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AMoody edited this page Jan 12, 2021 · 3 revisions

Project Translator

This is a java based application which can be used to convert projects from audio editing software from one format to another. It can convert an ardour (http://ardour.org/) project in to an AES31 (http://www.aes.org) project so it can be edited and mixed on other audio editing applications. A conversion in the reverse direction is also possible allowing Ardour users to import projects from other DAW software.

The code is modular. It uses file readers to gather information from the source file which is stored in an internal temporary database. A file writer is then used to save this data out to a file in the required format and process the audio files too if they're available.

64 bit audio files are supported.

If you want to use this software you should check the licensing information.

File readers

Ardour

This is an open source project which runs on Linux, MacOS and Windows.

The default audio file format in Ardour uses 32bit floating point samples, these may or may not be supported in the target editing application so you should check the documentation before starting an audio project.

Ardour allows for regions in the timeline to be opaque or transparent and supports a Z-order for regions. This is not supported in AES31. Where an opaque region lies over another region the underlying region will be split in two so the audio effect will be the same but there will be more regions in total.

AES31 fades (in or out) are a five point fades but Ardour allows arbitrary or user generated fades. These must be simplified and will not be identical in the AES31 format.

Region gain automation is merged with track gain automation and they are both then stored as track gain automation (region gain automation is not supported in AES31).

AES31

This is the interchange format recommended by the AES. The internal database stores an edl (or adl if you prefer) in the AES31 format so this reader simply imports the file to the database.

VCS Dira Startrack

(http://www.scisys.co.uk)

This file reader was added for a specific customer. The VCS Dira content production system has an editing tool called Startrack. The customer sometimes needs to convert partially finished audio projects in to the AES31 format so they can be completed using a different editing tool. VCS Startrack project files can contain mp3 files. When these are converted to AES31 or Ardour projects the mp3 files are extracted to a separate folder. The user can then choose to convert them to wav for import to a subsequent editor or some editing software may have this functionality built in.

File writers

AES31

The user can choose a default frame rate (timecode) and sample rate for the AES31 adl file. Note that no audio file conversion takes place with this tool.

AES31 requires that all media be in the BWAV format therefore if the bext chunk was missing from the source audio files it is added and a UMID is created.

If the sample rate of an audio file differs from the sample rate specified in the adl file it will be moved to a subfolder called 'WRONG_FORMAT'. The end user should use their audio editing software to correct the format and import the audio before importing the adl file.

Ardour

This exporter will write an Ardour project with all the required folders.

If the chosen folder does not have the same name as the name chosen for the Ardour project then a new subfolder will be created.

If the required audio files have been found these will also be copied to the correct subfolder.

If the audio files are not BWAVs then a bext chunk will be added.

Fades are written as region fades, gain automation will be written as track gain automation.

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