Mixing Vocal Tracks with VST instruments

  • Thread starter Thread starter JonPaulP
  • Start date Start date
J

JonPaulP

New member
OK, so I'm mixing a song, and the vst instrument tracks alone are already taking up 28 tracks. I haven't recorded vocals yet and I'm a little worried that the DAW might get overloaded, especially since the vocals might take up another 10 tracks (for multiple takes).

What do you guys usually do?

Do you record vocals on the same project file as the vst tracks or do you save the vst instrumental track as a wav and record the vocals on a separate project file? I'm probably not going to do the latter since it might mess up my panned instruments.
 
What DAW are you using?

One idea would be to bounce the VST stuff down (but keep the original tracks - maybe disable them)

Sort out all of your vocal tracks, then re-enable your vst tracks when it comes to mixdown. That would make it easier to work with in the mean time.
 
I'm using Cubase Essential. I've frozen all the instruments.
 
My first impression on reading your post was "overkill". But I should not presume that without knowing about your particular project.

There are things that you can do, some of which have been suggested already.

But you can also do preliminary "group" bounces. If you are using orchestral sounds, for example, mix all the strings together and create a stereo string track, then do the same for brass and so on.

However, if they are alternative takes (such as the ten tracks you are seeking for your vocals), then you have a different problem.

The difficulty with having lots to choose from is that sometimes you end up not being able to choose. Too many choices can be as debillitating as having none.

When recording vocals, for example, I usually set aside just two tracks (assuming no harmonies are involved). I record one vocal track (which is usually a try-out). I then go for a good one. Each time I redo the vocal track, I toss out the earliest, which means I only ever have two to choose from. Sometimes this backfires, when I decide I'm getting nowhere and the first or second take was the best after all. In this case, I just have to try harder; it's no big deal. I'm not a seeker of unobtainable perfection. Most of the time, though, I get an acceptable track within the first two or three takes.

So: by all means keep everything you've recorded and make your final choice later, using the various ways suggested. But also keep an open mind on your recording process itself, because you could change something there and reduce the need for so many tracks.
 
Is 30 tracks (or more) standard for a typical song? The reason there's so many tracks is that I'm putting different articulations for the VST instruments for different parts, and there's also a lot of instruments.

I suppose 10 tracks for the vocals is a bit of an overkill, I just throw out a number. I think I'll follow your advice and stick to maybe two tracks. I remember when I was mixing something earlier and recorded 4 takes - I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, haha, and it did seem like a lot of work to go through every single track. I ended up just using the first take and recording over some of the phrases.

I think in Cubase, the earlier vocal takes that are deleted are saved in a folder.
 
JonPaulP said:
Is 30 tracks (or more) standard for a typical song? The reason there's so many tracks is that I'm putting different articulations for the VST instruments for different parts, and there's also a lot of instruments.

I suppose 10 tracks for the vocals is a bit of an overkill, I just throw out a number. I think I'll follow your advice and stick to maybe two tracks. I remember when I was mixing something earlier and recorded 4 takes - I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, haha, and it did seem like a lot of work to go through every single track. I ended up just using the first take and recording over some of the phrases.

I think in Cubase, the earlier vocal takes that are deleted are saved in a folder.
Click to expand...

I cant speak for most people but my songs normally take up max 20 tracks.
But ya your old tracks should be in the "pool" or cubase audio back up folder.
 
the more thats there the less acurate mixing is done. it's a personal prefrence but I like stuff to sound doable live not into 100+ track singer songwriters but there is a big market for it. lots of useless tracks in rap production so why not
 
JonPaulP said:
Is 30 tracks (or more) standard for a typical song? The reason there's so many tracks is that I'm putting different articulations for the VST instruments for different parts, and there's also a lot of instruments.

I suppose 10 tracks for the vocals is a bit of an overkill, I just throw out a number. I think I'll follow your advice and stick to maybe two tracks. I remember when I was mixing something earlier and recorded 4 takes - I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, haha, and it did seem like a lot of work to go through every single track. I ended up just using the first take and recording over some of the phrases.

I think in Cubase, the earlier vocal takes that are deleted are saved in a folder.
Click to expand...

I don't think there is a standard number of tracks for a typical song. It will vary according to the complexity of the material or the degree to which the artist seeks perfection.

And there is nothing intrinsically wrong about having lots of tracks. And sometimes it's absolutely necessary.

What I was suggesting was to look at your 'business process' to see whether you could make the number of tracks more manageable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top