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biglittledog
Participant
May 25, 2017
Answered

can only view and play 6 channel .wav file in Waveform view...not multitrack

  • May 25, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1708 views

Sorry this is probably user error but here goes.  (Audition CC 2017.1 release Build 10.1.0.174 iMac Late 2009 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 16GB ram Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 Core Audio stock sound card playback through built in output)

I have a WAV file 48kHz, 24 bit TC that is a 6 channel iso record from a Sound Devices 664 field mixer/recorder that loads and shows me all 6 tracks in Waveform but in Multitrack there is no display and no audio although the playhead moves.  We have tried to load this on another mac machine and also two different Windows machines all with the same result.

Audition CC Audio Hardware is:

Device Class: Core Audio

Default Input: Soundflower (2ch) ( I also tried built in input but same result)

Default Output:  Built In Output

Master Clock: Out: Built In Output

Clock Source: Not Available

I/O Buffer Size: 521

Sample Rate: 48000

any help is very appreciated!!!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer ryclark

Have you opened a new Multitrack session for these audio files? Is it a normal Stereo session that you are using to mix down the individual tracks from the Multichannel audio file? Presumably it is not a surround recording but various iso mic tracks.

However I notice that you are not actually using the latest version of Audition. It was only in one of the very latest versions that extra multichannel audio file features have been added. In the latest version in the Files window you can twirl down the multichannel .wav file to reveal all the individual channels which can then be imported directly onto separate tracks in the Multitrack view. You can import them as separate mono tracks, stereo tracks, a multichannel track or any combination thereof.

But even if you don't have the latest one you can still use the Extract Channels to Mono Files function from the Edit menu when viewing the file in the Waveform view. This will split all the channels into separate mono files that can be imported into a normal Multitrack Session.

2 replies

ryclark
ryclarkCorrect answer
Participating Frequently
May 25, 2017

Have you opened a new Multitrack session for these audio files? Is it a normal Stereo session that you are using to mix down the individual tracks from the Multichannel audio file? Presumably it is not a surround recording but various iso mic tracks.

However I notice that you are not actually using the latest version of Audition. It was only in one of the very latest versions that extra multichannel audio file features have been added. In the latest version in the Files window you can twirl down the multichannel .wav file to reveal all the individual channels which can then be imported directly onto separate tracks in the Multitrack view. You can import them as separate mono tracks, stereo tracks, a multichannel track or any combination thereof.

But even if you don't have the latest one you can still use the Extract Channels to Mono Files function from the Edit menu when viewing the file in the Waveform view. This will split all the channels into separate mono files that can be imported into a normal Multitrack Session.

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
May 25, 2017

Even in the latest release, you can't really do what the OP wants - splitting out the channels is about the limit of it, and even just playing it from there takes quite a bit of setting up...

B
biglittledogAuthor
Participant
May 26, 2017

You are correct I didn't have the latest release, thanks for noticing that!

Also correct, these are lavalier body mics on a group of people in a car.  Each track is a separate person (plus a couple backup pzm's) so no 5.1...We need to sweeten and mute different channels depending on whose talking.

Since you can "build" a multitrack session but not import a multitrack file, we found a workaround that got us there.  Using Audacity, drag and drop the multitrack file and it will load and split out into separate tracks.  Then choose "File/Export Multiple", say OK a bunch of times and assuming you set the export format to WAV, you should now have all the tracks as separate mono WAV files.  Import all these into Audition, open a new multitrack session and name it then just drag and drop them in and you're good to go.  The only thing lost is the timecode which isn't supported by Audacity.  I think little Audacity almost has a heart attack with all the channels but it will do it if you wait.

Thanks for all the suggestions and info!  It's much appreciated.  I'm a field soundguy and not a post production person so thanks for dealing with a luddite like myself.  I figure the more I know of these things the better I am on location.

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
May 25, 2017

I'm afraid that this is indeed the current situation; multi-channel tracks show up in Multitrack, but what plays out of them is the first two channels only - even in a 5.1 session. I'm not aware of any means of playing a multi-channel file other than in Waveform view, where it's also possible to create them.

That's the bad news. The good news is that it's not by accident that you can open the file in multitrack; developments in this area are to be expected... No I can't tell you what, as I don't know, and anyway I'm under a NDA so even if I did, I'd have to kill you if I told you. But you're safe, because I really don't know how developments are going to proceed. But I'm reasonably sure that they will!

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