I get this question from time to time, and its coming up more and more as MP3s
are becoming more pervasive. "How can I import an MP3 into my (Mac-based) Avid?"
If you are using an NT-based Avid system, follow this link

The answer: SoundApp.

Sure, there will be a number of ways to do it, there are a number of ways to do anything.
One nice feature of this tutorial is that the key tool is FREE.


 

First off, get yourself SoundApp.

SoundApp is a very useful utility. It will play most everything.
It will convert file formats, sample rates... you need this program anyway.


 

So now you have SoundApp, and you have an MP3 that you need imported into
your Avid system. You're set! Double-Click SoundApp and let's get that baby launched!


 

With very little fanfare its up and running.
There's a small control panel (which I never use), but everything else is housed in the menus.

From the File menu, choose Convert...



 

We're presented with a dialog box. Find your MP3, and choose what you want done with it.

To match the audio in my Avid project, I've selected to create an SDII file, at 48k.

After you've decided, click Convert.


The menu button just to the right of the Format choice contains
conversion presets. See below for how to create these.


 

SoundApp will store it's converted files in a new folder.
So choose the name and location for your new file.

Click Save and you're done!

Viola!




Now let's say you have a bunch of files you'd like to get imported.
SoundApp can batch process too!


 

Open SoundApp, and from the File menu, select New Playlist.


 

A window opens that, as audio files are added to it, displays the Playlist.
You can add files by using the Add... command in the File menu, or you
can Drag and Drop them from the Finder.


 

After you have your files in the Playlist, you can choose how you'd like them converted.

In the Convert menu are all your options, the same choices you had above when we converted a single file.
In this menu, however, you have the added ability to create and edit presets.
This way, if you're always going to be creating 49kHz SDII files,
you can set it up once and then choose the preset whever you want to use those settings.

Choose the setting you'd like to use in converting your group of files.


 

After you've added the files and chosen the conversion method, simply press Convert All.

 

That's all there is to it.

Convert, then import. Have fun.



 

The End

 

back to Helpful Tips page

 



Importing MP3s into an NT-based Avid.

Brent Homer wrote me the following...

 

Nice mp3 tutorial.....I actually have ended up sending people to your site in lue of explaining to them how things work. Recently we switched to NT so I was @ a loss for what to replace soundapp with. I found the following program to do a similiar job for the PC:

http://www.cdex.n3.net/

The nice thing about it supporting .wav and .mp3 is that it digitally will take the song off the cd..in other words it doesnt use the sound card like most pc rippers do..it goes straight from the cd to the cpu...works great :)

 

Thanks, Brent!

 


Copyright © 2000, Wes Plate