Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide46
4 Select the audio file format for the session.
For optimum compatibility between Windows
and Macintosh sessions, set the file type to BWF
(.WAV).
Sound Designer II (SD II) files are not supported
on Windows systems (or at sample rates above
48 kHz), and Pro Tools prevents you from
choosing SD II as the file type if Enforce Mac/PC
Compatibility is selected (or the session is on a
PC).
5 Select the bit depth (16 bit or 24 bit) and the
sample rate.
6 Select the Fader Gain (+12 dB or +6 dB).
7 Select the I/O Settings to use for the session.
Several pre-configured I/O Settings are included
with your system, or you can select a custom I/O
Setting that you have created. See Chapter 7,
“I/O Setup” for more information.
8 Name the Session.
9 Click Save.
Selecting Bit Depth and Sample Rate
When selecting a bit depth or sample rate for
your session, consider the disk space your selec-
tion will require. 24-bit audio files occupy about
50 percent more disk space than 16-bit audio
files. 192 kHz audio files occupy about four
times the space as 44.1 kHz audio files.
Bit depth and sample rate also have an effect on
the amount of mixing power available in a ses-
sion. Fewer mixer channels are available with
24-bit sessions and with sessions at higher sam-
ple rates. (For more information with TDM sys-
tems, see Appendix B, “TDM Mixing and
DSP Usage.”)
It is not possible to combine different bit depths
within a single Pro Tools session; files of differ-
ent bit depths must be converted and imported
into the session.
Selecting a Fader Gain
(Pro Tools 6.4)
Sessions in Pro Tools 6.4 can be created with a
maximum fader gain of either +6 dB or +12 dB.
The fader gain setting is saved with the session,
and is set as the default.
Sessions created and saved with a +12 dB fader
gain level can be opened in previous versions of
Pro Tools, but breakpoints for volume automa-
tion above +6 dB will be lowered to +6 dB.
The +12 dB Fader Gain setting only affects
the position of the fader (both in Pro Tools
and on control surfaces) above the 0 dB
mark. Fader positions below 0 dB are unaf-
fected.