Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question..

Author
Jimbo 88
Max Output Level: -57 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1828
  • Joined: 2007/03/19 12:27:17
  • Location: Elmhurst, Illinois USA
  • Status: offline
2012/08/13 11:13:25 (permalink)

Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question..

Is there something I'm missing...Once I freeze a synth, I no Longer can add anything to the fx bin?  How do people handle this?  Copy the audio to a new track or is there a setting that can allow me to add to the effects bin?
 
Thanks!
#1

14 Replies Related Threads

    scook
    Forum Host
    • Total Posts : 24146
    • Joined: 2005/07/27 13:43:57
    • Location: TX
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 11:17:14 (permalink)
    You could unfreeze the track or reroute the track to a bus.
    #2
    paulo
    Max Output Level: -13 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 6218
    • Joined: 2007/01/30 05:06:57
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 11:29:22 (permalink)
    Jimbo 88


    Is there something I'm missing...Once I freeze a synth, I no Longer can add anything to the fx bin?  How do people handle this?  Copy the audio to a new track or is there a setting that can allow me to add to the effects bin?
     
    Thanks!


    Depends on why you're wanting to freeze - ie is it the synth or the fx that's munching your cpu ?

    I'm using 8.5 , but I would imagine this will till work in x1....

    If it's the synth, freeze with fx turned off then when done, unbypass fx bin and they're live again and you can tweak away.

    if you freeze with the fx on, then unbypassing the fx bin will add the fx on top of the fx in the frozen track.

    or you can drag the frozen audio to a regular audio track and add fx to that one.
    #3
    CJaysMusic
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 30423
    • Joined: 2006/10/28 01:51:41
    • Location: Miami - Fort Lauderdale - Davie
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 11:43:29 (permalink)
    When you freeze the synth, you free the whole track as it is at that time. Its frozen in time.
    Paulo has it correct as you can un-bypass the effects bin to add effects.

    www.audio-mastering-mixing.com - A Professional Worldwide Audio Mixing & Mastering Studio, Providing Online And Attended Sessions. We also do TV commercials, Radio spots & spoken word books
    Audio Blog
    #4
    bladetragic
    Max Output Level: -80 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 503
    • Joined: 2009/09/12 04:49:24
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 11:48:20 (permalink)
    Go to "Freeze Options" and there is a box that says "Track FX". If you uncheck it then the fx bin will stay active, only freezing the synth so you can still tweak if you so choose.
    #5
    Bristol_Jonesey
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 16775
    • Joined: 2007/10/08 15:41:17
    • Location: Bristol, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 12:04:45 (permalink)
    NO no no.

    You have TWO freeze options - 1 allows to freeze JUST the synth and take it out of RAM, leaving your Fx bin, automation etc fully live & tweakable (there are options to bounce Fx & stuff which you want to switch on/off depending on your needs)

    2 - you can freeze an entire TRACK along with fx bin etc - this option I have never, ever used, but I freeze synths all the time leaving me with full mixing capability (and the option to quickly unfreeze, make a Midi tweak & re-freeze again)

    CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughout
    Custom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
    #6
    Jimbo 88
    Max Output Level: -57 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1828
    • Joined: 2007/03/19 12:27:17
    • Location: Elmhurst, Illinois USA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 12:57:09 (permalink)
    Got cha!   Thanks guys..


    This forum ROCKS!
    #7
    Guitarhacker
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 24398
    • Joined: 2007/12/07 12:51:18
    • Location: NC
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 12:58:19 (permalink)
    you can always bounce the track once you have the basic synth correct.... all the notes right and the patch/sample you want....

    bounce it to a new track and then since it's audio....drop in all the FX you want.

    delete or archive the old synth tracks

    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

    MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW   
    Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface


    BMI/NSAI

    "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer 
    #8
    bitflipper
    01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
    • Total Posts : 26036
    • Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
    • Location: Everett, WA USA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 13:56:25 (permalink)
    My biggest issue with frozen tracks is you cannot add volume automation because if the track is subsequently unfrozen the automation will be lost. So I routinely bounce soft synths to a separate audio track in a separate folder, where it can then be treated like any normal audio track. I'll typically freeze the synth and then CTL-drag the frozen audio into a new track, archive and hide the original.

    Now you're doing a straight all-audio mix. Effects and automation can be freely added, removed and tweaked without restrictions. And your CPU won't break a sweat, no matter how many heavy-duty soft synths you used.

    The only downside to this technique is that it's a hassle to go back and edit the original MIDI, so I usually hold off until I'm happy with the MIDI, basic EQ/compression and starting volume levels. I'll also do some MIDI volume automation prior to bouncing, especially for orchestral swells and crescendos.


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

    My Stuff
    #9
    AT
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 10654
    • Joined: 2004/01/09 10:42:46
    • Location: TeXaS
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 15:21:22 (permalink)
    Easy.  Just freeze, copy and move the almost finished take to another track.  You can rinse and repeat as many times as necessary, archiving the work you've done so you can go back to any step.

