Teac MX-2424 User Manual

TASCAM Tutorial:

Importing Audio between the MX-2424 and Digidesign Pro Tools

Importing Audio from the MX-2424 into a Pro Tools Session

Follow the steps below to import audio files from a TASCAM MX-2424 hard disk into a Digidesign Pro Tools Session.

Requirements: MX-2424 and Pro Tools System Configuration

In order to move a hard disk from the MX-2424 onto a Mac Pro Tools System each system must be configured with a portable SCSI solution. The most common is a Storcase Removable/hot-swappable drive system. The Macintosh system may be configured in one of two ways with an installed Pro Tools system:

SCSI64 Kit

This includes ATTO Technology's ExpressPCI Dual Channel Ultra/WIDE SCSI card, the ATTO Express SCSI Utility and ATTO extension.

Adaptec SCSI card and FWB Hard Disk Toolkit

When an Adaptec SCSI card is used, FWB Hard Disk Toolkit 3.0 or higher must be installed on the Macintosh.

NOTE: Individual components of the systems above are not cross-compatible. Do not use ATTO software with Adaptec SCSI cards or FWB with ATTO SCSI cards.

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Step 1: TapeMode or Non-Destructive

Prior to removing a hard disk from the MX-2424, one has the option of converting the entire session into a TapeMode session or leaving it in Non-Destructive mode.

Performing a TapeMode convert will create a single contiguous audio file for each track, which incorporates any edits and fills blank areas with silence. A TapeMode convert can be performed on a Non-Destructive or TapeMode project. It is recommended that a TapeMode convert be performed even on a TapeMode session, so that unrecorded areas are filled in with silence (digital 0s). The advantage to TapeMode Conversion is that the import process into Pro Tools is simplified by the fact that only 24 files need to be imported. To Perform a TapeMode Convert (from the front panel):

a. Press the PROJ Key b. Hit the Up/Down Arrows until "TapeMode Convert" is selected. Press "Yes". c. Choose the desired project using the Up/Down Arrow keys and press "Yes". d. Choose a destination disk using the Trim to select SCSI ID.

A TapeMode Convert is processor intensive and may take a while to complete.

The other option is leaving the session in Non-Destructive mode. The advantage of this is that a time consuming TapeMode Convert is not necessary. The disadvantage is that a Project with many audio files per track will be difficult to properly import and spot into a Pro Tools Session. However, Non-Destructive Projects that consist of 24 tracks without any edits will not require a TapeMode Convert.

Note: A TapeMode convert retains the Time Stamp.

Step 2 Transporting a SCSI drive

The Disk from the MX-2424 must be mounted on the Macintosh Computer. Remember to always power down when connecting SCSI cables, and always Mount/Un-mount when using Storecase Carriers.

Step 3 Updating the Driver and Mounting the Disk

The very first time an MX-2424 Mac-formatted disk is placed on the Macintosh SCSI bus, a driver must be installed on the disk. The process of driver installation depends on the type of SCSI card and software used on the Macintosh. Note: this does not destroy the data on the disk.

Adaptec SCSI Cards & FWB

Figure 1: Updating disk driver in FWB Hard Disk Toolkit

After Updating the Driver, Hard Disk Tool Kit requests that you restart the system. YOU MUST RESTART! IF YOU DO NOT RESTART, YOUR DATA MAY BE DESTROYED!

computer, the drive will appear on the desktop.

After restarting the

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ATTO SCSI Cards & ATTO Express

When an MX-2424 Mac-formatted disk is placed on the Macintosh SCSI bus, a driver must be installed on the disk. To install a driver, first launch the ATTO Express SCSI Utility. Highlight the drive from the MX-2424, which will be in the left window and click on “Mount”. You will be prompted to confirm installation of the driver. Click on OK and the drive will appear in the right window. Highlight the drive on the right and click “Mount”. The drive will appear on the desktop. Note: this does not destroy the data on the disk.

Figure 2: Updating the disk driver in ATTO Express

Step 4 Setting Up a Pro Tools Session

Launch Pro Tools and start a new session. Set the bit depth appropriately (24-bit or 16-bit). Next, choose the appropriate Sample Rate and TimeCode type in the Session Setup window.

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Step 5 Importing Audio Files

There are two ways to do this. The first imports all of the audio and creates a new track for each file, while the second simply places all of the imported audio into the bin.

To utilize the first method, choose "Import Audio Track" from the “File” menu:

Figure 3: Importing audio files in Pro Tools

This will bring up the following window, which will allow multiple audio files to be imported into the Session:

Figure 4: Importing multiple audio files into a Pro Tools session

Go to the TL Projects folder on the MX-2424 drive and choose the desired project. Within the project folder is the Audio Files folder containing all audio files. Choose the desired audio files by clicking on "Add". Click on "Done" to proceed. Pro Tools will then calculate waveforms and add tracks containing audio files to the Edit window.

There are two ways to utilize the second method. With a session created, click on the bar over the audio bin that says “Audio“ (right side of the edit screen). Select “Import audio files”. The dialog box that will come up looks very similar to the screen that you saw for the first importing example. Select your files and push “OK”. Your selected audio files will be loaded into the bin without creating new tracks.

