Large Files :Confused:

[Cheech]

Here is my dilemma:

I have a project coming in next week on a drive and its a live concert. There is somewhere close to 40 tracks and all the tracks are continuous. What would be the best way to separate those files on a song by song basis so Logic does not crap out on me when trying to play all 40 tracks of all 12 songs in 1 Logic session?

Thanks in advance peeps!

[Sausage Maker]

You might have to mount the drive inside the computer - at least until you can cut it up.

Firewire or USB might not be fast enough to deliver the goods...

[Cheech]

Forgive me for sounding kinda dim but what would be the fastest way to go about cutting the files up?
Cut them up in Logic?

[Sausage Maker]

what ever DAW you use...

Save into smaller more manageable sessions or just finish the project with drive installed...

[otek]

I really wouldn't.

The only thing that's gonna crap out Logic is the amount of simultaneous data streamed through the bus. The files could be 18 hours long and it wouldn't make any difference.

The advantage to keeping it all together is that checking the dynamic flow of your mixing becomes much easier. Since it's a live concert and you will want some kind of coherence in the sound from start to finish.

Once you bounce the material, you can do so in smaller sections.


otek

[David Aurora]

im with otek on this for sure, just load it up and dont worry about it

[Cheech]

So your suggesting that loading all the files in 1 session will not slow logic up?
So lemme get this straight........
1. Install drive with all files onto my mac.
2. Import the files into my new session and I am good to go.


Anything I am missing in the chain? Should I change any settings or preferences in logic to help it run more efficient?

Thanks a lot guys!

[Ashermusic]

In my experience, Logic seems to have a harder time with a lot of smaller audio regions than long, contiguous ones. so yes, it should not slow Logic up.

However, make sure your hard drives are in tip-top shape with little fragmenting and not over 80% full.

[otek]

Should I change any settings or preferences in logic to help it run more efficient?

Not really. Just treat it as any 40-track mix. It doesn't make any difference whether the files are 30 seconds or an hour and a half in duration. The only thing that matters to the drive is the amount of simultaneous data.

But yeah, as always the disk should be in good shape, and not too full.

Depending on what kind of disk arrangement you have, you may want to transfer the material to your fastest disk for mixing. I have two 150 GB 10,000 RPM Raptor disks on board, which are significantly faster than a regular FW disk, so I use FW for backup, field recording and transport only.

Also make sure no audio is located on your system disk, but you probably know that one already.


otek

[Ein Mangfaldig Kar]

Just to add logic used to have a 2200 ish limit of bars in a project, set a slow bpm to avoid runnning out of bars...

Earler versions of logic had a bug with the graphics on long files. This might have been fixed in L8.

[Nutmeg]

I had a 3:45h session with 25 tracks running from my MBP 2,33GHz internal HDD.

Very little system overloads at the very end of the session on playback.
No problems when bouncing the stuff.

[Cheech]

Thanks a bunch guys. Im gonna go pick up a second internal drive for my mac pro and store all the audio there, and see how it works.

From what I understand Logic Pro should not have any problems with SDII files correct?

[Nutmeg]

The manual says:

WAV (incl. Broadcast Wave)
AIFF & SDII (I&II)
CAF (Core-Audio-Format)
MP3
Apple Lossless
AAC-Dateien (MPEG Layer 4)

[otek]

From what I understand Logic Pro should not have any problems with SDII files correct?

I believe Logic may have discontinued SD II support from version 8 onward, and what Nutmeg just said seems to support that.


otek

[David Aurora]

I believe Logic may have discontinued SD II support from version 8 onward, and what Nutmeg just said seems to support that.


otek

just checked the manual, it looks like sdii is still supported. i still wouldnt use it if avoidable though, these days i try to stick to wav due to some compatibility issues in the past between pcs and macs. i cant think of a system/program that cant work with wavs, it really seems like the one to use.

[Cheech]

Well it was recorded in ProTools, and that is what they chose for some reason, so SDII files are what I am getting. Just making sure there were no known issues with them.

Thanks again guys. I greatly appreciate all your help.
Should be getting this stuff today or tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes and such.

[Nutmeg]

I believe Logic may have discontinued SD II support from version 8 onward, and what Nutmeg just said seems to support that.


otek
Dude what did you smoke? Look again!
:lol:

[Bob Olhsson]

Apple has been threatening to pull support for SD2 from their hard drives since system 8. It's a very risky very obsolete file format.

[otek]

Dude what did you smoke? Look again!
:lol:

Sorry. my two remaining brain cells failed the simple reading comprehension tests.


otek


PS. But like Bob said, they HAVE threatened to pull SDII support. It is an obsolete format indeed.

[Nutmeg]

For this session it still be around so who cares? :-)

But for every session I do I would cuse WAV or BWF.

[Cheech]

Well, I always use WAV, but I didnt record this. Om just mixing this one, so i gotta make do with what they got yo : )

[Cheech]

Bought a new Internal Drive and transfered all the files from the FW drive. Imported the files into Logic, and everything is a go.
No problems so far, and all tracks are playing with no problems.

Thanks for the help fellas!!!

Now how do I approach a 40+ track live mix :Confused:

Guess thats a new thread :grin:

[Nutmeg]

...
No problems so far, and all tracks are playing with no problems.

Thanks for the help fellas!!!

Now how do I approach a 40+ track live mix :Confused:

Guess thats a new thread :grin:

I would start by grouping stuff.

Setting basic levels.

It's not much different to mixing a 8trk or 100trk song.

The more tracks you have the more you got to keep the focus on the important stuff.

[Cheech]

Well its funny you mentioned that, cuz thats the first thing I did.
I grouped the mess out of all those tracks!!! Funny thing is this.....the guy flew in today to mix with me till Thurs. He has to have a completed project Thursday!!!!!! :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek:

I got some basic levels, and everything grouped tonight, and 3 songs pretty close to mixed. So far so good!! 9 songs left:Uh oh:

[Nutmeg]

Don't fear it!
For live tracks one basic sound through out the concert is just right.

[Cheech]

The good thing is the dude is very easy going, so its helping a lot. Once I got everything grouped and organized, I felt at ease with making adjustments to whatever he asked for on the fly with a little automation. I feel pretty good about the whole thing. Did the car test today on the first 3 tracks and they sound very close if not done to me, and I am usually the hardest person to please.

[Cheech]

Just burned the master.

Project Done! :very happy:

Thanks for the help guys.