Dumb, but what are 'virtual' tracks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gregwor
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Gregwor

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The Yamaha AW4416 is a 16 track. It says something like: capable of up to 130 tracks: 16 tracks x 8 virtual tracks + 2 stereo tracks.

Does this mean that in each track there can be 8 tracks.

If so, are these 8 tracks still individually accessible for individual EQing, panning, volume setting, etc.?

I have been recording for awhile now, but still never caught on to this term....I hope I don't look like a fool. Hope you get a laugh and are able to help me. Thanks.
 
I don't know your specific unit, but generally speaking, "virtual tracks" are basically alternate tracks that remain in memory, only one of which can play at any given time.

For example: track 1 has 8 virtual tracks. Therefore I can record a vocal take, save it, and record another take on the SAME TRACK, save it, record another take on the SAME TRACK, save it, etc...etc...etc... Eventually you have 8 takes saved on one track, but only one can play at a time. This allows you to pick the best perfomance from several takes, or choose between different lead guitar solos, or whatever.

Depending on your gear, it may also allow you to comp a track from different pieces of your virtual tracks, i.e.: use the verse from virtual track 1a, but use the chorus from virtual track 1b.

Get it?

Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com
 
The "real" ones are the ones you can mix together for your final output. The virtual ones are the extras you can swap in place of the real ones, one for one.

So if you have 8 real tracks and each of them has 8 virtual tracks, you get the ability to substitute any of the 8 virtual ones for each of the real ones during mixdown.

The standalone HD recorder crowd would know, for their particular machine, if you can use ANY of the virtual tracks on any of the real tracks or if it's limited to a smaller number divided up between the real tracks.
 
Perfect explanation. Virtual tracks, by the way, are very, very useful and you will come to rely on these quite a bit.
 
Yo:

In addition, speaking of the Yam 4416 or the 2816, each completed song is mixed to stereo tracks. So, if I have six songs completed and want to burn a CD, I have to put each song into a stereo track and then, follow the program to burn the CD.

As mentioned above, each track has 8 slots or virtual openings. This is especially great for vocalists who are "iffy" about "doing it again."

Compared to the old days and old tape decks, the HD stand alone is a neat box.

Green Hornet:D :p :p :cool:
 
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