new version, before you select the unused soundbites, in the Soundbites Window, and remove them.

Next, choose "Save A Copy As" from the File menu and make a new copy of your session in a new folder. Make sure that the "Copy Audio Files" preference is checked when you do this. That way, only the files that are in finished form and are currently in your Soundbites Window will be transferred to your new copy. Just in case it's needed, save your file as a Standard MIDI File as well in the new folder. The new folder is what you will hand in for transfer to ProTools.

When the mixing engineers are given your new folder, they will choose the "Import Audio" command and select all of the files in your Audio Files folder. These files will all automatically be placed at the top of new tracks. In turn, these tracks are automatically named after the audio files they contain.

Finally, the engineers may choose to "Import MIDI" information from your Standard MIDI File, so that the tempo information of your file will be imported as well.

That's basically it. At this point, they'll be ready to start their work!

Best,

Geoff

[Jules]

[Dean Landon]

Geoff,

Thank you for the information. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it in detail.

Best wishes,
Imagine

[Dean Landon]

Oh, one other question, if I don't have any midi info, do I still need to give the engineer's a Standard Midi file?

Thanks again.
Imagine

[Jules]

I would say just the tempo (if there is one) and time signature (if not 4/4)

See what Geoff says

Jules

[soapbox]

Originally posted by Imagine
Oh, one other question, if I don't have any midi info, do I still need to give the engineer's a Standard Midi file?

Imagine, as Jules mentioned, it might be helpful for the mix engineers to know both the time signature and tempo information of the song. If this info is consistent throughout the file, then there is no need to use a Standard MIDI File for this purpose. If you prefer, just write a note or call the engineers with the info. They can enter it manually in seconds. Of course, they can also import the same information from a Standard MIDI File in seconds as well, so it's your call.

However, a Standard MIDI File might really come in handy under other circumstances. If there are tempo or meter changes, then a Standard MIDI File will allow the importing of these much more quickly than one could manually. Also, if the mix engineers have been given some of the creative license of a remix engineer, then the MIDI note information of your original file would allow them to pull up new keyboard or drum sounds without having to learn individual parts of a song. (I recognize that this goes beyond the scope of your question.)

Personally, I try to be prepared for the unanticipated. A few seconds to save a file as a Standard MIDI File, under some circumstances, could prevent hours of work later on.

Best,

Geoff

[MCal27]

As your using DP3, You could also save your session as an OMF session.
As long as the Tools guys who are receiving your session have Digi Translator (or if your working at 16bit, the free OMF Tool), They can load your OMF file natively, and viola, all the Audio and Automation will be right there on their screen.
Of course you'd need to 'print' your DP plugins (if you don't use TDM) And also send a Midi file if there's midi to go to them as well.

OMF is really cool. Take's alot of elbow work out of session transfer. Nuendo has it. DP3 has it. And Logic 5 can export it, soon to have full import capability too.....

al.

[Jules]

What, pray tell, is the status of Logic 5's import capability at present please?

[Fibes]

I'm curious about Digitranslator and all of the stuff I can port over. ie. Automation, auxes, BF plugin sttings etc.

[Dean Landon]

Thank you guys, I appreciate the help.

Imagine

[MCal27]

Regarding OMF Import in Logic 5. Here's what Emagic say:
"OMF:
Currently 24Bit OMF files are not imported into Logic Platinum 5 correctly. We are working with Avid on a solution.
24Bit OMF files, exported from Logic Platinum 5, are correctly imported by ProTools (Digidesign) but not by Nuendo (Steinberg). As a workaround: Export the files from Logic Platinum 5 in the Open TL format, and import these into Nuendo."

So the menu option is there, but its no use. This hasn't changed in 5.1.3 to the best of my knowledge....

Hopefully Apple will get things into gear in this area. They'll want users swaping audio between Final Cut Pro and Logic Titanium won't they
yuktyy

[Jules]

:Regarding OMF Import in Logic 5. Here's what Emagic say:
"OMF:
Currently 24Bit OMF files are not imported into Logic Platinum 5 correctly."



Well, at least I know what NOT to promise clients!

grudge

Cheers Al!

[chrisgraff]

Originally posted by MCal
As your using DP3, You could also save your session as an OMF session.
As long as the Tools guys who are receiving your session have Digi Translator (or if your working at 16bit, the free OMF Tool), They can load your OMF file natively, and viola, all the Audio and Automation will be right there on their screen.
Of course you'd need to 'print' your DP plugins (if you don't use TDM) And also send a Midi file if there's midi to go to them as well.

OMF is really cool. Take's alot of elbow work out of session transfer. Nuendo has it. DP3 has it. And Logic 5 can export it, soon to have full import capability too.....

al.

dfegadOMF seems (to me) to be unreliable. I've heard many OMF disasters (that later had to be re-done in the manner described above). It seems different OMF wasn't very consistent from version to version. Some don't get along w/ each other.

[joeq]

I have used OMF and DigiTranslator 2.0 to move 24 bit Digital Performer files into Pro Tools. It has worked OK for me and is certainly no more difficult than making sure every track starts from bar 1.

I make an "embedded" OMF and then just open it in PT.

You do need to consolidate the tracks once they are in Pro Tools- until you do they sit in a cache that seems a bit shaky (cannot be read by PTLE for example).

I haven't tried bringing in volume automation and fades but supposedly that is supported.

What is NOT supported - and this was _my big disappointment- is "Takes" . Although Digital Performer's dialog says "export all takes" OMF does not recognize them. You need to put alternate takes on their own tracks. This gets to be a problem if you have several takes of drums, for example