Introduction

dwChannelMask is a special kind of wave file metadata which allows to determine the roles of your audio channels. This is especially useful in a multi-channel workflow, where you can explicitly mark channels speakers positions in a surround environment, for eg, channel 1 as Left speaker, channel 2 as Right speaker etc.

Contrary to other softwares, REAPER doesn’t handle channel this metadata at render (EDIT: it can since v6.40 with CAFINFO and WAVETEXT, yet this script can still be helpful for already existing files). This means that all your channel as mark as simple “mono/center”. This prevent good interoperability between softwares which can take advantage of this metadata, like Adobe Audition or Pro Tools.

Here is a preview in Adobe Audition: First file is rendered via ProTools and have speakers positions embedded. Second one is rendered from REAPER and has no special metadata.

The purpose of this script pack it to allows display and injection of dwChannelMask right from REAPER. This also means that REAPER can now behave like a cross-platform tool to see/inject dwChannelMask.

Content

Name	Folder	Links	Date	Version	Changes
X-Raym_Display selected items source wav file dwChannelMask metadata in the console.lua	Metadata	Screenshot	2020-09-10	1.0	1.0 (2020-09-10) + Initial Release
X-Raym_Inject dwChannelMask metadata to selected items wav source files according to their channel count.lua	Metadata	Screenshot	2023-01-15	1.0.2	1.0.2 (2023-01-15) + Error message in console log if channel count doesn't fit any speaker preset and not process 1.0.1 (2022-03-11) 1.0 (2022-03-10) + Initial Release
X-Raym_Inject dwChannelMask metadata to selected wav files according to their channel count.lua	Metadata	Screenshot	2023-01-15	1.0.4	1.0.4 (2023-01-15) + Error message in console log if channel count doesn't fit any speaker preset and not process 1.0.3 (2022-03-11) 1.0.2 (2022-03-11) + Offline all media 1.0.1 (2022-03-03) + Warning message fix for missing js_reascriptAPI 1.0 (2020-09-10) + Initial Release
X-Raym_Inject dwChannelMask metadata_GUI.lua	Metadata	Screenshot	2023-01-15	1.0.3	1.0.3 (2023-01-15) + Error message in console log if channel count doesn't fit any speaker preset and not process 1.0.2 (2023-01-14) 1.0.1 (2023-01-14) 1.0 (2022-03-11) + Initial Release
X-Raym_Wave file dwChannelMask metadata_functions.lua	Metadata		2023-03-19	1.0.7	1.0.7 (2023-03-19) # Better is float detection 1.0.6 (2023-03-19) # 32 bits fix attempt 1.0.5 (2023-03-19) # fix no debug messages 1.0.4 (2023-01-15) + Returns Error message if channel count doesn't fit any speaker preset and not process # internal optimizations # No arbitrary channel limit (but expected not to be higher than 18 by dwChannelMask standard) 1.0.3 (2022-03-11) 1.0.2 (2020-09-10) # Debug Msg # Read Only Mode (no file update)

Demo

Display selected items source wav file dwChannelMask metadata in the console

A basic displayer to see the roles of your selected items active take channels.

Inject dwChannelMask metadata to selected wav files according to their channel count

This script allows to add dwChannelMask metadata into wav files. It is destructive, which means it alters your original files. No undos. As this is early release phase, please make backups of your files before trying.

This particular script works by selecting files in a Browse File window. I think this would be good enough for most cases, as this is meant to be used post-render. Other method of selection could be imagine like “all files in a directory and subdirectory” etc… I may add new scripts based on demand.

The scripts works by simply analyzing the number of channel the files have, and inject an associated dwChannelMask pattern to it in response.

(New: 2022-03-11) GUI Version and Item based version

Installation

This pack can be installed and auto-updated with the free ReaPack REAPER extension with a custom link related to your licence, or via regular Zip download.
After purchase, detailed installation instructions will be provided here and on the dedicated Purchase Confirmation page.
License are valid lifetime. You will be able to enjoy updates and new scripts added to the pack.

Feature Requests

Miss a function? Let me know!

Notes

By buying this product, you are supporting my free scripting. Thanks!

And Thanks to mrlimbic @Vordio for all the doc about this complex subject, and for the Audition screenshot!

ExtremRaym

Raymond Radet's website

ReaScripts Pack: Wave Files dwChannelMask Surround Speaker Positions Metadata