Importing File Tips

[bassmac]

Now that we're moving from coping files to importing them - I figured a new thread was in order.

Here are a few tip's for importing files so they will never turn up missing again. Learned from experience of course images/icons/frown.gif

Since importing files only acts as an alias referring to the original file, even a little edit on the original will make the alias unable to refer it.

So, let's say you're working in session B, and you want to import files from session A. While in the finder, drag the files you want from A's audio folder into B's audio folder - they will be copied. Now from within the B session, import those files *from the B audio folder* not the A!!! This way the imported "disc files" are already in the B folder, so no matter what happens to the A session, you'll never turn up empty.

Another way to prevent lost import's: As soon as you import the tracks you want, select them and "consolidate selection" - this will write new "disc files" for those tracks into your current session's audio folder, and the referring files will no longer be needed.

Also, before you back-up, (IMHO) you should always consolidate the tracks to write it's own disc files. I sleep better knowing my session's are completely independent, and don't need to refer to other sessions for it's files.

Did ya'll get that images/icons/smile.gif

[s.d. finley]

Great tip Bassmac! Give us more.
images/icons/smile.gif
sdf

[bassmac]

Now I remember - "convert and import" was just a way to import say a 16bit file into a 24bit session in one step. This all changed with the new 5.1 import interface.

I think it only wrote a new disc file if a conversion was required (16>24) 24 into 24 still referred to the original.

[TheVectorWarrior]

Oh right, I haven't upgraded yet, still on 5.0.1.

[Paul Curtiz]

Just a small thing, but I think it might be a bug : I can't import files with a name longer than 8 characters.
Same with you guys ?
Cheers,

[ReniuR]

Ya, the long filenames are not liked by protools...

[QuikDraw]

I've had problems with filenames longer than 32 characters (the Mac filename limit, which should not interfere with the PC's 256 character limit, but it does), but have never been limited to 8 character names. I've not tried it with ver 5.1 or 5.1.1 yet.

Mike

[TheVectorWarrior]

Hi there,
just a little point, doesn't convert and import (apple+shift+H, I believe) copy the imported file into the current session's audio folder. If you use this instead of just import then you don't have to worry about the original file.

I got a 80 gig hard drive with all my loops and sounds on and I convert and import any file I want to work with safe in the knowledge that I can delete it if it doesn't work.

[bassmac]

You know, I remember a “convert and import” option in past PT version’s, but I don’t think it survived the upgrade to 5.1 - at least I don’t see it.

[Toney Robinson]

I have one annoyance I can't seem to avoid. I usually edit my .WAV files with another program to clean them up. Once I do that, PT can't find them and I have to "point them out". After looking at a "before" and "after" version of the same file with a hex editor, I noticed that PT adds some stuff to the tile. 53520 bytes worth. I plan to talk with my wave editor's developers and see if they can avoid stripping this additional data out.

[ReniuR]

SoundForge will ask you if you want to keep the extra data...