There's gotta be a way to do this!!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter MercyfullMusic
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MercyfullMusic

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I am trying to find a way to Group a large number of tracks at one time to bring their volume down when mixing. I have tried Selecting All Tracks and then Grouping them but it will still only Group one at a time. There has to be a way to do this. Otherwise when my instrument mix is perfect but I need 18 instrument Tracks to come down and my Vocal Tracks to come up I have to select each of those 18 Tracks and group them. I like to be able to select them all and adjust them by an increment, say -3 decibels from wherever they all are at.

Someone help me!!!!!!!!!

I'm using SONAR 1.0 by the way.
 
Well, I'm not aware of that kind of grouping you are talking about. I know Cubase can make track-"folders" (or something like that) that will essentially do what you want to...

It really should be standard in every pro sequenser.
 
As far as I know, grouping of tracks is done one at a time. You can create groups with as many tracks as you want, but each needs to be added to the group on an individual basis.

However, here's an idea for a workaround. Create a new Virtual Main (B). Assign the output of the new VMain to the same stereo pair as you have you original VMain (A) assigned to.

Now assign all your instrument tracks to "VMain A" and your vocal tracks to "VMain B." You can now use the volume control on A to control ALL your instrument tracks, and the volume control on B to control all you vocal tracks. You can also still raise and lower any indivual track, by using the track's volume control.

Downside? You need to be careful, since when you go to export your final mix, the volume level will be the SUM of A + B. Therefore, you do run the risk of clipping since you will not have a meter to show you the level of ALL the tracks.
 
Workaround

Great answer. Thanks.

One question I have, is there any difference in audio quality of pulling all the individual tracks down for more headroom so the Main Bus level remains at 0 without clipping, versus just pulling the Main Bus below 0 to whatever level will not clip? This is assuming of course that no individual tracks are in the red either way.

P.S. I take the audio into T Racks later to increase my level and compress etc. so level is not a problem, I'm strictly speaking of quality of audio.
 
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