FL Studio --> Adobe Audition --> Pro Tools

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irthwirm

irthwirm

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Okay i know this has been discussed probably a million times but One more can't hurt. This time I'm using Audition to convert my stereo to mono and down from 32 bit to 24.

So when exporting from FL Studio i want to set it to 256 depth at 32 float for the max quality there are two choices one is native to fl studio and that's 32 float ([SIZE=-1]0.24) and the other is native to audition which is 32 float ([/SIZE][SIZE=-1]16.8)[/SIZE]. Since i'm using audition to convert my samples to mono i use the (16.8) I'm sure the quality is the same just a different codec or something. Then what i do is take it into adobe audtion and change it from stereo to mono. Now... when i "covert sample type" in audtion it gives me these options; stereo or mono- which i change to mono 50 percent of each chanel. I keep it at 32 obviously because the 24 bit will come when i actually save it as a new wav. But there are other options i'm not sure what i should do with. I've been leaving with it with the default settings. For example there is an option called p.d.f which by default is triangular but there are other options like rectanular etc. There is enable dither and you can change the dither depth as well it is 1 by default. What about sample rate because i don't know what fl studio exports it as it doesn't give you that option. I just use 44100 or should I do the 96000 or higher. Pro tools by default has 44100. And finally noise shaping. Which i don't know what that does. So i've been only changing the stereo to mono but Im afraid that the default settings on the other options will change the quality too.

The final thing i do is save as a wav and change the options from 32 float to 24 bit packed int (type 1,24-bit) but there is another 24 bit packed int (type 1,20-bit) I just go with the first one. There are other options like 32 16 ect but because pro tools deals with 24 i choose 24-bit. CAn anyone clearify this at all?

Why fl studio doesn't have more options for pro tools i don't know... Pretty stupid if you ask me considering no profesional will master in fl studio
 
when you say you are converting to mono, do you mean:

A. you are converting a STEREO track to 2 individual MONO tracks (1 LEFT and one RIGHT)?

OR

B. you are converting a STEREO track to 1 MONO track by combining the LEFT and RIGHT channel to one track?

also, why are you converting?

and are you doing this so you can get your individual tracks into PT so you can MIX?

Or, since you mentioned "MASTERING" are you trying to convert a stereo mix so you can get it into PT for someone to "MASTER" your final track?


Can you explain why you are trying to do this and what your final goal is? It will be helpful to answer your question.
 
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yeah i'm taking a 2 channel audio track and making it one (mono) and it's for mixing it down in pro tools
 
irthwirm said:
yeah i'm taking a 2 channel audio track and making it one (mono) and it's for mixing it down in pro tools
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1. Why are you converting it all to MONO?
2. Why bother using slo-tools to "master"?
Why not just use Audition?

Anyway... the less you mess with the output of FL, the better. Each round of format changing and processing will degrade the audio.
...And "noise shaping"...that sounds like a dither setting, and you should not use ANY dithering should be the VERY LAST THING you do to the file, after you have done whatever mastering you are going to do, and are about to convert to 16 bit.

Hopefully John Scrip will be along to correct me if I am wrong, and help you out...


Jason Loewenstein
 
oh i'm not mastering the studio is. I'm trying to give the best of the best. I know that pt is basically a mono mixing program and almost every sample should be in mono. That's just what i've read. Also FL studio exports wavs at the most efficent format not the best quality that's why you have to use 32 float and 256 depth. Takes forever but it's more accurate. I've read that on here several times. It's the audition part i'm most worried about going from stereo 2 channel to mono 1 channel and all the extra settings that i'm not familiar with. Mono makes mixing in pt more accurate i guess when i comes to panning instruments which ultimately will render out as stereo.
 
Hmmm. . . How about you rewire FL Studio to Pro tools and then record the audio out of FL to whatever format you session is set to. That way you completely get rid of all un neccessary conversions and program changes. This way you don't have to worry about 32 bit float, bouncing down yadda yadda.

This is what works for me at least.
 
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Ahhh...
Sorry.... I think I get it now. you are exporting channels one at a time so that they can be put back together in a protools session and MIXED...right?

