Kari,
I would reach to the ARSC list, but be prepared for the answer...
Not unless you have a good reason, I would save the individual tracks and master file, if there is one, all as WAV/BWF. You might name the tracks during export to make sure if it's "lead guitar" it gets captured in the filename or somewhere in the header file.
If you have protools, you can bounce a session so that the individual tracks are the length of the session so that they register to the beginning of the song/work otherwise the individual tracks will not "know" where they are in the song without the protools session files.
The protools session files are nothing but session information, so in theory, it's no cost to preserve them. But ProTools systems are so exacting, like the list person said, you would almost need a computer museum set up to ensure playback. In theory they will be backward compatible, but probably within 10 years, they will not be.
-Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: May, Kari L <KARIMAY_at_PITT.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2025 12:23 PM
Subject: Preservation Practices: How do you handle Pro Tools files?
Hello,
We have recently been working with a collection that contains .PTS / .PTX files from Pro Tools (Avid). We are considering various approaches to preserving them but would be grateful for input on practices/workflows from anyone else who already has experience working with these formats.
Many thanks,
Kari May
Digital Archivist & Preservation Librarian University of Pittsburgh Library System
7500 Thomas Blvd, Room 205
Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
412.648.5676
karimay_at_pitt.edu<mailto:karimay_at_pitt.edu>
"There are no answers- only choices." -Gibarian, Solaris
Received on Fri Aug 08 2025 - 09:20:04 EDT