• SONAR
  • Converting midi to audio (embarrassing to ask this question)
2018/07/29 17:25:42
jerrypettit
20+ year user of Cakewalk (SONAR Platinum--not the Bandlab version yet), and I used to convert MIDI tracks to audio in bulk all the time with "Bounce to track(s)"...but it has been ages.
 
I select my MIDI tracks and the TTS-1 that they are pointed to, go to the Track menu and select "Bounce to Track(s)" and get an error message that there is no audio to bounce.  What am I doing wrong?  I'm wanting to bounce my half a dozen or so MIDI tracks to become half a dozen audio tracks (down below, as in MIDI Tracks 1 to 6 become Audio tracks 21 to 26, for instance).
 
I'm embarrassed that I can't get this figured out...  Thanks in advance.
2018/07/29 17:34:01
msmcleod
I find the easiest way to do this is to freeze the tracks, create some blank audio tracks, then copy the audio over.
 
2018/07/29 17:41:09
jerrypettit
I have 20+ tracks I want to do this with.  That's more labor-intensive than I wanted.  I remember I USED to convert half a dozen or more tracks at a time into multiple new audio tracks.  Just not able to get this done--nor find info on doing it that still works.  Driving me crazy!  :-) 
2018/07/29 17:51:06
msmcleod
jerrypettit
I have 20+ tracks I want to do this with.  That's more labor-intensive than I wanted.  I remember I USED to convert half a dozen or more tracks at a time into multiple new audio tracks.  Just not able to get this done--nor find info on doing it that still works.  Driving me crazy!  :-) 

 
Couple of questions...
1. Have you got multiple instances of TTS-1, or one per track; and
2. Are you wanting individual audio tracks for each track, or a stereo mix of them all ?
2018/07/29 17:54:00
jerrypettit
I do have multiple instances--and I know I have to be careful with that.  Maybe 6 tracks per instance.
 
I definitely want INDIVIDUAL audio tracks, so that I'll have more control come mix time.  
2018/07/29 18:18:49
msmcleod
TTS-1 has a maximum of 4 stereo outputs, so you want to limit the number of MIDI tracks going into it to 4.
 
Assuming you created the TTS-1 with the "All Synth Audio Outputs: Stereo" option selected, when you freeze the TTS-1, it will create 4 new audio tracks. Otherwise, you'll get a single stereo mix in a new track.
 
If you didn't use the "All Synth Audio Outputs: Stereo" option, then you've got two choices (and both are labour intensive):
 
Option 1:
(i) Insert a new TTS-1 with that option selected;
(ii) re-route some of your existing tracks to that instance; 
(iii) delete the original TTS-1 instance
Then you can use Freeze to quickly create 4 tracks
 
Option 2:
(i) Individually solo each track
(ii) freeze the synth, then copy the audio track to a new track.
(iii) repeat until you've got all your tracks.
 
Personally, I'd choose option 1, as once you've set it up properly you've only got a few clicks to create your audio tracks.
 
For example, say you've got 20 tracks, with each group of 4 tracks going into one of 5 x TTS-1's.
You need to press Freeze on 5 TTS-1's to get your audio tracks, so 5 clicks and it's created 20 mixed down audio tracks for you.
 
Another approach would be to write a CAL script to do the manual steps in option 2. I used to do this when I mixed down hardware MIDI synths.
 
2018/07/29 19:21:16
jerrypettit
I ended up doing it with Freeze after Freeze after Freeze.  I thought I'd remember being able to do almost unlimited tracks "back in the day".  Perhaps my memory is slipping.  Thanks for the help!
2018/07/29 19:55:24
Cookie Jarvis
Click on the track number of the TTS-1 to select all the Midi tracks and the dummy audio tracks, then bounce...if you aren't selecting the blank audio track you'll get the error your seeing.
 
Bill
2018/07/29 21:47:37
chris.r
Confirming you need to select the source audio track along with your midi track to succeed with the bounce.
2018/07/30 00:07:59
brandonc
"Click on the track number of the TTS-1 to select all the Midi tracks and the dummy audio tracks, then bounce...if you aren't selecting the blank audio track you'll get the error your seeing." Cookie Jarvis  &  "Confirming you need to select the source audio track along with your midi track to succeed with the bounce."  Chris.R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!        VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!! this is the KEY!!!!!!!
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