Convert split stereo to interleaved... why is this such a mystery? (RESOLVED)

[FrankM]

I can't believe it's 2025 and I'm still struggling with this. I was sent a bunch of audio files from a live concert recorded on ProTools and the keyboards (stereo) are two separate files. I appended ".L" and ".R" before ".WAV" on the files and dragged them to the Soundbites window, selected them and opened the "Convert Audio File" dialog, checked "Interleave Format" and "Use one file for all channels (interleaved)." Clicked OK...Nothing happens. Tried creating a stereo track and dragging both soundbites to it... nope. RTFM, page 944 has a quick paragraph on this that mentions the steps I did, nothing more. I googled, saw some references on how to do the opposite of what I want, i.e., convert interleaved to split stereo. What's nuts is that I've done this before - but it was a long a time ago. What did I forget? Thanks for any assistance.

[FrankM]

I'll add this: I tried the "Import Audio" dialog in the Soundbites window menu. What's strange is that all the audio files in the file selector are greyed out and non-selectable, except the ones I had previously dragged to the soundbites window! BTW I forgot to mention I did try this dialog in my attempt to get an interleaved file, it did not work, they always come in as separate mono soundbites. In DP's prefs, my "Project File Format and Default File Format" are both set to WAV and interleaved. Automatic Conversions's "Convert Interleaved Format" is set to "On Import."

And now, I remember that I did not use DP in the past to do this... it was Audacity. I gave up on DP for this back then too.

Sometime in the past decade or two, DP users have had to import files recorded on ProTools and must have faced this situation. I can't believe it has to be this difficult, but I'm ready to be schooled on the stupid mistake I made. Have at it!

[mikehalloran]

Don't drag both files into the new stereo track. Only drag the .L or the .R — both will import.

[FrankM]

Thanks but that didn't work. I created a stereo track and dragged one of the files to it, but it didn't give me the typical blue outline that denotes being able to drop the file or soundbite. Releasing the dragged file on the track resulted in no action. I tried both dragging the file from the Finder and the soundbite from the soundbite window. Both will only drop into a mono track. Sample rates definitely match. I gave up and used Audacity.

[mikehalloran]

Thanks but that didn't work. I created a stereo track and dragged one of the files to it, but it didn't give me the typical blue outline that denotes being able to drop the file or soundbite. Releasing the dragged file on the track resulted in no action. I tried both dragging the file from the Finder and the soundbite from the soundbite window. Both will only drop into a mono track. Sample rates definitely match. I gave up and used Audacity.

That doesn't make sense. Some of my collaborators send me de-interleaved files. Also, I created one in DP just to test this before answering. If I drag either of the circled files into a stereo track in DP, the result is stereo.

[bayswater]

Speculating here. Don't the two files, in addition to having the .L and .R designations in the name, have to contain metadata in the header that conforms in a number of ways? For example, if you just create two mono audio files, and give them the same name, and add the .L and .R, the process Mike used doesn't work. You can bring them in as two mono files, but they won't resolve as a single stereo soundbite.

I've not had problems with this, using files I know were recorded together at the same time, etc.

You can always drag them in as separate mono tracks, route them via busses to a stereo track and bounce. Maybe look at what the Soundbites window says about them at the same time.

[mikehalloran]

Speculating here. Don't the two files, in addition to having the .L and .R designations in the name, have to contain metadata in the header that conforms in a number of ways? For example, if you just create two mono audio files, and give them the same name, and add the .L and .R, the process Mike used doesn't work. You can bring them in as two mono files, but they won't resolve as a single stereo soundbite.

I've not had problems with this, using files I know were recorded together at the same time, etc.

You can always drag them in as separate mono tracks, route them via busses to a stereo track and bounce. Maybe look at what the Soundbites window says about them at the same time.

Quite possible, I suppose — never gave it any thought. When I get de-interleaved files from PT users, the .R .L designations already exist.

What drove me nuts was when people would send me GarageBand files. Unless it changed recently, GB was incapable to bounce to Mono. It took awhile to train my users to hard pan R/L so that I could export as de-interleaved before bringing them back into DP — after renaming each half, and removing the .R .L designations, of course.

[FrankM]

Ok guys, thanks. I'll look into this a bit more in the next day or two. I'll create a stereo file in another app (Audacity, I guess), save it de-interleaved, and try importing it to DP. Totally fishing here - could the fact these files are on an external HD formatted as Mac OS Extended have anything to do with this? Or maybe PT writes some wacky stuff into the header of its WAV files that DP isn't happy with?

It would be nice to have this work the way it's been described here - I'd rather not have to fire up a separate app to do this.

Not that any of this would matter, but... I'm on a M2 Air with Ventura 13.7.4, DP version is 11.33

[HCMarkus]

I'm on a M2 Air with Ventura 13.7.4, DP version is 11.33

Hope you get it sorted.

Just an FYI, DP is on 11.34 now, and I just made the move for my Macs from Sonoma to Sequoia a couple of weeks back without issue.

I'm on an M1 Studio in my studio, but also running Sequoia on my M1 Air for my live work with MainStage.

[mikehalloran]

Ok guys, thanks. I'll look into this a bit more in the next day or two. I'll create a stereo file in another app (Audacity, I guess), save it de-interleaved, and try importing it to DP. Totally fishing here - could the fact these files are on an external HD formatted as Mac OS Extended have anything to do with this? Or maybe PT writes some wacky stuff into the header of its WAV files that DP isn't happy with?

It would be nice to have this work the way it's been described here - I'd rather not have to fire up a separate app to do this.

Not that any of this would matter, but... I'm on a M2 Air with Ventura 13.7.4, DP version is 11.33

Why not do it in DP?

Drag each file into a mono track. Hard pan one R and the other L. Bounce to disk. You can import automatically back into DP (I never do as that can be confusing).

[HCMarkus]

Can't you just drag the .L or .R file into the left side of the Tracks Window and let DP create a stereo track for you?

[stubbsonic]

Is there a possibility that dragging either .L or .R to the soundbites window first, then from there to a track-- would that work any differently?

[FrankM]

OK I'm back to take my medicine. The elevator finally got to the top floor.

When my friend sent his PT files, the keyboard track's two (L & R) files were saved with these names:

17-KEYS L-250405_2104.wav
18-KEYS R-250405_2104.wav

I then added the suffixes "L" and "R" like I thought DP wanted:

17-KEYS L-250405_2104.L.wav
18-KEYS R-250405_2104.R.wav

Sigh... well I'm sure it's apparent why I couldn't get them to convert to interleaved or drag into a stereo track. Except for the "L" and "R" I added, the filenames must be identical.

He recorded an "audience" track that was interleaved stereo, so it's obvious PT can do it. Why not the keys also, I don't know. Lesson learned and sorry to take up the bandwidth here.

[HCMarkus]

The elevator finally got to the top floor.

Now you've got a great view!

Glad you got it sorted.

[mikehalloran]

…

He recorded an "audience" track that was interleaved stereo, so it's obvious PT can do it. Why not the keys also, I don't know. Lesson learned and sorry to take up the bandwidth here.

No, no no!

Threads like this help everyone learn.

I recommend editing the title of your original post to add RESOLVED.