Tracking, overdubs and buffer settings

[philbrown]

When possible, I like mixing as I go on a project. Here’s the generic short version:
Track drums, bass and start getting them sounding good with various plugs while overdubbing guitars, keys then vox. So I have the mix far enough along with enough plug-ins running that now if I try to overdub something like Keyscape or other CPU hogs at a low buffer setting, the computer starts choking. Running at a high buffer kills the feel and makes it virtually impossible to track. One clunky solution is to bounce a rough mix, drop it in another project with a low buffer, cut the key part(s) to that and bring that back into the original project. I used to run a separate VI computer but that’s not practical at this point and has other drawbacks.

I’m curious how you guys handle this situation.

[HCMarkus]

One approach:

When a project is pretty far along and another part needs to be added, using a hardware synth's internal sounds can provide the tight feel desired. Perform with a sound that is similar in character to the desired VI, then replace with the VI on playback.

Edit: Make sure you monitor the hardware synth thru a hardware mixer, not thru the computer.

[Phil O]

Don't forget about Freeze Tracks. It's easier than bounce for what you're doing, I think.

Phil

[FMiguelez]

One approach:

When a project is pretty far along and another part needs to be added, using a hardware synth's internal sounds can provide the tight feel desired. Perform with a sound that is similar in character to the desired VI, then replace with the VI on playback.

Edit: Make sure you monitor the hardware synth thru a hardware mixer, not thru the computer.

+ 1000!

A lot of times I start composing using my JV-2080. Sometimes I finish the composition stage all with hardware, and, when finished, simply copy paste into the VI tracks (which can be made in one single operation). Oh, and it always sounds much better at the end with the big bad boy instruments!

An additioonal benefit is that you really concentrate on the composition/orchestrating aspects without being distracted by the quality of the sounds.

[philbrown]

Thanks guys and a big duh from me. I used to do that sometimes but that workflow just slipped my mind lately.

A lot of times I start composing using my JV-2080. Sometimes I finish the composition stage all with hardware, and, when finished, simply copy paste into the VI tracks (which can be made in one single operation). Oh, and it always sounds much better at the end with the big bad boy instruments!

An additioonal benefit is that you really concentrate on the composition/orchestrating aspects without being distracted by the quality of the sounds.

Perfect. I have Jupiter 80 and Deepmind (analog) keyboards sitting here– again, duh. Thanks for the reminders. It also frees you up later to not think about playing the parts themselves but to scroll through presets or create/edit sounds in the context of the mix.

[Maxxy]

I learned it here some time ago

Use a plug-in free mix in the Mixing board

So….. Duplicate your current mix…. that saves it as Mix 1….

Then make a new mix… this will make a new mix without any plug-ins….but will retain your instruments….It will be Mix 2

You can now flick over to Mix 2, without all the processing, whenever you want to minimise buffer settings for real-time input….

As posted here ….you can also, or alternatively, freeze the instrument tracks to take further strain off the buffers…I guess it depends where your CPU is being taxed most

Also make sure to have no plugs on the master output

If you have a lot of bite gains, pitch edits, sound bite edits, time stretches etc of audio tracks… you can also merge all soundbites… which further allows the computer to run as freely as possible