Specifications

Chapter 10: File Management and Compatibility 129
Chapter 10: File Management and
Compatibility
When you work with Pro Tools, you will en-
counter 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 should be located on
your Startup drive (the drive that contains your
operating system and other system-related files).
◆ On Pro Tools TDM systems, data files (session
files, audio files and fade files) can be located on
any compatible drive connected to the internal
SCSI bus or the external SCSI bus of your com-
puter, or to a SCSI host bus adapter card in your
computer. For maximum performance, SCSI
drives are recommended for Pro Tools TDM sys-
tems. FireWire and ATA/IDE drives are also sup-
ported. See the Digidesign Web site for more
information (www.digidesign.com/compato).
◆ On Pro Tools LE systems, data files can be lo-
cated on any compatible hard drive connected
to your computer’s internal or external
ATA/IDE, FireWire, or SCSI busses.
Audio File Management
Unique File IDs
Pro Tools tags each audio file in a session with a
unique identifier that allows it to distinguish a
particular file even if its name or location has
changed.
Locating Audio Files
With Pro Tools, you manage links to audio and
other media files with the Relink window. In ad-
dition, Pro Tools classifies storage volumes ac-
cording to their suitability for performance (re-
cording or playback) or transfer (storage or copy-
ing) of audio and other media files. Audio files
must be stored on suitable Performance volumes
and be properly linked in order to be playable in
a Pro Tools session.
When you open a session, if Pro Tools deter-
mines that audio files are not located on a Per-
formance volume, or if it is unable to locate au-
dio files contained in the session, you can locate
or copy the files in order to play back the ses-
sion. This process is called relinking.
Although Pro Tools will let you record to
your system drive, this is generally not rec-
ommended. 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 com-
pletely out of space.
For complete information on storage
volume classifications, refer to the
DigiBase Guide.