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Audio
Mastering

We offer a wide variety of recording formats :

ANALOG MULTITRACK RECORDERS
2" 24 track Sony JH-24
1/2" Fostex 16 track

DIGITAL MULTITRACK RECORDERS
Macintosh Format :
Digital Performer ( our preferred MIDI sequencer and editor)
Windows Format:
Sonar
Vegas Video
Sound Forge
Stand Alone Formats:
Alesis Adat XT-20 ( 24 Tracks with BRC Master Controller)
16 & 24 bit DAT
CDR

TWO TRACK MASTERING FORMATS
16 bit DAT
24 bit DAT
16 bit Audio CDR
Various formatted Data CDR's

Equipment

Please see the notes below for further information concerning format compatibility if you're planning to bring in a project you've already begun recording elsewhere..

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EXPORTING TO DIGITAL PERFORMER:

Most of our clients record their projects in the Digital Performer format. Digital Performer allows very convenient access to our great digital converters (unlike Pro Tools, which is limited in choices) as well as access to a much more capable MIDI editing environment that interfaces with our vast sampler and keyboard selection quickly and efficiently.

We are often asked how to get a project begun elsewhere into a format that can be easily imported into Digital Performer, and have provided this brief overview:

To convert a "Pro Tools" (Mac) session to Digital Performer (Mac):

Unfortunately, Pro Tools doesn't provide a "save as Performer" option in their file save menu. Because of this, we recommend the following method to export a pro tools session to a Digital Performer format.

Export each final track into one contiguous waveform starting at the same point (usually the very beginning of the song ) in SDII format. It's CRUCIAL to note that all bounced tracks to be exported must start at EXACTLY the same point. In some cases, such as a live show recording where you only want "song #4" for example, you might only wish to export part of a file. That's fine as long as the SAME start point is used for ALL tracks.

For instance, for a song having only mono kick, snare, bass and a stereo guitar solo (which doesn't come in for 2 minutes) you would:

1) Record the Kick only to one mono track from the VERY start of the song up until the end of the last kick note.
2) Record the same individual tracks for bass & guitar as in step 1
3) Record the stereo guitar solo to a stereo SDII track from the VERY start of the song until just past the solo end.

Track all MIDI devices to audio if you are pleased with the quality and character of your available sounds, separating all drums and eliminating all effects if possible.

It is recommended that you additionally save all MIDI data as "Standard MIDI File" format to allow additional MIDI triggering in our studio just in case a different sound is desired.

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TO SAVE A DIGITAL PERFORMER FILE IN PRO TOOLS FORMAT:
(mac to mac)

Occasionally, our clients wish us to export Digital Performer files to a Pro Tools format to continue work elsewhere. The following procedure is listed to clarify the procedure - most importantly, how to open file that has been exported from our studio in a Macintosh Pro Tools environment.

Using the OMF Interchange format you can import your Audio Desk or Digital Performer projects into Pro Tools while also transferring your region edits and crossfades. Midi data isn't included (this can be saved separately as a Standard Midi File).

In the File menu of your project choose Save As. Under File Format choose "OMF Interchange" and save the file. The program will create a separate OMF File. In your Pro Tools Folder you should find a utility titled "OMF Tool" or go to (www.digidesign.com) to download it. Launch OMF tool and from the top menu choose "Convert OMF to ProTools/SD2". Locate the OMF file and choose "OK". You now have a ProTools Project.

Currently the OMF tool is working with 16 bit files, not 24 bit files. If you need to create a 24 bit OMF, save your 24 bit DP file using the same steps mentioned above, then use Digi Design's Digi Translator software instead of OMF Tool from conversion from OMF to PT session.

TO OPEN THE DIGITAL PERFORMER FILE IN PRO TOOLS (ON A MAC):

Note: Pro Tools users will need the free "OMF Tool utility" that converts an OMF file into a ready-to-go Pro Tools session. OMF Tool ships on the Pro Tools installer CD. Check with Pro Tools web page for the appropriate version for your mac platform.

1.Launch OMF Tool. Choose 'Open Any' from the File menu and locate the OMFI file created by DP . Select 'Pro Tools 4' as the save type. If a problem occurs, you'll get a message, otherwise you'll just hear a beep when the translation is complete.

2. Launch Pro Tools and open the new Session created by OMF Tool . If all looks good with the audio tracks, the final step is to import any MIDI tracks. Choose 'Import MIDI/Tracks' from the File menu, and point to the standard MIDI file you made in Step 1. Leave 'Import Tempo from MIDI file' checked. You should now have a Pro Tools Session that looks like the original DP project.
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Because all software is very version specific, please call for an exact evaluation if you plan to bring in a project in that's already recorded or sequenced with software other than Digital Performer.

CDR's are the safest media on which to transfer audio data to and from our studio.

The process of importing or exporting files between differing software types is very tricky, and must be done carefully. Different software versions, "multiple takes" on single tracks, effects plugins, storage media, and many other variables can hinder or make the session non-transferable. Any time you plan on importing or exporting data between computer-based digital audio recorders, we strongly recommend that a small "test file" of your project be dropped off at our studio well in advance of your session date to allow us to check file compatibility.

Contact us by email or phone us at (916) 424-8772 for more current updates on format compatibility.