Help with multitrack recording

T

TheEnder

New member
I recently purchased a Motu 8pre to expand the number of microphone preamps on my 828 MKII so my band can record a demo with a full drumset. I'm running Cubase SX3, and I can't figure out how to set it up so that I have 10 different inputs (8 from the 8pre, plus the 2 on the MKII) recording at once in Cubase.

I set it up so each track is picking up a different input. I created 8 new buses for each ADAT preamp on the 8pre, as well as the 2 preamps on my 828MKII. Basically, I set it up so track 1 would be mic preamp 1, track 2 would be preamp 2, etc.

But when I went to record, it seemed like each track was not independent, so when I went through with a single mic one preamp at a time, I discovered this:

Preamp 1 records to tracks 1, 2, and 5.
Preamp 2 records to tracks 1, 2, and 6.
Preamp 3 records to tracks 1, 2, and 7.
Preamp 4 records to tracks 1, 2, and 8.
Preamps 5, 6, 7 and 8 only record to tracks 1 and 2.

I also can't seem to get the 2 preamps on my 828MKII to be recognised either.

I set it up so that there were 10 buses; 8 for ADAT inputs 1-8 on the 8pre, and then 2 for the mic/guitar preamps on the 828. Can anyone tell me what the problem might be? The ultimate goal is to have 10 independent tracks for 10 independent preamps so that each microphone will have its own unique track and editable waveform. Does anyone know how to configure Cubase so that I have the 10 inputs recording simultaneously?
 
I would recommend setting things up one bus at a time. Clear them all out and add one. Label it as you want and try recording with it. Then add another one. Record again and make sure it only ends up where you intend for it to go. Once you've got two or three configured correctly you should be able to add the rest easily enough.

I found that getting the busses set up initially was the toughest thing about starting out with Cubase. Once you sort that out, everything else is pretty great.
 
Devices > VST Connections > Inputs > Add Bus.

Is this what you did (that might explain why you're calling them buses)?

After you click add bus, you say Mono, then select 10 (that's the total for your setup, right?). Then for each of the 10 buses that now appear in the input bus, you have to select the device port (the column on the right). Assuming your driver is setup right, and Cubase is seeing your devices, you should have 10 ports to choose from. So you pick 'em 1-10 for your inputs.

Close that and go back to your main track window. Create 10 mono audio tracks. For each one, select your inputs, again 1-10.

Sorry if this is all basic to you and you've done it all this way, but it wasn't clear to me from your post. This is my approach and it works. I can record up to 16 tracks (I've got an 8 going into an 8, where you have an 8 going into a 2) each with its own separate waveform.

Let us know if you're doing all this and seeing pretty much what I described at each step along the way.

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EDIT: Nevermind. I re-read your post a bit slower and it looks like you've done all this. I'm guessing your problem might be related to the fact that Cubase isn't recognizing both pieces of hardware. Since they're connected to each other, you've really got to solve that problem first.
 
I might not be using the correct terminology; I'm not very experienced with recording in the technical sense. What WhiteStrat described is what I did. Sorry if calling the inputs "buses" is incorrect, I have no idea what the term "bus" even means; I just called them that because I clicked "Add Bus" to add the inputs. How do I activate the inputs? I don't recall ever doing anything that involved activating them.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Devices > VST Connections > Inputs > Add Bus.

Is this what you did (that might explain why you're calling them buses)?

After you click add bus, you say Mono, then select 10 (that's the total for your setup, right?). Then for each of the 10 buses that now appear in the input bus, you have to select the device port (the column on the right). Assuming your driver is setup right, and Cubase is seeing your devices, you should have 10 ports to choose from. So you pick 'em 1-10 for your inputs.

Close that and go back to your main track window. Create 10 mono audio tracks. For each one, select your inputs, again 1-10.

Sorry if this is all basic to you and you've done it all this way, but it wasn't clear to me from your post. This is my approach and it works. I can record up to 16 tracks (I've got an 8 going into an 8, where you have an 8 going into a 2) each with its own separate waveform.

Let us know if you're doing all this and seeing pretty much what I described at each step along the way.

----

EDIT: Nevermind. I re-read your post a bit slower and it looks like you've done all this. I'm guessing your problem might be related to the fact that Cubase isn't recognizing both pieces of hardware. Since they're connected to each other, you've really got to solve that problem first.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what you are describing is adding busses, he is trying to add inputs. Two completely different things.

TheEnder said:
I might not be using the correct terminology; I'm not very experienced with recording in the technical sense. What WhiteStrat described is what I did. Sorry if calling the inputs "buses" is incorrect, I have no idea what the term "bus" even means; I just called them that because I clicked "Add Bus" to add the inputs. How do I activate the inputs? I don't recall ever doing anything that involved activating them.
Click to expand...


Go to device setup>vst audio system>your asio driver should be listed. When you click on that, your inputs should show up, make sure they are ALL active.

Then when you add your inmputs, you can assign the additional channels.
 
I finally got it working! Thank you so much, everyone; I'll definitely be coming back to the forum to keep learning from you guys. I really appreciate it
 
Last edited:
The only problem you still have is to replace your illegal Cubase SX3 with a legal version.

Cubase Studio 5 is good enough to start.

Cheers

Wim
 
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