Wave 64 format

DelCallo wrote on 11/11/2007, 5:29 AM
Ok, I've searched and cannot find a discussion on this format. I recorded using another application at 96 kHz / 24 bit. The file size exceeded the 2gb limit (I didn't realize that this was still a problem in NT/XP - have since been instructed that it is a .wav limitation - the application I have incorporates an auto split function, but, thinking that 90 gb of free HD storage would have made use of that argument unnecessary.

Questions:

Is there another good audio format I should have used in anticipation of the 2gb limit?
I know that Vegas makes use of a wav64 format during the shooting of video that allows me unrestricted file size for audio when recording video.

Could I use Vegas to record using that wav64 to overcome the 2gb limit? I was recording from mics into a mixer connected to my sound card's line-in jack. I know that I could always just use the other ap's auto-split function, but would rather not.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Del

Comments

Kennymusicman wrote on 11/11/2007, 8:16 AM
The wav64 is basically identical to wav, except the header which does allow the larger file size.

Vegas 8 is happy with wav64, and I'm sure v7 was also.

At 96/24 it won't take you too long to actually test your system and evaluate teh results directly.

HTH

Ken
DelCallo wrote on 11/12/2007, 1:54 AM
Thanks for the reply. I guess I talked all around my question, but never managed to clearly ask it. The question: In V8pro, (or V7, 6, whatever), do I need do anything special to select or invoke the Wav64 format when recording audio only? Generally, I have used Vegas mainly for my video work, where I am capturing already recorded footage via firewire. I have never used it to record live audio (other than just messing around with it here at the house).

So, if I am capturing live audio via analog mics into a mixer, then, into my pc via line input jacks on my audio card, does Vegas automatically switch to Wav64 when the file size exceeds 2gb, or do I need to make some special setting, or what?

In my other audio-only application, if you haven't set that auto-split function to be on, you are politely presented with an error message that the file size has reached its limit, and recording stops (rude behavior by any measure!!). Luckily for me, I wasn't busy shooting video at the time, and I also had an analog recorder running as a backup, so I didn't end up having to apologize for a ruinous gap in one of the most important pieces on the program.

That auto-split feature is a good one in the other application, but I'm not certain why you would not always want that set to ON by default - can't think of any reason why you would purposely want to use the file size limitation to stop recording.

It was purely my mistake. So, now, I'd like to know how Vegas handles it.

Thanks again for your help.

Del
Chienworks wrote on 11/12/2007, 4:36 AM
In Preferences/General there is an option named "Render large Wave files as Wave64". I'm not sure if this has any effect on the original recording processor not. It should be easy to test though. If nothing else, just start Vegas recording before bedtime, then stop it in the morning and see what you get.

I believe SoundForge issues a warning if you try to save a .wav file larger than 2GB and it offers to save it as Wave64 instead.

Vegas doesn't use Wave64 when recording video. In fact, Vegas doesn't record video; VidCap does that, and VidCap merely transfers the audio the way it was recorded on the tape, interleaved in uncompressed PCM format similar to .WAV. Now, Vegas can write Wave64 files when rendering and it can open them. But Wave64 is not part of video.
jbolley wrote on 11/12/2007, 10:15 AM
My understanding is that this is a limitation of the hard drive format FAT32. What is the format of your record drive? Can you switch to NTFS?

Jesse
Chienworks wrote on 11/12/2007, 10:28 AM
Nope. FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB. WAV files are limited to 2GB. No relation to each other at all.
DelCallo wrote on 11/12/2007, 11:13 AM
FWIW, the drives onto which I'm storing live audio are NTFS.
I know that Vegas doesn't record video, but imports it from footage already captured using vidcap or some other application - but, if you have a long bit of footage that takes your audio over the 2gb file size, how does Vegas handle that and at what point during the capture/import/save process?

Actually, the file is already saved before you import into Vegas, since veg files are only reference files.

I'll have to try a test recording to see just what Vegas does with live material as file sizes increase.

I would think that someone here already has that answer if they use Vegas to do any lengthy recording at live events.

Thanks again, Chienworks.

Caruso
Geoff_Wood wrote on 11/12/2007, 1:49 PM
Select the ' render large fles as Wav64, and you will have no problems recording and saving your long sessions !

geoff
DelCallo wrote on 11/12/2007, 4:04 PM
Thanks. I'll be certain to test that out before my next session.
Del
LarryP wrote on 11/13/2007, 4:15 AM
If you are recording for that long you might want to bring along a UPS. A kicked out power plug could make your life miserable.

Larry
DelCallo wrote on 11/23/2007, 2:17 PM
Larry:
That's one of the reasons I carry a second audio recording device, and make a point to plug it into an outlet that is independent of the computer gear. I also try to plug in everything at a location that I can police during the performance - that approach as worked for me so far.

Performers absolutely depend upon the audience to complete the performance (what performance could there be without the audience?), but audience members can be incredibly inconsiderate at times. More than once in tight situations, I've had to ask (more than once on several occasions) for an audience member to please stop kicking, bumping, tapping, etc. the mike stand because I was trying to record the performance.

I have solved much of that sort of problem by inventorying enough mic cable to position them where the audience should not be a problem.

Del