Exporting wav files to other programs

The sure file way to do this is to export each track with the selection starting at zero so they will all line up. Just name the wav file the name of the track to make it easy. You don't want to just send the Sonar clip files, because even if you have Sonar set to do time stamped files (broadcast wav files) the software at the other studio may not be able to read the timestamps, Sonar can but no all other programs can. And yes, this makes some wav files larger then they have to be but that's not a big deal these days. Also remember you don't have to export anthing past the end of the file because it's only the start that needs to line up. So you can save size on some of them that way. For example if the track is only there on the intro of the song it's going to be small if you get your selection correct. Just don't cut it too shot, make sure to leave a little room at the end for any type of decay of the last note that might ring over. This is of most concern when exporting with effects like reverb you even need to select past the end of the song to get the last of it.

Selection is key here. Before doing the File Export Audio of each track make sure it's the only track selected and that within the track the selection starts a zero and only goes as far as it needs to.

Also, make sure you export to the correct sample and bit rate the other studio needs. If it doesn't matter to them then leave it at the sample rate of the project and be sure to selection 24bit and mono unless it's a stereo track. Also be aware that some hardware systems (Mackie HDR, Alesis HD24) can't accept stereo tracks so check with them first, in that case you will need to do two exports with pans to get both sides as seperate wav files.

ORIGINAL: crisbastap

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like you are saying to export each track individually. Is that because that's the only way that I'll be able to select each track so that it is selected from the beginning of the project and is not selected after the end of the clip? With a 3 minute song that has 30+ tracks this could get a little labor intensive. When I just hit Ctrl + A to select the entire project, then the selection is also from zero. Won't this work as well, with the difference that the selection continues even after the end of some clips? Maybe some more size to the file, but as you said, that's not such a big deal these days. I'm also concerned about saving each track individually. If I select all and then export, it's saved as one large file that I can send easily. If I save 30+ tracks individually, won't that be kind of a mess?

If you export all they will be mixed together in a finished stereo mixdown, that won't work. OMF would be nice but many systems can't import them. I don't know of an easier way that will result in correctly named wavs all starting from zero.

ORIGINAL: ohhey

ORIGINAL: crisbastap

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like you are saying to export each track individually. Is that because that's the only way that I'll be able to select each track so that it is selected from the beginning of the project and is not selected after the end of the clip? With a 3 minute song that has 30+ tracks this could get a little labor intensive. When I just hit Ctrl + A to select the entire project, then the selection is also from zero. Won't this work as well, with the difference that the selection continues even after the end of some clips? Maybe some more size to the file, but as you said, that's not such a big deal these days. I'm also concerned about saving each track individually. If I select all and then export, it's saved as one large file that I can send easily. If I save 30+ tracks individually, won't that be kind of a mess?

If you export all they will be mixed together in a finished stereo mixdown, that won't work. OMF would be nice but many systems can't import them. I don't know of an easier way that will result in correctly named wavs all starting from zero.

Why not:

1. Select the tracks to be exported.
2. File, Export, Audio
3. Preset: Raw Tracks
4. Make sure source shows Tracks
5. If any unwanted track is listed in the Source/Bus Tracks window, deselect it.
6. Enter a file name and Export

Works fine for me! Exports eaxh track to a separate file, sensibly named and all in synch timewise. Cheers

PS Or if all tracks are stereo, make Source Stereo. If some of each, EITHER use split mono, or use two operations - export all mono tracks first then all stereo.

ORIGINAL: ohhey

ORIGINAL: glazfolk
...

Why not:

1. Select the tracks to be exported.
2. File, Export, Audio
3. Preset: Raw Tracks
4. Make sure source shows Tracks
5. If any unwanted track is listed in the Source/Bus Tracks window, deselect it.
6. Enter a file name and Export

Works fine for me! Exports eaxh track to a separate file, sensibly named and all in synch timewise. Cheers

PS Or if all tracks are stereo, make Source Stereo. If some of each, EITHER use split mono, or use two operations - export all mono tracks first then all stereo.

I've havn't tried that but it's too bad it won't use the track names for the file names.

Try it and you'll see it does! If for example your tracks are called:

1 - Guitar Acoustic
2 - Main Vox
3 - B Vox
4 - Piano

and you follow my instructions, Exporting as, say, My Song, then the files are called something like:

My Song 1 Guitar Acoustic.wav
My Song 2 Main Vox.wav
My Song 3 B Vox.wav
My Song 4 Piano.wav

Best, Geoff

ORIGINAL: Al

what would we do here without you, glaz ! good job .. i just read the thread now to the point where ohhey said "it won't work"..stereo mixdown and such - simply not true.

I had to export a project just some time ago and i was glad to see how well the export to mutliple track files worked !

I've havn't tried that but it's too bad it won't use the track names for the file names.

ohhey, if you didn't even try it why adding and saying "too bad..." ?

I learn things all the time here why do you think I'm here everyday ! My bad, just hadn't had a reason to do that yet, didn't know you could do it. But it would be cool if it took the track names, sure would make it easy on the other end.