Question for Cubase users...

[Jayson Chance]

If I want to do guitar tracks from home, and some one send me an MP3 file of the track, then I'll have no problem recording my track and sending them the wav file.

Question is, if the other party were using something like Pro Tools, is my file going to import properly into their session? Meaning, would the time codes line up properly, etc? Keep in mind that this might seem elementary, but I'm a complete novice to the operation of digital recording software.

Also, if I wanted to record tracks at home using different software than the other party was using, would I be limited to them just sending me an mp3 of their basic tracks? Or could I import their entire session?

Just trying to figure out how these different programs would interact with each other...

Thanks!

P.S I ask because I've been looking at the Lexicon interfaces like the Omega, and they come with the cubase software.
I'm guess I'm just trying to figure out other options that might suit my needs better than just going Pro Tools...

[getbent]

Jayson,
You probably won't want to be sending mp3's back and forth... the sonic loss you get from going to mp3 back to other formats and then compressing again can get pretty disappointing sonically. Ideally, you'd stay in the same format as the folks you are swapping with... at minimum I'd say you'd want to output in aif if you are going to do that.

What would be good is if you already have a friend or partner you are going to share with find out what they are already using... if what they are using is way out of your price range.... then look at the output options for both programs and take the one with the least amount of loss.

[Carlier]

Actually, getbent, I think Jayson is talking about using the mp3 just to get the timing right. I do this all the time with friends abroad: they do a track, send me an mp3, I do my part, export just that as a wav file and send it to them and they do the final mix.

Jayson, I've had no problems with syncing. Starting at zero is going to be the same in all programs, and bpm should be the same too, since everything is digital. I've done this using Cubase and my friend using Garage band. I don't know the answer to you other question. I have in the past just exported each track separately as a 24 bit wav file and sent a data cd by mail.

[loudguitarz]

Jayson, I use Cubase and I do this all the time. I usually export the file as a broadcast wav. for protools, and send it via "yousendit." I've never had any problems with everything lining up, if the 2-mix that you tracked your guitar parts to is right... You can't open a protools session, but you can open the wav files from the session, without effects and automation.

[Jayson Chance]

Originally Posted by loudguitarz

Jayson, I use Cubase and I do this all the time. I usually export the file as a broadcast wav. for protools, and send it via "yousendit." I've never had any problems with everything lining up, if the 2-mix that you tracked your guitar parts to is right... You can't open a protools session, but you can open the wav files from the session, without effects and automation.

That's what I mean... Not actually opening the Pro Tools session, but being able to import the individual wav files and having them line up.

You guys are giving me good ideas and clearing things up quick;y for me... Thanks