User guide

Tracktion 4 Reference Manual
174
Export type: Tracktion can output an archive as a single le, or as a collection of les. Typically the sin-
gle le option is the more portable and convenient method, but the the only way to access les inside
the archive is to unpack the entire archive. If you believe you may often need to access audio clips, for
example, that are contained in the archive, you may wish instead to choose to export as a collection of
les.
•
Export as a single Tracktion Archive le: Use this option to export the entire archive as a sin-
gle le. This is generally the most convenient way to back-up projects, or move them to another
computer.
•
Export as les in a directory: This option copies all of the archive material into the destination
directory, but does not pack it all into one le. When this option is selected, the compression op-
tion is not available.
Destination: Use this option to select the folder in which the export le(s) will be saved. Tracktion auto-
matically chooses a suitable folder, so normally you don’t need to change this.
Compression: (Only available when export type is set to single le.) This option allows you to create
smaller archives by compressing audio contained in the archive.
•
No compression (1:1): Select this option to have the audio exported without any compression.
This option will produce the largest le size. You should probably instead choose the lossless 2:1
option.
• Lossless (approx 2:1):
The audio in the archive will be compressed using the FLAC lossless
encoder. This option provides the maximum audio quality whilst still producing signicantly small-
er archives than the “no compression” option.
•
High/Medium/Lowest quality: When these options are selected, Tracktion will use a reductive,
or lossy, encoding method on audio material, to reduce le size as far as possible. The encoding
method used is Ogg Vorbis, which typically gives subjectively better results than MP3. These op-
tions are handy when collaborating across the Internet and absolute audio quality is not essential
at all stages of the writing process.
When exporting an edit, additional items are available (Fig. 8.1.2).
Handle size: This option allows you to control what happens to audio items that contain unused mate-
rial.
If you have a vocal take that spans ve bars, for example, but you only used the rst two bars of it in
the edit, Tracktion can trim the excess to reduce the archive le size. The audio le referenced by the
project will not be altered, but the copy included in the archive will be trimmed according to the handle
size setting:
Figure 8.1.2