Overdubs/Punching In - Wave Editor Lanes

[Shanes]

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out what happens if I overdub something....supposing I'm recording a vocal and I punch in the odd time to fix something up.....if I'm using the 'OVERDUB' option on the Transport Bar as opposed to the REPLACE option I'm thinking that it probably keeps all of my alternate takes right?
When I open up the Audio Editor and see all of the various overdubs (By not having 'view by output selected in the View menu of the audio editor) it seems to be a little inconsistent as to which lane it's going to play.....
Sometimes Cubase plays the top lane.....sometimes it plays another. Hmm.
I realize that all of these overdubs want to play back on the same channel - I'm just wondering which one it is supposed to default to. Top? Is this the best way to do punch ins etc if I want to keep the alternate takes and have a listen to them later?

Appreciate this forum, I've learned a lot.

Shane

 

[Emeric]

I've never been able to figure that out either. Here is the way I work around it.

Let's say we are doing a vocal part:

Don't use the overdub. Set it to Replace.

I sometimes set the left right markers so that they encompass the whole song, in hopes of getting a one take. Rarely happens. But, suppose you mess up the last line of the first verse.

- Set the left/markers so that it involves the part you want to redo.
- Setup a preroll - think it's in options, metronome, preroll... set it to 2 bars. This allows you some time to run back to the mic, have a beer, smoke a cig etc.

This is essentially a punch in. If you need to keep multiple takes, it would be just as easy to set up 3 or 4 seperate tracks.

One other thing: If you think it's the type of song that will involve multiple takes, set it up in blocks. As in, set the left right markers accordingly. This will create seperate chunks that you can delete, drag or copy.

Instead of the wav looking like this for the verse:

----------------------------------------------------

It could look like this:

----1------ -------2-------- ----3----

You have control over each one of those.

Since I started something graphical:

Let's say 2 is a crummy take. Set the markers up so the left is at the start, and right at the end of it.

CTRL and backspace is a good thing. Highlight the track you want to delete. This is destructive - no turning back. But on the upside it will save hard drive space. No duplicate takes etc..

 

[Shanes]

Hi Emeric,
Thanks for that. I hear what you're saying about not doing the overdubs at all....i.e. use 'Replace Mode'. I'm thinking that there must be a way to have several takes show up and a way to organize them. Right now I've got several different takes of a vocal all competing for Channel 5. So when I open up the Audio Editor I see several 'lanes' with all of the different takes, each of them with the number 5 beside indicating that they are ready to play back on that channel. Obviously, only one take can play back at a time.....I have found Cubase to be a little inconsistent as to which take it chooses to play back......If there are several lanes in the audio editor like that, which one is it supposed to use...? Top one?

Maybe I can ask you guys how you do multiple takes of something? What is the best way to organize it in Cubase?
Cheers,
Shane

 

[Emeric]

Hey Shanes,

This is what I was getting at. Organization. That several 'lane' thing is confusing, I've never figured it out maybe someone has.

Instead:

If you want several takes of a vocal track, just setup several tracks and record them on those individually. This will not be very tasking on your machine within reason. As well, it will give you way more control. Who knows, you may keep a few of them playing at the same time for that vocal doubling sound.

While were on the topic of organization. If your not already doing this:

Create a folder, give it a name - e.g. album 1

Create subfolders withing that folder, i.e. song 1, song 2, song 3 etc.

When you launch Cubase, set it up, and enable a track to record, it will prompt you to specify a folder to record in. Select one of the folders you created.

This makes backup of audio data much easier, just select the folder and burn it.

 

[Shanes]

Hi Emeric,
I've done multiple live drum takes using the folder track idea (Have all of the channels set up within a folder track called say... 'drums take one' etc) It means having a few things set up before hand so that you can just launch into another take.....that's OK.
I aim to get to the bottom of the 'lanes' thing in the audio editor when overdubs have been done.
Cheers,
Shane

 

[Bones]

I think this is right.......

Yo Emeric n Shanes,

I could (insert probably even) be totally wrong here, but I think.....

When you record in overdub mode onto the same channel, the last overdub is played.

In the Audio editor, the takes will be shown in order of recording with the newest on top. Usually!

If 1 take starts before another it will play that one then any other that comes in later on any line above the first and so on.

If you delete a take you'll get a line that's blank, don't know why it can't automatically move all the rest up but...

This can get confusing if you record say the original with the replace option then try to overdub with the overdub. They behave differently in the audio editor, dumb really but....

If you have 10 takes of the same bit (well it can take a few to get THAT one tee hee he) and you want to choose the best blah blah...you can use the mute tool (get it by right clicking and choosing the big X, the little one is for cross fades) to go through the takes muting from the top down as you go.

As for putting bits n peices together for this window you can use the mute/cut/select options to peice together a flawless take.

This bit of cubase is confusing but I do think it's easier in the long run than seperate tracks. Each to his own of course, that's what doing it yourself is all about ain't it?

Hope this helps a bit,

Bones