How do I restore a WAV version of my Multitrack session? Only isolated clips show up.

[unauthorizedrob]

I am -- for the first time as a non-engineer -- recording, editing and mastering  an audiobook.  I have learned a lot and have pretty much mastered the process to bring in a wav file that conforms (exceeds, actually) the ACX/Audible requirements for RMS statistics.  BUT....

I am struggling with a chapter which seems to have come adrift from its source media.  I have a fully edited and clean Multitrack version, but I cannot seem to sync it with the corresponding WAV file. I have assumed that each multitrack session (I have only one track, actually, plus room tone), would have a synced and complete corresponding assembly of source clips that I could then use for statistical analysis and final output to WAV.  But this ornery chapter does not.  It only brings up isolated clips, which end at the point where it runs into a mistake and we did the punch-and-roll.

I tried doing a multi-track mixdown, and then exporting that as a WAV, but it won't let me;  the option is grayed out. 

How do I reconnect my media, so the multitrack and wav versions are in sync?  I have tried linking media,  and link all media, but after going through the whole chapter clip-by-clip, saving it, re-opening -- it is back to the old problem, only the WAV file for the immediate clip, not a complete version of the recordings.  Just now, when I went to click on "link all media," I got a window of my multitrack view with all clips shown as "offline,"  I know they are there, but why can't the program help me relink them and save that?

Obviously, I am missing something major here.

My system details are below.   Thanks in advance for any help!

Rob

When I try to "link all media," I get this daunting image:

Rob Wilson

UnAuthorized Films

Audio Editing hardware/Software

Hardware Overview:

  Model Name: iMac

  Model Identifier: iMac14,4

  Processor Name: Intel Core i5

  Processor Speed: 1.4 GHz

  Number of Processors: 1

  Total Number of Cores: 2

  L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

  L3 Cache: 3 MB

  Memory: 8 GB

  Boot ROM Version: IM144.0189.B00

  SMC Version (system): 2.21f92

  Serial Number (system): C02PC3LJFY0T

  Hardware UUID: C20D7D89-56EB-59A6-B813-49158E1B037C

PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 Audio InterfaceTech Specs

Computer Connectivity:	USB
Form Factor:	Portable, Desktop
Simultaneous I/O:	2 x 2
Number of Preamps:	2
Phantom Power:	Yes
A/D Resolution:	24-bit/96kHz
Built In DSP/FX:	20 Native effect plug-ins
Analog Inputs:	2 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/instrument)
Analog Outputs:	2 x 1/4" (main out)
Headphones:	1 x 1/4"
MIDI I/O:	In/Out
USB:	1 x Type B
Software:	Studio One 4 Artist DAW included
OS Requirements - Mac:	OS X 10.8.5 or later, Intel Core i3 or higher, 4GB RAM or more recommended
OS Requirements - PC:	Windows 7 SP1 64-bit or later, Intel Core i3 or higher, 8GB RAM or more recommended
Bus Powered:	Yes
Depth:	1.75"
Width:	5.5"
Height:	5.5"
Weight:	5 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number:	AUDIOBOX USB 96

Intel 8 Series Chipset:

  Vendor: Intel

  Product: 8 Series Chipset

  Link Speed: 6 Gigabit

  Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit

  Physical Interconnect: SATA

  Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported

APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362:

  Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

  Model: APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362              

  Revision: GG2AB990

  Serial Number: TNS5193T3DS07H

  Native Command Queuing: Yes

  Queue Depth: 32

  Removable Media: No

  Detachable Drive: No

  BSD Name: disk0

  Rotational Rate: 5400

  Medium Type: Rotational

  Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

  S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified

  Volumes:

EFI:

  Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

  File System: MS-DOS FAT32

  BSD Name: disk0s1

  Content: EFI

  Volume UUID: BDC1974F-6B8C-3DAE-9DB2-3AA3C17BF506

UFI Hard Drive:

  Capacity: 499.25 GB (499,248,103,424 bytes)

  Available: 310.83 GB (310,831,108,096 bytes)

  Writable: Yes

  File System: Journaled HFS+

  BSD Name: disk0s2

  Mount Point: /

  Content: Apple_HFS

  Volume UUID: 84B395ED-6163-3197-9342-8B81428ADECE

Recovery HD:

  Capacity: 650 MB (650,002,432 bytes)

  File System: Journaled HFS+

  BSD Name: disk0s3

  Content: Apple_Boot

  Volume UUID: 0FDC8C26-109B-3A85-9B0E-973BA7F4EF3C

Storage:

UF-MEDIA-006:

  Available: 1.96 TB (1,962,052,780,032 bytes)

  Capacity: 2 TB (2,000,398,929,920 bytes)

  Mount Point: /Volumes/UF-MEDIA-006

  File System: Journaled HFS+

  Writable: Yes

  Ignore Ownership: Yes

  BSD Name: disk1s1

  Volume UUID: 4FCEC94C-A258-35D5-9384-9FDA0ABE3D2E

  Physical Drive:

  Device Name: P9227 Slim

  Media Name: LaCie P9227 Slim Media

  Protocol: USB

  Internal: No

  Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)

Installed Audio Software:

Creative Cloud Desktop App:

  Version: 4.6.0.384

  Obtained from: Identified Developer

  Last Modified: 8/3/18, 10:04 PM

  Kind: Intel

  64-Bit (Intel): Yes

  Signed by: Developer ID Application: Adobe Systems, Inc. (JQ525L2MZD), Developer ID Certification Authority, Apple Root CA

  Location: /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud/Utils/Creative Cloud Desktop App.app

Adobe Creative Suite.

Adobe Audition. Build 11.10.0.184

Travis Baldree’s Punch And Roll Plug-in, Version 1.22.3.    

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Architecture: x86_64

Build: 18.11.20055.290043

AGM: 4.30.78

CoolType: 5.14.5

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

This only happens when the files you used when you created the session aren't in the same place that they were at the time. If you moved them, or the place they were stored isn't online, then this is exactly what happens; you have to relink each blank clip with its source. When you saved the session, did you get a message telling you that files were located outside the session folder, and would you like to place copies of them in it?

[unauthorizedrob]

Steve:

Yes, I did get that message.  And for several chapters, said yes, and waited while the program copied those files to the session folder.  When that process began to hang up, and Audition stopped responding, I posted a question here asking if I actually had to save the media files when I backed up to Creative Cloud and iCloud, and basically got an assurance that no, I didn't -- or that's how I interpreted it.  I understood that all I needed to do was back up my session files, and no matter where these copies were located, they would still reference the original WAV files. 

I am willing to take my punishment like a man and relink each offline clip, but I have already done that a few times, saved the file and included any that were still outside the session folder, and then when I reopened it, I am still just getting fragments of the WAV files, as opposed to a complete WAV version of the Multitrack.  It's all very strange, because obviously, if I can play the Multitrack, it is somehow accessing the original media in an efficient flow -- so why can't I access it that way?

For example, I relinked every file, saved, then went to run diagnostics on the WAVEFORM, and only the first clip is there. 

Hope you can help me sort this out. Thanks very much!

Rob

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

unauthorizedrob  wrote

Steve:

Yes, I did get that message.  And for several chapters, said yes, and waited while the program copied those files to the session folder.  When that process began to hang up, and Audition stopped responding, I posted a question here asking if I actually had to save the media files when I backed up to Creative Cloud and iCloud, and basically got an assurance that no, I didn't -- or that's how I interpreted it.  I understood that all I needed to do was back up my session files, and no matter where these copies were located, they would still reference the original WAV files. 

Yes, in theory relative paths are supported as well as absolute ones, but it takes very little to alter a relative path to the point where it won't work. What's more concerning is that you say that the process of making copies of session files into the session folder failed... I wonder why?

But if we go back to your original question, then there is still a potential issue, even if you've saved copies in the same folder as the session file. What should happen (I believe) is that when this has happened, the session file has to be re-saved using the local file. I think that this should happen automatically at the end of the file transfers, but maybe it isn't? More worrying in the case of a failed transfer, because then you have a session file which would be an almighty mess. The default option at this point is for everything to be marked as unlinked, which it sounds as though it has been.

At this point, I'm rather hoping that Suite Spot will be along, because he's the expert at decoding session files, and he'll be able to tell you exactly what's happened with it...

[unauthorizedrob]

The saga continues.

I truly hope SuiteSpot happens along too, because this is driving me insane (short drive). 

The overall situation, restated:

I have, typically, created a quagmire of my media, so much so that Chapter three will not link the media to the multitrack.  I am not sure even how to ask the question.  I have received advice on the forum, and tried to follow it.  The "worst possible scenario" that anybody has suggested is where I seem to be: I discovered a few days ago that my Chapter Three did not have a synced Waveform, and I couldn't export a finished WAV file.

I started to try and relink the media, and that has turned into a really frustrating process.   I can highlight the entire 19 minute multitrack view, then click on "link all media," and go painstakingly through each clip, re-linking as asked by the program. I have also done that on a clip-by-clip basis, with "Link Media."  Invariably, the Waveform view is still screwed up.  I have been through this several times, using various iterations of the original .sesx file.

I have tried "Reveal clips in Files panel," and there they are, in what I presume is an accurate view of each clip and its path.  In a few cases, those paths go straight to the Creative Cloud, which means I failed to save in the correct order (first to my portable 2TB drive "UF-MEDIA-006", THEN back-up #1 goes to Creative Cloud, THEN back-up #2 to iCloud. In some instances, when saving sessions, I did click yes to back up all files that were outside the project file.  But I stopped doing that because it got too unwieldy.  But I realize, and assumed,  all source files should reside on my hard drive, and regardless of where I saved the .sesx file, it would refer back to those.

No matter what, I cannot figure out how to methodically rebuild the chapter, link my multitrack session with the recorded files.  Something is very screwy.   I have noticed in some instances, when attempting to link media, the program will ask for a certain clip for a certain referenced clip name and they do not match, which is pretty weird.

I will keep trying to discover the solution, but at this stage need to move on and pray that I did not continue to repeat the same error. 

Thanks.

Rob

Rob Wilson

[unauthorizedrob]

I tried one more time.  This time it was easier -- I got the complete Multitrack up, after clicking on "link all media" in the Clip menu.  It seemed to find all the files immediately after I located the first clip it asked for.  Okay so far.  But again, when I switched to the WAV view, only the first clip is there.  So I tried "Save all" and for the first time got this error message:

I can Identify.  I am in an alert state, and may not be able to be saved.  Going to bed.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I think that you can get this message if, for instance, you made a change to a file in Waveform view and didn't save it before attempting to effectively make a copy of the file in the session folder. At that point, Audition is likely to object considerably!

[unauthorizedrob]

Thanks.  Armed with all this, I will wade back in.  Knock on wood only this one chapter is affected.

thanks again for your kind assistance.

Rob

[unauthorizedrob · Accepted solution]

Just wanted to check back in with the eventual solution -- provided by the Adobe Chat agent -- which was a pleasant surprise.  Usually they direct me to a beginner's tutorial and hang up.

The answer, for me, was once I got a good Multitrack, I select "bounce to new track."  This created a complete SINGLE file, with all the clips combined.  Then I exported that file to WAV, and presto.  Salvation .

Hope others with this problem stumble upon this solution, which is nowhere to be found in all the manuals and tutorials. 

[SuiteSpot]

Hey Rob

Apart from the fact that I'm 'down under' on the other side of the world I've been recording all day so I wasn't able to get back to you.

It's great that you have managed to work around your problem but it is a problem that should never really have happened and certainly one which you don't want to go through again I'm sure 😉

If I can offer you any advice it will be to always backup to several places - just in case

If you ever get an issue where you can't relink the media you can always open your sesx session file in a text editor (not a word processor) (make sure you make a backup of the sesx file first) and scroll to the bottom where you will see where Audition thinks the files are.

Bear in mind that Audition will try and find the files via the absolute path first and then via the relative path so keep in mind that if you just up and make a copy of the session including media and then open the session Audition will be referencing the media in the original location (assuming it is still there) and NOT the copy.

SteveG is always a handy resource but feel free to contact me should you have a need

[unauthorized]

Thanks!

i did back up, on the Cloud, but got into an exponential copying of copies copy conundrum.  I also made a dumb choice naming the A track “CHAPTERS,” Which meant I got VERY confused, since Audition’s naming convention just kept creating files called CHAPTER that didn’t obviously belong with any session.  Hopefully, learned my lesson.  EACH file needs its own folder, and the A track should be named DISTINCTLY FOR EACH FILE.

So we learn.

new problems, recently posted.  My screen name should be Sisyphus.