My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!!

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guyscohen
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2011/03/13 13:52:22 (permalink)

My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!!

Hi All

I have just completed a song which is 437kb big (so not a big project) and only 2 min 54s long.

Before converting my songs to mp3 I usually convert them to wav first, then stick them into Audacity and away we go. This is usually a simple process and does not result in huge files - the wav files are usualy 90-100mb and the mp3s 4-6mb when converted (this includes songs that are 4min + in length). I put it into mp3 format so I can upload my songs onto reverbnation for others to hear.

The current project has 6 vsts (Dimension Pro, Kontact, Massive, East West, etc) and no fx on any track but for Boost (x64) which I have added to the master to pump up the volume. 
The sample rate is 44100 and the conversion rate is 32-bit
I have tried using 24 and 16 bit but at best it halves the size of the file i.e. to 400 odd Mb
I usually convert into mp3 at 192kpbs and have tried 160 and 128 but below this the quality starts to degrade. My mp3s are, at best, coming out at 40Mb which is pretty huge for a such a simple project.

So, am I missing something and why is Sonar converting such a small project into this mega-wav beast?

Appreciate any help you can give (in simple language please).

Thanks

Guy

"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat" - Lilly Tomlin
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    Beagle
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 14:14:04 (permalink)
    first, project file sizes do not include the wave files - either recorded or bounced from synths in them - they have pointers only to point them to where the wave files are in the AUDIO folder (either in the AUDIO subfolder if you have "per project folders" selected, or in the global AUDIO folder if not).

    2nd - 830M is too big, yes, but you're also stating that you're exporting at 32 bit and you shouldn't be doing that because the redbook standard for wave files is 16bit/44.1kHz. 

    if you export at 16bit/44.1kHz and you're still getting a wave file at 400+M then there's still something wrong unless your song is 10+min long.    try opening the exported wave file up in something like audacity (free) and see if there's not 7+ minutes of silence at the end of the song.  if so then there's your problem.

    you can correct that situation by highlighting the timeline of the portion of the song you want to export.  typically there's some event out in the project causing this, and sometimes it's hidden and hard to find, but highlighting just the portion of the song that needs to be exported will eliminate extra silence being exported.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
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    #2
    johnnyV
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 14:14:11 (permalink)
    Always export at 16 bit. I'm amazed your MP3 converter didn't choke on a 32 bit file. Exported audio has nothing to do with what was originally stored in Sonar. 4 or 120 tracks of audio becomes 2.
    It's approximately a 10 mb to 1 minute ratio  3 minute song = 30MB and a 128 MP3 will be 3 MB.   I just looked at a 3:14 min MP3 @ 192kbps and it is a 4.45 MB file. I like 192kbps, Better stereo image. They say below 160kbps it's almost a mono file. That's how they save the bits, interleave the stereo image to mono.

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    CJaysMusic
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 14:19:05 (permalink)
    830 mB is small for a project. Your worrying over nothing. I have projects over 3 gigs and i have projects that are your size also. What your seeing is normal.
    Cj

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    johnnyV
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 14:26:04 (permalink)
    Hey CJ, He saying the exported file wave is 830 MB, not the project.
    He's exporting at 32 bit. Still seems like even that would not result in 830 for a 3 min song.

    Just did an experiment,

    A 1:45 Minutes song = 17MB @ 16 bit and 35MB @ 32 bit, so doubled. 
    post edited by johnnyV - 2011/03/13 14:32:14

    Sonar X3e Studio - Waiting for Professional
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    #5
    daveny5
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 15:11:55 (permalink)
    WAV (16bit 44100 Sample Rate) files are typically 10MB per minute as a rule of thumb. 

    First you said it was 437KB and then you said 400MB. Which is it? A 3 minute WAV file should be about 30MB. 

    Dave
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    guyscohen
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    Re:My project is 437kb but 830Mb when exported to a wav file?!! 2011/03/13 18:01:30 (permalink)
    Thanks guys - always so helpful.

    @Beagle: I checked and there was practically a mile of silence so problem solved. 

    Have now uploaded it onto www.reverbnation.com/guyscohen so if you guys get some time it would be great to get your thoughts.

    On another note - any thoughts about which product is great for helping to create vocal harmonies? I have used v-vocal but it requires some fiddling.

    G



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