PT12 session On Mac or Pc and back

[Darryl Ramm]

Dave

You are making this too hard for yourself.

Start by realizing there is a difference in transferring files between different systems and what filesystems Pro Tools needs to actually run on.

A Mac (without any third party software) can read/write HFS+ and more recent macOS versions also AFS, as well as Windows flavor filesystems: read and write FAT32 and exFAT and can read but not write NTFS.

Pro Tools on a Mac (without any third party software) *requires* the sessions be on a HFS+ or AFS filesystem, even though you can "see" a session on Mac on FAT32 or exFAT or NTFS you can't run it there.

With the addition of third party software like Paragon's NTFS support, Macs can write as well as read NTFS and Pro Tools can then run on NTFS on a Mac with that software (but only on NTFS not FAT32 or exFAT).

A PC (without any third party software) can read/write FAT32, exFAT and NTFS but cannot read or write HFS+ or AFS filesystems.

Pro Tools on a PC (without any third party software) requires the sessions be on a NTFS filesystem, even though you can "see" a session on PC on FAT32 or exFAT filesystems you can't run it there. Third party software also provides the ability to run on HFS+ filesystems on a PC.

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But to start with just put the files on a FAT32 or better exFAT external drive or USB stick. That is just a transfer medium, a quality USB stick is really the ideal device there. Carry it around in your pocket (but have backups elsewhere).

If going to the PC then drag those files onto an NTFS filesystem to run Pro Tools with that session. And copy them back to the external drive or USB stick when done.

If going to the Mac then drag those files onto a HFS+ or AFS filesystems to use Pro Tools. And copy them back to the external drive or USB stick when done.

Or you can also copy across file sharing on a network between the Mac and PC, all that matters is the session ends up on a Pro Tools supported filesystem for that platform.