Why can't Pro Tools import FLAC files?

[Justin1524]

Adobe Audition can.
Studio One Pro can.
I'm sure other DAWs can.

Pro Tools cannot. Why?

[Top Jimmy]

1) There’s no demand for it.

2) Pro Tools would never implement a format natively that required a codec to read/write, that goes against its core philosophy. That leaves it as an import/export option only and there are already many freely available external options that can do this.

3) Open source and closed source aren’t necessarily compatible just because someone desires it to be. PT is the oldest and has the greatest entrenched legacy.

[huzzam]

Jimmy, Pro Tools happily imports other formats such as mp3, m4a / aac, and even Apple Lossless, which also require codecs. Just drag and drop them in the timeline. So it doesn't really seem to be against any core philosophy to do so.



Meanwhile, I could be wrong, but I believe PT uses Quicktime for import, at least on Mac. FLAC is natively supported in recent versions of Quicktime.


I don't see any reason FLAC couldn't be supported, except that it just hasn't been enabled for import in the Quicktime library.

[off the wall]

Originally Posted by Top Jimmy

1) There’s no demand for it.

2) Pro Tools would never implement a format natively that required a codec to read/write, that goes against its core philosophy. That leaves it as an import/export option only and there are already many freely available external options that can do this.

3) Open source and closed source aren’t necessarily compatible just because someone desires it to be. PT is the oldest and has the greatest entrenched legacy.

Well count at least two clients asking for it :) I've had a couple of deliveries for device sounds that spec'd FLAC. It would be great to just be able to bounce to FLAC (like mp3).

[Teej]

Yes it's also super annoying to me. Make that three users.

[midnightrambler]

I've not needed it (yeT) but I don't see why it shouldn't be implemented, it's a no-brainer.

[Stephen Bond]

Pro Tools couldn't even import its own SDII format until recent versions, let alone FLAC files

Stephen

[WombatStudio.Org]

Originally Posted by Justin1524

I'm sure other DAWs can.

Pro Tools cannot. Why?

Other DAWs can do SO many more things that just make sense. Other DAWs don't throw errors during sessions and max out CPUs for no reason.

I've tried all those other DAWs and for whatever reason, it's just not the same experience as Pro Tools and I'm not comfortable.

So, I use other programs to convert files and I reload Pro Tools when it errors out and I mind my own business. Tell the client while they're standing there holding their instruments staring at me through the glass, YOU wanted to make sure I used Pro Tools.

Industry Standard - so shut it.

[Eric Lambert]

Originally Posted by Stephen Bond

Pro Tools couldn't even import its own SDII format until recent versions, let alone FLAC files

Stephen

Fireworks! Applause! Curtains...

Honestly, there's no good excuse for PT to avoid FLAC.

[thin ice]

To be fair, it was always a relatively niche format. Now with drive space not an issue, those that don’t go for mp3 can use wav anyway. There are many free converters.

Apple phased out headphone sockets, CD drives and other things to move forward. Maybe they just see it as bloating the system for a format not many use?