    I use this a lot on synths, since I'm old-timey and prefer to work w/ audio.  Also vocals.  I might have 6 or 7 differently effected vocal tracks that I can use.

    @

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
    #10
    bladetragic
    Max Output Level: -80 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 503
    • Joined: 2009/09/12 04:49:24
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/13 21:54:10 (permalink)
    bitflipper


    My biggest issue with frozen tracks is you cannot add volume automation because if the track is subsequently unfrozen the automation will be lost. So I routinely bounce soft synths to a separate audio track in a separate folder, where it can then be treated like any normal audio track. I'll typically freeze the synth and then CTL-drag the frozen audio into a new track, archive and hide the original.

    Now you're doing a straight all-audio mix. Effects and automation can be freely added, removed and tweaked without restrictions. And your CPU won't break a sweat, no matter how many heavy-duty soft synths you used.

    The only downside to this technique is that it's a hassle to go back and edit the original MIDI, so I usually hold off until I'm happy with the MIDI, basic EQ/compression and starting volume levels. I'll also do some MIDI volume automation prior to bouncing, especially for orchestral swells and crescendos.

    Really?  Not sure what's going on there.  When I freeze and unfreeze tracks, automation envelopes stay intact. 
     
    If I had to redo automation everytime I freeze/unfreeze a track I'd probably lose my mind.   That would be a huge pain.
    #11
    paulo
    Max Output Level: -13 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 6218
    • Joined: 2007/01/30 05:06:57
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/14 07:14:34 (permalink)
    bladetragic


    bitflipper


    My biggest issue with frozen tracks is you cannot add volume automation because if the track is subsequently unfrozen the automation will be lost. So I routinely bounce soft synths to a separate audio track in a separate folder, where it can then be treated like any normal audio track. I'll typically freeze the synth and then CTL-drag the frozen audio into a new track, archive and hide the original.

    Now you're doing a straight all-audio mix. Effects and automation can be freely added, removed and tweaked without restrictions. And your CPU won't break a sweat, no matter how many heavy-duty soft synths you used.

    The only downside to this technique is that it's a hassle to go back and edit the original MIDI, so I usually hold off until I'm happy with the MIDI, basic EQ/compression and starting volume levels. I'll also do some MIDI volume automation prior to bouncing, especially for orchestral swells and crescendos.

    Really?  Not sure what's going on there.  When I freeze and unfreeze tracks, automation envelopes stay intact. 
     
    If I had to redo automation everytime I freeze/unfreeze a track I'd probably lose my mind.   That would be a huge pain.


    I think what Bitflipper means is clip fades/envelopes and per clip fx, stuff like that - that is lost on unfreeze. Once I'm happy with the synth patch, position and the midi data I do as he does and just drag the frozen audio to a regular audio track and work on that instead.
    #12
    bitflipper
    01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
    • Total Posts : 26036
    • Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
    • Location: Everett, WA USA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/14 12:43:52 (permalink)
    .
    post edited by bitflipper - 2012/08/14 12:52:47


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

    My Stuff
    #13
    Noisy Neighbour
    Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 460
    • Joined: 2011/06/12 15:33:41
    • Location: Amsterdam / NL
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/14 13:10:34 (permalink)
    Great question asked, Jimbo 88 and brilliant answers, all!

    Just by reading this thread I'm getting so much information here. Confirmation of what I'm doing right and new tricks I didn't new. (never thought of the ctrl-drag copy option of frozen tracks...)
    I hope you don't find it unpolite of me to interfer like this, I just had to mention this! : )

    I can confirm the ROCKIN' of this Forum!!!!!!!!

    regards
    Daniel

    Daniel

    LAVA LAMP, Sonar Platinum  
    Intel Core i7-2600 CPU 3.40 GHz, 16 Gig Ram, Windows 10 x64
    M-Audio Fast Track C400
    A-500 Midi Keyboard Controller, Yamaha MSP7, Yamaha HS50 Monitors,
    (a bit of room treatment) plugins, guitars, 
     Take a Look Inside
    #14
    Jimbo 88
    Max Output Level: -57 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1828
    • Joined: 2007/03/19 12:27:17
    • Location: Elmhurst, Illinois USA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Mixing with Frozen Soft Synths question.. 2012/08/14 13:24:59 (permalink)
    Great question asked, Jimbo 88 and brilliant answers, all! Just by reading this thread I'm getting so much information here. Confirmation of what I'm doing right and new tricks I didn't new. (never thought of the ctrl-drag copy option of frozen tracks...) I hope you don't find it unpolite of me to interfer like this, I just had to mention this! : ) I can confirm the ROCKIN' of this Forum!!!!!!!! regards Daniel

     
     
    Hey you are not interfering at all.    Welcome to it.     +1 for all you said.  
     
    I kinda, sorta know the some of the answers to questions I will ask here...but there is always someone with some great insight or a better way.  So I just ask and, "Poof!"    Great stuff.   Try it sometime.
     
    I thank you all...
     
     
    #15
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1