Audio File Naming Issue

[[email protected]]

Ok, I'm stuck on an issue and looking for some help.

Normally, if I have a file called "Voice-01" and make an edit, it will change the file name to "Voice-01-01"

For some reason, in one specific session I'm working in... instead of going from "Voice-01" to "Voice-01-01" it changes the file name from "Voice-01" to "Voice-08" (not specifically 08 every time).

I work in big sessions with scripts, so If I'm looking for Voice-11 file, but have made an edit that changed it to Voice-19 or whatever... instead of just being able to find Voice-11, I have to search around and refer back the script to confirm Voice-19 is actually Voice-11.

What am I missing? Does it have to do with the fact the producer filed all the audio with a "-" instead of just calling them Voice1?

[daeron80]

It should be sequential, but that sequence can include any versions of the name in memory. Check to see if your Clips bin is showing all clips including auto-created.

[[email protected]]

It does act in a sequential manner, but what is does do is erase the original number in the file name. (I am showing Auto-Created)

If the file is called "Tape-01" and I make an edit and there is not another "Tape-02" it will label it "Tape-02". But what I want it to do and how it is in my other sessions is I want pro tools to label it "Tape-01-01" or Tape-01_01.

This is messing with me because If I am looking at a script and want to find Tape24, if I have made an edit that that tape, it will name it something different, rather than just adding to the existing file name

[nednednerb]

If I have one single clip:

x-1.wav

and split it,

it might show up as

(the first clip) x-1.wav
(the second clip) x-2.wav

and split x-2.wav

it might show up as

(the first clip) x-1.wav
(the second clip) x-2.wav
(the third clip) x-3.wav

Then I might delete a clip x-3.wav

Then I might split the remainder of x-2.wav

and it shows up as:

(the first clip) x-1.wav
(the second clip) x-2.wav
(the third clip) x-4.wav
((because x-3.wav was another clip it didn't get re-used... this is one possible scenario where the names for clips spread out))

Ultimately!!! The solution is to "Select all" > "Batch rename" > Replace name > xxx-## I have a few batch rename presets for a few common work situations.

VO-001 through VO-621 might get created. This is the ONLY way to assure truly sequential clip naming. "Auto-naming" will ALWAYS introduce some strangeness unless you literally separate clips in an absolutely linear careful progression. I need to match the linear order of clips with a sequential spreadsheet of short voiceovers. This is a really important issue to my work.

[[email protected]]

Ok, I get this, but doesn't really solve my problem. I'm really not worried about sequential order, I just don't pro tools to rename the file "Voice-1" to "Voice-2" (or Voice-16/Voice23 or whatever) after I made an edit. In all my other sessions after making an edit to "Voice-1" it changes the file name to "Voice-1-2" rather than "Voice-16 or whatever". Sorry if I'm not articulating this correctly.

[daeron80]

I think if you look in your Audio Files folder, you'll find that it's not renaming the file. It names new clips that are created by editing a file on the timeline by adding -nn to the filename.

If your track name is Bob, the first file recorded on it will be named Bob_01. The second file recorded will be named Bob_02.

If you edit the first file on the timeline, it will produce clips - not new files on the drive, just new clips in the session - named Bob_01-01, Bob_01-02, Bob_01-03, etc.

If you edit the second file on the timeline, its clips will be named Bob_02-01, Bob_02-02, Bob_02-03, etc.

That's been true in PT since I started using it with version 3.1 in 1995. If you're seeing a different behavior, it's possible that something is wrong. But it's more likely that your Clips bin is not showing everything for one reason or another. An uncleared Find operation, a sort by something other than clip name, etc.

[its2loud]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Ok, I'm stuck on an issue and looking for some help.

Normally, if I have a file called "Voice-01" and make an edit, it will change the file name to "Voice-01-01"

For some reason, in one specific session I'm working in... instead of going from "Voice-01" to "Voice-01-01" it changes the file name from "Voice-01" to "Voice-08" (not specifically 08 every time).

I work in big sessions with scripts, so If I'm looking for Voice-11 file, but have made an edit that changed it to Voice-19 or whatever... instead of just being able to find Voice-11, I have to search around and refer back the script to confirm Voice-19 is actually Voice-11.

What am I missing? Does it have to do with the fact the producer filed all the audio with a "-" instead of just calling them Voice1?

It’s because you’re naming your files with -01. Pro Tools thinks it’s already added the -numeric suffix to a new clip and is replacing it. If your file name were anything other than Voice-01 to begin with, you wouldn’t be seeing this issue. For example. Original file Voice_01. Edited original. Voice_01-01, Voice_01-02, etc.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by its2loud

It’s because you’re naming your files with -01.

For sure. If you're manually renaming the files themselves to something non-standard, expect chaos.

[smurfyou]

Yes the issue is probably the use of a "-". That is how PT names auto created clips. If it's worked for you in the past I can't explain that. But I usually use an underscore or simply a space.

[[email protected]]

Thanks all... Yup it's the "-" in the file name. Will be telling our producers not to file tape with "-" in the name.