Brand new here. Desperately need DDP help.

[scallions]

I have a few questions about making DDP files. I’m starting a mastering job where they want DDP files and I have questions. Can anyone help?

[akademie]

What is the question then?

[scallions]

Ok so I’ve watched YouTube stuff etc. if I have a continuous file already marked up like a live show, do I put the separate tracks in reaper or would I put the long continuous wav, put reaper markers then create the DDP? Would it generate separate files in the master audio folder?

[Philbo King]

Definitely use a separate (16 bit, dithered) .wav for each song.
If you plan to use CDBaby or Discmakers to 'print' the discs, they have a free DDP generator/upload program that makes it much simpler, though it will ONLY upload the DDP file, not save it.

[akademie]

I don't know why Philbo recommends you to "definitely" use separate files.

You can use your long full-show audio file with markers on tracks starts, just make marking in Reaper according to Reaper's DDP Export rules (you will find the Help in Render dialog under the button "Help" if you select the DDP as render format).

You will add other info like artist, track names, etc. for tracks and also artist, album name for whole album.

Also the dithering is not needed to make on track(s) beforehand, your original audiofile (e.g. 24 bit) will be dithered and converted to 16-bit automatically upon DDP export (that's the part of process).

.
Of course if you want/need/have to use very specific dithering algorithm, then you can do convert orig. audio to 16-bit with that "special" dithering and then use this file in timeline instead. But (depending on genre, style) it will have little or no audible impact on final product

Well, all that was said asssuming you want to use Reaper to produce DDP filesets.

If you want to use other external standalone DDP application (like Philbo mentioned ... CDBaby or Discmakers for direct gen/upload) or HOFA or Sonoris to export and save DDP sets, then it may be different situation ... (but IIRC, they all allow using one long file and set markers for tracks - if not it would be a "toy" app .

[SMM]

Originally Posted by scallions

I have a few questions about making DDP files.
I’m starting a mastering job where they want DDP files and I have questions.

If I have a continuous file already marked up like a live show,
do I put the separate tracks in reaper or would I put the long continuous wav,
put reaper markers then create the DDP?
Would it generate separate files in the master audio folder?

I use REAPER for everything (recording, mixing, mastering, and much more).
I use REAPER to create DDP files for CD duplication.
I use Disc Makers for Compact Disc replication.

Side note:
I always render my audio files to 16 bit before I create a DDP file.
This way the files are already in their proper format before rendering
to a DDP file. This gives me complete control over the final product.

Plus, I'm one of those people who does not use dither when truncating my
audio masters (64 bit masters and 24 bit masters) down to 16 bit files.
But, that is a topic for a separate discussion.

You can render a DDP file using "Full-speed offline" rendering to save time.
However, I always render my DDP files using "Online Render".
Both ways are fine, its just a matter of personal preference for me
(depending on the type of project that I'm working on at the time).

About audio CDs:
The audio portion on a physical CD is one continuous file from start to finish.
Index markers are used (which you place yourself when making the DDP file)
to mark the start of the next track along that time line.

When creating a DDP file, the audio file (in the DDP file folder)
is the "IMAGE.DAT" file. This is the one and only file that contains the audio data.

** Your one long wav file of a live performance will not be split up into separate wav files.
It will remain as one file (IMAGE.DAT file) **

Here are the files that will be contained in the DDP folder when finished:

- CDTEXT.BIN
- checksum.md5
- DDPID
- DDPMS
- IMAGE.DAT
- PQDESCR

Note: the "IMAGE.DAT" file is one file. This contains the audio.
You will not have separate audio files for each song in the DDP folder
when creating a DDP file.

BONUS STUFF.......
Once you are finished creating the DDP file.

You can drop the IMAGE.DAT file back into your REAPER
DDP project and run a null test to be sure that
the audio contained in the IMAGE.DAT file is an exact match
to the original audio track.

REAPER can read and play the IMAGE.DAT file (audio file). Plus,
it will also show the metadata contained (track name and etc)
that is contained in the DDP file folder during playback.

In other words, you can use a null test to
test the audio contained in the IMAGE.DAT file
against the original audio.

I discovered an article in regards to DDP file creation in REAPER.
The person who created this article did a good job.
https://www.jameszproductions.com/pr...ive-easy-steps

I find this video useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=hoaM2ImnKIw

*******************************************

[scallions]

Ok. Points taken. So if I have separate audio files for the DDP or I have one long file for the DDP is there a difference? Would one long wav with markers in the DDP ensure no clicks or pops? That’s my biggest fear fiords live album is to have pops or tiny clicks between tracks. Guys, thank you so much for your help.

[SMM]

Originally Posted by scallions

Ok. Points taken. So if I have separate audio files for the DDP or I have one long file for the DDP is there a difference?

There should be no difference.

Originally Posted by scallions

Would one long wav with markers in the DDP ensure no clicks or pops?

There should not be any pops or clicks.
However, try to place the track marker at a zero crossing
point on the wave form (during audience applause) between each song to be safe.

Zoom into the audio file at that location
(during audience applause between songs for example) and try to find
the best zero crossing point in the audio to place the track marker.
That is something that I would personally do.

If one song goes into the next song (the music does not stop between songs),
I would try to find the very best spot on the time line to place the track marker
where there is a zero crossing point in the audio file.

Originally Posted by scallions

That’s my biggest fear (typo) live album is to have pops or tiny clicks between tracks. Guys, thank you so much for your help.

Creating a DDP file in REAPER is very easy and amazing in my opinion.
I enjoy creating DDP files in REAPER. I always get excellent results.

[akademie]

Originally Posted by SMM

...<snip>
There should not be any pops or clicks.
However, try to place the track marker at a zero crossing
point on the wave form (during audience applause) between each song to be safe.
<snip>...

@scallions

Also keep in mind that CD players have a delay or automute function when skipping directly to track marker so avoid putting markers exactly at the begining of the track's audio content, otherwise you risk that first few hundreds miliseconds will not be audible
I think that I did used to insert markers about 12 CD-frames ahead (not sure, I will confirm later) (CD-frame is 1/75 sec).

Originally Posted by SMM

...<snip>
Creating a DDP file in REAPER is very easy and amazing in my opinion.
I enjoy creating DDP files in REAPER. I always get excellent results.
<snip>...

I can confirm that, I did replication CDs with CD-text completely in REAPER with exceptional results.

And as we (few users here in team with devs) did tailor the DDP feature even further and fixed some bugs or imperfections about a 2 years ago, I can say that REAPER (if prepared correctly) has "perfect" and most industry-standard compatible DDP output of all the other DDP applications like Sonoris, HOFA, etc.