Protools can definately handle multiple stereo tracks!
I would suggest that if the sample on the FL track is a stereo sample that you should leave it that way... If you happen to know that the sample from a track is mono then go ahead and export it in mono.
I dont think that there is a real big advantage to exporting your stuff in 32 bit floating point, as I dont think that any of the actual audio coming out of FL is going to be higher than 24bit 44.1.
Most modern sequencers deal with 32 bit float INTERNALLY, just for the sake of not having to round off numbers and degrade audio as much. When the audio goes through ANY change in a sequencer (Faders, plugs, anything that affects the signal) the original audio file(s) are put through the mathmatics grinder, and decimal points get rounded off, slowly degrading the audio. 32Bit FP gives the sequencer more room to work its math, and has to round off decimal points less...

So, I dont think that rendering the audio files themselves @ 32 bit FP does any good, just means bigger files with more empty bits, and more meaningless math for ProTools to do later.

If I were you, I would export stereo as stereo, mono as mono @ 24bit 44.1, and leave it at that! And not do anything to it in Audition...

If once you get to the studio and stereo tracks need to become mono, it is a simple matter in ProTools.

Best,

Jason Loewenstein
 
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irthwirm said:
yeah i'm taking a 2 channel audio track and making it one (mono) and it's for mixing it down in pro tools
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that is NOT something you should do... do NOT make your stereo track into a single mono track. That is a terrible thing to do.

...and you CAN import a stereo track into protools.


If you need an answer to your question... just ask the engineer who will be MIXING (not MASTERING as you said earlier) your track.


You need to print each track on its own. print all tracks starting from the same point (so they can all be imported to the PT sequence and they will line up properly.) If the track is mono, you can export it mono. If it is stereo, you need to export it stereo.

There are more issues with this but I can't help you too much since i am not familiar with your sequence or what production you have done that needs to survive for the mix., Talk to the engineer who will be mixing your track.
 
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obviously you guys arent familiar with FL Studio. the down side is you can only chose between 16 bit or 32 bit there is no 24 so i have to go 32. Second you can't export from FL in mono only stereo. I really appriate your help but please if you don't know the programs it's not worth try'n to explain. And i know PT can handle stereo but i've read in serverial mixing articals that it's best do it from mono rather then stereo. I'm pretty good with computers so i'm not asking these questions because i'm an idiot. I'm just try'n to get the most industry standard layout i can for not only this engineer but future work too. Thanks though, Maybe it's time go to another sequencer. I've seen this problem come up a couple of times in forums and the answer i always see is export at 32 bit in 256 depth stereo which the best you can get out of fl studio. Then use another outside program like sound forge or what ever to convert to mono which people also agree on doing.

I was just hoping someone was familiar with the specs which i mentioned ealier so i feel confident in my samples. And yes i go by each track about 4 to 8 bars a piece snare, kick, piano etc and loop them back into pro tools. Someone suggested recording livin into pro tools. CAn i do that digitally with an mbox 1 or would it be analog and do i loose quality that way. I think when exporting at such a hi depth rate and bit rate you actual get a more accurate sound then straight play back even though the difference isn't that obvious.
 
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irthwirm said:
obviously you guys arent familiar with FL Studio. the down side is you can only chose between 16 bit or 32 bit there is no 24 so i have to go 32. Second you can't export from FL in mono only stereo. I really appriate your help but please if you don't know the programs it's not worth try'n to explain. And i know PT can handle stereo but i've read in serverial mixing articals that it's best do it from mono rather then stereo. I'm pretty good with computers so i'm not asking these questions because i'm an idiot. I'm just try'n to get the most industry standard layout i can for not only this engineer but future work too. Thanks though, Maybe it's time go to another sequencer. I've seen this problem come up a couple of times in forums and the answer i always see is export at 32 bit in 256 depth stereo which the best you can get out of fl studio. Then use another outside program like sound forge or what ever to convert to mono which people also agree on doing.
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Man, we might not know FL... but the distinct possibility exists that we know something that you dont seem to about the other aspects of what you are trying to accomplish here...

