Question about combining multiple takes...

[clazymike]

Hi,

I'm really sorry if this is a very basic question. I really try hard to find the answer before I go posting on a board, but I can't find any specifics about this.

If I am recording a vocal track and I take 3-4 takes on it and I wish to select the best parts of each take to create one final track that is the best of the best...

I know I could cut and paste, but I read that amplitude envelope is the best way to do it. Am I correct in assuming that is crossfading? If so, (or if not), can anyone elaborate on this slightly? For example, how do I make sure that I fade one in and the other out exactly so that there is never a time when both tracks are playing simultaneously?

Also, so let's say that I have finished the cutting, pasting, crossfading, etc... I mix all of the tracks down to one single track, right? Just making sure, I simple select the multiple tracks and mixdown to another empty track, right? And if I have used crossfades, will the mixdown just dump the audio information on the areas of the tracks where I have it at zero volume? Again, any elaboration would be greatly apprecaited.

I again apologize for the asinine newbie questions, but I couldn't seem to find any specific information regarding this. Thanks in advance!

Michael

 

[Tekker]

hmmmm....

I've always cutted and pasted myself, so I'm kinda currious about this too.....

 

[crosstudio]

mixdown audio to comp tracks

although normally, i'll just [cut] make that copy and paste, there have been occassions where I've used mixdown audio to comp a vocal track or two.

automation:
Once i know where i want the various pieces, using the console view, i select the record automation button, and i play the track. during the song i raise the level of the vocal i want to bring in, then lower the volume of the vocal i want to take out. of course since i only have 1 mouse, the faded vocal will not be timed correctly. i continue in this fashion until i've gotten through the whole song.

cleanup:
now that i've got a rough framework. i select the vocals i'm comping and bring up the track view. i then make the necessary volume [time and velocity] adjustments in this view. i also delete any unwanted volume changes. for instance, if you've got 30 volume changes as the vocal is being faded out, you might want to remove 1/2 of them, or if the vocal cuts right out, and you don't want to fade it, just change the first volume element in the fade to 0 and delete the rest.

mixdown:
now i've got all my volume changes where i want them. i do mixdown audio on the selected tracks (normally i archive all the other tracks just to make sure i don't screw up and accidently include them), being careful to deselect all panning and fx sends.

presto (not so instant) chango a comp'd track.

the only drawback to doing things this way is that copy & paste will use less disk space if you paste a clone.

ps. i don't never cut nothing (said with my best Wash. DC slang)!!!! i always copy. the only time i remove a track that i've used to comp another track is when the .bun is too big to archive to a CD.