Task:
Share tracks from a Pro Tools session/project to another engineer who is not using Pro Tools.
Import tracks from another software into Pro Tools
Two main methods:
- OMF/AAF (Open Media Framework/Advanced Authoring Format)
- Stems
OMF/AAF
OMF/AAF allow you to send or receive a project to a Pro Tools engineer that includes edit points, fades, and region positioning within the timeline.
Audio stems are individual audio tracks that make up a complete musical or audio project.
Advanced Authoring Format (AAF):
- Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Davici Resolve, Adobe Premier
- Newer format than OMF
- Better preservation of faders, automation, and metadata.
Open Media Framework (OMF):
- Fallback, more limited than AAF (older)
- Useful for older DAWs
Important Notes:
- OMF/AAF is for audio, and doesn't handle MIDI with virtual instruments. Additionally, plugins won't map unless the names are exactly the same.
- With OMF/AAF and Stems, record your virtual instruments to a recorded track so the plugins and MIDI are no longer needed. Then export the recorded track.
Stem Important Notes:
- OMF/AAF is for audio, and doesn't handle MIDI with virtual instruments. Additionally, plugins won't map unless the names are exactly the same.
- With OMF/AAF and Stems, record your virtual instruments to a "final" track so the plugins and MIDI are not needed.
- Ensure the names of your tracks are intuitive for the content each contains, and when exporting, that the names of the exported tracks are intuitive for that audio file's content.
- Ensure that each stem audio track has the exact same starting point. Either use the beginning of the session timeline, or a marker that is grid based.
- Ensure that the export is a Broadcast Wave (BWF WAV) file.
- Typically choose 24-bit depth.
- Keep the sample rate of the session.
- Ensure no clipping.
- Ensure no normalization.
Steps Export AAF from Logic Pro for Pro Tools:
1. Ensure your tracks are named well.
2. From the file menu, choose File --> Export --> Project to AAF
3. In the dialog:
- Audio Files: Embedded (smaller file size) or Separate (better compatibility)
- Sample Rate Conversion: None (match destination session)
- Handle Size: Medium (standard)
Notes:
- Creates project.aaf file (edit information)
- Audio Files folder that contains the referenced/separate audio media files
Steps to Import AAF into Pro Tools:
1. From the top menu, create a new Session from template.
2. From the top menu, choose File --> Import --> AAF
3. In the dialog:
- Select the project.aaf files
- Audio Location: choose the copy to session folder option
- Bit Depth: Match or Convert
4. Review the Import log after the AAF import for any missing files and errors.
Stems
Steps to Import Stems into Pro Tools:
1. From the top menu, create a new Session from template.
2. From the top menu, choose File --> Import --> Audio
3. In the dialog:
- Select all files and add to import selection (using right arrows)
- Add Audio to Track: <checked/enabled>
- Import location: Session Start (or a timecode, as needed)
4. Drag the audio files into the template session tracks as needed.
5. Verify the files are all starting from Session Start (or the desired timecode).
6. Zoom in and verify the wave forms are not mismatched. (Generally, live drums and vocals have enough bleed, especially in the overheads, to verify the audio lines up.)
Steps to Export Stems from Logic Pro Using Bounce in Place:
1. Select the tracks to be exported.
2. Right-click, choose Track --> Bounce in-Place
3. In the dialog:
- Mode: Offline (faster)
- Bounce: Source (includes fader/effects) or Pre-Fader (no effects, no fader levels)
- File Format: WAV or AIFF
- Sample Rate: <same as project>
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Normalize: Off
4. Review the new audio regions on the selected tracks, and the files bounced to disk.
5. Gather the stem audio files into your standard folder structure with README.txt (see below).
Steps to Export Stems from Logic Pro Using Export All Tracks:
1. From the top menu, choose File --> Export --> All Tracks as Audio Files
2. In the dialog:
- File Type: WAV
- Resolution: 24-bit
- Sample Rate: Match project
- Include Audio Tail: 2 seconds (to capture reverb tails, select longer if you have longer reverb or delays)
- Normalize: Off
3. Review the exported audio files.
4. Gather the stem audio files into your standard folder structure with README.txt (see below).
Steps to Export Stems from Pro Tools:
1. Ensure you are in grid mode, not slip mode.
2. Set start marker and a stop marker if not exporting from the very beginning (0:0:0).
3. Highlight the tracks/regions between the markers.
4. From the top menu, choose Edit --> Consolidate Selection (Option/Alt + 3)
5. From the top menu, choose File --> Export --> Selected Tracks as Files
6. In the settings dialog, choose:
- File Type: BWF (.wav)
- Bit Depth: 24-bit
- Sample Rate: <same as session>
- Enforce Avid Compatibility: Off (unchecked)
7. Gather the stem audio files into your standard folder structure with README.txt (see below).
Organize the files into a structure as below:
Project Name_Stems_96k_24bit_YYYY_MM_DD_V1
|-- README.txt
|-- Percussion/
|-- Kick_inside.wav
|-- Kick_outside.wav
|-- Snare_top.wav
|-- Snare_under.wav
|-- Low_Tom.wav
|-- Mid_Tom.wav
|-- HiHat.wav
|-- OH_L.wav
|-- OH_R.wav
|-- Strings/
|-- Bass.wav
|-- Guitar_Accoustic.wav
|-- Guitar_Electric.wav
|-- Viola.wav
|-- Violin.wav
|-- Keyboards/
|-- KeysLR.wav
|-- KeysPad1L.wav
|-- KeysPad2R.wav
|-- Wind/
|-- Flute.wav
|-- Trumpet.wav
|-- Trumbone.wav
|-- Vocals/
|-- Vocal_Lead.wav
|-- Vocal_Keys.wav
|-- Vocal_KeysPad1L.wav
|-- Vocal_KeysPad2R.wav
|-- BGVL.wav
|-- BGVR.wav
|-- ChoirL.wav
|-- ChoirR.wav
|-- FX/
|-- Space_Reverb51.wav
|-- Vocal_ReverbLR.wav
|-- Vocal_DelayLR.wav
|-- PercussionSubLR.wav
|-- PercussionSpecialLR.wav
|-- Prints/
|-- HouseRefMixLR.wav
|-- EngineerRefMixLR.wav
- README.txt contents:
Project: Project Name
Date: YYYY_MM_DD
Version: 1
BPM: 123
Key: C Major
Sample Rate: 96kHz
Bit-Depth: 24-bit
Start Point: 0:00:00
Length: <bars/time>
DAW: Pro Tools <version>
Contact: myemailaddr@mindwatering.net
Notes:
Information regarding pre/post-faders, effects, tails, track placements LR, etc.
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