Stupid MAC question

[mazz]

I'm not 100% sure about this but I believe that PCs still don't read AIFF files. Maybe with XP and Vista that is not true anymore, maybe not.The industry standard appears to be moving toward WAV files. Both Macs and PCs can read them. I use Macs all the time and unless the software I'm using forces me to do AIFF or SD2 I use WAV files for all my work. When I bounce down from Digital Performer, it allows me to choose the format. iTunes will read AIFF or WAV and burning a CD will work with either on a Mac as well. I think Toast will even burn CDs from a mixture of AIFF and WAV files as long as the sample rate is the same (44.1).Most clients will eventually want WAV files so it might be advisable to get used to working in that format. Your native DAW format can be whatever unless you're going to be sharing seperate tracks but for final delivery of stereo or surround, WAV appears to be the way to go.Hope this helps,Mazz

[sgs4u]

Quote:I see all the Mac experts have chimed in. It sounds like you just tried to burn your wave file to disc in the Finder. This is probably what confused you. Since when you open the disc you see a wav file but the Finder is always going to burn a data CD. (Not compatible with CD players)Just use the good advice above about using iTunes or a dedicated program like Toast. I remember now, doing exactly what Kouly describes. It took me a week to figure it out. Maybe this is how you did it too, Rock.

[aubreyz]

Quote:I'm not 100% sure about this but I believe that PCs still don't read AIFF files. Maybe with XP and Vista that is not true anymore, maybe not.The industry standard appears to be moving toward WAV files. Both Macs and PCs can read them. I use Macs all the time and unless the software I'm using forces me to do AIFF or SD2 I use WAV files for all my work. When I bounce down from Digital Performer, it allows me to choose the format. iTunes will read AIFF or WAV and burning a CD will work with either on a Mac as well. I think Toast will even burn CDs from a mixture of AIFF and WAV files as long as the sample rate is the same (44.1).Most clients will eventually want WAV files so it might be advisable to get used to working in that format. Your native DAW format can be whatever unless you're going to be sharing seperate tracks but for final delivery of stereo or surround, WAV appears to be the way to go.Hope this helps,MazzWindoze programs can use aiff files, though I work on a mac. Wav is pretty much the industry standard, and I would also recommend that for a native DAW format. However, even though iTunes or Toast can use wave files to create redbook cd's, a redbook cd stores audio in aiff format so a conversion has to happen. Though in a majority of cases (if not all) this conversion should be inaudible - (unless there is a compression codec involved, but that's another techo topic) - the question is would you trust your DAW or iTunes better at making that conversion? I would rather convert and dither on the DAW side, unless of course the files are going to be mastered.Also, I work at 48k a lot because that's the standard for most commercial video production. I can tell you for sure that there is a difference in letting iTunes convert down to 44.1 rather than doing that in Pro Tools.Aub

[booker]

Quote:1. Bounce your mix to aiff format - 44.1k 16bit2. Open iTunes. Create a new playlist (the + sign lower left) and name it. (for best quality make sure your iTunes advanced preferences are set to import in aiff format.3. Open a finder window, locate your file and drag it into the iTunes playlist --- you can drag as many as can fit on a CD, and reorder however you like.4. Click burn disk (icon on top or bottom depending on iTunes version). Insert a blank cd. Check the taxi forum for new posts... and ding -- redbook CD compatible in most players (some older units have trouble with home made burns).Thanks. That got the job done. I guess i figured it would be easier than the pc... I mean... this is a MAC for pete's sake!

[edteja]

Hey Aub, if I read that right (always a dubious proposition) you are saying that redbook CDs are in AIFF. I have used both Nero and iTune to make CDs. I can't find anything that says Redbook conversion--so is that happening automatically? Or am I not making Redbook CDs but something else when I do that?

[aubreyz]

Quote:Hey Aub, if I read that right (always a dubious proposition) you are saying that redbook CDs are in AIFF. I have used both Nero and iTune to make CDs. I can't find anything that says Redbook conversion--so is that happening automatically? Or am I not making Redbook CDs but something else when I do that? Wow. Am I embarrassed. I was wr...wr..wrr..wrrroNG!!!! And have been for a long time. LOL.I'm not sure if someone told me that, or I "figured it out" myself, but alas a redbook cd is CDA format NOT aiff. On a Mac, in the finder a redbook cd will show aiff as the extension, but it's not real-- it's just showing what format the mac will play it back as...Sooooo... not only was I wrong, but I've also been adding an extra step to create CD's for a LONG TIME...LOLFrom now on I'm going to Google before answering off the top of my very cluttered head!Aub

[edteja]

Ain't it weird how often we do go to explain why we do something a certain way only to find out we don't have to do it that way at all???? From the mouths of wannabes comes enlightenment, or words to that effect (to a possibly recognizable tune).Thanks for letting me know, Aub, cause I was getting ready to make a master for a little record company and was thinking maybe I needed to do something new and different--not that I would have minded, but if I don't gotta do it, cool.