How to get session from other DAWs ready

• Ableton Live
• Cubase
• Digital Performer
• Studio One

Ableton Live

Live can easily export all your tracks at once. Simply go to the « Fichier » menu (File) then « Exporter Audio/Vidéo » (Export Audio/Video) or use the « Shift + Cmd + R » shortcut.

This is the Export menu.

[1] : Choose « Toutes les pistes individuelles ». (All Individual tracks)

[2] : Leave this setting on 1.1.1 and « Longueur de conversation » should be set at the end of your project + a few bars.

[3] : Leave this « Off ».

[4] : Leave this one as it is.

[5] : Choose 44100.

[6] : 32 bits would be the better choice but your files will be 30% bigger than 24 bits files. Depending on your Internet connexion this could be a problem.
24 bits is the most common choice anyway.

[7] : Let this setting « Off ».

[8] : Let this setting « Off ».

[9] : Let this setting « Off ».

Then, click on « Exporter » (Export) and choose a folder in your hard drive.

And validate.

When your files are ready, use Winzip or an equivalent to compress them all in one folder. (Do not send us individual files separately). Zipped files are smaller so you can upload them faster on your private folder.

Cubase

Cubase can export individual tracks separately but only if you have the full version. If that’s the case for you, set the left locator to measure 1 and the right one at the end of your track and go to the « File » menu, « Export » and « Export Audio Mixdown ».

In the upper left-hand corner of the Export window, uncheck « Export multicanal » (Channel batch export) and make sure all your tracks (audio and virtual instruments) below are selected. Make sure the « Output channel », « FX channel » and « Group channel » and their content are unchecked. Then choose a name for your export and set the location.

In « Format de fichier » (File format), choose « Wave ». Set the sample rate and resolution to the values of your session (it should be done by default)

The « Export temps réel » option (Real-Time Export) must be used only if you have external hardware instruments in your song. If you don’t, uncheck it. This option makes the export longer.

Once your export is finished, compress the folder containing the files and send us this folder and a text file with the tempo of your song.

Digital Performer

Digital Performer does have the ability to export your tracks but unfortunately it is incomplete. There are a few things that need to be done but don’t worry, we’re going to help you. Before we do anything in your session, the first thing to do is to create a stereo file of your own mix. This will give us an overall idea of your song.

Make a selection of all your tracks from bar 1 to the end of your session + a few bars.

Go to the « File » menu and « Bounce to Disk » (Ctrl + J). Set all the parameters like on the picture below.

« Source » should indicate the main output used by Digital Performer. (Should be selected by default). Give it a name and press « OK ».

Now we can export the individual tracks. Set all the faders at 0 dB to make your export levels even. Do not save your session you will loose your mix !

AUDIO TRACKS

Audio tracks are pretty simple to export. Select them from measure 1 to the end of your session + a couple of bars. Then go to the « Audio » menu and « Merge soundbites ». Digital Performer creates a new file ready to export for each track.

If your session has audio files like this one with several audio regions

Make your selection as if it was a one audio region track.

The newly created file will contain silences but it’s fine ! This will actually help us. Do the same thing for every other audio track like this one you have in your session.

Important: All your exports must start at measure 1. This allows us to import you session correctly with tracks in sync with each others.

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS

To export virtual instruments, you need to bounce them to audio first. But before you anything, it is very important that you disable all the plugin inserted in the mixer. To get the most of your tracks, we need them to be as flat as possible.

Each instrument has 2 tracks. One for the MIDI data and the other one for the instrument itself. Both tracks must be selected from measure 1 to the end of the song

Go to the « Audio » menu and « Freeze Selected Tracks » (Ctrl + Cmd + F). « Freezing » is a real-time processing, it is longer than « Merged ». Digital Performer generates audio files named like the instrument followed by « freeze ».

When you’re done, open the « Soundbites » window in the « Project » menu. In the « View By » menu, choose « Time Created ». Select the most recently created files (including the mix down you did earlier)

Right-click and choose « Export selected soundbites ». Use the « AIFF, Interleaved » format.

Then put the files in a folder and compress it with Winzip or something equivalent. Zipped files are smaller so you can upload them faster.

Studio One

Studio One can easily export your tracks in separate audio files. Here’s how you do it. Set the left locator to measure 1 and the right one to the end of your song.

Then go to the « Morceau » menu (Song) and « Exporter les sous-groupes … » (Export Stems)

Click on « Pistes » (Tracks) in the upper left-hand corner of this window. All your tracks must be selected. in the upper right-hand corner, choose a location for your export. Don’t change the sample rate or resolution, Studio One automatically chooses the ones you need. Set all the other parameters as the picture below.

Important: The « Traitement en temps réel » option (Realtime processing) must be used only if you have outboards like hardware synth or any hardware instruments.

Once your export is finished, compress the folder containing the files and send us this folder and a text file with the tempo of your song.