Mixdown x On the fly

[SenryokuZokyoza]

Everytime I want to finish some song or project and turn it
into an unique file I use the mixdown option at Protools
(bounce to disk).

While listening to a same song "on the fly", whithout mixing it
down, it seems to have a higher quality and brightness than it
has when it is "mixdowned". Is it true or am I dreaming?

Isn't it better to (instead of mixing a song down) play the
song on the fly and record the computer's digital output
directly to a DAT (for example), then play the DAT and record
it back to the computer via digital again?

Am I saying shit? Am I crazy?

[SenryokuZokyoza]

I mean, is it possible for some software on this earth to
mixdown 24 tracks of digital audio into a single 48Khz
24bits audio file without losing any sound quality???
I can clearly "see" the difference between my "open projects"
playing on the fly and my bounced files...

[TexRoadkill]

The summing buss on DAW software is a hotly debated topic. Some prefer to do the mix live instead of rendering it. You can do that in the software by assigning all your tracks to a buss and recording that buss while you mix.

The best way around the software summing is to use an external mixer and just have the DAW function as a multi track recorder with all the tracks set at unity. The downside there is the expense of the mixer and enough analog i/o on your soundcards.

[SenryokuZokyoza]

The buss rec option sounds like a good alternative. What about
recording the DAW's analog out to tape? (to warmth the sound),
then rec it back into the computer? I've read a lot of stuff and
people saying that recording to analog is good because of it's
compression and warm sound... true?

[TexRoadkill]

True? Yes and no.

If you have good digital to analog convertors and a good 1/2 inch reel to reel than that is a way to go. I wouldn't dump it to casette or any other analog format just for 'warmth'. It depends on the overall sound you want. If you are doing grungy rock stuff then maybe a cheap analog dump will do the trick but I personally would try to get there some other way.

The problem you are having is most likely in the actual summing not the master format. The only way to avoid the software summing is to do it externally on a hardware mixer.

[SenryokuZokyoza]

Tex,

I'm using a Digi001. If I use an external mixer, will I be jailed
to it's 8 (digi001) audio outputs?

[Teacher]

you can try switching software to see if you get better results...Samplitude, Nuendo, logic..all supposedly yield better 'in the box' mixes then PT....logic is MAC only samplitude is PC only

[TexRoadkill]

Originally posted by SenryokuZokyoza
Tex,

I'm using a Digi001. If I use an external mixer, will I be jailed
to it's 8 (digi001) audio outputs?

Yep, but sometimes that is enough. You can submix the parts in PT so that drums go to one stereo pair, guits to another, bass and vocals on their own, etc. According to some engineers software busses are usually okay up to around 6 tracks before they start to get a little overworked.

Obviously you want to run them through a mixer that is worth taking them out of the computer. I would think a Mackie VLZ or Soundcraft M would be the minimum quality. The nice thing about running the tracks through a hardware mixer is that it gives you a sonic 'glue' that helps the tracks blend together a little better. Part of the problems with DAW mixes is that they can be a little too pristine and accurate.

[SenryokuZokyoza]

Grouping tracks to busses is a cool tip.
Thanks man.