Re: [ARSCLIST] .wav file content information

[Scott Phillips <scottp@xxxxxxxxx>]

One would think that the LAST thing anyone would want to do is resave a
complete audio archive file simply to add new text data. Why chance any
alteration or corruption of the original audio file ? This is
particularly true since the 'new' file won't byte for byte match the
original, how would one reasonably (I.E. quickly) verify the new file
against the original ? I would agree with John, a 'loose coupling'
allows for a proper revision history to be kept as well without any risk
to the most irreplaceable part of all... the audio. The adding of an ID
number when the file is first generated solves that.

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Spencer
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:59 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] .wav file content information

A bit more...waiting to catch a plane!

Pro Tools, Nuendo, and Pyramix (off the top of my head) all support
saving as BWF.  If you look at the file you have created (as per the EBU
link), it will end with the suffix ".wav".  Don't worry about ".bwf", it
shouldn't be used, and programs that don't utilize the BWF "chunk" will
ignore the information.

You will note that all of these are "multitrack" DAW platforms.

Be careful about what you think you might want to put in there, however,
as we have seen cross-platform incompatibilities regarding the
availability of the header information.  There are BWF reader apps out
there (check
Sourceforge.net)

Most of the stereo editing programs (Sound Forge, Adobe Audition, etc.)
that we use DON'T save BWF information - I've always found that a bit
strange.

Regarding the usage of MYSQL or other database applications, remember
that the relative size of the metadata "stack" will be MUCH smaller than
the resultant audio files.  We prefer to link the metadata record with a
unique ID in the BWF header that we also record in the metadata
database.  By "loosely coupling" the two, you can add/ make changes to
the individual metadata record without having to load the audio file
itself.

I would be more concerned that the metadata that I was collecting was
structured in a manner that would allow for it to move into other
database environments without re-keying the information.

Hope this helps.

John
--
John Spencer
http://www.bridgemediasolutions.com/


> From: Angie Dickinson <angie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List 
> <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx>
> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:20:07 -0700
> To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] .wav file content information
>
> andy kolovos wrote:
>
>> It's easy to enter data into the RIFF, but how one does it varies 
>> greatly between software packages.  Furthermore not all audio editors

>> support RIFF viewing and editing, nor do all audio editors support 
>> .bwf files.
>
> So, what audio editors use the bwf extension?  As I understand it, 
> none should.
>
> John Spencer included a very nice FAQ based link in his reply.  Check 
> out the question "Is the file extension for a BWF file .bwf?"
>
> Here's another good link.
> http://www.aes.org/standards/b_reports/b_meeting-reports/aes114-sc-06-
> 01-repor
> t.cfm
>
>> On another note, while Adobe Audition 1.0 won't support (or at least 
>> won't let you save) BWF files with .bwf extensions, it seems to have 
>> no trouble opening and dealing with BWF files with .wav extensions.
>
> Again, John's link should have your answer to this.
>
> Angie Dickinson
> Avocado Productions
>