I would like to give my mixes to a studio that uses "Saw". Will the OMF export work? If not will a 3rd party program such as "Solid State Pro-Convert" work?  Pro-Convert is $600. So are there other options?

If Saw Studio will load an OMF file then that is the way to go.

But I wonder why you would choose a studio that uses Saw Studio?

You can export as OMF format. The plugins will not export. Apply all effects before you export.

So it sounds like your saying that exporting to an OMF will transfer tracks with names, panning volume automation, and busses as well as a 3rd party program?

Skarda


So it sounds like your saying that exporting to an OMF will transfer tracks with names, panning volume automation, and busses as well as a 3rd party program?

It will transfer tracks, names, perhaps pan. No buses or automation. 

So then if OMF is that limited. Has anybody tried one of those 3rd party programs like Solid State Pro-Convert?

Impossible for any software to export plugins that are bespoked to a certain DAW such as Cakewalk Prochannel plugins.  No such plugins exists for cubase or protools or saw so how could it work.

Another way I learned recently that's probably a little more reliable is to:

Bounce any effects/MIDI you want to keep.

Then use the Export Tracks option in the File > Export dialog

Make sure you save them all in one folder.

Set up the project in the new program to the correct tempo/samplerate/bitdepth

Then import all the files from the folder. They should line up. 

If it has a drag and drop style feature like Sonar does you could also just select all the wave files in the folder and drag them all right into the project at the start time.

Quite a few people have told me that OMF files can be problematic. Not sure why.

I am mainly looking for transfer of automation, panning, busses. track names. i understand that plugins would not transfer. Has anyone ever done this successfully

Oh and for the effects if you are using all regular VSTs that can be loaded into other programs (and the target program supports those VSTs) you might be able to save all of their settings as presets (name them something specific to that project). Then follow the procedure I listed above but leave out the Bounce effects part. Then once you've got the waves in the new project insert the effect presets.

I really don't know if that is possible as maybe the presets are saved within Sonar folders and not in their own little preset folder but it might worth experimenting with.

In fact now I kind of want to try that. ;-)