What is an SESX file?

An SESX file is a session file created by Adobe Audition, a powerful audio production application. Unlike traditional audio files, .sesx files store a multitrack audio project in an XML format. This includes essential information about mixing, effects settings, and the organization of audio tracks within the session. Importantly, .sesx files do not contain the actual audio data. Instead, they save the pathnames to the audio files used in your project, allowing Audition to access the audio without embedding it in the session file.

The key features of the SESX file format include…

  1. Session Data: The .sesx file includes comprehensive details about all audio tracks within the project. This encompasses their order, duration, and any effects applied.
  2. Reference Paths: The file maintains paths to all audio files associated with the session, enabling Adobe Audition to locate and play these files seamlessly.
  3. Mixing Information: Mixing settings such as volume levels, panning adjustments, and effects configurations are stored within the .sesx file, preserving the project’s audio mix.

Adobe introduced the .sesx format in November 2007 with the release of version 3.0 of Audition. This new format replaced the previous .SES format, a binary file type that was the default audio project format in earlier versions. The shift to an XML-based structure made the .sesx files more accessible and easier to edit manually if necessary.

Creating an SESX File in Adobe Audition

To create a new .sesx file in Adobe Audition, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open Adobe Audition.
  2. Navigate to File → New → Multitrack Session….
  3. Customize the various settings for your session according to your project needs.

This process will create a new .sesx file that you can populate with audio tracks and effects.

Importing Audio Formats

One of the strengths of the .sesx file format is its ability to work with various audio file types. You can import a wide range of audio formats into your projects, including:

  • .AIF (Audio Interchange File)
  • .FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
  • .AAC (Advanced Audio Codec)
  • .OGG (Ogg Vorbis)
  • .WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
  • .MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III)

To import audio files into your Audition project, simply select File → Import and choose the desired audio files.

Converting an SESX file

To convert a .sesx file, you typically need to open it in Adobe Audition. Once the session is loaded, you can export it to various audio formats. To do this, go to File → Export and choose Multitrack Mixdown or Selected Clips. Select your desired audio format (like WAV, MP3, or AAC) and specify the output settings, such as sample rate and bit depth. After configuring the settings, click OK to initiate the conversion. The new audio file will be saved in the specified location, while the original .sesx session remains unchanged.

Overview of the Adobe Audition Session (.sesx) File Format

  • Name: Adobe Audition Session
  • File Extension: .sesx
  • Media Type: application/xml
  • Identification Pattern: The file begins with an XML header, typically containing <session> tags that identify it as a SESX file.
  • Description: The .sesx file format is used by Adobe Audition to store audio session data, including the arrangement of tracks, effects, and settings. It is an XML-based format that allows for easy editing and sharing of session information. SESX files enable users to save their audio project configurations, making it easier to manage complex audio editing tasks and collaborate with others while maintaining all session details.

How to open an SESX file

To open a .sesx file in Adobe Audition, follow these steps:

  1. Launch Adobe Audition: Open the Adobe Audition application on your computer.

  2. Open the SESX File:

    • Go to the File menu in the top left corner of the screen.
    • Select Open… from the dropdown menu.
    • In the file dialog that appears, navigate to the location where your .sesx file is saved.

  3. Select the File: Click on the .sesx file you want to open.

  4. Open the File: Click the Open button. The session will load, and you’ll see all the tracks, settings, and audio references within Adobe Audition.

Applications that can handle or utilize SESX files include

  • Adobe Audition 2023 (Free Trial) (Windows, Mac)

What is Adobe Audition?

Adobe Audition is a professional digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Adobe Systems, designed for audio editing, mixing, and sound design. It offers a range of powerful tools for recording, editing, and restoring audio, making it popular among musicians, sound designers, and podcasters. Users can work with multitrack sessions, apply effects, and utilize advanced features like spectral analysis and noise reduction. Audition supports various audio formats, enabling seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Its intuitive interface and extensive audio manipulation capabilities make it a go-to choice for audio professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Advantages and Industry Applications

Primary Advantages:

  • Project Portability: Easily transfer sessions between systems or collaborators by packaging the SESX file and its associated media folder.
  • Non-Destructive Safety: Eliminates the risk of permanently damaging original audio assets.
  • Precise Session Recall: Guarantees that every detail of a mix can be recalled months or years later for revisions.
  • Efficient Storage: Session files are small, saving precious disk space compared to formats that embed all audio data.

Industry Use Cases:

  • Podcast Production: Managing multiple host/guest tracks, music beds, and sound effects across a timeline.
  • Audio Post-Production for Video: Aligning dialogue, sound effects (SFX), and music to picture with precise edits and automation.
  • Sound Design: Creating complex audio landscapes by layering and processing multiple source sounds.
  • Music Mixing & Mastering: Arranging song sections, applying mix processing, and preparing final masters for delivery.

FAQ

Q1: What program opens an SESX file?

A: SESX files are primarily opened using Adobe Audition; they can also be imported by other Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Premiere Pro via the Audio Track Mixer.

Q2: Can I convert an SESX file to an MP3 or WAV?

A: Not directly—you must open the SESX file in Adobe Audition and then use the “Export” or “Mix Down” function to render the final timeline to a single audio file format like MP3, WAV, or FLAC.

Q3: What’s the difference between an SESX file and a WAV file?

A: A WAV file contains finalized audio data, like a printed photograph. An SESX file contains the instructions for creating that audio, like the Photoshop (.PSD) file with all its layers and edits used to create that photograph.

Q4: How do I share an SESX project with someone else?

A: Use Adobe Audition’s “Package Project” feature, which collects the SESX file and all linked audio files into a single folder for easy transfer, ensuring all media links remain intact.

Q5: What should I do if Audition says my media files are offline when opening an SESX?

A: Use the “Link Media” dialog in Audition to manually locate the missing audio files, ideally by pointing to the project’s associated “Audio” folder that was packaged with the SESX file.

References