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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75 |
Just updated to PT 2013 where one of the new features stated as "added support for audio formats like .MP3, .MP4, M4A, and .WMA files".
I was hoping this would include the ability to import M4A files into PT. I've tried to do this in the same way that I would import a wav file (from Import in the File menu) but keep getting an error message saying "cannot convert file".
Please can anyone tell me if this is possible and if so what I should doing.
Many Thanks
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2000
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Pt will do the conversion if the Operating System can do the conversion. What you need is a codec for M4A installed on the system. PT doesn't include any codecs but does use them if they are available. Thus the use of the term 'support' for audio formats ... This site tests safe with siteadvisor.com http://www.mediacodec.org/ Can never be too careful when installing codecs .. as they are OS level components. Lots of freebies are virus ridden. Use at your own risk. I assume Apple iTunes would also install this codec.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75 |
Thank you for this.
Based on what you say I'm thinking that in view of the few M4A files I want to import and having had problems with stability in the past, the best thing to do is leave well alone.
What I've been doing is converting the tracks in Goldwave using 'what-u-hear' and then importing to PT.
This gives rise to another question that I'm sure you will be able to answer - can you record 'what-u-hear' directly into PT?
Many thanks again for your help.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2000
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Hi GodfreyY, Re-recording using an internal soundcard setting such as "what u hear" (which is the Creative soundcard nomenclature for it) is one way to go. You may or may not get a full digital exact copy by doing it that way, though. There will likely be translations of the bit stream and maybe small timing issues as well, depending. I use the free Audacity.exe program for this and quite a few other purposes, you must install the base program and then install their "FFmpeg" library as well in order to open up m4a as well as quite a few other formats. Just read up on how to install and use on their website and follow their directions as to downloading and installations. Audacity will then open mp4A directly, once it is inside Audacity and displayed on the timeline, you can simply go to the file menu and select Export and export the entire track as a .wav file, saved to disk somewhere, and then open that in any standard Audio DAW such as PT, BB, or the likes and continue on. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq_i18n?s=files&i=wma-proprietary It is also a bit faster than recording from end-to-end, you won't change the overall levels inadvertently nor mess with the all-important gain-staging of the original file as well. --Mac
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 75 |
Hi Mac
Many thanks for this - I'll certainly give it a try.
I get some M4A files sent by people I'm doing internet collaboration with. They are usually just guide tracks for me to create a bass track so the quality issue is not such a problem but timing problems would be. I've not noticed any yet but it's probably going to happen sooner or later so the Audacity route sounds like a good option.
Thanks again
G
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
When doing online collaborations using ANY file format, I have found that it is a good idea to get everyone to insert a Marker on the audio timeline of some sort at a preset timing before the actual music starts. I use the two-sconds-exactly-before tried and true "twobeep" from radio broadcasting for such, which is just a 1KHz sinewave BEEP inserted on the timeline exactly two measured seconds before that critical first waveform rise.
One could also use a handclap, or a kick drum or any other short and recognizable sound, as well.
Even when there are countins involved, this can be critical stuff, for example, different mp3 codecs insert differing amounts of ID data in front of the audio and different playback devices and softwares may handle that differently, which can SHIFT the track a bit further down the timeline, losing certain things like feel, whether or not the track performance was intentionally played or sund on the beat, ahead of the beat, or laid back "behind the beat" etc.
It also can lead to a track gradually losing sync as the song progresses.
With the use of the same prearranged Marker by all, it is a simple matter to visually align all tracks in whatever DAW progrm in use, visually, by simply sliding the tracks until all markers are lined up.
Audacity is great for measuring the timeline and inserting this kind of marker, BTW.
--Mac
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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