Im sure you are just fantastic with computers, but you dont appear to be very knowlegeable about digital audio. And I guess thats why you are asking questions, and we are merely trying to steer you in the right direction and help you get the best results in your situation.

I can assure you that if you had the chance to compare the results of the way you seem to insist on doing it, and the way that many of us here have suggested, you wouldnt bounce to mono.

My last suggestion to you is that you take the advise of "OFF" and "dvyce" for the best results, they know what they are talking about, and I think that I do too...


Best of luck,

Jason L
 
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I knew someone would catch a feeling or two about that last comment, but i'm going off of ligit paper back material writen by people with over 20 years experience etc etc and it's conflicting with what you guys are saying. So naturally i'm going to play devils advicate and lean toward something on print rather then some dudes that possibley think they have the answers with less experience. I dunno. I'm not saying your wrong. It's very hard to express the situation without someone getting all but hurt. I do admit I'm not super knowledgable on the audio digital side when it comes to industry standard but I was hoping to find an answer similar to what i've read on print but in more detail with my applications. That's what i'm basing my knowledge off of. So when you're say something different i have to question.
 
bra, i know FL in and out and i can tell u that what u are doing is not right. dont get mad at the people here when they answer your question. either u listen to what others say and disregard what ever tha hell u read or just shut up and keep it to your self. the ONLY time u should mix single tracks in mono is if the audio was RECORDED in mono from hardware or doing drums or using vsti's if necessary. DO NOT try to take a stereo file and convert it to mono EVER. that is destroying the mix. 32 (0.24) bit float is basically the same thing as a straight up 24 bit track. read up on this stuff bra. you read some good stuff but u got the wrong idea about it.
 
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Do not export then re-import. Waste of time and energy. 32bit to 24bit is an unneccessary conversion that shud be done by a mastering engineer. besides the industry standard is 24 bit, so 32 bit is pointless.

Make sure FL is registered as a rewire client.
Open Pro tools and set your tempo to the song you wish to record. Create an aux track and a stereo or mono audio track.
Now on an insert of the aux track load FL studio. It should come up as an instrument.
Now load your song in FL.
In FL you can select what track you want to go to what output. You have 16 outputs. All stereo.
For example. If you are recording a kick. Assign the kick in FL to the FL1 output. In Pro Tools the rewire FL insert is automaticall set to recieve on FL1.
Now bus the output of the Aux track in Pro Tools to the audio track. The audio track should be mono since we are dealing with the kick. Now your routing should be as follows.

In FL Studio:
FL Kick --> FL1 Output

In Pro Tools:
FL Rewire Plugin, FL1 Left + FL1 Right on Aux Track insert ---> Bus 1 & 2 ---> Input on Audio track Recieves on Bus 1 ---> Audio Track record enabled.

Now in FL Studio Press play. You kick should play and the signal level will show up on both the audio track and the aux track in Pro Tools.
Now you can adjust the level to your liking to be recorded. This can be done either in FL, or using your aux track in Pro Tools if the gain in FL proves to not be enough.

Now in Pro Tools hit record.

Repeat this for as many tracks as you have in your song or as many as you computer can handle. To ease CPU usage remove FX plugins that may have been used in FL on you song like verbs etc. Essentially any plug-in or effect that can be re-created in Pro tools. It is better to have the dry tracks anyway. Only record with FX plug-ins if that effect or sound is impossible to recreate.
Even some instruments can be left out if you know how to recreate the sequence in Pro Tools.

Quick hint: Don't bother to record your whole song straight thru if you have your drums looped or anything else looped. Just record the loop then arrange in Pro Tools.
 
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irthwirm said:
I knew someone would catch a feeling or two about that last comment, but i'm going off of ligit paper back material writen by people with over 20 years experience etc etc and it's conflicting with what you guys are saying. So naturally i'm going to play devils advicate and lean toward something on print rather then some dudes that possibley think they have the answers with less experience. I dunno. I'm not saying your wrong. It's very hard to express the situation without someone getting all but hurt. I do admit I'm not super knowledgable on the audio digital side when it comes to industry standard but I was hoping to find an answer similar to what i've read on print but in more detail with my applications. That's what i'm basing my knowledge off of. So when you're say something different i have to question.
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you may be "going off of ligit paper back material writen by people with over 20 years experience" but I honestly do not think you understand what you are reading... at least that is how it appears based on everything you said.


