Specifications

Chapter 10: File Management and Compatibility 131
WAV File Compatibility
Convert Imported WAV files to
AES31/BroadcastWave
Pro Tools always creates AES31/Broadcast com-
pliant BWF (.WAV) files when the file originates
in Pro Tools. This option makes imported WAV
files compliant with the AES31/EBU Broadcast
standard.
AES31/Broadcast Wave is a variant of the stan-
dard audio WAV file type. The AES31 format
contains information beyond the raw PCM au-
dio data, such as SMPTE time stamps.
This variant complies with standards set by the
EBU (European Broadcasters Union), and the
AES (Audio Engineering Society). Choose this
option to ensure compatibility with other work-
stations that recognize this file type.
To make imported WAV files compliant with the
AES31/EBU Broadcast standard:
1 In Pro Tools 6.1 or above, choose Setups >
Preferences > Operation.
– or –
In Pro Tools 6.0.x and lower, choose Setups >
Preferences > Compatibility.
2 Select Convert imported “wav” files to
AES31/BroadcastWave.
3 Click Done.
Creating Macintosh and PC
Compatible Sessions
With the Enforce Mac/PC Compatibility option
you can create and save Pro Tools sessions that
are compatible on both Macintosh and Win-
dows.
Cross-Platform Session Limits
Audio File Types
Sound Designer II (SDII) files cannot be read by
Windows systems. Therefore, when creating
Mac and Windows compatible session files, the
audio file type for the session must be either
AIFF or WAV.
File Name Extensions
For cross-platform compatibility, all files in a
session must have a 3-letter file extension added
to the file name. Pro Tools 5.1 and higher ses-
sion files have the extension “.pts,” and
Pro Tools 5 sessions have the extension “.pt5.”
Wave files have the “.wav” file extension, and
AIFF files have the “.aif” file extension.
Incompatible ASCII Characters
Region names, track names, file names, and
plug-in settings cannot use ASCII characters
that are incompatible with either system.
When creating a new name, if an incompatibil-
ity is detected when Mac/PC Compatibility
mode is enabled, a dialog will appear that
prompts you to type a new name. When you im-
port files into a session that is set for Mac/PC
compatibility, incompatible characters are con-
verted to underscores (“_”).