Perhaps you are an assistant editor tasked with ingesting and syncing a batch of Broadcast Wave files recorded in the field. You try to sync by timecode, but you notice that each file has a different timecode offset. Then, on one particularly long take, you notice that the audio starts in sync, but slowly drifts out of sync.
Despite the best of workflow intentions, things go wrong: settings are misunderstood or mis-communicated; editing software is upgraded or changed. Stuff happens.
Fortunately, all does not have to be lost. Depending on what you need to edit, report or listen to in a batch of Broadcast Wave files, there is a utility for you! As you explore these utilities, please remember to test them on a COPY of your BWF files, and also please completely test all aspects of your workflow before commiting your entire production and post-production departments to them.
Here is a brief overview of the BWF utilities that we've found useful:
AVTransfer
www.avtransfer.net Publisher: Fairlight Price: $799.00 Platform: Windows Works with: BWF Files from all records Comments: This is the oldest BWF utility that we have worked with, and certainly many of it's features have been replaced by some of the less expensive utilities listed below. It does, however, have one feature that is unique and useful: The ability to convert BWF files into OMF files for import into older Avid systems.
BWF Manager
www.fostexinternational.com/docs/pro_support/pro_bwf_manager.shtml Publisher: Fostex
Price: Free!
Platform: Mac/Windows Works with: BWF files from all recorders (up to 8 tracks) Comments: Made for getting BWF files into or out of the Fostex DV40 and DV824, and works with files from all manufacturers. Useful for batch creating poly files if they were delivered in mono. It is also useful for splitting a large poly into mono files.
BWF Restamp Tool
www.24p.com/AvidInsider2.htm Publisher: Michael Phillips Price: Free! Platform: Mac/Windows Comments: This tool is for very specific Avid 24p workflows and manually adjusts the timestamp of BWF files to match the Avid's default project settings. USE WITH CAUTION!
BWF Splitter & BWF Combiner
www.one-n.com/ Publisher: One-N Corporation Price: $99.00 (each) Platform: Mac/Windows Works with: BWF files from any recorder, up to 24 tracks Comments: Although pricey, this pair of utilities has a clean interface and gets the job of (you guessed it) splitting and combining BWF files in batch mode VERY quickly.
BWF Timecoder
www.one-n.com/ Publisher: One-N Corporation Price: $99.00 Platform: Mac/Windows Works with: BWF files from any recorder Comments: This ingenious utility will create a SMPTE LTC track based on the timestamp of the BWF file. Perfect for transcription services that get BWF files from the field with no timecode track, and also for creating music video playback masters for non-BWF playback devices (e.g. Garageband, etc.) - simply plug the audio out into a timecode slate.
BWFWidget / BWFWidget Pro / BWF-O-Matic / BWF-D-Base
www.bwfwidget.com/ Publisher: GoodSound / Courtney Goodin Price: BWFWidget: $49.95 / BWFWidget Pro w/BWF-O-Matic: $99.00 / BWF-D-Base: $25.00 Platform: Windows Works with: BWF files from all recorders (up to 24 tracks) Comments: BWFWidget is handy for viewing metadata, and has a large timecode window which can be dragged to an external monitor for “poor man's” playback slate on music videos. BWFWidget Pro can view and edit metadata and create PDF reports, as well as correct for pull up/down issues. It is also able to vari-speed playback while adjusting the timecode playback window.
Finally, BWFWidget Pro has feature specifically designed for transcription: It can batch encode and playback MP3 files with timecode and can automatically copy the timecode value to the clipboard whenever the file is paused (thus facilitating timecoded transcripts). BWF-O-Matic can split and combine BWF files, and BWF-D-Base can create a database of all sound related media within a project.
Majax
www.aaton.com/products/sound/majax/
Available at soft.aaton.com/swcantar Publisher: Aaton SA Price: Free! Platform: Mac/Windows Works with: BWF files recorded by the Aaton Cantar Comments: Any editing room or post facility that deals with Cantar created BWF files should download this utility immediately! This free utility can manipulate metadata, mix, rename, split, combine and rotate Cantar files, and create .pdf sound reports.
Prismx
www.soundofvoices.ie/prismx.html Publisher: Sound of Voices Price: Starting at 115.00 euro Platform: Windows Works With: BWF files up to10 channels Comments: Many of it's features have been replaced with the free utilities listed here, but it does allow low end pc workstations to be used as playback/mixer logging stations, and is particularly useful for “WXYZ” stereo format playback.
Wave Agent
www.sounddevices.com/products/waveagent.htm Publisher: Sound Devices Price: Free! Platform: Mac/Windows Works with: BWF files from all recorders (up to 12 tracks) Comments: Can batch rename, split, combine and create reports from BWF files. Can view and edit metadata, including timestamps and pull-up/pull down correction. Extremely useful for troubleshooting Avid and FCP issues involving drifting time code. In addition, the playback mixer can be used to “audition” mixes of takes, even from mono files. Perfect for loggers and assistant editors needing to verify track contents.
XMLPro
www.gallery.co.uk/XMLPro/xmlpro.html Publisher: Gallery Software Platform: Mac Works With: All BWF files Comments: Although technically more than a “utility”, this program completes the workflow cycle between production audio, picture department and audio post by allowing direct linking to production BWF files in both Final Cut Pro and Pro-Tools.
Comments (2) for "Guide to Broadcast Wave File Software Utilities"
1.
Did you not know about BWAVWriter BWAVLister or did you not find them useful? http://quesosoft.com/
Posted by Ezra on Monday, August 17, 2009 @ 12:38 PM
2.
MetadataTouch is another utility that can edit metadata in BWF files.
Posted by Joe on Thursday, September 30, 2010 @ 05:52 AM
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