Mixing down Inquiry?

  • Thread starter Thread starter psongman
  • Start date Start date
P

psongman

New member
?????What happened?

Hi, what happened to my post. I was asking why mix down to 2 tracks on an 8 track like the VF08 when it sounds so full with all of them playing. Why does it sound thinner when mixed to a 2 track master like tracks 7 and 8. Thanks for helping, Psongman
 
It should sound exactly the same after the bouncedown as it does prior to...
 
mix down

billlisa is right, should be the same, could it be something silly, like the channel you mixed down to is not turned up the same, what about panning, i had a headphone adaptor go bad and seemed like things panned to the left where very low, but then i listened through the monitors and all was well, just a thought
 
Internal Mixdown

I use a VF16 which also has an internal mixdown feature. When I first began recording with the Fostex, I also noticed a difference in the quality of the internal mixdown and the full tracks. As a result, I began to mixdon to a compter using Cubase and a Motu firewire interface. Others may have different experiences, but I perceived a difference and it changed my process. Of course, I come from the school of though that digital-to-digital transfers can (like analog) experience "generational" losses.
 
Hi, well I might have explained my dilemma poorly. The 8 tracks recorded sound great on the VF08, actually fantastic, I am ecstatic! I even played out with them as my back up group. haha, no whining or drum equipment to set up and tear down. Now, when I went to bounce the tracks down or over to 7/8 it didn't sound so great, did the panning and all the other needed performing. I am beginning to think this is the weakness of this unit as it records wonderfully and is easy and quiet to use, but I perceived a real loss of dimension when I mixed down. In Cool Edit Pro when I used to hit mix down to wav, it actually sounded as good or better. With the VF08, it sounds clean but not full, so I will await more valued input, thanks so much, Psongman
 
I have the vfo8 also and ive never experienced this.
every time I mix down to 7/8 it sounds exactly the same
as the original mix. From what I understood of your
post you said that you record on all 8 tracks and then
mix down to 7/8. If you record on all 8 tracks and try to
mix down, you will lose what you recorded on 7/8.
You have to keep 7/8 open if you want to mix down in the
recorder. What I do is just record on 6 tracks leave 7/8
open for mix down. After you'v mixed down, you can use
tracks 1-6 again if you need more tracks, just erase or
exchange the tracks to your virtual tracks.If you recorded on 8 tracks and tried to mix down, you recorded over what you had
on 7/8 and this is why it probably sounded different to you.
If this is not the case then I don't know what the problem is
mine works perfect every time.

Hope this helps! Branded.
 
hi, all, thanks for the assistance. No, I only recorded on 6 tracks, then mixed down to 7/8. I just tried it again, no way it sounds as good as the 6 tracks all playing at once. If you are saying it does then I need a hearing transplant. I mean it does sound good, but nowheres near as good as them all playing. I know you have to get to stereo format eventually, so will play with it a bit more. I have to say one thing...I have never heard a better sounding unit than this one for the money, it is astounding, no noise practically. I do believe it would be better if you could fade in and out like in a recording software way. Welll, enuf said, maybe someone out there is getting good stereo mixes and can lend a helping hand, IAT Psongman
 
You can do manual fade in/out by using the red master track fader during mixdown, or later on the final master. Also, your mix really should sound identical to your separate tracks...
 
Have you had someone do a blind test: make you close your eyes and then play each version 5 times? See if you can consistently pick the 2-channel version. Bet you can't.
 
Here's something else... If you mix down to 7/8, then playback without lowering faders on 1-6, you'll get ALL 8 tracks --- 1-6, plus all of them mixed down to 7/8. This doesn't sound as good as 1-6 or 7/8 alone...
 
This is true

I usually just turn off tracks 1-6 after I mix down just incase
I have to go back and fix something.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top