DigiDesign Pro Tools, Reference Manual

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Chapter 13: File and Session Management and Compatibility 241
Chapter 13: File and Session
Management and Compatibility
When you work with Pro Tools, you encounter
several different kinds of computer files.
Pro Tools systems require that you keep certain
files in specific hard drive locations in order to
function properly.
◆
Pro Tools software files (such as the applica-
tion and plug-ins files) should be located on
your Startup drive (the drive that contains your
operating system and other system-related files).
◆
On Pro Tools|HD systems, data files (such as
session files, audio files, and fade files) can be lo-
cated on any compatible drive connected to
your computer’s internal or external ATA/IDE,
FireWire, or SCSI busses (including SCSI HBA).
For maximum performance, SCSI drives are rec-
ommended for Pro Tools|HD systems. FireWire
and ATA/IDE drives are also supported. See the
Digidesign website for details (www.digide-
sign.com).
◆
On Pro Tools LE systems, data files (such as
session files, audio files, and fade files) can be lo-
cated on any compatible hard drive connected
to your computer’s internal or external
ATA/IDE, FireWire, or SCSI busses.
Audio File Management
Unique File IDs
Pro Tools tags each audio file in a session with a
unique identifier that allows it to distinguish a
particular file even if its name or location has
changed.
Locating Audio Files
With Pro Tools, you manage links to audio and
other media files using the Relink window.
Pro Tools classifies storage volumes according to
their suitability for
performance (recording or
playback) or transfer (storage or copying) of au-
dio and other media files. Audio files must be
stored on suitable Performance volumes and be
properly linked in order to be playable in a
Pro Tools session.
Although Pro Tools lets you record to your
system drive, this is generally not recom-
mended. You should record to system drives
only when necessary—for example, if your
computer system has just one hard drive, or
it your other hard drives are completely out
of space.