Plus, i don't think anyone is "getting all but hurt"... I think people are simply trying to help you to understand what you need to do.

(and at this point, I don't remember what everyones responses to you were so I can't tell you that everything in this thread is correct... I can only tell you for sure that what I said is correct. What I do remember is that based on your responses, you do not have a real understanding of what you are reading in this "legit paperback material")
 
irthwirm said:
thanks OFF! Big help yo!

Thanks dvyce 4 pointless rhetoric
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What dvyce said was on point. I was gonna say the same thing but just decided to post that. Ur commin off as a lil arrogant. U neet to watch that. Ppl here are just tryin to help.
 
OFF said:
What dvyce said was on point. I was gonna say the same thing but just decided to post that. Ur commin off as a lil arrogant. U neet to watch that. Ppl here are just tryin to help.
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thanks, off

i wanted to further specifically say that when someone says they are going to convert their stereo audio tracks into SINGLE SUMMED MONO TRACKS because they read that protools is a mono mixing program, I have to assume that the person is not completely understanding what they are reading.

I can tell you for a fact that i was indeed trying to help this guy... but what are you supposed to do when the response is like his that was previous to my earlier post?

If he doesnt want to hear what people have to say, then he simply shouldnt ask in the first place

oh well

irthwirm said:
yeah i'm taking a 2 channel audio track and making it one (mono) and it's for mixing it down in pro tools
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I think that right there sums up your understanding of what you have been reading. I guarantee that is NOT what any of the "ligit" texts you have been reading are suggesting you do.

Not one single credible person will tell you that you should take your 2 channel stereo track and convert into a single 1 channel mono track for the purposes of mixing...

...oh yeah, and the fact that you are confused between the terms "mixing" and "mastering" is another thing that shows the extent of your understanding on.

and there is absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing these or any other things... but don't get mad at people when they try to help you learn.
 
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iight dvyce this damn subject has spiraled out of control i don't even remember the advice you gave me just the negative stuff toward the end. That was the reason for that last comment. Thanks though i'm a little more clear on how to approach this ish. Of course i've read on future producers on another topic to convert to mono with an outside program so i'm just agruing for the sake of different solutions to the same problem. Hoping i would get a more clear answer but i really haven't. Not enough to convince me completely anyways on a workflow between the two programs, but i'm getting somewhere. Anywayz thanks for the help. Hope there is no hard feelings.

One

www.myspace.com/irthproductions
 
irthwirm said:
iight dvyce this damn subject has spiraled out of control i don't even remember the advice you gave me just the negative stuff toward the end. That was the reason for that last comment. Thanks though i'm a little more clear on how to approach this ish. Of course i've read on future producers on another topic to convert to mono with an outside program so i'm just agruing for the sake of different solutions to the same problem. Hoping i would get a more clear answer but i really haven't. Not enough to convince me completely anyways on a workflow between the two programs, but i'm getting somewhere. Anywayz thanks for the help. Hope there is no hard feelings.

One

www.myspace.com/irthproductions
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Just for the record, the only negative stuff written in this thread came from you.

I never said anything negative to you. I only gave you good advice and I gave it in a respectful manner.

You are the one who said I was just giving you "pointless rhetoric" when if fact I was giving you sound advice.


Just because I was telling you something you didn't want to hear, does not mean I am being negative... I am just trying to help you learn.



Listen to me: You should never convert your L-R stereo track to a single summed mono track for the purposes of mixing your music. NEVER. Doing so will be removing the "stereo-ness" of the track. It is like turning your actual 3 dimensional house into a flat photograph of a house. Once you combine the LEFT and RIGHT together, there is no more STEREO. And once you combing the left and right channel, you can't separate them ever again.
 
NO dvyce its not what you said it's how you said it. REally hurt my feelings....dude why can't you just take the damn apology... anywayz... Okay dvyce the O'great one your saying i should have the kick the snare and the bassline and hihats in stereo?.....
 
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