DP6 track comping

[Frodo]

Actually I believe the term is originally a shortened form of "compiling" - which means to assemble from different sources.

The term "comp" has been around in audio production for decades - and was most usually associated with vocal tracks. In the old days (I'm showing my age here) we had to bounce from tracks on 24 track tape or the like to one track for the final version. Everyone seemed to develop their own style as to how to do it. Most common was to take 5 or 6 vocal takes on different tracks, then go through line by line and pick out the best and write down the info on a "comp sheet" then you had to go through and punch in the various sections on a fresh track. It was a long and pain staking process that took up the better part of a day. The better the singer, the easier it was. Now we still comp but the tracks are endless and we have auto tune and other tools to fix just about anything.

History lesson over.

How well I remember. And what about having 2-3 guys with their fingers poised over bus switches and mute buttons to pull off a proper comp? LOL.

I guess we compile a composite...

Then again-- maybe the wisdom here is that the abbreviation "comp" manages to avoid as much confusion as it creates!

[tripit@earthlink.net]

Actually I believe the term is originally a shortened form of "compiling" - which means to assemble from different sources.

The term "comp" has been around in audio production for decades - and was most usually associated with vocal tracks. In the old days (I'm showing my age here) we had to bounce from tracks on 24 track tape or the like to one track for the final version. Everyone seemed to develop their own style as to how to do it. Most common was to take 5 or 6 vocal takes on different tracks, then go through line by line and pick out the best and write down the info on a "comp sheet" then you had to go through and punch in the various sections on a fresh track. It was a long and pain staking process that took up the better part of a day. The better the singer, the easier it was. Now we still comp but the tracks are endless and we have auto tune and other tools to fix just about anything.

History lesson over.

How well I remember. And what about having 2-3 guys with their fingers poised over bus switches and mute buttons to pull off a proper comp? LOL.

I guess we compile a composite...

Then again-- maybe the wisdom here is that the abbreviation "comp" manages to avoid as much confusion as it creates!

Ha....oh yeah. I remember mixing many times on an old neve that didn't have automation. Grease pencil markings and white tape everywhere. Then I would get the assistant and any other free hand to ride faders and hit mute buttons. We'd go through it several times, everyone rehearsing their moves till we got it right. Arms crossing over each other, everyone leaning over the board all bunched up.

It was a lot fun actually. We'd almost make it and someone would miss a mark or blow a move and we would howl and laugh, only to start over again. And when it was done, there was the satisfaction of a mix will done.

There was something to be said about mixing that way. I'm glad I had the experience of doing it.

[Frodo]

Ha....oh yeah. I remember mixing many times on an old neve that didn't have automation. Grease pencil markings and white tape everywhere. Then I would get the assistant and any other free hand to ride faders and hit mute buttons. We'd go through it several times, everyone rehearsing their moves till we got it right. Arms crossing over each other, everyone leaning over the board all bunched up.

It was a lot fun actually. We'd almost make it and someone would miss a mark or blow a move and we would howl and laugh, only to start over again. And when it was done, there was the satisfaction of a mix will done.

There was something to be said about mixing that way. I'm glad I had the experience of doing it.

Those really were fun days, weren't they? I'm probably too spoiled now to relive that on a daily basis, but that might be a fun idea for some studio reunion party someday.

And then there was always the question that followed-- "Okay-- whose buying dinner?"

[tripit@earthlink.net]

Ha....oh yeah. I remember mixing many times on an old neve that didn't have automation. Grease pencil markings and white tape everywhere. Then I would get the assistant and any other free hand to ride faders and hit mute buttons. We'd go through it several times, everyone rehearsing their moves till we got it right. Arms crossing over each other, everyone leaning over the board all bunched up.

It was a lot fun actually. We'd almost make it and someone would miss a mark or blow a move and we would howl and laugh, only to start over again. And when it was done, there was the satisfaction of a mix will done.

There was something to be said about mixing that way. I'm glad I had the experience of doing it.

Those really were fun days, weren't they? I'm probably too spoiled now to relive that on a daily basis, but that might be a fun idea for some studio reunion party someday.

And then there was always the question that followed-- "Okay-- whose buying dinner?"

You are right about that. I couldn't do half of what I do now working that way, but the challenge was fun. Also, riding faders and working out a mix in real time is like playing an instrument. It was really a performance of sorts. I think that part was appealing, that and I've always been a studio hound. I love nothing more than hunkering down in a studio and making a record.

[beppe]

Wow!
Many thanks, guys!
I have to examine, while I'm waiting for DP6...

[HeadMaster]

I really feel for poor Beppi. Shop talk is hard enough as it is, but shop talk in another language has got to be nerve wracking.

The term "comp" has to be one the most over-applied of them all.

Besides "compositing" consider these:

compressor
free "complimentary" fringe benefit like a concert ticket or hotel room.
musical accompaniment
a compilation CD
often used in business finance speak like comparable company analysis
a form of financial agreement such as Worker's Comp (compensation)

Then we have La Comparcita ..



. . .
HM