Pro Tools/Toast 10 SRC Distortion Issue

[Krystal Studio]

I've been a long time user of both Pro Tools and Roxio Toast and recently come across a problem I've never experienced before. Usually I'll export 16bit 48khz audio files from Pro Tools and burn them in Toast and the CD's play back fine. Toast converts the files from 48khz to 44.1khz and there's never been a problem. A couple of weeks ago I burned an audio CD that played back distorted. I burned a CD in iTunes using the same audio files and it played back fine. After doing a little bit of digging, I read somewhere that there was some incompatibility with older versions of Toast and newer versions of Quicktime, so I decided to upgrade from Toast 7 to Toast 10. After upgrading to Toast 10 I noticed there was less distortion when playing back audio files, but the distortion still existed. So I installed the Toast 10.0.6 update and now the distortion is worse and the audio also plays back at the wrong speed. I've noticed that the problem only happens when I use 48khz audio files (WAVE or AIFF) exported from Pro Tools, which is what I've been using for years. It obviously has something to do with sample rate conversion.

I'm running Mac OSX 10.5.4 on a G5 dual 2ghz PPC. PT 7.4.2 cs4

Any idea why this is happening all of the sudden?


Thanks.

[hummerZ]

How close to 0 dBFS are you getting prior to SRC?

It's always a good idea to SRC before your final limiting.

Maybe you are using a new limiter that is permitting higher peaks?

[Dizzi45Z]

With how buggy Toast has been for me (version 9), I would never use Toast for my SRC. I always have Pro Tools convert the files on export and I don't think I have ever had a problem. Then I'll use Toast to burn to CD.

The SRC process is critical and some applications do SRC much better than others. You can find tests people have done on the internet on this kind of stuff. Pro Tools does a great job. A few years ago I was trying to use Sound Forge for my SRC and it sounded very different after the conversion. Ever since, I have stuck with using my DAW's to do the conversion (Sonar and Pro Tools). I'm not sure how good Logic is. But I'd hesitate having a consumer level product, such as toast do the conversion.

[Sean Russell]

Recently here guys have been having trouble with burning roughs for clients. They will bounce at 24/48 or whatever, and rely on Toast (v9) to make them a 16-44 redbook. Clicks, pops, and/or distortion follow. I have a script (Drop A Few My Way from Doug's Applescripts for iTunes) that will convert most files to WAV or mp3 using iTunes (but it deletes the file from iTunes when done - bonus!) and have zero problems with it.

I'd say stop trusting Toast for SRC.

[Dizzi45Z]

http://src.infinitewave.ca/

Here is the test I was talking about.

[Makin' Sausage Music]

Originally Posted by Dizzi45Z

http://src.infinitewave.ca/

Here is the test I was talking about.

This very interesting.... I am not really understanding what I am seeing--
Compare Waveburner 1.2 to Protools HD 7.2 with a sweep.... just what am I looking for...???

[Dizzi45Z]

Originally Posted by Makin' Sausage Music

This very interesting.... I am not really understanding what I am seeing--
Compare Waveburner 1.2 to Protools HD 7.2 with a sweep.... just what am I looking for...???

Click on the "Help" button and they give you a lot more detail on reading the charts and etc. for the tests results.

[Dizzi45Z]

Originally Posted by Makin' Sausage Music

This very interesting.... I am not really understanding what I am seeing--
Compare Waveburner 1.2 to Protools HD 7.2 with a sweep.... just what am I looking for...???

If I understand the test properly, Pro Tools 7.2 would be far better than Waveburner for your SRC.

[drenkrom]

Originally Posted by Dizzi45Z

http://src.infinitewave.ca/

Here is the test I was talking about.

That place is audio-geek heaven! Thanks for the bookmark!

[jeremyroberts]

Very interesting link! Thank you for sharing.

What doesn't make sense to me is the variance between Apple branded products. You would think Logic/Apple Core Audio/Waveburner would share the code for SRC... but it appears not.

And it appears that Apple Core Audio (quicktime, right) is the best of all ? Slightly better than Barbabatch, but not much.

Personally, I have used PTHD for SRC when needed, BEFORE exporting to waveburner...simply because I thought it sounded better. Now we know why it sounds better. Funny how that works.