Difference between 2A channels V.S. normal Stereo?

[Rockman413]

Hi there,
Recently I finished an album and the master engineer give me .wav files. I import them into Pro Tools and the stereo audio file does not automatically create 1 stereo track, but created 2 mono tracks, while in the region list it still display as 1 file (with the click to open arrow) but has "2A channels".

1.This is like a 2 split mono files but stored in 1 audio file, which got me confusing, anyone can explain more?

2.I need to convert that 24/48 file to 16/441 so here's what I did:
Import by add or drag audio into editing window, they show in 2 mono tracks, I create a stereo track, drag that 2 mono tracks into the new stereo track and they are now one stereo file and I right click in the region list to export as files and choose 16441.
Am I doing right?

3. By the way, just out of curiosity, it seems PT actually changes the file while import that 2A channel audio file, here's what I found:
Do a checksum of the original 2A channel audio file (1 file), import by add or drag into editing window, after import do another checksum of the original file and hash is different. Add or drag regular stereo file does not change the original file. What could PT add to that file?

Thanks

[Wizzoboy]

Files inside PT have always been mono. When you import a stereo file PT de-interleaves the audio into left and right hence the L and R files in the clip list. The on-screen stereo file is just a graphical representation. This is also why when bouncing or exporting you are given the choice of separate mono or interleaved. The same applies to multichannel files like 5.1 as well.
These mono files can be very useful if you need to extract or apply processing to just one.

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Wizzoboy

Files inside PT have always been mono. When you import a stereo file PT de-interleaves the audio into left and right hence the L and R files in the clip list. The on-screen stereo file is just a graphical representation. This is also why when bouncing or exporting you are given the choice of separate mono or interleaved. The same applies to multichannel files like 5.1 as well.
These mono files can be very useful if you need to extract or apply processing to just one.

All incorrect.

They changed that Pro Tools 10.

[Emi]

Originally Posted by Rockman413

2.I need to convert that 24/48 file to 16/441 so here's what I did:
Import by add or drag audio into editing window, they show in 2 mono tracks, I create a stereo track, drag that 2 mono tracks into the new stereo track and they are now one stereo file and I right click in the region list to export as files and choose 16441.
Am I doing right?



Thanks

Why did the mastering engineer gave a 24/48 file? Ask him to do the conversion. He has better tools and I'm pretty sure if you ask him, he'll give you a 16/44.1 file.

[Sardi]

Originally Posted by Emi

Why did the mastering engineer gave a 24/48 file? Ask him to do the conversion. He has better tools and I'm pretty sure if you ask him, he'll give you a 16/44.1 file.

I sometimes get asked to supply masters in that format or higher.

But, I tend to agree that you should ask your mastering engineer to give you the 44.1/16 files if that’s the delivery medium you need.


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[Rockman413]

Originally Posted by Sardi

I sometimes get asked to supply masters in that format or higher.

But, I tend to agree that you should ask your mastering engineer to give you the 44.1/16 files if that’s the delivery medium you need.


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Oh shoot, I already import to Pro Tools and export selected file and choose 16/441 and let Pro Tools do the conversion. I already uploaded everything... Will it still worth to wait another 10 days and ask my mastering engineer to give me 16/441?

[Rockman413]

guys, I suppose what I did (in the original post) is correct for draging two mono audio region into one stereo track, so I can select them as a stereo file, right?

[john1192]

Originally Posted by Rockman413

guys, I suppose what I did (in the original post) is correct for draging two mono audio region into one stereo track, so I can select them as a stereo file, right?

yes, thats correct ..

[Wizzoboy]

BScout, I must disagree with you. Imported stereo interleaved audio is split into two mono files by PT. These are stereo interleaved audio tracks imported into a session in PT 2018.3. As you can see in the Audio Files folder, they are saved as mono left and right. A 5.1 interleaved file will be saved in the Audio Files folder as six mono files.

[Sardi]

Well you’re both right really, although BScout is technically correct in that it was changed some time ago.

I’d guess that the reason your Audio Files folder has split L and R files is because you didn’t tick the INTERLEAVED checkbox when creating a new session.

If you did, you’d definitely have single audio files that contain both L and R channels.


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