cubase sx+editing and mixdown

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mancalledaerodynamics

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I have two vocal tracks with various takes on each. I like a couple of the takes on track one for the verses, while track two has the choruses I like. How do I put this all together into one track? I understand how to do this with multiple takes one one track (i think), but not multiple takes on two tracks. Can't find an easy way to match up the edit points. Also, can anyone explain the difference between regions and events? Which do i want to record with? And finally, can you manually ride faders in real time during mixdown, or do all moves have to be automated with the write and read functions? Thanks for any help with these questions. I am new to pc recording having recorded for years with 4 and 8 tracks. This software is amazing and the sound quality is truly astounding, now if only I can learn how to use all these wonderful digital editing capabilities...
 
Aero,

Hi. I saw this a while ago and didn't have the energy to answer then. Sorry it took so long to get back to it.

Check your manual about editing. It isn't that hard, but it IS very different from analog in every way.

There is a scissors tool that you can use to cut your track. Cut around the sections of the takes that you want to erase or cut. then use the select tool (the arrow) to select a fragment that you want to erase- hit the delete button and its gone.

Next, go to the section of the take you want to keep -I'm assuming its on the second track- and drag it up to the first track. Voila! You may need to adjust the timeing of it (slide it back or forth) if you didn't drag it straight up, but there are ways around that.

Then you can grab the ends of your edited sections and slide them back and forth to make them longer or shorter. Its easy, but definately a new world compared to analog.

Have fun!
Chris
 
Chris has it totally right on the cutting out the parts you don't want. If you set the vocals to music and they are already in time, then don't worry about getting all the vocals onto one track....just cut out the choruses you don't like, and the verses you don't like and leave the rest where it is. So you have two vocal tracks for one vocal line, no one but you will know. Just make sure all the settings are the same for them.

If you have to move them because they are out of time, then chris (yet again, you stinkin' genius) has it right. You will have to manually adjust them, but it's not that hard....just takes some patience.

Good luck!
 
BTW Chris....

thanks for your advice on recording acoustic guitar in stereo...I tried X/Y as recommended in the microphone thread, and I tried your method, and yours worked best. The tracks sound great!

I appreciate your taking time to share with me......
 
Thank you gentlemen! Thanks to you I finally seem to be getting somewhere. I was trying to do all this in the audio part editor, but it was acting pretty buggy; from reading various posts on the cubase site it seems alot of people are having the same problems. But using the scissors in the project window, and cutting out the pieces I don't want first, I'm finally getting somewhere. I am now recording multiple takes onto one track, dragging them all onto empty tracks so they are not stacked, and going from there. At first it was hard placing them correctly, but I noticed the scissors give you a number and as long as I cut in the same place (same number), and hold down the alt key when I drag, most of the time it will line up correctly. So thanks! I'm still confused about automating all my fader moves, I'm kind of used to doing that in real time. Also, The master fader clip lights are lighting up, but I don't hear any distortion. Should I still decrease the master fader for mixdown, or bring down the individual tracks? Thanks again.....:cool:
 
About that clipping:

Yeah, I'd find out which track is causings those clips and maybe slap a little compression of limiter on them- or just bring down the over all level of the mix for a quick-fix.

You may not be able to hear anything on YOUR system, but when it gets burned to CD and played on a commercial CD player it will probably clip then. I recall reading somewhere that pro tracks are commonly mastered to -.2 or -.3 dB to account for different qualities of CD players.

Have fun,
Chris
 
Bass Master "K" said:
So you have two vocal tracks for one vocal line, no one but you will know. Just make sure all the settings are the same for them.
Click to expand...

On that note-

When I have several vocal takes on different tracks that I want to have the same effects, compression, etc- I just route them all to the same group track and put all the effects and mixing automation there. Quick, dirty, works really well.

K: Glad to hear that the mic techniques worked for you, too! Cool!

Take care,
Chris
 
just a little thing on that timing adjustment of the "moved" vocal parts....when you click on it, when it's still on its original track, have a look at the starting and ending point of the part....then when you move it up or down to the new track if it's moved a bit to the left or right, just click in the box where you got the starting point and adjust it to it's original value....
 
addressing automation...

I haven't yet been able to afford the upgrade to SX, but with VST (which I assume the answer to this will be the same), your answer is as follows...

If you are doing your mixdown to a final stereo wav file, then you can't ride the faders manually. When you do the export audio, your part in the process is done.

The exception is if you are doing your final mixdown to another source (tape, etc.) Then, as the song is playing from Cubase and being taped onto whatever other source, you can ride the faders all you want.

There has been some talk on this thread about having multiple takes on different tracks. With VST, you can record all your takes onto one track, double-click on it, and see all of your previous takes stacked on top of each other in their own lane. Does SX not do the same?? It would be disappointing if it didn't.

Chris
 
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