URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live

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PilotGav
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2013/02/10 11:59:33 (permalink)

URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live

Sorry for the URGENT request.

I need to capture the output of a softsynth LIVE. (not the midi, but the actual audio).

The reason is that I'm playing a part with a random sample and hold oscillator modifying the filter (LOL. I'm so proud I just said that. I just got into synthesis), and I want to capture the performance so I can choose the best sounding parts. If I just capture the MIDI - I have no guarantee I'll get the same "random" changes in timbre.

Thanks!

Gavin
#1

19 Replies Related Threads

    PilotGav
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:01:43 (permalink)
    FOUND IT!!!

    I changed the input on the target audio track to be the output of the instrument track.

    I love a Sonar ;-)
    #2
    PilotGav
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:06:34 (permalink)
    False alarm. When I do this I lose the RECORD capability on the target track.

    HELP? :-)
    #3
    scook
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:18:35 (permalink)
    Here are two ways, there are plugins (ex. HGS Wav recorder www.hgsounds.com) that you can add to the FX bin that will record the output of the track to file (then load up the wav into the project) or use a loopback through your audio interface if you have enough I/O ports.
    #4
    sharke
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:38:16 (permalink)
    Ridiculous that this is not doable in the way he described. Should be a no-brainer to route the output of a synth to audio and record It. A shocking ommision if this is not possible without a plug or loop back. I discovered this recently when I wanted to record a Reaktor groovebox performance to audio because the controls could not be automated. Come on Cakewalk. 

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
    #5
    PilotGav
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:39:14 (permalink)
    Thanks guys. This really needs to be fixed!
    #6
    scook
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:47:10 (permalink)
    #7
    Lynn
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/10 12:58:38 (permalink)
    Why wouldn't you have confidence that you would get the "random" changes in timbre if you recorded the MIDI output?  You can always go into PRV and adjust by hand if you're not satisfied.  You may be over complicating this.
    PilotGav


    Sorry for the URGENT request.

    I need to capture the output of a softsynth LIVE. (not the midi, but the actual audio).

    The reason is that I'm playing a part with a random sample and hold oscillator modifying the filter (LOL. I'm so proud I just said that. I just got into synthesis), and I want to capture the performance so I can choose the best sounding parts. If I just capture the MIDI - I have no guarantee I'll get the same "random" changes in timbre.

    Thanks!

    Gavin



    All the best,
    Lynn

    my songs
    www.soundclick.com/lynnwilson

    www.youtube.com/lywilson
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    Cakewalk by Bandlab| Sonar Platinum @ 64bits| i7 860 | 8 gigs ram | W10 @ 64 bits | RME FF 400
    #8
    rcrees
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/12 16:20:14 (permalink)
    I'm pretty sure I've done this before years ago, so I'm thinking there is a way... obviously something to do with routing... I'll look into it when I get back on my rig... So, bouncing/freezing your Soft Synth track doesn't do it?  I'm probably missing something...


    http://www.rcreesmusic.com
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    #9
    sharke
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/12 16:26:26 (permalink)
    rcrees


    I'm pretty sure I've done this before years ago, so I'm thinking there is a way... obviously something to do with routing... I'll look into it when I get back on my rig... So, bouncing/freezing your Soft Synth track doesn't do it?  I'm probably missing something...

    Sure you can bounce or freeze your synth track, or you can just select a portion of the timeline and export to WAV. But that's no good if you want to record a synth performance. For example, I use a lot of Reaktor drum machines/grooveboxes. I'd like to be able to tweak the performance on the fly...adjusting step size, swing, patterns etc. Some of them do not make these parameters available for automation. I'd love to be able to just record my performance to an audio track in real time, but I can't. 

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
    #10
    bvideo
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/12 18:50:13 (permalink)
    Since it's urgent, see if you can use this to record your performance. Someone else wanted to record softsynth audio driven by an external sequencer; the basic requirement is the same: record softsynth audio from external MIDI.

    Bill B.
    #11
    rcrees
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/12 19:31:04 (permalink)
    sharke


    rcrees


    I'm pretty sure I've done this before years ago, so I'm thinking there is a way... obviously something to do with routing... I'll look into it when I get back on my rig... So, bouncing/freezing your Soft Synth track doesn't do it?  I'm probably missing something...

