Mixing : Mixdown : Bounce Options : File Type

File Type
The File Type selector lets you select the file type for bounced files.
SD II (Sound Designer II)
(Mac Only)
This was the native format for older Mac-based Pro Tools systems. Pro Tools can export SD II format files, but they will have to been converted to .WAV or .AIF on import.
WAV (Broadcast .WAV Format)
This format is supported on Windows and Mac. To use a WAV file in Pro Tools, you can drag and drop from the DigiBase browser, Windows Explorer or Mac Finder, or a folder, or you can use the Import Audio command. Files in this format do not have to be converted to be used in Pro Tools.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
This format is supported on Windows and Mac. To use an AIFF file in Pro Tools, you can drag and drop from the DigiBase browser, Windows Explorer or Mac Finder, or you can use the Import Audio command. Files in this format do not have to be converted to be used in Pro Tools.
MP3 (MPEG-1 Layer 3)
The MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) compression format is used for streaming and downloading audio over the Internet, and for playback on portable devices.
When you select this format, the Resolution pop-up menu in the Pro Tools Output Options dialog is unavailable. The resolution is set by the encoder.
The sample rate chosen is given to the codec as a base sample rate for operations. The actual sample rate of the resulting file is determined in the MP3 Encoder Options dialog. For example, if a base sample rate of 48000 Hz is chosen, the MP3 Encoder Options dialog will allow output streams in 48, 24, or 12 kHz, depending on encoding quality.
When you export or bounce to MP3 format, you can set the following options:
Encoder Settings
Encoder Speed
Determines the audio quality of the bounced file. There are two options: Highest Quality and Fastest Encoding Time.
The Highest Quality option can take up to five times longer to process audio than the Fastest Encoding option, so you should use it only when the highest fidelity is essential and you have the time to devote to the encoding process.
Constant Bit Rate (CBR)
Encodes the file at a single bit rate that you choose from the Constant Bit Rate (CBR) pop-up menu. Because the bit rate is fixed, the quality of the encoded audio will vary depending on the nature of the material being compressed. The 128 kbit/s option is generally best for streaming over the Internet, since it has predictable bandwidth requirements.
Enable MP3 Surround Encoding
This option is available only when bouncing stereo output to an interleaved MP3 file. The stereo output is upmixed and encoded to a 5.1-channel surround MP3 file that is also compatible with stereo MP3 playback.
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For complete information on requirements for MP3 surround playback, visit www.fraunhofer.com.
ID3 Tag Info Settings
ID3 Tag Type
The ID3 tag stores data about the encoded audio file that is used by MP3 players to display information about the file. Pro Tools supports three versions of this tag, in order to provide backward compatibility with older MP3 players:
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ID3 v1.0: Appears at the end of a streaming MP3 file, so that tag information is only displayed after software streaming is finished.
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ID3 v2.3: Appears at the front of a streaming MP3 file, so that tag information is displayed when streaming begins.
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While ID3 v2.3 is the current standard MP3 format, not all MP3 players support ID3 v2.3. Contact the player software developer for compatibility information.
Title/Artist/Album/Comment
Type the title, artist, and other information for the MP3 file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players.
Genre
Choose a genre for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players, and can appear in searchable catalogs and databases.
Track Number
If you select ID3 tag type v1.1 or v2.3, you can enter a CD track number for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players.
Year
Enter a year for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players.
Mac File Settings
Mac File Type and Creator
If you expect your file to be used on a Mac, you can enter the Mac file type and creator. This will allow users to double-click the file to open their MP3 player.
Default Button
To restore all settings in this dialog to their default values, click Defaults.
QuickTime
QuickTime is Apple’s multimedia audio file format. Pro Tools does not directly support this type of file in its sessions. To use a QuickTime audio file within Pro Tools, use the Import Audio command. The QuickTime format is popular for attaching to emails, to simplify long-distance project review and approval. Many popular multimedia applications also support QuickTime.
Windows Media
(Windows Only)
Windows Media formatted files can contain audio, video, or script data stored in Windows Media Format. A Windows Media Format file may have an .asf, .wma, or .wmv file name extension.
MXF (Material Exchange Format)
MXF is a media file format that includes both video and audio files, and is designed for the interchange of audio-visual material with associated data and metadata. It was designed for improving file-based interoperability between servers, workstations, and other content creation devices.
AAF and OMF sequence format files can refer to MXF media files, or have MXF media files embedded within them. Pro Tools supports AAF embedded sequences.