Importing 25gb 2hr Wav File into LPX results in 8gb 19min Tracks

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Importing 25gb 2hr Wav File into LPX results in 8gb 19min Tracks

Hi all. I have a multitrack wav file of a live performance handed to me by the live audio engineer from the board. It contains about 2 hours of music and 38 tracks, and it is 25.55gbs. Using my macbook pro, when I drag the file into Logic Pro X, everything opens fine, but the track length is only 19minutes. In my finder, preview and quicktime, the file shows a length of 19 minutes, as well.

So, I tried opening the multitrack in VLC, and VLC opened it with the full 2hrs. Currently, this is the only program that does so. However, it means the file length is, in fact, 2 hours long.

I'm sure this has something to do with the Wav 4gb limitation and all that, but this is the only file available to me. What can I do to be able to import this multitrack wav file into Logic Pro X at the right length and with all 28 tracks expanded?

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Dec 13, 2023 12:19 PM

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Answer 1

yoyoBen

Level 4

3,613 points

Dec 14, 2023 1:16 AM in response to LogicalMusician

If it is one multitrack file, I would separate the tracks first before importing into Logic.

Make sure you have copied the files to a hard drive that is formatted either with APFS or MacOS Extended. Don't work on a Fat-formatted drive.
Import the file(s) in Audacity, check the length and export it/them as separate AIFF-files.
Now try importing the files into logic.

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Answer 2

yoyoBen

Level 4

3,613 points

Dec 15, 2023 3:09 AM in response to LogicalMusician

There is a little tool that might help to convert the files. I've used it to create a large multi-track file, but I think, the software can be used to separate a multi-track file and export as separated files too:

https://www.sounddevices.com/product/wave-agent-software/

If that doesn't work, I would try every audio software on my computer to import and separate the file. Does VLC have an option to export the files?

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Answer 3

Dec 14, 2023 1:01 PM in response to yoyoBen

Hi. Thank you for your response! It is one multitrack file sent to me. It's on an external hard drive formatted as MacOS Extended (Journaled).

I tried importing it into Audacity, but the file length is still significantly shorter. Only VLC shows/plays the correct length but all as just one multitrack wav.

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Answer 4

Dec 16, 2023 12:56 PM in response to yoyoBen

So, the update is that I tried Wave Agent, and it did, in fact, split the files. Great. However, it split the files but kept the incorrect length. The recording is 2 hours long. Finder/Logic/Quicktime show is at 10minutes. So, when I imported and tried to use Wave Agent to split it, I got all 38 channels....but only as 10 minutes. And, in fact, when I tried to open one of the individual split files in VLC, it showed 10 minutes, as well. So, it's as if Wave Agent trimmed the missing time.

VLC offers an option to convert audio...but it converts the 38 channel wav into stereo.

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Answer 5

yoyoBen

Level 4

3,613 points

Dec 16, 2023 2:21 PM in response to LogicalMusician

After trying all available software on my/your computer and still getting the same results (except VLC). There are some questions. How was the original multi-track file created? What software / desk /recorder was used? Does the vendor provides a software or solution for your issue?

edit: Is VLC able to convert the multi-track into another multi-track file format, that could be separated then with one of the mentioned applications or tools?

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Importing 25gb 2hr Wav File into LPX results in 8gb 19min Tracks

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