SD2 Import problem

[SoundmanJohn]

I'm pretty sure that this has been confirmed by a number of us: SD2 files can only be imported into a project if the sample rate of the file is the same as the sample rate of the project. Otherwise, an error message about not be able to convert the files is generated. Once imported, an SD2 file can only be manipulated once it has been converted to another file type, such as .wav

This only happens in N4, AKAIK.

John

[LEX]

What OS? XP, Vista or OSX?

LEX

[SoundmanJohn]

OS X for sure. Don't know about Vista or XP.

John

[Sam]

SD2 wont even work anywhere on a PC unless it is being run off a MAC formatted disk (not even sure if THAT works). If an SD2 file is transferred to a NTFS disk all the header info is lost (resource fork will be lost etc etc) so they end up 'corrupt'....if i remember correctly...

Yep the functionality in Nuendo seems to be 'read only' for SD2 and the import system hates them. Mediabay crashes due to them.

Thankfully for me I have only a few distant SD2 memories - and some stray PT sessions that come in with SD2 in them.
I cannot fathom why the import dialogue doesnt just state that it will force a conversion to AIFF or BWAV if you import an SD2 file....many old projects started on PT systems back in the day use them and I think many people have SD2 sound librarys which are still totally viable and databased that are SD2 - we should either have compatibility or not. Definately not 'sort of half unofficial compatitbility'

Actually maybe this sheds some light....



From the manual

P307

"This is a standard file dialog, where you can navigate to
other folders, audition files etc. The following audio file for-
mats can be imported:
• Wave (Normal or Broadcast, see “Broadcast Wave files” on
page 441)
• AIFF and AIFC (Compressed AIFF)
• REX or REX 2 (see “Importing ReCycle files” on page 493)
• Dolby Digital AC3 file (ac3 – if you have the Steinberg Dolby
Digital Encoder installed in your system)
• DTS file (dts – if you have the Steinberg DTS Encoder in-
stalled in your system)
• SD2 (Sound Designer II)
• MPEG Layer 2 and Layer 3 (mp2 and mp3 files – see “Impor-
ting compressed audio files” on page 493)
• Ogg Vorbis (ogg files – see “Importing compressed audio
files” on page 493)
• Windows Media Audio (Windows – see “Importing com-
pressed audio files” on page 493)
• Wave64 (w64 files)"

P315

"Which file formats are supported?
The following media file formats are supported by the Nu-
endo Media Management System:
• Audio: .wav, .w64, .aiff, .aifc, .rex, .rx2, .mp3, .mp2, .ogg,
.sd2, .wma (Windows only)"

I dont see any limitations or exceptions written about SD2 files in there so I assume full SD2 support is 'intented functionality'....

Bug??? hmmm, looks like one to me...

Maybe we could get a proper bug report together about this and submit it through the formal channels??? It is one of those bugs that I forget about from time to time, but it stumps me on a rogue project sometimes!!!

[LEX]

Actually, NTFS disks will read the resource fork. FAT32 won't.

Bottom line is that one PC, it will be read, but it won't read the RF. It will read the SD2 file, but no timestamp information will translate.

If I remember correctly, the bit depth and sample rate will default to whatever the project is.

Dangerous.

If you can't import and SD2 that is a different sample rate, it is a bug.
I use to do it all the time.

SD2 should be shelved and never used again.

LEX

[Sam]

Ah, I knew it could screw with the sample rate - I thought it ditched the info in the fork....cheers for clearing that up LEX.

Maybe I could get a small side business going building SD2 shelves :D

[Daryl]

SD2 should be shelved and never used again.

LEX
Yeah, let it die. :eek:

D

[SoundmanJohn]

It's pretty much dead, except for DP users and a huge back catalogue of any material originally recorded in ProTools. Letting it die is fine for a future generation, but it doesn't help those of us who have to deal with these files from other users on a day to day basis, so I'd like to see a proper fix, rather than another clunky work-around.

John

[neilwilkes]

The easiest way I have found to deal with SD2 files - and I am getting these regularly - is dependant on the import required.
Let me try to explain.
If I am attempting to open a PT session in my N4 or N3 system, then SSL ProConvert will do the job by taking the SD2 files & converting them to a sensible format. I also have MacDrive 7 installed which may or may not be helping. This will yturn the whole deal into a properly set up XML archive.
If all I need to do is open individual files then a side trip through WaveLab seems to do the job. Use the "Import Special Audio File" option & make certain that the file type is correctly set up with bit depth & sample rate & that you are using the correct endian type.

SD2 is in the main a complete pain, but still regularly used.

[LEX]

It's pretty much dead, except for DP users and a huge back catalogue of any material originally recorded in ProTools. Letting it die is fine for a future generation, but it doesn't help those of us who have to deal with these files from other users on a day to day basis, so I'd like to see a proper fix, rather than another clunky work-around.

John

Create a spec sheet. Tell them the file type you want.

LEX

[SoundmanJohn]

Yes, I get it. But I was putting this forward as a bug so that someone could confirm it and it could move to the known bugs area.

Thanks and happy new year to one and all.

John