Sessions & Tracks : Importing and Exporting Session Data : Import Options and Preferences

Import Options and Preferences
Pro Tools provides several options and preferences that affect audio import. Configure Pro Tools to match your most common workflows. For example, if you frequently work by importing REX files for loop-based composition, you can configure Pro Tools to always import REX files to conform to tempo and create new tick-based Elastic Audio tracks.
Convert Imported “WAV” Files To AES31/BroadcastWave
When selected, this option applies to all newly imported WAV files, making them compliant with the AES31/EBU Broadcast standard.
Automatically Copy Files on Import
When selected, all audio files that are imported by dragging and dropping are copied to the current session’s Audio Files folder, regardless of whether the files need to be converted to the current session’s file type, bit depth, or sample rate. Additionally, when selected, the Import Session Data dialog defaults to Copy from Source Media. The Automatically Copy Files on Import preference does not affect the Import Audio command.
Convert Copied Files to Session Format
When selected, files that have different file formats from the current session file format are copied and converted to the current session audio file format, bit depth, and sample rate on import. For example, if the session file format is WAV, 24-bit, 48 kHz and you import an AIF, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz file, the file is copied and converted to WAV, 24-bit, 48 kHz on import. When this option is not selected, copied files retain their original format (unless that file format is incompatible with Pro Tools, in which case it must be converted).
Do Not Convert Sample Rate on Import
When selected, files with different sample rates than the session sample rate are not automatically converted when imported into the session. This means that files with mis-matched sample rates play back at a different speed (and pitch transpositions than when they were originally recorded (or converted).
Import REX Files as Clip Groups
When selected, REX flies are imported as clip groups, all the underlying slices are imported as individual clips contained within the clip group. When this option is not selected, importing REX files into a session converts them to the session’s audio file format, the individual slices are consolidated, and the slice information is used for Elastic Audio analysis. These files remain tick-based after import and conversion.
Automatically Create Fades
When selected, crossfades are applied automatically to the sliced clips within clip groups created by importing REX files. If the Import REX Files as Clip Groups option is not selected, the Automatically Create Fades option does not apply.
To change the default fade settings for REX files, click the REX button in the Default Fade Settings section on the Editing Preferences page (see Fades Editing Preference).
Drag and Drop From Desktop Conforms to Session Tempo
The Drag and Drop From Desktop Conforms to Session Tempo options determine whether or not REX, ACID, and all other audio file formats dragged and dropped from Windows Explorer or Mac Finder are imported as tick-based Elastic Audio and conformed to the session tempo.
None
When enabled, all audio files, including REX and ACID files, are not conformed to the session tempo when imported by drag and drop from Windows Explorer or the Mac Finder. They are imported as sample-based files and converted to the sessions audio file format.
REX and ACID Files Only
When enabled, only REX and ACID files are conformed to the session tempo when imported by drag and drop from Windows Explorer or the Mac Finder. REX files are imported either as tick-based Elastic Audio or, if the Import REX Files as Clip Groups option is enabled, as tick-based clip groups.
All Files
When enabled, all audio files are imported as tick-based Elastic Audio and conform to the session tempo.
Sample Rate Conversion Quality
The Sample Rate Conversion Quality preference determines the quality of sample rate conversion used when converting and importing audio into a session by drag and drop. Sample rate conversion is used in a variety of Pro Tools processes including converting and importing audio files of different formats into a session, and bouncing and saving tracks to a different sample rate or bit depth. The higher the quality of sample rate conversion you choose, the longer Pro Tools will take to process the audio file.
Elastic Audio Options
The Elastic Audio preferences determine which Elastic Audio plug-in is used for preview and import, and whether or not new tracks are created with Elastic Audio enabled using the selected default plug-in.
Default Plug-In
Lets you select any Real-Time Elastic Audio plug-in as the default plug-in for previewing and importing Elastic Audio. The selected default Elastic Audio plug-in is also used when new tracks are created with Elastic Audio enabled. The Elastic Audio Plug-In selector in DigiBase browsers inherits the selected default plug-in. Likewise, changing the selected plug-in in DigiBase browsers updates the selected Default Plug-In in the Processing preferences.
Default Input Gain
Lets you attenuate the signal input to Elastic Audio plug-ins by 0 to –6 dB for preview and import. If you experience clipping due to Elastic Audio processing during preview or after import, you may want to set the Default Input Gain to slightly attenuate (lower) the audio signal input for Elastic Audio processing. This preference also applies to any audio imported to an Elastic Audio-enabled track.
If you commit any clips on a track (by disabling Elastic Audio on the track) that were imported with the Default Input Gain applied, their clip-based In put Gain is reset to 0.
The Elastic Properties window inherits the Default Input Gain preference. To apply further clip-based Input Gain for Elastic Audio processing, select the clip and adjust the Input Gain setting in the Elastic Properties window (see Elastic Properties Window).
Enable Elastic Audio on New Tracks
When selected, new tracks are created with Elastic Audio enabled. The selected default Elastic Audio plug-in is used. When importing audio to new tracks, new tracks are created with Elastic Audio enabled if this option is enabled.
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If the Enable Elastic Audio on New Tracks option is selected, you may want to also select the New Tracks Default to Tick Timebase option in the Editing Preferences page.
Tracks Preference
When the New Tracks Default To Tick Timebase option is enabled, all new tracks default to ticks. This includes importing audio to new tracks. When deselected, audio, Auxiliary Input, Master Fader, and VCA (Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools with Complete Production Toolkit only) tracks default to samples. MIDI and Instrument tracks always default to ticks.
Fades Editing Preference
The Default Fade Settings for REX files in the Editing preferences lets you select the default envelope shape for fades and crossfades between clips (“slices”) in imported REX files. Fades are only applied to imported REX files if the Import REX Files as Clip Groups option and the Automatically Create Fades option are both enabled on the Processing Preferences page.