MP3 Export Option

Version 8.0

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chapter 1

Introduction
The MP3 Export Option lets you create MP3 files from Pro Tools sessions when using Bounce to Disk or exporting a region as a new audio file.

System Requirements and Compatibility

To use the MP3 Export Option, you need: A Digidesign-qualified Pro Tools system Internet access for software activation and registration purposes Digidesign can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved. For complete system requirements and a list of Digidesign-qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices, refer to the latest information on the Digidesign website: www.digidesign.com/compatibility

For information on importing MP3 files, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Conventions Used in This Guide

All Digidesign guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:
:

About www.digidesign.com
The Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available. Product Registration Register your purchase online. Support and Downloads Contact Digidesign Technical Support or Customer Service; download software updates and the latest online manuals; browse the Compatibility documents for system requirements; search the online Answerbase; or join the worldwide Pro Tools community on the Digidesign User Conference. Training and Education Study on your own using courses available online or find out how you can learn in a classroom setting at a certified Pro Tools training center. Products and Developers Learn about Digidesign products; download demo software or learn about our Development Partners and their plugins, applications, and hardware. News and Events Get the latest news from Digidesign or sign up for a Pro Tools demo. Pro Tools Accelerated Videos Watch the series of free tutorial videos. Accelerated Videos are designed to help you get up and running with Pro Tools and its plug-ins quickly.

Convention
File > Save Control+N Control-click

Action
Choose Save from the File menu Hold down the Control key and press the N key Hold down the Control key and click the mouse button Click with the right mouse button

Right-click

The names of Commands, Options, and Settings that appear on-screen are in a different font. The following symbols are used to highlight important information:

User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your Pro Tools system. Important Notices include information that could affect your Pro Tools session data or the performance of your Pro Tools system. Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or mouse shortcuts. Cross References point to related sections in this guide or other Digidesign guides.

MP3 Export Option Guide

chapter 2

Installation and Authorization

The MP3 Export Option Installer is included on the Pro Tools Installer disc and major Pro Tools web updaters. It is also available as a separately downloadable installer at the DigiStore (www.store.digidesign.com).
7 To use the MP3 Export Option, it must be au-

thorized. See See Authorizing the MP3 Export Option on page 4.

Mac
To install the MP3 Export Option software for Pro Tools on a Mac:
1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administra-

Installing the MP3 Export Option Software

Windows
To install the MP3 Export Option software for Pro Tools on Windows:
1 Start Windows, logging in with Administrator

tor for the account where you want to install Pro Tools. For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, refer to your Apple Mac OS X documentation.
2 Insert the Pro Tools Installer disc into your

DVD drive.
3 Locate and open one of the following folders

privileges. For details on Administrator privileges, refer to your Windows documentation.

2 Insert the Pro Tools Installer disc into your

(depending on your Pro Tools system): Options Installers (Pro Tools HD) Toolkit and Options Installers (Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered)
4 Double-click the Install MP3 Option icon. 5 Follow the remaining on-screen instructions

DVD drive.
3 Locate and open one of the following folders

(depending on your Pro Tools system): Options Installers (Pro Tools HD) Toolkit and Options Installers (Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered)
4 Double-click MP3 Option Setup.exe. 5 Follow the remaining on-screen instructions

to complete installation.
6 When the installation is complete, click Quit. 7 To use the MP3 Export Option, it must be au-

to complete installation.
6 When the installation is complete, click Finish.

thorized. See Authorizing the MP3 Export Option on page 4.

Chapter 2: Installation and Authorization

Authorizing the MP3 Export Option

The MP3 Export Option must be authorized before it can be used in a Pro Tools session. The MP3 Export Option can be authorized using an Authorization Code or iLok License.

Authorizing the MP3 Export Option Using an Authorization Code

To authorize the MP3 Export Option using an authorization code:
1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 Open a session. 3 Do one of the following:

When authorizing using an Authorization Code, the authorization is installed to your hard disk. When authorizing using an iLok License, the authorization is installed to your iLok USB Smart Key (iLok). To authorize the MP3 Export option using an iLok License, Pro Tools 7.3 or higher is required.
When you purchase the software online at the DigiStore (www.digidesign.com), you can choose which method you want to use. If you receive an authorization code when you purchase the MP3 Export Option, see Authorizing the MP3 Export Option Using an Authorization Code on page 4. If you receive an iLok License, see Authorizing the MP3 Export Option with an iLok on page 5.

Click on a region and choose Region List > Export Regions as Files. or Make a Timeline selection and choose File > Bounce to > Disk.
4 Select MP3 as the File Type. 5 Click Export (in the Export dialog) or Bounce (in the Bounce to Disk dialog). 6 In the Pro Tools MP3 Option dialog, click Au-

thorize.
7 In the Pro Tools MP3 Export Option dialog,

deselect the Use My iLok Smart Key option, then click Next.
8 In the Pro Tools MP3 Export Option dialog, select Manual Activation, then click Next. 9 When prompted, enter your Pro Tools MP3

You can also purchase, then authorize the MP3 Export Option from within a Pro Tools session. For details, see Purchasing and Authorizing the MP3 Option in a Pro Tools Session on page 6.

Export Option authorization code.

10 Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the authorization process.

MP3 Export Option Guide

Authorizing the MP3 Export Option with an iLok

(Pro Tools 7.3 or Higher Only)
The MP3 Export Option can be authorized using an iLok USB Smart Key (iLok), manufactured by PACE Anti-Piracy, Inc.

To authorize the MP3 Export Option using an iLok License:

1 If you do not have an existing iLok.com ac-

count, visit www.iLok.com and sign up for an iLok.com account.

