Ping Ponging

  • Thread starter Thread starter nighttrain
  • Start date Start date
N

nighttrain

New member
Hello all,

I am very new to the recording game and I find out something new every day, but I am stuck on one very simple issue, that I cannot figure out and I thought I would ask the Recording Masses:

I have a 16 track mixing board, a Akai hard disk recorder with 4-tracks

Korg reverb rack unit

How do I ping pong two or mor tracks together into one track so I can continue adding instruments or whatever?

Right now I am just recording into 3 tracks and then leaving one free. I am then connecting a cord from the earhone jack on my mixer to the input of the free channel. Try not to laugh too hard after you read this!!!

Keep in mind that I am very new at this but I've got some pretty good tools and building constantly. Matter of fact I am in the bidding on the Aleasis 3630 compressor right now.

Any info is appreciated,

Nighttrain
 
well first of all if you have a 16 channel mixing board. you could use more then 3 channels for drums. if possible the board is probably 4 buss. if then assign your drums to either 1 for mono mix, and 2 for a stereo mix. and about the compressor. what you will pay for that used(hopefully no more then $150) is better spent on either half of a better compressor(people like the Behringer Composer, or FMR RNC) or another piece of outboard gear.
 
Well I don't own any outboard processors, except for the Line6 POD. My philosophy about recording doesn't preclude their use, it merely places them at the back of the bus when it comes to the next group of stuff to buy to improve my studio. To put this philosophy into a few words, I'd say capture the performance as accurately and as hot as possible. Then do with it what you will.
In other words, learn about what a compressor can do for your mix, and what the settings should be, then save up for one that does the job while messing with the sound the least.
 
Does your Akai have individual track outputs?

Use these instead of the headphone out. The headphone out goes through another stage of amplification, that will add noise and distortion to the signal.

You have the basic Idea right. Record 3 tracks and combine these to the 4th, then tracks 1 and 2 mixed to track 3 and then the final 2 tracks will give you seven. I wouldn't recommend it, but you could bounce some of the combined tracks again to add even more parts.

If your unit has digital outs, you could record a stereo mix to a CD burner or Minidisc in the digital realm, and not lose any quality! Then transfer back and repeat the process!

Sincerely;

Dom Franco
 
c7sus:

No loss of quality at all with the MD. Also, some MD machines, like the Yamaha MD8, have the ability to read before writing; this allows for all 8 tracks to be bounced to 1 without losing anything. No playing silly games trying to leave a track blank for bouncing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top