Vegas session export to ProTools

drbam wrote on 9/22/2006, 11:44 AM

I've got an entire intrumental album project (24/44.1) that needs to be exported for work in a protools studio in Nashville where the artist lives (my studio is in Arizona). Although the project is about about 90% mixed, we want to do a few final overdubs there and follow with final mixing in the protools studio. This project has about 30+ stereo tracks per song with lots of volume envelope moves a few edits with crossfades which I obviously need to retain – no plug ins are used other than some eq which I can elimnate if needed for the export. I've reviewed some past forum threads on the subject but I'm wondering what the current state of affairs is for doing this? How reliable is it? How complicated? Can anyone recommend some tutorials, etc? Thanks!!

drbam

Comments

ForumAdmin wrote on 9/22/2006, 2:04 PM

This is worth looking at:

http://www.cuibono-soft.com/Products/EDL_Convert_v4/edl_convert_v41.html

rraud wrote on 9/22/2006, 3:17 PM

I use "EDL_Convert" all the time for audio post, to-and-from FCP and Avids. I don't know about "Protools" but if this is the case, some of the fades and crossfades will not be accurate and will have to be re-done. (or rendered as a new track) And then there's the two mono track stereo files opposed to one stereo file consideration. So expect issues with these factors in mind.
Contact cuibono-soft for more accurate info. They are very helpful and fast to support their product. Unlike...... fill in the blanks: "_ _ _ Y"

drbam wrote on 9/22/2006, 5:12 PM

Thanks rraud! I can render the tracks that have crossfade edits but the stereo file thing concerns me. Virtually every track in this entire project is stereo (synths, pianos, orchestra pads, etc). Have you had experience with this? Thanks again.

drbam

H2000 wrote on 9/22/2006, 6:01 PM

Have you checked out the Trackalizer script:

http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id=c217cca0-5add-4e90-ba36-caf3e6041ea1

It will export (render) all the tracks in your project. You can render stereo files to multiple mono files (although it's only as 16bit at the moment).

rraud wrote on 9/22/2006, 6:05 PM

EDL Convert will convert a stereo track into two mono left & right tracks and renames them by adding L&R or 1&2 to the original file name, and then inserts these to the EDL so there's no hunting for missing tracks.. .at least in the Vegas-to-OMF mode. You will also have the option for Protools session convert mode. I would think converting to the session file would be best. I haven't used either going to PTs so I would contact Cuibono-soft for specifics, maybe the crossfades behave differently in the PTs mode. Contact the Nashville studio for their preferences too.
Kindly let us know what you encounter with this Vegas-PTs project.

drbam wrote on 9/22/2006, 8:28 PM

newhope wrote on 9/23/2006, 7:35 AM

The stereo to dual mono isn't really a problem as, once you are in ProTools, you can drag the pairs of mono regions onto a stereo track and they will be editable as stereo again, even though they exist on disk as two separate mono files identified by .l and .r additions to their file names.

I use EDL Convert as well and have exported the Vegas .veg as a XML using a script for EDL Convert. Ciu Bono supply the script for Vegas as part of their software, then you can convert it to ProTools 5 in EDL Convert.

Unfortunately they can't do later than PT5 due to encription of later PT formats, but later versions of PT6 and 7 will open, and save to, PT5 sessions.

You could also try AAF if the ProTools you are going to has the Digidesign Digitranslator 2 plugin, as it does AAF and OMF. I'd test to make sure the Vegas AAF is compatible first though as the format isn't as widely accepted as OMF and incompatibilties exist between different platforms under AAF.

I have both so I'll report back on AAF once I have a chance to test it.

Stephen Hope
New Hope Media

H2000 wrote on 9/23/2006, 7:55 AM

Thanks H2000 but I need to keep the project in 24 bit. And thanks again rraud. We won't be doing the mix in Nashville till early next year so I've got some time to work on this. I will definitely let you know how it unfolds.

I'm sure that if you were to email jr or the vasst support, they would add the split mono 24 bit for you. JR is very helpful and quick to respond. The good thing about this way of doing it is that there are no surprises with the conversion when you get there.

OTOH, the EDL convert sounds very good.