Hello, I'm having some trouble with a mixdown and was wondering if any of you might be able to help me (have submitted a Technical Help form, but am in a time crunch, as is always the case when there's a problem).
 
I have a project with stereo and surround tracks, and during playback and mixing there is no static, but when I bounce the final mixdown there is static on the Surround Main (Bounced) track.
 
I do not use dithering on mixdowns.  I've tried enabling and disabling 64-bit.  I've tried bouncing down from the Entire Mix and the Tracks, static always present.
 
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.
 
Jon

Hi Jon,
 
Some plugins don't cope well with the Fast Bounce option enabled.
Un-check that option and see if it bounces properly.

Thanks for the suggestion Jim.
 
Yeah, I never use the Fast Bounce for just that reason, I find it doesn't like a lot of plugins.  I've tried just about everything I can think of but am still getting that static, only on the mixed-down track.  Frustrating.

Do you get the same static if you first freeze the tracks?   Of for that matter, does freezing expose which track(s) are the culprit?
 

Unfortunately I do, Steve, that's what I was just trying before I checked back here...the static continues throughout on a mixdown, not related to any given track as far as I can tell.  I'm thinking it must be a plugin, but all the plugins I'm using on this project are supposedly surround capable...

So the static is in every frozen track?  Weird.
 
You could try the "E" key to disable all FX and see if that makes any difference.  You can also right-click on an FX bin and choose "bypass all of this type" if you want to be more selective.    Just something to narrow things down a bit.
 

Great suggestions, haven't tried disabling all FX but will do, and didn't know that shortcut, very helpful.

Are you clipping? I bet you are!

Are you using the same export source that your tracks and buses are routed to? These issues will cause clipping and clipping causes 'Static'
 
Try this:
Make sure all your tracks and buses are routed to your MASTER BUS. Then make sure your master bus is routed to your MAIN OUTS 1/2. Then in your export source, select either Main Outs or Entire Mix as your source and export.
 
CJ

Thanks CJ, but no, sadly that's not it.  Every track is routed to either the master or a bus routed to the master.  I'm still stuck on this project.  I can't figure it out.  The static is pretty low volume, but it's constant throughout the mixdown and is obvious on good speakers...I'm debating a work-around, dragging all the audio into stereo tracks, re-routing to stereo buses, but the amount of mixing I'll have to re-do is daunting.
 
It's a lesson in making sure your collaborators meet your specs...

You can mute the FX in the bin one at a time. just click the icon before the FX name in the bin. It's an on/off switch. I use this all the time to quick check the FX level. This would let you pin point a problematic plug in.
 
I was thinking it could also be related to the sound card. Stereo mix is OK but add the surround and suddenly you have issues. Look into the settings on the card for the surround settings and channels. You said the static only appears in the surround main channel. I'd be looking closer at that channel's settings.
 
Just had a thought..... be sure the cable for that main channel is in good condition and not the cause of the issue.