Realtime Plugin vs. Offline

[clazymike]

Hi everyone.

I really hate to be asking this, because I know how much everyone hates these types of newbie questions. Yes, yes read the manual.

But, I know how to use plugins and apply them, but the plugins all being applied and they alter the actual sound track. If I wish to use the plugin, but have it work on the fly (as opposed to altering the actual track) how do I do that? Is there an online plugin option as well as the offline plugin option?

Again, I apologize for this question, but I received Cakewalk through a student program (as well as a bunch of other neat software) but all you get are the programs--no documentation, because the software is used (I think).

Thanks to everyone who deals with my ignorance!

ClazyMike

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

You could download the manual from the Cakewalk site.

Or....

You could run a SEARCH on this BBS for some of the information that you are seeking.



spin

 

[AlChuck]

No, you can't download the manual from the Cakewalk site, they don't provide it there.

Anyway, the plug-ins are applied real-time if you use them from the Console view (the mixer). To make them work offline, that is, you need to select the audio data in the Audio window and then apply the effect to the selected data.

Note that how many plug-ins you can be using at any given time in your projects will depend a lot on the resources of your computer, especially RAM and CPU speed/power, and on the plug-ins themselves (some are very calculation-intensive and so require more from the CPU). If you reach that threshold you'll start getting droputs and that sort of thing. You can always then apply some of your effects destructively and take them off the console until your audio plays right again.

 

[crosstudio]

are you talking about aux sends?

when you say apply them 'on the fly' do you mean as aux sends?

if you put the fx in as a track fx while in the console or track view, the fx will be applied to the track for the duration of the track.

if you apply the fx as an aux, then you can select the aux from your track, and slide the aux fader to the appropriate level you want the fx heard. you can perform the sliding in real time, thereby enabling you to turn the fx on and off for the individual track.

for instance, if you wanted a delay on the singers voice, but only after certain phrases, you would put a delay fx patch in to the aux. select that aux in your track (console view: the button and horizontal sliders above the vertical volume slider). press the record automation button in the console view, and slide the track aux send fader (slider) to the right when you want the vocal delay, and slide it back to the right when the phrase you want echoed ends.

 

[Thanos Siozos]

No Console view needed

clazymike,
just right click on the track's Effects box in the Track view and pick your plugin. Double click to change the parameters.