2 Transfer the licenses from your iLok.com ac-

count to your iLok USB Smart Key by doing the following: Insert the iLok into an available USB port on your computer. Go to www.iLok.com and log in. Follow the on-screen instructions for transferring your licenses to your iLok.

iLok USB Smart Key

The iLok is similar to a dongle, but unlike a dongle, it is designed to securely authorize multiple software applications from a variety of software developers. This key can hold over 100 licenses for all of your iLok-enabled software. Once an iLok is authorized for a given piece of software, you can use the iLok to authorize that software on any computer.

For information about iLok technology and licenses, see the electronic PDF of the iLok Usage Guide.
3 Launch Pro Tools. 4 Open a session. 5 Do one of the following:

Select a region and choose Region List > Export Regions as Files. or Make a Timeline selection and choose File > Bounce to > Disk.
6 Select MP3 as the File Type. 7 Click Export (in the Export dialog) or Bounce (in the Bounce to Disk dialog). 8 In the Pro Tools MP3 Option dialog, click Au-

The iLok USB Smart Key is not supplied with your plug-in or software option. You can use the one included with certain Pro Tools systems (such as Pro Tools|HDseries systems), or purchase one separately.

thorize.
9 In the Pro Tools MP3 Export Option dialog, select the Use My iLok Smart Key option and click Next. 10 If prompted, deselect the Use License Card option. 11 Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the authorization process.

Chapter 2: Installation and Authorization

Purchasing and Authorizing the MP3 Option in a Pro Tools Session

The MP3 Export Option can be purchased online at the DigiStore (www.digidesign.com). You can also purchase and authorize this option from within Pro Tools software. To purchase the MP3 Export Option while in a Pro Tools session:
1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 Open a session. 3 Do one of the following:

Resolving a Common MP3 Export Option Error Message

The following error appears if the MP3 option is not installed or the demo has expired: The MP3 option cannot be enabled because: Module initialization failed for MP3.bundle. The MP3 demo period may have expired. To resolve the MP3 Export Option error message: Delete the MP3 folder from your hard drive. On Mac, this is located in: Macintosh HD/Applications/Digidesign /Pro Tools/Codecs. In Windows, this is located in: C:\Program Files\Common Files \Digidesign\DAE\Codecs. Once deleted, you can run the installer as described in this guide.

Select on a region and choose Region List > Export Regions as Files. or Make a Timeline selection and choose File > Bounce to > Disk.
4 Select MP3 as the File Type. 5 Click Export (in the Export dialog) or Bounce (in the Bounce to Disk dialog). 6 In the Pro Tools MP3 Option dialog, click Au-

thorize.
7 In the Pro Tools MP3 Export Option dialog,

deselect the Use my iLok Smart Key option, then click Next.
8 In the Pro Tools MP3 Export Option dialog, select Internet, then click Next. 9 Follow the online instructions to purchase and authorize the MP3 Export Option.

MP3 Export Option Guide

chapter 3

MP3 Export Option Parameters

With the MP3 Export Option, the MP3 file type is available when using Bounce to Disk or exporting a region from the Region List as a new audio file. Pro Tools uses the Fraunhofer codec for encoding MP3 files.
2 From the File Type pop-up menu, select MP3.

When you select this format, the Resolution (or Bit Depth) pop-up menu in the Pro Tools Bounce Options (or Export Selected) dialog is unavailable.
3 Configure the other settings as desired. 4 Depending on whether you are bouncing to

For information on using Bounce to Disk or exporting a region as a new audio file, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

disk or exported a region, click either Bounce or Export.

5 In the resulting MP3 dialog, configure the

MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3)

The MPEG-1 Layer 3 compression format (MP3) is used for streaming and downloading audio over the Internet, and for playback on portable devices. To export an MP3 from Pro Tools:
1 Do one of the following:

MP3 encoding options as desired and click OK.

Make a Timeline selection and choose File > Bounce To > Disk. or Select an audio region in the Region List and from the Region List menu, choose Export Regions as Files.

Chapter 3: MP3 Export Option Parameters

MP3 Dialog

Figure 1. MP3 dialog

Encoder Settings
Encoding Speed Determines the audio quality of the bounced file. There are two options: Fastest and Slowest. The Slowest setting can take up to five times longer to process audio than the Fastest encoding setting, so you should use it only when the highest fidelity is essential and you have a considerable amount of time to devote to the encoding process.

Constant Bit Rate (CBR) Encodes the file at a single bit rate that you choose from the CBR pop-up menu. Because the bit rate is fixed, the quality of the encoded audio will not vary depending on the nature of the material being compressed. This option is best for streaming over the Internet, since it has predictable bandwidth requirements.

MP3 Export Option Guide

ID3 Tag Info Settings

ID3 Tag Type The ID3 tag stores data about the encoded audio file that is used by MP3 players to display information about the file. Pro Tools supports three versions of this tag, in order to provide backward compatibility with older MP3 players: ID3 v1.0: Appears at the end of a streaming MP3 file, so that tag information is only displayed after software streaming is finished. ID3 v1.1: Same as version 1.0, but adds track number information to the tag. ID3 v2.3: Appears at the front of a streaming MP3 file, so that tag information is displayed when streaming begins.

Title/Artist/Album/Comment Type the title, artist, and other information for the MP3 file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players. Genre Choose a genre for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players, and can appear in searchable catalogs and databases. Track Number If you select ID3 tag type v1.1 or v2.3, you can enter a CD track number for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players. Year Enter a year for the file. This information is displayed by many MP3 players.

Default Button
To restore all settings in this dialog to their default values, click Defaults.

While ID3 v2.3 is becoming the standard MP3 format, not all MP3 players currently support ID3 v2.3. Contact the developer of your player software for compatibility information.

Chapter 3: MP3 Export Option Parameters

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