recording multiple tracks simultaneously?

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barrywomb
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2011/05/21 11:09:42 (permalink)

recording multiple tracks simultaneously?

I should know this, but I don't...
I've always used CW to record one track at a time and just layered.
Now, I want to record vocals on one track, bass on another, but I want to record them at the same time.
What is needed for that? I've got MC, my laptop or desktop, but wouldn't I need some kind of interface to do that? 
I have the Delta44 with the breakout box too.

Not sure how I'd set this up.
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    Beagle
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/21 11:16:19 (permalink)
    MC allows for recording 2 tracks at the same time, so you can do that, but no more than 2.

    you don't need anything other than the D44 for that.  just select the appropriate input for each track.  for example, insert 2 audio tracks in your project, in the first one, for the input select M-AUDIO DELTA 1/2 L
    for the 2nd one's input, select M-AUDIO DELTA 1/2 R
    or something similar - I don't remember the exact nomenclature.  then just make sure you're plugging your preamp from the mic into either input 1 or 2 on the breakout box for the D44 and the bass goes into the other one.

    then arm both tracks and hit record on the transport.

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    Robomusic
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/21 11:30:05 (permalink)
    The question i would ask is why. If you play the bass and sing at the same time you risk bleed over into the mike. Especially if you mike the bass, but even from the finger movement on the strings if you go direct to the system with it. Mike pick up a lot of stuff.

    Sometimes we do this so that we get that "live" feel but you can still do that by singing along while you play the bass, or guitar, and then using that time as practice time to get the vocals right them once the bass track is good fire the mike up and let 'er rip!

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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/21 13:21:02 (permalink)
    Actually Robo, it's more of an experiment.
    I'm having voice troubles and I've recently taken up the bass. I notice that my voice kind of freaks out more on my bass gigs than guitar gigs. I wanted to record them both separately so I could REALLY hear what's going on with both. The plan is to put the audio from my band's last gig in one channel, bass in another, vocal in another and play along with the show and try to see what I can hear.  Yeah, it's weird, but I have a hunch that playing the bass (because it's new) is making me spaz out on my singing. I also really want to hear what I'm doing on the bass to become a better player.


    One more thing, without the D44, how would I do it? I've got a laptop with Sonar and a desktop with MC5 and the d44. Does that mean just buying another interface for the laptop? 
    post edited by barrywomb - 2011/05/21 13:27:16
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    Beagle
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/21 19:42:20 (permalink)
    you won't be able to do simultaneous inputs with the laptop unless the laptop has a separate MIC and LINE input, which is highly unlikely.  most laptop soundcards come with a combo MIC/LINE input and you switch in the windows mixer.  so yeah, you'd have to get an external USB soundcard to hook up to the lappy.

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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 15:57:12 (permalink)


    Yeah, trying to do what you recommend Beagle, but I cannot hear what I'm recording and the reference tracks are recording onto the new ones. I haven't done this in a few months and I took apart my old system. Every time I go to use recording software, I spend hours messing with it just trying to get it to work.... I'm using Asio drivers, my Delta 44 with my bass going into channel 2 and my vocal into channel 1. I can see the inputs registering, but I can't hear either.



    #6
    Guitarhacker
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 16:03:09 (permalink)
    My old CWP8 software with Proteus was like that. I had to spend quite a lot of time setting it up every time I sat down to record..... what a pain. By the time I got it working properly, the creative spark had gone out....



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    Beagle
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 16:09:37 (permalink)
    hi barry - that should work as long as you have the inputs set correctly on the appropriate tracks and have them armed.

    can you post us a screen shot?

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 21:59:08 (permalink)

    This looks right to me, but I'm hearing the BT track on the others when recording and the bass and vocal track aren't very loud at all.




    post edited by barrywomb - 2011/05/22 22:00:13
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 22:01:23 (permalink)
    The bass looks like it has data, but at a very low level.... the line isn't flat. almost, but not quite.

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    Beagle
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/22 22:05:13 (permalink)
    ok - how do you have the bass and microphone connected to the Delta 44?  and what microphone are you using?

    my guess is that you're trying to connect them directly to the D44's inputs, but those are LINE inputs and the bass needs a preamp to bring it up from INSTRUMENT LEVEL to LINE LEVEL and the mic needs a preamp to bring it up from MIC level to LINE LEVEL.  and if it's a condensor mic it also needs phantom power.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 08:01:31 (permalink)
    Right, I hadn't hooked up my mic preamp yet and I had the bass going directly in. Used to have a mixer connected, but I had to use it for something else- I missed that thanks.
    Okay, that solves the low input. 
    What about the recording issue of the new track picking up track one too?

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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 08:08:12 (permalink)
    you want the new track to record only it's input..... I forget what it's called but I think there is a box you need to check or uncheck to keep the existing tracks from being echoed into the new ones.....

    Beagle will answer this I'm sure.....

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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 09:05:51 (permalink)
    Just to note that I'm using ASIO drivers. I know with some of them you can do the "What You Hear" thing or whatever it's called. I don't think that works with ASIO drivers, does it?

    If I press the )))) (that has something to do with echo if I recall) on the track, I can hear the bass through headphones, but when I play it back, it doesn't sound right. It sounds as if someone was just hitting harmonics on the bass, so I know that's wrong.
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 09:26:41 (permalink)
    if you solo the bass track, you should be able to hear it clearly. At times the other tracks will interfere with the sound so ALWAYS solo a track when you are trying to troubleshoot something.

    That said, the signal going in should be recorded exactly like it goes in. The drivers used should not change the sound.... they simply determine how efficiently the software and hardware work together...or not.

    With a decent interface, ASIO is the preferred driver. most of the factory cards will not work well with ASIO so if that is the case, a lesser driver is needed.

    From what I saw in the screenshot, you needed to get the bass levels up considerably. The wave for the bass should be about the same relative size as the track above it.  Once you get that level, you can hear the bass for what it is.

    A short cut would be to select the track and use normalize to bang the bass track up to a reasonable level..... HOWEVER.... that IS NOT the solution to the problem. That is a shortcut to see what the bass really sounds like. Ultimately, you want the levels coming in to be much stronger to give you a good signal to noise ratio in the track.  Using normalize on such a weak signal will also boost the noise, which is what you don't want to happen.

    Also remember: you can export the musical clip and post it online and provide a link so we can also hear exactly what you're referring to and possibly help you solve the mystery.
    post edited by Guitarhacker - 2011/05/23 09:28:23

    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

    MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW   
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    "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer 
    #15
    Robomusic
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 12:16:56 (permalink)
    Make sure the delta mixer is not set to mon mix or something like that.

    I'd Seize the day but i can't quite reach it!

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    barrywomb
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    Re:recording multiple tracks simultaneously? 2011/05/23 15:58:29 (permalink)
    Correct, but as Beagle mentioned, they're line inputs and I was going direct with the mic and bass. Dumb mistake on my part for sure.

    As far as ASIO and the D44, it seems like that whole thing could be so much more straight forward.


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