File and Session Management and Compatibility

For more information, see the following topics:

Audio File Management

WAV File Compatibility

Sharing Sessions Created on Different Computer Platforms

Sharing Sessions Created on Different Pro Tools Systems

Sharing Sessions Created on Different Pro Tools Software Versions

Language Compatibility

When working with Pro Tools, you will encounter several different kinds of computer files. Pro Tools systems require that you keep certain files in specific hard drive locations in order to function properly:

Pro Tools software files (such as the application and plug-ins files) should be located on your Startup drive (the drive that contains your operating system and other system-related files).

Data files (such as session files, audio files, and video files) can be located on any compatible drive connected to your computer’s internal or external SAS, SATA, IDE/ATA, FireWire, or SCSI busses (including SCSI HBA).

You can specify the location of new session files when creating new sessions (see Creating a New Session).

In Pro Tools sessions, use the Disk Allocation command to specify where you want newly recorded audio files to be stored (see Working with Hard Drives for Recording).

Although Pro Tools lets you record to your system drive, this is generally not recommended. You should record to system drives only when necessary—for example, if your computer system has just one hard drive, or it your other hard drives are completely full.

If you have a system with multiple drives, you can designate the System drive as a Playback only or Transfer only drive for optimal performance (see Audio and Video Volume Designators).