Managing record/arm and input echo settings

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Kylotan
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2015/10/26 13:11:31 (permalink)

Managing record/arm and input echo settings

I have always found it awkward to manage the Record state of each track in Sonar. Often I record on one track, then move to the next, then the next, which involves unarming and rearming each track in turn. It's too time-consuming to go through each track to make sure they're unarmed so I often use the Arm/Unarm All Tracks icon to clear all armed tracks before assigning the one I'd like to record next. Otherwise I can accidentally end up with audio on multiple tracks when I only ever want it on one track.
 
Question 1: is there a quicker way I can do this? Something like Exclusive Solo, but for arming tracks for recording?
 
I also use the Input Echo on/off all tracks for a similar purpose. I have 1 input assigned to a bunch of guitar tracks, but I am only recording one track at a time. So I use this to clear all the input echo assignments before making sure the track I'm recording is echoing. I don't want my playing to be overdubbed through the rhythm tracks as well when I am recording a lead track, for example. This worked great... until Jamaica Plain introduced Aux Tracks. Aux Tracks are what I've wanted for years, so I am starting to use them heavily. Unfortunately, they don't emit any sound unless they have Input Echo enabled. So, when I click to disable the Input Echo across all the tracks except the one I am recording, it also effectively mutes everything I'm sending via an Aux Track.
 
Question 2: Is there a way I can quickly clear all Input Echo settings except Aux Tracks? Or any other way I can achieve this goal (keep all Aux Tracks always enabled, while ensuring that Input Echo is only ever set for one of my 'real' input tracks?)

Sonar Platinum (Newburyport) / Win 8.1 64bit / Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 / Absynth / Kontakt / Play / Superior Drummer 2 / ESP LTD guitar / etc
 
Twilight's Embrace - gothic/death metal | Other works - instrumental/soundtracks
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    Beepster
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 13:41:38 (permalink)
    I have been using the Mix Module in the Control Bar for stuff like this (which is what I'm guessing you mean by "Arm Icon") in conjunction with the track Folder buttons.
     
    Maybe in this scenario, with the new Aux Track setup, you could put the aux tracks in their own folder right next to the related tracks and use the Folder MSR controls. The tracks will still appear in the same sequence in the TV and the CV (except with the track folder head where the MSR buttons live which can be minimized until you need access to the the folder controls) so it should be TOO disruptive but still allow you to bulk disable via the Mix Module and Folder MSR controls and bulk enable via the folder controls.
     
    I would kind of like some kind of project "Map"/"Overview" that would allow to view and control such things in a more compact area (like the Track Manager but with more control options such as the ones you are describing and for me personally I would like to be able to route signals/add remove FX and synths/etc from it). For now it seems to be we need to be a little clever about things and eke around the various options at our current disposal. The introduction of Aux tracks and Patch Points does definitely make the need for some kind of project mapping system more urgent methinks but it is certainly still workable.
     
    Cheers.
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    Kylotan
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 13:58:38 (permalink)
    I'm not sure how putting the Aux tracks into a folder will help - I want them to be ignored when I clear the Input Echo state of everything else in one click, and I don't think being in a folder will change that. I want them on, all of the time, just like a bus would be. I can see there may be exceptions that matter to other people; but right now, it's just making my life harder.
     
    If anything the Track Folder buttons have become less useful of late - I used to be able to click Record on a synth folder and it would enable the MIDI record. Now, it'll enable the record on the audio track as well, which I don't want. So I have to expand the folder to click the MIDI track record button.
     
    (PS. I have no idea what 'Mix Module' means. The Control Bar has no labels and no tooltips so I have no idea which one is which. I just use the buttons with the tooltips saying "Arm [Unarm] All Tracks" and Input Echo [On/Off] All Tracks.")

    Sonar Platinum (Newburyport) / Win 8.1 64bit / Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 / Absynth / Kontakt / Play / Superior Drummer 2 / ESP LTD guitar / etc
     
    Twilight's Embrace - gothic/death metal | Other works - instrumental/soundtracks
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    Beepster
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:11:23 (permalink)
    The folder system I described would allow you to keep all the tracks you are recording into (like all your guitar tracks) so you can enable/disable whatever you want. Then any aux tracks you have being fed by those tracks could be in their own folder right below it (thus with their on folder MSR controls independent of the recording folder).
     
    In that scenario you would not be touching the Mix Module (and what you described definitely sounds like the mix module... I just checked the tooltips... right click on the Control Bar to find out the names of/remove, max/min/etc all the modules... it's very useful especially with the new changes to the CB in SPlat). You just record, add tracks to, clone inside of, etc your "Record Instrument X" folder and you can use the folder's MSR buttons to clear all Arm statuses. Your Aux Tracks and everything else in the project remains unchanged.
     
    Certianly not exactly what you are looking for but it's a decent workflow that helps me keep things (reasonably) straight. If I need to clear EVERYTHING then I reach up to the MixModule.
     
