Re: [jokosher-devel] Open Multitrack Audio Format

[Michael Sheldon <webmaster mikeasoft com>]

Hi Steven,

 Welcome to Jokosher! It would definitely be nice to be able to 
interoperate with other multitrack editors; when we were first
designing Jokosher (at the time still JonoEdit) I remember we looked
in to a proposed multimedia meta format, I can't remember the name
though (I think Aq first mentioned it?). Although I seem to remember
after glancing at the spec it seemed rather cumbersome and perhaps
didn't support everything we planned to do.

 Another advantage of a standardised format would be the ability to
have a Jokosher project loaded almost as if it were an already 
mixed down audio file in to a video editor (like Pitivi), allowing
you to have Jokosher and Pitivi open simultaniously, so you could 
tweak the audio without needing to mix down after every change. 
(Clearly we'd want to abstract as much of the file handling code as
possible in to a new library, so all Free projects could read it with
minimal effort).

 But designing such a spec would require a lot of hard work, 
determining all the required functionality, and making sure that all
relevant parties are happy with it (no good having a standard if no one
wants to use it). I'd be perfectly happy to offer what little experience
I've gained (as I'm sure other Jokosher devs would) to helping anyone
embarking on this task, but I don't have the time (or probably skill) to
lead such an undertaking myself.

 Cheers,
  Mike.

On Wed, Mar 14, 2007 at 07:00:02PM -0300, Steven Garrity wrote:
> I've been thinking a lot lately about how the graphics world needs an 
> open multi-layer raster image format (an OpenDocument format for 
> Gimp/Photoshop). Seeing the announcement that NIN released their new 
> single in the GarageBand format [1], it occurred to me that the 
> multi-track audio world needs the same thing.
> 
> This is especially true given how online collaborative audio recording 
> is becoming more common. As far as I know, people either have to agree 
> on one format (ProTools, etc.) to be able to work together (sending each 
> other files in that format), or they have to send each other single 
> tracks in common formats (wav/flac/ogg/mp3, etc.).
> 
> I understand that Jokosher created its own file format, which is 
> understandable given the lack of a common format for this type of 
> application. I also imagine that creating such a common format would be 
> quite a difficult and complex job.
> 
> I have neither time nor the talent required to take on such a project. 
> That said, I thought it at least worth sharing the idea - though I'm 
> sure it has occurred to most of you already.
> 
> Anyone up for inventing OMA - the Open Multi-track Audio format?
> 
> Cheers,
> Steven Garrity
> 
> [1] 
> http://www.digg.com/apple/NIN_releases_Garageband_files_for_their_newest_single_Survivalism
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-- 
Michael Sheldon
http://www.mikeasoft.com