To use the other method, go directly to the “Audio Files” folder on your MX drive. Select all of the files that you wish to import to PT (hold down shift to select multiple files). Drag all of the files onto the icon for the Pro Tools application. Your selected audio files will be loaded into the bin.

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Step 6 Spot Mode

In the upper left of the Pro Tools Edit screen, click on "Spot" to enter Spot Mode.

Figure 4: Selecting Spot Mode in the Pro Tools edit window

If you’ve used the import command under the “File” menu, use the Hand Tool to select each audio file on the edit screen. The "Spot Dialog" box will appear. Click the Up Arrow to the right of "Original Time Stamp", and press OK.

Figure 6: Selecting “Original Time Stamp” in the Pro Tools Spot Dialog window

Each audio file will then be placed at its original TimeCode location.

Figure 7: Audio files spotted at their originally recorded location

If you’ve used either of the second import options mentioned, create a new track for each file you wish to play at the same time (Shift/Command/N). If all of the files start at the same time, or you’ve Tape Mode Converted them, you can select all of the files and drag them out of the bin onto the timeline. The Spot dialog should appear, and at that point you should click the Up Arrow to the right of “Original Time Stamp” and press “OK”. Your audio will be spotted to its originally recorded time stamp.

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Importing Audio from a Pro Tools Session into an MX-2424

Follow the steps below to import audio files from a Pro Tools session into an MX-2424 project.

Step 1: What Type of Pro Tools Session?

There are three possible scenarios that you may need to use the audio files from a Pro Tools session in an MX-2424 project: 1} A straight recording; 2} An edited recording (no processing or automation); 3} Processed tracks with automation or plug-in effects. These three scenarios require different steps in Pro Tools before moving the audio files to the MX-2424.

It will be necessary to have the MX-2424 connected to a computer running ViewNet to perform this procedure.

SCENARIO 1: A Straight Recording:

This is a recording of audio directly into Pro Tools in single passes. No editing, automation or processing has been applied. There is nothing further to do in Pro Tools except name the audio files as desired. To do so, double-click on a region in Pro Tools with the Hand Tool. A dialog box will open allowing you to rename the region only or the region and its associated disk file. Choose to rename the region and the disk file since it is the disk file (audio file) that you will be moving to the MX-2424.

Figure 8: Renaming region and audio file in Pro Tools

SCENARIO 2: An Edited Recording:

This is a recording of in Pro Tools that has been edited but does not utilize any automation or processing. Such a Pro Tools session is considered to be an EDL (Edit Decision List) in which the regions in Pro Tools reference parts of larger audio files. It is necessary to create audio files, which can be imported into an MX-2424 project, that contain these edits. There are two ways to do this: under the edit menu or contiguous audio files of the selected regions in the Pro Tools edit window, replacing the selected regions. The versions. Name the new audio files created by the

Playlist

Duplicate

function of Pro Tools may be used if it is desired to keep both the new and old

under the AudioSuite Menu. Both of those functions will create

Consolidate Selection

Figure 9: Before Consolidate

Figure 10: After Consolidate

Consolidate Selection

Duplicate

as needed.

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SCENARIO 3: Processed/Automated Tracks

These are tracks is a Pro Tools session that may or may not be edited but do contain automation (such as volume automation) and/or plug-in insert processing (such as compression). These tracks must be bounced to new tracks. The bounced tracks will reference audio files that are recordings of the original tracks with automation and processing.

This may be done is Pro Tools routing the output of the original track to the input of a destination track to be used for the bounce (shown below).

Be sure to observe odd/even panning.

Figure 11: Routing output of original track to input of destination track

Step 2: Place the Audio Files in the Desired Location on the Hard Drive

The audio files from Step 1 may be placed directly into the Audio Files folder of the desired MX-2424 project on the hard drive while mounted on the computer. If an MX-2424 project does not yet exist on the hard drive, a special folder named exactly TL_Imports may be created at the root level of the drive and the audio files placed there.

Step 3: Mounting the Hard Drive on the MX-2424

The Disk from the computer must be mounted on the MX-2424. Remember to always power down when connecting SCSI cables, and always Mount/Un-mount when using Storcase Carriers.

NOTE: If you are already using Ethernet for backup/restore or file transfer, it would be possible to transfer the audio files to the MX-2424 using the ViewNet application. However, when dealing with Sound Designer II audio files, the resource fork is stripped by the Java Runtime Environment leaving non-timestamped WAV or AIFF files. This limitation does not exist when moving a hard drive from the computer to the MX-2424 or when using Broadcast Wave files on a PC.

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Step 4: Importing the Audio Files into an MX-2424 Project

Figure 12: Importing an audio file at its Originally recorded location in an MX-2424 project

Once the hard drive is mounted on the MX-2424 and the desired project open:

1. Select

Import/export

audio from the

2. Choose the place to look for the audio files using the

3. Choose the way the audio files are to be used in the current project using the pulldown menu.

4. Edit-enable the desired destination track.

Clipboard

•

Original time

•

Selected event

•

will place the audio files into the clipboard for pasting at any desired location.

will place the audio files in the project according to their time stamp.

will place the audio files on an edit-enabled track at the In point.

File

menu. The window shown above will open.

Display files

pulldown menu.

Import destination

NOTE: