Where did ulaw go for 2023?

[JulieBoo]

I'm using Audition CC 2023 and suddenly I can no longer save files as .ulaw.  This conversion is REQUIRED by my clients and removing the option is unacceptable.  How can I fix this????

[John T Smith]

You need to ask program questions in the forum for the program you are using
To ask in the forum for your program please start at https://community.adobe.com/
Moving from Using the Community (which is about the forums) to the correct forum

[JulieBoo]

Well, that was helpful.  Just as helpful as the way Adobe sets up support.  Clear as mud.

[John Waller]

1. File > Export > File
2. Format: libsndfile
3. Format Settings, click Change
4. Format: choose format
5. Encoding: μ-law 8-bit PCM

[SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Accepted solution]

Nearly...

Format: libsndfile

Sample Type: Doesn't matter

Libsndfile format setting: Sun/NeXT AU format

Libsndfile Encoding: u-Law 8-bit PCM (ITU-T G.711)

Byte Order: Default

[John Waller]

Hi @SteveG_AudioMasters_ 

So same other than step 4?
Out of curiosity, why Sun/NeXT AU format?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

That's the one we've always used, and nobody who's used it has complained that it's wrong... To be fair, I don't think it necessarily matters whic one you use, as I think that all that happens is that the default file extension changes. And if you need to, you can alter that after the event anyway. What's confused a few people is that Libsndfile appear to have altered the layout of their encoder somewhat. As far as I'm aware, it works just the same as it always has, though. There's a typical thread about it here: u-law files (just ignore the bit about Audacity at the end!)

[JulieBoo]

I've followed the necessary steps and it comes out as an NIST file instead of .wav.  I can't change the extension.  I was told that Adobe stopped supporting .ulaw; ulaw is my main reason for using Audition, and it's required by some of my clients.  This change took place within the past month or so.  I hope the company brings it back or I'll be looking for another, cheaper DAW.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Sorry, no - you haven't followed the correct steps at all, and whoever told you that 'Audition stopped supporting .ulaw' is talking out of their backsides - as a glance at the screen-grab - from the current version - shows. If you got a NIST file, that's because you picked Sphere NIST format.

The issue here is what is provided by the Libsndfile library, and that's not maintained by Adobe. So it's not a matter of Adobe stopping anything. If you want further information or clarification, you'd have to ask via the home page. 

[John Waller]

@SteveG_AudioMasters_ 

I think @JulieBoo wants a .wav file.

When you select

• Format.wav
• Encoding: u-Law 8-bit

and click OK, the Save As screen defaults to a .nist extension.

With these settings:

This is what I get after clicking OK

Selecting Sun/NeXT AU format gives a .au file extension.

Can you get a .wav file encoded as u-Law 8-bit?

[JulieBoo]

So much for the rules of being respectful.  I stand by my comment.  And I keep getting shifted to different forums to try to get an answer.  I don't know who is in charge of the Libsndfile library, but the options I needed were available in earlier versions of Audition.  It changed within the past month.  How about you try converting a 44k wav file to an 8k ulaw and tell me what you get instead of telling me I didn't follow the right steps.  Arrogant.

[August29121914cfj8 · Accepted solution]

Looks like this was fixed with 23.3 update.

[emmrecs]

I have never needed to produce a .ulaw file, but, out of curiosity, I followed Steve's method and created a file, with the .AU extension.  I checked it using the free MediaInfo and it was confirmed as being "8-bit mu-law" so I'm not at all sure where your NIST file is coming from!

[John Waller]

@emmrecs 

I also followed Steve's steps and got a .au file.

However, the OP seems to want a .wav file, not .au.

I also get a .nist file when I select wav u-Law 8-bit. See my post above.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I checked with an earlier version, and there if you select Waveform Audio, you do indeed get a wav file. And Wav isn't in the current Libsndfile list. However you look at it, you shouldn't get NIST as an option there. But as noted, you do get Waveform Audio as a save option, so it's not a case of 'not supported' - it's just a screw-up. Incidentally if you choose Waveform Audio with u-law encoding and manually change the save extension to .wav, it certainly saves the file - but whether it's correctly encoded I have yet to determine. You can't easily use Audition for this, as it decodes everything to a linear wav on opening, so you get no real clues. Investigation ongoing...

[JulieBoo]

Investigation before saying I did it wrong would have been MORE helpful.  I stand by what I said.  It was also duplicated by another poster above.  I used to be able to have a ulaw encoded file with a .wav extension.  Suddenly, I can't.  I didn't change any settings, make a mistake and choose the wrong format, etc.  And I tried changing the .nist file to a .wav extension and it didn't work.  When I checked with support about this, I was told that ulaw wasn't supported anymore...I was able to understand what they said without them appearing to be talking out of their rear ends.  As for "You can't easily use Audition for this," I HAVE used Audition VERY easily for this for decades, even before it was Audition (I go all the way back to Cool Edit).  Sorry, Audio "Master."  You're wrong.  I installed an older version from a month or so ago and got back my old preferences.  Again, if Adobe doesn't want to fix this, I'll stick with a cheaper DAW.  I'm not creating masterpieces, just voice over work and telephony.

[ehelloms]

Same here. It was definitely an option to have ulaw encoded with a .wav extension. I use it with Cisco UCCE prompts that require it.

[John Waller]

I checked with an earlier version, and there if you select Waveform Audio, you do indeed get a wav file. And Wav isn't in the current Libsndfile list.

By @SteveG_AudioMasters_

So, something has changed in the current version of Audition.

Perhaps a bug, perhaps by design. Doesn't seem to be a documented change so I'm leaning towards a bug.

[default2ikxemueqgwd]

Hello,
It seems the ability to save as .WAV for Libsndfile Encoding was removed (see screenshot). Likely a bug in the update. I went back to previous version of Audition (23.1) and I was able to save in .WAV with libsndfile Encoding again. 
I also have a client that requires specifically libsndfile in .wave. Update 23.2 forces to save in .nist file.

[NYReichman]

I also have a client that requires the u-Law libsnd files for a telephone system, and all I can do at this point with Audition is create incorrect NIST files that don't sound like the u-Law files I've been getting from Audition for years now. I may have to roll back to an earlier version of Audition.

Nathaniel Reichman | Producer/Re-recording Mixer

[NYReichman]

Yep, 23.1 works.

[John Waller]

Sounds like the u-Law/WAV option was dropped in 23.2. Sounds like a bug.

UPDATE: Looks like this was fixed with 23.3 update.