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Toomany3-KEeYrp
Known Participant
January 21, 2011
Answered

Using Mac .caf Files

  • January 21, 2011
  • 4 replies
  • 28694 views

How to?

I've got a ton of Mac .caf audio files sitting in Garage Band that I want to use in Premiere for PC.  I can get them on the PC, but Premiere can't use them--at least in its current state.  Is there any way to use them WITHOUT having to convert to WAV or MP3?    

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Colin_Brougham-u9E3Ff

    I just PM'd you.  Thanks for the research!

    Yes, it has been hard finding info on CAF files.  Everyone says Audacity works fine, but my copy of Audacity doesn't recognize them at all.


    Cool; got 'em, and they'll work with my solution! I'm assuming you're doing this on Windows, but it should work on a Mac too.

    1. Get MPEG Streamclip for your OS here: http://www.squared5.com/
    2. Once you've open MPEG Streamclip (no install needed), select List > Batch List. The Batch List window will appear.
    3. Click the Add Files button at the bottom of the window, and navigate to the folder where your CAF files are saved.
    4. The CAF files will not appear by default, so in "File name" box, type (without quotes) "*caf" to make them appear. When they do, select them all (Ctrl+A works) and click Open.
    5. A dialog will appear asking you to "Please choose a task;" from the dropdown, select the "Save As" option. No need to check the other options; just click OK.
    6. When you hit OK, you'll be presented with a folder/file browser window; navigate to your destination folder, and click OK.
    7. You'll then see a window that says "File open error: unsupported file type." Do not despair Simply click "Open Anyway."
    8. The next window will ask you to select a file format; choose MOV and click OK.
    9. Finally, after all that, the files will be added to the Batch List window with the parameters you just set. Simply hit the Go button, and watch the files fly!

    The conversion should go very quickly, because there is no re-encoding happening. MPEG Streamclip is simply splitting the CAF container open, extracting the streams, and rewrapping them in an MOV container. They'll also be named the same as your originals. The CAF files are encoded with the Apple Lossless Audio Codec, which is a legitimate codec in QuickTime, on Windows, and even in Premiere, but the CAF container cannot be split open by anything but QuickTime (at least on a PC). MPEG Streamclip is an extremely capable front-end for QuickTime; it does just about everything QuickTime Pro does (and more, like batching) for free.

    EDIT: Actually, I just noticed that your CAFs were encoded with AAC audio; the test clip I had was ALAC. Nevertheless, they import just fine.

    Anyway, you will end up with a pile of MOVs with no video, but with ALAC audio streams. These import perfectly well into Premiere, and you'll have done so losslessly; compare the file sizes and you'll see that they are within a few KBs of the CAF files.

    Hope that works for you!

    4 replies

    pwillener
    pwillener
    Legend
    July 24, 2014

    This topic (from 2011) is just attracting spam; it is now locked.

    Charles VW
    Charles VW
    Inspiring
    September 16, 2013

    For those recommending batch conversion solutions, you can do this easily in Adobe Audition.

    C
    Colin_Brougham-u9E3Ff
    Inspiring
    January 24, 2011

    I might have figured out a way to losslessly batch convert these so that they'll open up in Premiere; let me know if you didn't find another solution.

    I only have one test file I'm working with, and it sounds like there is some variability in what is actually packaged in the CAF file, but it's worth a shot... free, too!

    T
    Toomany3-KEeYrpAuthor
    Known Participant
    January 24, 2011

    MAN!  If you have found a way that only works PART WAY, I'd be VERY intersted it in.  At this point I'm having to drop a clip onto Garage Band's

    timeline and export them out one by one.  Real bummer!

    I'm ALL EARS!  (And very appreciative, I might add!)

    C
    Colin_Brougham-u9E3Ff
    Inspiring
    January 24, 2011

    No worries Before I go all crazy with a tutorial for something that doesn't work, do you have a short sample of one of the files that I could play with? Doesn't need to be more than a few seconds; shoot me a PM if you have an upload location or I can give you access to my FTP. If it's less than 5-10MB, email would work too.

    As mentioned, I've found that there is all sorts of variability in these files; this is predicated on my research, but not actual testing. I only have one to work with at the moment, and while I thought you could find EVERYTHING on the Internet, apparently CAF files are exempt from that rule

    Colin Brougham
    Colin Brougham
    Participating Frequently
    January 21, 2011

    Try changing the extension to .AIF or .M4A; no idea if that will work, but I suspect this is just an Apple-tastic custom container for PCM or AAC audio. If that doesn't work, you'll probably be able to open them in Audacity and convert them.

      T
      Toomany3-KEeYrpAuthor
      Known Participant
      January 21, 2011

      Apple-tardistic is more like it.  No joy for either one, but good idea!  Thanks.

      Now I'm off to hunt for a batch converter.  Ugh.    

      the_wine_snob
      the_wine_snob
      Inspiring
      January 21, 2011

      I'm only familiar with Garage Band by name, but I would anticipate that it would have several file format/CODEC options. What are the other ones?

      Also, is .CAF possibly a format for perhaps loopology? See the replies down this THREAD.

      Sounds a bit like SmartSound's formats, that allow the SmartSound Libraries to be used in their programs, or plug-ins, and is not a format that other programs can use, however, one can easily Export to PCM/WAV from, say Sonicfire Pro 5.

      You might just have to use the CAF files IN Garage Band, then Export from it.

      Good luck,

      Hunt

      [Edit] Here is another THREAD on CAF files, and using Garage Band to do the conversions. Be sure to scroll past the ads and download buttons.

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