Audio Format: CCITT u-law Conversion

Question

Level 1

8 points

Audio Format: CCITT u-law Conversion

Hello,

A regular corporate client needs the Phone Prompt VO (which we recorded on Logic) converted to standard telephony format:
Bit Rate: 64kbs
Audio Sample Size: 8 Bit
Channels: 1 (Mono)
Audio Sample Rate: 8khz
Audio Format: *CCITT u-law*

I'm finding out that Logic is unable to do that. Is that correct?
Any advice on how I can give them what they want is appreciated.

Thanks!

iMAC, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Dec 6, 2009 9:39 AM

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Answer 1

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Dec 6, 2009 11:30 AM in response to jazzmasters

I'm pretty sure this audio converter will handle it.. comes with a $30 price tag.

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/plus.html

Look at the bottom of the page for file format explanations... I would write them and make sure it will do hat you need.

The Mac OS doesn't have that format codec built-in so you need to make sure a program you download or purchase comes with the appropriate codec.

I have no affiliation with the above mentioned software, the format was discussed in another forum and this software was mentioned.

pancenter-

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Answer 2

mattrixx

Level 3

945 points

Dec 6, 2009 2:38 PM in response to jazzmasters

I'd be interested in the solution to this problem also. In the past we've had to send files of to a PC based mastering facility for conversion. I haven't seen anything available for the OSX platform that can convert to this format.

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Answer 3

jazzmasters Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Pancenter

Thanks for the lead Pancenter (love your User name, BTW). 🙂

I checked out the site and tried to find out if the program could convert to the type we need; even joined the Forum. But I couldn't find an answer.

And apparently one cannot write them unless you have purchased the product. Bummer.
I'll keep searching...

Merry "almost" Christmas and thanks again.

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Answer 4

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Dec 7, 2009 10:51 AM in response to jazzmasters

jazzmasters wrote:

I checked out the site and tried to find out if the program could convert to the type we need; even joined the Forum. But I couldn't find an answer.

It looks like it will, do you have a PC running stand alone or under Bootcamp?

Looks like there's probably some freeware PC utilities that do what you need.

pancenter-

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Answer 5

jazzmasters Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter --- we're no longer on PC; we're all on MACs.

I have a call to the client to find out EXACTLY what extension they want.
We bought a program last year (Sample Manager) that turned out not to be useful after all so this time we need to make double sure it'll do what we want.

Recording the audio is our thing, conversion for telephone is not.
Last year, after we recorded the VO, we outsourced the conversions because we thought it was a passing gig. But it's turning out to be a more regular thing. Which is great -- but there is indeed a learning curve.

Thanks SO MUCH for helping us out with this problem.
We really appreciate it.

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Answer 6

jazzmasters Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2009 11:24 AM in response to mattrixx

Well, Matrixx, it's nice to know we're not the only ones who'd like a solution.
BTW, we're on MACs over here.
And we also outsourced the VO's for conversion.

But this year, what was a temporary gig has turned into something regular and permanent so we'd like to keep all conversions in-house.

I'm curious, what is the final file extention your client needed/needs?

Anyway, keep me posted as to your progress and let us know what you find out, OK?

Thanks!

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Answer 7

Dec 8, 2009 2:20 PM in response to jazzmasters

Hi,

We are Mac consultants, and we just got the hosted voice solution by Speakeasy. We're in the same boat: Mac based - which program can we use to convert our voice over file to CCITT-ulaw?

I've searched for hours with no luck.

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Answer 8

jazzmasters Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 8, 2009 2:51 PM in response to Erik Madsen

Hi Mac guys,

We're on MACs over here as well.
I downloaded a free version of Switch to test it out -- http://www.nch.com.au/switch/
I converted a VO to the specs I needed:
Bit Rate: 64kbs
Audio Sample Size: 8 Bit
Channels: 1 (Mono)
Audio Sample Rate: 8khz
Audio Format: CCITT u-law

HOWEVER, I was told that the extension should be a .wav NOT .au so I'm still trying to figure that out.

Let me know if it works for you...

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Answer 9

Dec 8, 2009 5:55 PM in response to jazzmasters

How were you able to convert to those specifications? I downloaded Switch after reading your post, but I can't seem to get that drilled down.

And their forum doesn't appear to show that it can even convert using CCITT-ulaw specs...

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Answer 10

puggyboy

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2009 3:26 PM in response to jazzmasters

This is confirmed as a working "free" way to create the proper .wav files.
This only works in Audacity 1.3.10-Beta

~Open the VO (Voice over) file in Audacity 1.3.10-Beta
~If the file is stereo, go to the "tracks" menu and select "Stereo Track to Mono"
~Once you have a mono file go down to the lower left hand corner of Audacity 1.3.10-Beta and change the "Project Rate" to 8000.
~Trim / Edit the file if necessary.
~Go to "File" then "Export"
~At the bottom of the "save" dialog box you will see a "format" pull down.
~Select "Other uncompressed files"
~Hit the "Options" button
~Under "Header" Select "Wav (Microsoft)
~Under "Encoding" select "U-Law"
~Click "OK"
~Name the file and save.
~A "Metadata" dialog will open, just click OK as none of this information is passed on by the phone system.

This format works on Speakeasy's Platform, and should as well on any "Broadsoft" based "Hosted" voice system.

Best,
Robert

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Answer 11

M-Dan

Level 1

15 points

Dec 6, 2009 12:30 PM in response to jazzmasters

Have you tried to export the soundfile with Quicktime Pro?

//Dan

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Answer 12

schwabbl

Level 1

25 points

Dec 6, 2009 10:14 PM in response to jazzmasters

Audioease makes Barbabatch which is a fantastic program for converting many types of file formats.

Best of luck,

schwabbl

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Answer 13

jazzmasters Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2009 10:28 AM in response to M-Dan

Hi Dan,

Last time I checked, we couldn't convert to CCITT u-law w/ QT Pro.

But I'm going to investigate that again...

Merry Christmas and +thanks again.+

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