MR8 + Pro Tools Free Mac

[poutine]

Hi forum members,

I bought my MR-8 a couple of weeks ago. I'm following the tips I've read about on this forum and adapting them to my own situation. I've got an iMac. I downloaded Pro Tools Free and installed it. I bought an inexpensive CF card reader. The iMac sees the CF card and there's no problem copying the .wav files to the hard drive. Unfortunately, Pro Tools doesn't recognize the .wav files as importable files. My workaround is to ResEdit the resource fork of the MR-8 .wav files to give them the same type and creator code as other .wav files that Pro Tools does accept. That works. First I have to convert them in Pro Tools, then import them. It's a three-step process. Has anyone found an easier method to get the MR-8 .wav files into Pro Tools? Once I have a few more I/O details worked out, I'll try a whole song, mixing down in Pro Tools Free. I'm determined to see how far I get using this little iMac, which I won in a contest. If it's too much of a headache, I can always sell the thing and get a PC!

[digitcallous]

I'm not familiar with Pro Tools so I'm no help there, but MR-8 wav files are just standard 44KHz 16-bit files and not anything unusual. I use n-track and have no problems importing MR-8 wav files and manipulating them in the software.

Wav file from the MR-8 will also just play straight using something like Windows Media Player. Oh, you are on a MAC, but I'm sure most standard WAV file players on the MAC should be able to play the MR-8 files.

DC

[poutine]

Yes, Digitcallous, the MR-8 .wav files play just fine on any of my media players, Mac or PC. This is strictly a Pro Tools thing. You have to edit the resource fork for Pro Tools Free to recognize them.

[Madfrisbee]

I don't know if you're set on using Pro Tools, but if not you may want to consider using n-track. It's much cheaper, it supports all kinds of free VST plugins (and other plugins), and it seems to have no compatibility problems like you're experiencing.

[daav]

You may want to try the MR8 software update also. Look for threads here with info on that.

Daav.

[poutine]

I installed the update. I can't use n-track because I'm using a Mac. I installed the trial version on my wife's PC and really like it, but she's going to hate me if I start moving in on her computer, so I'm trying to make a go of it with Pro Tools on the Mac. Pro Tools uses RTAS plugins, and I'm finding some on the web. Anyone know of any other Mac programs? Looks like the PC is becoming the standard platform for pro audio...

[turntablist]

i wouldn't agree.

[bdbdbuck]

I think a lot of the real pros do use mac's. The problem is just that pro tools doesn't recognize the files that the MR8 creates. I had the same problem with cubasis and cakewalk. I finally bit the bullett and got n-track. It's nice because I had the vst plug-ins already. In your case, unless you find a program that recognizes the files and is compatible with your mac os, you'll just have to keep re-naming the files. Have you tried club tracks? I don't know if you can use it in a mac or not, but you can get clubtracks for $10 at MF.




bd

[poutine]

Club Tracks is Windows only. All the good, cheap stuff is. I tell ya, winning a Mac in a contest is a mixed blessing... I found a couple of other Mac programs. One is Deck 3.5. It's the full commercial program on a 14-day free trial. The other one is Audacity, which seems to be free. Anyone heard of or tried these?

[bdbdbuck]

Try looking here:

www.sonicspot.com

There's a lot of freeware, shareware and whatever on this site. Lots of useful stuff.



bd

[M.Brane]

To import your files to PTF go to the Movie pull-down menu and select "Import from other movie". That should do the trick.

If not you'll have to convert from .wav to AIFF first. SoundApp is a great freeware file converter.

[Axe4Yahweh]

Pro Tools uses and creates Brodacast WAVS. So do many of the other Pro level Recording Programs. The conversion from WAV to Bradcast WAV is a necessary step when importing to ProTools Free.

CR ><>

[poutine]

Thanks. These are good leads. I'll try them all.

[Bigsnake00]

I'm currently running protools free on a brand new imac and im loving it.....the easiest way ive found to import the files is to click the audio tab (middle right of the main screen) and then click import/convert or something like that. In the long run im really not worried about the extra minute it takes to convert the tracks...the program works to good. I dont like the fact that its only 8 tracks but with bouncing I'm working my way around it.

Poutine....where are you finding the effects for PTF???

...oh yeah....one more thing......macs rock the na na for home recording...

b

[Madfrisbee]

Ah, BigSnake, you dangle a tasty argument in front of me like a nicely medium-rare steak.... But I won't take the bait. I know there's too much cholesterol.

[poutine]

Hey Bigsnake,

I'm doing the same thing as you, going to the audio tab and choosing Convert, but nothing shows up in the window to convert. The only way I can get those MR-8 files to show up in that window is if I edit the resource fork of the WAV file first. I'm using the Mac version. Maybe you're talking about the PC version of PT?

[Bigsnake00]

poutine~
im definitly using PT for mac.
Im just...
1.clicking the audio tab
2.convert and import
3.click on the mr8 card drive
4.select the files that i want to import
5.click done
6.wait for them to convert
7.the files then show up under the audio tab
8.go to file ...new tracks....
9.drag the audiofiles onto the tracks themselves

i dunno, thats working like a charm for me

let me know

b

[M.Brane]

Did you try the movie menu I mentioned above?

[gospel]

Originally posted by poutine
Club Tracks is Windows only. All the good, cheap stuff is. I tell ya, winning a Mac in a contest is a mixed blessing... I found a couple of other Mac programs. One is Deck 3.5. It's the full commercial program on a 14-day free trial. The other one is Audacity, which seems to be free. Anyone heard of or tried these?

I've used Audacity and you are right it is completely free and accepts VST plugins. I haven't used it for much more than just adding effects. Before I got into multi tracking with the MR-8 I recorded a lot of stuff on cassette and dumped it into my PC and used Goldwave to enhance, but goldwave's reverb is terrible. So I used Audacity and the VST plugs.

[poutine]

Okay Bigsnake,

I'm doing everything you are except that I'm copying the files from the MR-8 card to the hard drive first. That must be where the problem begins. I'll try it your way tonight. Thanks.

I'll try import movie and install Audacity tonight too.

Thanks for all your input!

[poutine]

Bigsnake et al,

Still doesn't work for me. I am using Pro Tools Free on OS 9.2.2. How about you? Audacity picks up the MR-8 WAVs right off the card or the HD no problem. With PTF I still have to fill in the type and creator with ResEdit. I tried Import Movie, same thing.

[M.Brane]

I tried Import Movie, same thing.

Did you try "Import audio from other movie"?

Converting with SoundApp would be easier than using ResEdit to hack the file.

I'm using 9.1 with a few select pieces from 9.2.2 because I'm running a G3 upgraded 8600.

[poutine]

Yes, I tried "Import audio from other movie." Thanks for the link to SoundApp. I'll try it later today. Strange that we are getting different results importing the MR-8 WAV files, though.

Audacity has its limits, but I can think of two situations where I'll want to use it: converting my kid's music (violin and cello recorded on a Sony Minidisc recorder) to a quick wav or mp3 (for auditions and such), and converting a song idea of mine to a quick mp3 for email to a co-writer.