    Sure you can bounce or freeze your synth track, or you can just select a portion of the timeline and export to WAV. But that's no good if you want to record a synth performance. For example, I use a lot of Reaktor drum machines/grooveboxes. I'd like to be able to tweak the performance on the fly...adjusting step size, swing, patterns etc. Some of them do not make these parameters available for automation. I'd love to be able to just record my performance to an audio track in real time, but I can't. 

    Ah, Yes. I think I see.  If the midi track that is being created doesn't record some of your adjustments made on the fly, when you bounce to an audio track, these adjustments aren't there...


    Yes, being able to record a soft synth performance directly to an audio track WOULD be a a great feature.  Cake?


    Best,
    Rob


    http://www.rcreesmusic.com
    Dell XPS 8300, Intel Core i7, 8gigs ram, AMD Radeon 6670, Two SATA II 500gig hard drives, one 250gig external USB drive, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, M-Audio Keystation 61es, Windows 7 Home Premium, SONAR X3 Producer, many sample libraries including EastWest PLAYx64 Gold Complete, RA, Stormdrum and Choirs
    #12
    Funkybot
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/12 19:45:13 (permalink)
    sharke


    Ridiculous that this is not doable in the way he described. Should be a no-brainer to route the output of a synth to audio and record It. A shocking ommision if this is not possible without a plug or loop back. I discovered this recently when I wanted to record a Reaktor groovebox performance to audio because the controls could not be automated. Come on Cakewalk. 

    I've been saying it for years: the routing in Sonar is terrible! I want to be able to route outputs to inputs, send one track's output to multiple inputs, etc. 

    Improved routing and a smaller/scalable console with true full screen operation are my number 1 and 2 Sonar feature requests. 

    Intel i7 4790k, ASUS Z97-A mobo, 16GB Kingston DDR3 RAM, Windows 10 x64,  UAD2 Duo, RME Fireface 800, Sonar X1/X2 Producer
    #13
    slartabartfast
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 00:46:41 (permalink)
    If the virtual mixer supplied with your audio interface driver will not let you do a loopback to an armed audio track in Sonar, maybe this might work. There is a free trial version that might be worth a try.

    http://www.ntonyx.com/vac.htm#f



    #14
    dburns
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 01:11:00 (permalink)
    A search on "Virtual Audio Cable" turns up some options you may find useful. Good luck! :)

    Dave Burns
    Lowell, MA
    More equipment than skill.
    #15
    sharke
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 02:02:22 (permalink)
    I cannot for the life of me understand why Cakewalk have not given us these routing options. Was it always this way? It just seems like the code is there already to route audio from outputs to inputs, surely it cannot be that hard to implement it!!

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
    #16
    scook
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 07:10:37 (permalink)
    It has always been. Of course there is code for signal routing. Why would ease of implementation be a reason to do something? It was a design decision to layout the signal routing the way it is. IIRC, the explanation of the routing restrictions was to prevent users from accidentally creating loops. This restriction is one of the reasons I buy audio interfaces with more I/O ports than I need for normal recording/playback. The extra ports can be used for the loops that SONAR does not provide. See message #7 above.
    post edited by scook - 2013/02/13 22:03:44
    #17
    b rock
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 10:17:10 (permalink)
    I'm playing a part with a random sample and hold oscillator modifying the filter ... and I want to capture the performance so I can choose the best sounding parts.

     
    My first thought was to do all this in Rapture's Microhost.  Set the Cut 1 or Cut2 LFO to Random Unipolar or Bipolar, and record the performance with its internal Record WAV function.
     
    Even if you're not using Rapture as a source synth, you can import the completed XYZ softsynth clip from Sonar (minus the S&H performance).  Hold Middle C, process the clip through the filter LFO, and Record WAV.
     
    Granted, this is outside Sonar, involves a .wav file export & import, and you won't have the benefit of playing alongside any other tracks.  But it is an available option.
    #18
    A1MixMan
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 21:59:12 (permalink)
    If you have a multi input output audio card, you could reroute the audio to another input and record that.

    A1
    #19
    guitardood
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    Re:URGENT: Recording softsynth to an audio track live 2013/02/13 22:12:09 (permalink)
    You should be able to create a second audio track and set it's input to the output from the soft-synth, not the output from the synth audio track.  But you should also be able to record onto the synth-audio track as well.

    If for some reason this is currently broken in Sonar, Voxengo has a free WAV recorder (http://www.voxengo.com/product/recorder/) which will help.

    Best,
    guitardood

    #20
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