OMG! I just saw the light! DP's Input Monitor ROCKS!!!

[FMiguelez]

I know... for some of you this may be like duuuuh!, and you've always known it.

But I just discovered something that will change my (mixing) game

What I used to do (until a few minutes ago):
For my orchestral stuff I use VE Pro 5. The slaves were set in such a way that each instrument was sent to DP separately. I had one Aux track in DP to catch each of these instruments.
Each of these Aux tracks had an EQ plug-in. The idea was that, as I composed, the tracks were affected by the EQ.
After finishing the composition stage, I could refine the EQs and remix (mostly with MIDI CCs).

Once I was happy with the mix, I sent each Aux track to a corresponding Audio track to print it in such a way that, to preserve CPU, the printed tracks (with no plug-ins) sounded exactly the same as what I got with the Aux tracks (with the plugs). IOW, my printed tracks were already EQ'd.

The problem is that I always find things to improve or re-EQ, so if I wanted to change anything I had to reset the I/O assignments and rerecord if I wanted a change. This was tiresome, long, boring and potentially confusing. Also, it made me have tons of bundles just for this purpose. I just thought there had to be a better way. So, while walking in circles around my studio, as I always do when I need to think, I was like... could it be??? Nah! It sounds too good to be true. But maybe... just maybe... So I tried it. The result: I found out something great...

What I discovered (and will do from now on):
I don't need to do all that mess!!!!

Instead of using Aux tracks, I can use regular audio tracks with the Input Monitoring enabled (the little speaker). I can have the EQ plugins in the tracks to monitor and mix (at the MIDI stage). When I'm ready to print, I can do it right there, without reassigning anything!

But the BEST part is that when you record on such a track, the plug-ins DO NOT get printed!!! That means that I can change any plug-in setting in the same track, knowing that if I need to rewrite or re-orchestrate or change anything MIDI, since the plug-in is in the same track (as opposed to a different Aux track), it will sound the same whether I am listening to the MIDI or to the printed audio!!!!
Having access so easily to the natural (un-EQ'd) sound of each instrument in the printed track is awesome. Like this, I can have the best of both worlds!

I'm so excited that I'm not sure I'm making any sense

Amazingly, I remember I got annoyed and forgot about audio tracks with Input Monitoring long ago precisely for that very reason (plug-in effects not being printed in the track). At that time I must've wanted to do something else... but now this is a game changer for me

So right now I'm reassigning my whole new project to be setup like this. Oh, and my templates too.

I hope someone finds this helpful (if I made myself understood).

Did I mention I am SO HAPPY about this?!?!?!?

DP NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.

[Dan Worley]

You made yourself very clear. I'm glad it all clicked into place for you.

[FMiguelez]

Yes! Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm, Dan.

How could I not know about this until now?!!?

I just finished copying every Aux track's automation and plug-ins to these audio tracks. It was easily done in a couple of minutes. I deleted those Aux tracks and all the redundant bundles from the previous old workflow too. Now this project sounds the same as before, but with this much better work flow. If I go back to MIDI it sounds exactly the same as if I go to the printed tracks. Now I can change anything so easily, and, best of all, I don't have to commit at all...
It really works like a charm. It is making things soooooooooo much easier and faster.

I am so happy that I'm actually annoyed I didn't think of this before

[Prime Mover]

Yea! Sounds like a winner.

Ya know, I've thought of this from time to time, but since I tend to use separate VI instances for every instrument group (PLAY and Kontakt here), I never end up using the extended outputs on VIs. HOWEVER... I really should do this for the master track. I've gotten away from using an actual Master track, and started to use an aux track named "Master" instead (more versatile). Then when I want to bounce, I create an audio track and bus to it from the master (with another bus). But really, this is kind of silly, I could simply use an audio track with the input monitor enabled, like you said, and save myself a bus pair. Unfortunately, for listening purposes, I tend to throw on some "dirty mastering" plugins on my master, and that wouldn't catch those, so I'd want to do a final bounce afterwards.

One question about input monitoring. If you have a track input enabled, does it respond to muting and soloing the same way it would normally? Or does the input monitor act as the soul enabling button? I forget. That might be kind of a pain to deal with.

[NazRat]

One issue with using audio tracks for VIs hosted inside DP (as opposed to the OP, outside via VE) is that in order use the input monitor button, you have to set the monitoring to 'through plugins' rather than 'through hardware'. If you monitor through hardware and are still tracking, the switch to through plugs may introduce some unwanted latencies. If you're already using through plugs then no issue.

[stephentayler]

For what it's worth, my mix setup uses multiple aux channels for each element of the mix. Drums, bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, pianos, keys (multiples), strings, B vocals, Lead Vocals (all depends on the genre!) all get bussed to their own Aux channels. These can then have their own plugins and level automation.

These are in turn bussed to individual Audio tracks, set to unity and are left on input.

These are then sent to a mix Aux buss, which may, or may not, have overall EQ, compression, limiting or summing plugins (and can include a fade-out if needed). This is then bussed to a Master Final Mix Audio channel.

This way I can record the final mix, or record all individual stems in one go.

I also used this method for a film soundtrack I did recently. All the dialogue, foley, effects, music etc. surround tracks were set up in a similar way.

Having recorded all the elements in this way, any small adjustments can be recorded locally, without having to record the entire project again. All that is needed is to update the final mix or individual stems by merging. Want to lift that one moment on the main vocal or dialogue track? Drop it into the main mix, then merge. Sorted!!

Cheers

Stephen

[bayswater]

How could I not know about this until now?!!?

It's something I have to keep reminding myself of. I forget because you have to monitor through DP to get this to work, or have all the audio tracks record enabled all the time, so I stop using it and forget it's there.

You could do both aux and audio by putting auxes in racks with outputs to the audio and sends set to unity going to the main outputs. Then record enable the audio whenever you're ready.

The signal routing possibilities in DP seem endless. I wish they would publish a block diagram to help us explore it.

[kwiz]

Thanks for posting this FMiguelez!
This is why I love this forum; sharing tricks and tips. You learn something new everyday, especially with DP!

[sdfalk]

Poop…
..lol…I should thought of that..thanks man..
Nicely explained

[FMiguelez]

One question about input monitoring. If you have a track input enabled, does it respond to muting and soloing the same way it would normally? Or does the input monitor act as the soul enabling button? I forget. That might be kind of a pain to deal with.

I haven't noticed anything different about them.
But I have been using the mute buttons from the MIDI tracks, so I'm not sure.

What I can tell you, with my very short experience with input-monitor tracks, is that after I print the tracks I must disengage the monitoring, otherwise I get no sound (only whatever the MIDI feeds it).
I haven't noticed anything different for the solo or mute buttons.

[FMiguelez]

Thanks for posting this FMiguelez!
This is why I love this forum; sharing tricks and tips. You learn something new everyday, especially with DP!

Poop…
..lol…I should thought of that..thanks man..
Nicely explained

Glad you found it useful!