Subject:question about file formats

Posted by: wynton

Date:1/23/2007 6:51:13 AM

I'm a little confused about file formats in Music Studio 6.0

I'm using the program for recording vinyl. At the start, I always create a new project. Then, when the recording and editing is done, I click "save." As I type the name of the project, I notice that two options automatically appear: I can save the file with the WAV extension or with an "sfk" extention. I'm never sure what to do then, so I usually just finish typing the original project name and then hit enter, without specifying any extension at all.

By doing this, have I unnecessarily saved multiple versions of the same thing? All I really want to do is save the project and save the WAV file. Is the "sfk" extension the same thing as the project? When I save the project, isn't the WAV file being saved? And when I fail to specify the file extension when saviing, what exactly am I saving?

Thanks for any clarification.

Subject:RE: question about file formats

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:1/23/2007 6:34:20 PM

When you "Save", the only thing that's being saved is how you have your audio clips arranged on the screen. You'll get a .ACD file. You're not generating an audio output file at all. What the .ACD file is good for is if you decide later on you want to alter your editing you can open up the project again and have all your clips on the timeline where you left them without having to start from scratch.

When you want to save the finished recording as an audio file you have to use File / Render. This generates .wav or .mp3 or any of various other audio formats. Until you've rendered all you have is the raw clips you've recorded without any editing.

.SFK is a file that ACID uses to store the visual waveform you see on the screen. It doesn't contain any audio at all. It's merely a picture of that squiggly line. These are generated automatically every time you place an audio file on the timeline. You can ignore them or delete them as you wish.

Subject:RE: question about file formats

Reply by: wynton

Date:1/24/2007 5:35:37 AM

Chienworks,

I don't think you're completely right. I never use the file/render option to save or create audio files, but they are certainly being created. Specifically, WAV files are being created at some point.

To clarify, these are the steps I take:

(1) Open a new project. I assign it the name of the album.
(2) Open record dialogue. I replace the name of the file - which usually is "take number __" with the name of the album again.
(3) Record.
(4) press save. Then I start typing the name of the album. I am prompted to complete with WAV or another extension. Never sure which to choose then, I simply complete the name of the album and press "enter."
(5) I edit the recording and press save again.
(6) I choose the option "burn a complete audio cd."

Again, all I really want to save after all of this is done is one WAV file (representing the edited file) and perhaps the project file. And what I want to ensure is that I have not unnecessarily saved or created extra files.

Subject:RE: question about file formats

Reply by: pwppch

Date:1/24/2007 8:48:09 AM

No, Chienworks is correct.

Understand that ACID is a non-destructive editor. This means that it does not alter the wave (or MIDI ) files you use inside your project.

When you record, ACID does create a Wave file to store the audio in. This is the only time ACID will "automatically" create a wave file for you - it has to, you are recording new material.

So, to clarify:

Save: Save "Project". This is the save of the "edits" and links to the media for audio data.

Render : The takes your "edits" and mix and creates a new wave file. You should not use the same name as the files you have in your project - or at the very least you should render them to a different location. Burning to CD is essentially the same as a render. Instead of writing a wave file to your harddisk, you are telling ACID to "render" to a CD.

What you want to do is "save" your project when you want to continue working at a later date and not loose all of your edits or mixes.

When you want to get the final 'mix' or burn your CD, then you choose render or Burn CD.

Peter

Subject:RE: question about file formats

Reply by: wynton

Date:1/24/2007 10:56:07 AM

Well, let me ask a couple of more specific questions.

(1) After I make a recording and press "save," I am prompted to save with a couple of different extensions (WAV or SFK). Should I be selecting one of those extensions? My practice has been just to press enter without specifying any extension at all; when I do that, what extension is being automatically used?

(2) If, after recording and editing, I press "save" and indicate a particular file name, does that step effectively take precedence over the project name I created before making the recording?

I apologize for my continued confusion.

Subject:RE: question about file formats

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:1/24/2007 3:53:42 PM

(1) I'm not sure why it should bother offering you the choice of extensions. It is going to save a .WAV file unless the recording is over 2GB, then it will save a .W64 file instead. It will never save as a .SFK file, ever. However, as pointed out above, when the clip you've recorded is placed on the timeline a .SFK file is generated to hold the image of the waveform.

Keep in mind though that all this save does is save the individual raw, unedited recordings. This has nothing to do with the finished mixed and edited version you want to have when you're done.

(2) When you press save there you are only saving the .ACD project file, which contains no audio whatsoever. You must then Render As or Burn CD to get your finished edited project saved.