will this work?

[robjh22]

I used track 5 of a 6-track song for only about 20 seconds, and
at about 2 minutes into the song. Is it possible to arm that same track and add additional music to that track EARLIER in the song w/o overwriting the later stuff? I have this vision of a track being like a long piece of tape and you can insert things anywhere on it,
but I am probably in error.

Second, would someone give me a short thesis on how to select and use the "halls"? I was recording the song in the default "normal" hall (01). When I select a different hall and play back the program, it really doesn't sound any different to me.

And while I am being so greedy for tips, how about a third précis on compression, i.e., how you add it and do I really need to? Presumably this is done during track bounce or mastering? Do you just add or subtract until it sounds right?

I promise everyone will get a big kick out of the song, "Bulgarian Bumblebees." I'll post it to your hopefully universal delight here in about 10 days.

Bzzzzzzz,
Rob

 

[billisa]

I used track 5 of a 6-track song for only about 20 seconds, and
at about 2 minutes into the song. Is it possible to arm that same track and add additional music to that track EARLIER in the song w/o overwriting the later stuff? I have this vision of a track being like a long piece of tape and you can insert things anywhere on it,
but I am probably in error.

Second, would someone give me a short thesis on how to select and use the "halls"? I was recording the song in the default "normal" hall (01). When I select a different hall and play back the program, it really doesn't sound any different to me.

And while I am being so greedy for tips, how about a third précis on compression, i.e., how you add it and do I really need to? Presumably this is done during track bounce or mastering? Do you just add or subtract until it sounds right?

I promise everyone will get a big kick out of the song, "Bulgarian Bumblebees." I'll post it to your hopefully universal delight here in about 10 days.

Bzzzzzzz,
Rob

Hey Rob,

On the VF80, you do not record effects in real time. They are added after you lay down a track "dry". Also, when selecting a particular reverb, you must hit the "yes/enter" button or the machine won't switch to that mode. Using "insert effect" you actually wind-up "replaying" an already recorded track while the machine adds the effect...

One tip. Be subtle with reverb. It shouldn't be something that jumps out at the listener.

As to using another section of tracks 5/6, you can, in several ways -- all involving a "punch-in/punch-out". This can be done automatically, by setting the time on the machine (when it will go into and out of record mode), you can just push record/play, and then hit stop before reaching the section of stuff you want to save, ORRRRRR (and this is the best option) get yourself the Fostex foot-switch and punch in/out that way. It's so easy and convenient for fixing small bits of tracks where you don't want to lose the surrounding material. Works GREAT! No clicks, pops, or any indication an edit has occured (assuming you don't sloppily chop off something halfway).

On the VF80, you can only add compression at the Mastering stage, and yes, there are different "flavors", with some adding LOTS of compression, plus tweaking the EQ. I think some of the Compression presets on the VF80 are way too heavy handed. So I make sure to highlight the on/off thing on the menu, and turn it off (unless I really want compression). Compression on the VF80 affects the whole mix, not just individual tracks...

Personally, I pay more attention to effects during mixdown, but on some things I use the "Flat" or "Light" compression and tweak down the settings. A little bit goes a long way. If you're voice is pretty stable throughout a track, you're less likely to need compression to even out the highs and lows (that get buried in the mix).

A drum machine doesn't need compression as much a live drummer where the sound levels can be intense and all over the map.

I sometimes use an external compressor (FMRAudio RNC) because it's the only way I can have compression on individual tracks... Remeber, if you have a noisy preamp, compression will boost the noise during quiet passages.

Others can say WAY more about the real ins and outs of it.

 

[robjh22]

"...when selecting a particular reverb."

I don't believe it. 3 months I have been messing around with
this machine and never realized that that is what you are doing by going into one hall or another -- makes sense: different halls reflect sound differently, but somehow I never realized that that is ALL we're talking about. For some reason, the manual calls the halls "loop effects."

Anyway, thanks Bill. I continue to benefit from your insight.

 

[billisa]

"For some reason, the manual calls the halls "loop effects."

That's because they are part of the effects group that is used in a "loop" arrangement during the bounce to 7/8. The channel info is sent through the effects chip, then rerouted to channel 7/8.

The insert effects are applied to individual tracks, BEFORE ANY bounce takes place.

 

[robjh22]

How can you know what they'll sound like before you bounce?

 

[billisa]

How can you know what they'll sound like before you bounce?

Because when you actually activate the particular effect, when you hit 'play' you hear what the effect sounds like. That's how you know how much effect to use, etc. This is true either with insert or loop effects. You can hear them before they are applied.