Why Proprietary Formats Use Basic Tracking
Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo (.cpr, .npr) and Avid Pro Tools (.ptx) use closed binary file structures. Unlike XML-based formats, their inner track configurations and plugin parameters are encrypted or undocumented by host vendors.
To maximize system stability and protect your session files, Sabes Pro tracks these formats using Basic Tracking at the file-system save boundary.
How Basic Tracking Operates
Basic Tracking operates strictly outside the DAW process space:
- OS Save Notifications: Sabes Pro hooks into Windows ReadDirectoryChangesW events to detect save operations when you press Ctrl+S in Cubase or Pro Tools.
- Binary Header Inspection: The parser reads safe non-proprietary header blocks to identify referenced audio sample paths, project creation dates, and stem directories.
- Encrypted Snapshot Generation: Sabes Pro creates an encrypted, deduplicated Take snapshot block in your local repository.
Capabilities Comparison: Deep vs. Basic Tracking
- What Basic Tracking DOES Provide: Complete snapshot history timelines, 1-click Restores, Branching to new session files, audio asset stem tracking, BYOS cloud backup, and A/B loudness auditing.
- What Basic Tracking DOES NOT Provide: Inner track count breakdowns, plugin dependency listing, individual plugin parameter diffs, and MIDI channel counts.
Restoring Cubase or Pro Tools Sessions
When performing a Restore in Place on a .cpr or .ptx session file, close the project inside your DAW first, click Restore in Place in Sabes Pro, and then reopen the project file in Cubase or Pro Tools.
Non-Destructive Guarantee
Sabes Pro operates strictly read-only on your session files. It never writes to or alters your .cpr or .ptx files, reducing the risk of file corruption.