    Cheers.
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    scook
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:14:15 (permalink)
    Kylotan
     I have no idea what 'Mix Module' means. The Control Bar has no labels and no tooltips so I have no idea which one is which.


    It is true the modules themselves have no tool tips but items in the modules do. They are displayed when "Show Tooltips" is enabled in Preferences > Customization > Display. I am pretty sure right-clicking on a module handle will display their name in the resize and close options at the top of the context menu.
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    Beepster
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:17:44 (permalink)
    scook
    Kylotan
     I have no idea what 'Mix Module' means. The Control Bar has no labels and no tooltips so I have no idea which one is which.


    It is true the modules themselves have no tool tips but items in the modules do. They are displayed when "Show Tooltips" is enabled in Preferences > Customization > Display. I am pretty sure right-clicking on a module handle will display their name in the resize and close options at the top of the context menu.




    Also if you minimize the modules in the new Control Bar there is a descriptive name on the minimized module. I keep my Mix Module minimized and it says "Mix" on it.
     
    BTW... I keep it (and others) minimized so I can just hover over it and gain access to the global Mix buttons without losing space for the modules I want always in view (Tools, Transport, Event Inspector and Performance). I have access to it when I need it but it's not a distraction. Of course I could keep it maxed and just scroll over but I prefer it this way.
     
    Freakin' LOVE the new CB for this stuff. Wicked awesome.
    post edited by Beepster - 2015/10/26 14:32:07
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    Kylotan
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:25:02 (permalink)
    scook
    It is true the modules themselves have no tool tips but items in the modules do. They are displayed when "Show Tooltips" is enabled in Preferences > Customization > Display. I am pretty sure right-clicking on a module handle will display their name in the resize and close options at the top of the context menu.



    Ahh, is that what that means. Okay, got it.

    Sonar Platinum (Newburyport) / Win 8.1 64bit / Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 / Absynth / Kontakt / Play / Superior Drummer 2 / ESP LTD guitar / etc
     
    Twilight's Embrace - gothic/death metal | Other works - instrumental/soundtracks
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    Kylotan
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:28:22 (permalink)
    Beepster
    The folder system I described would allow you to keep all the tracks you are recording into (like all your guitar tracks) so you can enable/disable whatever you want. Then any aux tracks you have being fed by those tracks could be in their own folder right below it (thus with their on folder MSR controls independent of the recording folder).

    I don't entirely understand exactly what system you're describing, but it's not practical for me to insert every one of the audio tracks I'll be recording to into the same folder, if that's what you mean. That would ruin track folders for me, mixing in my rhythm guitars, lead guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, vocals, etc. And it wouldn't let me keep any Aux tracks with the audio tracks that feed them, which is the main reason I want them instead of buses.

    Sonar Platinum (Newburyport) / Win 8.1 64bit / Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 / Absynth / Kontakt / Play / Superior Drummer 2 / ESP LTD guitar / etc
     
    Twilight's Embrace - gothic/death metal | Other works - instrumental/soundtracks
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    Beepster
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 14:47:06 (permalink)
    Kylotan
    Beepster
    The folder system I described would allow you to keep all the tracks you are recording into (like all your guitar tracks) so you can enable/disable whatever you want. Then any aux tracks you have being fed by those tracks could be in their own folder right below it (thus with their on folder MSR controls independent of the recording folder).

    I don't entirely understand exactly what system you're describing, but it's not practical for me to insert every one of the audio tracks I'll be recording to into the same folder, if that's what you mean. That would ruin track folders for me, mixing in my rhythm guitars, lead guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, vocals, etc. And it wouldn't let me keep any Aux tracks with the audio tracks that feed them, which is the main reason I want them instead of buses.




    Naw... you'd keep all your guits, bass, drums, etc in their own folders as usual. Then you can bulk disarm the individual folders as needed. The Aux tracks would go into separate folders directly underneath the folder of the specific instrument so they get their own MSR buttons but still stay close to the tracks feeding them.
     
    It ain't elegant and would certainly be a lot better if we had nested folders (hopefully that is finally going to be addressed) but it's what I would do in you situation.
     
    Perhaps I am not fully understanding the query.
    #9
    Kylotan
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    Re: Managing record/arm and input echo settings 2015/10/26 18:18:06 (permalink)
    I think you are understanding the query, it's just that manually un-monitoring 6 or 7 folders is no real improvement over manually un-monitoring 10 or 11 tracks. Either it's one click to do the lot, like it used to be, or it's not.
     
    It would be nice if there were a solution to the record problem too. The manual arm-record-disarm process gets boring and I hate having to go through and check every track before I start recording to make sure nothing was accidentally left on. Another one of those things that favours those who use Console View, I guess.

    Sonar Platinum (Newburyport) / Win 8.1 64bit / Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 / Absynth / Kontakt / Play / Superior Drummer 2 / ESP LTD guitar / etc
     
    Twilight's Embrace - gothic/death metal | Other works - instrumental/soundtracks
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