OMF file question

[mbouteneff]

A friend will be helping me with the EQ-ing of a track I'm working on. He uses a Fairlight Dream Station (??), and asked that I convert my Sonar project to an OMF file.

How is an OMF file put together -- is it:
1) a file with audio only, minus plugin effects,
2) a file with audio, with plugin affects permanently applied to the audio portions
3) a file with audio, and plugin affects intact as plugins?

Or something else? (I'm wondering if it will be possible to import the final OMF file back into Sonar after we're finished for further editing, with plugins still in an editable format)

Thanks,

Mike

 

[heroics321]

It's strictly audio. Your best bet would be to just send him the file completely dry (no compression, eq, effects, etc.), have him mix it how you guys see fit, permanently apply the changes to the audio files themselves, then give it back to you for final tweaking. May I ask why you need him to mix the track? Bad sources, micing, monitoring? Not meaning to offend, just curious.

 

[mbouteneff]

Heh, no offence taken.

It basically comes down to this -- I'm a home recording amateur, he's an audio post-production professional. I must assume he knows his stuff better than I. With regards to EQ-ing, specifically, I feel like I could use a little guidance. I feel comfortable with left/right panning, reverb/distance, volume differences, etc when mixing. But the art of EQ-ing instruments in a mix to avoid overlap and create clarity is proving to be a bit of a challenge; I don't feel like I've accomplished much while experimenting on my own.

My friend has offered to spend a little time with me on the track to show me how he would handle it, etc. Then I'll be on my own again. Hence, I'm hoping to incorporate his suggestions, then move the results back into the Sonar environment for further editing/mixing, etc. I.e. I'm taking an EQ 101 class.

How's that for an overly long explanation?

So, I'll probably either do what you recommended, or take VERY, VERY good notes and try to reproduce his EQs in Sonar at home. Heh.

Thanks!

-M

 

[heroics321]

all the power to ya, brother. i wish i would have had someone to guide me like that. the main you'll hopefully get from him is a general idea of which frequency ranges most instruments/sources are happiest in, how to give them their own personal space with that knowledge, and how they interact when everything is brought together.

as an example, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking "well, i want my guitar to chug, so lets boost the low mids," without realizing they could let the kick and bass accentuate the guitar's lower range. this is why i usually avoid the solo buttons unless i'm really nitpicking a clip. anywho, good luck, god speed, and i hope you come back with some tips to share.