Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 02:39 AM CDT

I have a Yamaha keyboard that let's me record my playing on separate tracks, without blending everything together. So, if I record, say piano first and strings second, it will let me hear each one on its own track. Is that possible with Sonar or with garage band? The reason why I want to be able to do this is because, I want to start recording on top of each sound and be able to hear them each one on there own after each take.

Please help!

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 04:28 AM CDT

With GB and other DAWS you record to individual tracks. You can then play back the tracks together or solo out any individual tracks you want. For example I often record my vocals whilst only monitoring the drums, bass and rhythm guitar, muting any keyboards and lead guitar parts. The flexibility available in a DAW will doubtless be considerably greater than your keyboard.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 05:02 AM CDT

Quote by: PaddyNavinCaryatid With GB and other DAWS you record to individual tracks. You can then play back the tracks together or solo out any individual tracks you want. For example I often record my vocals whilst only monitoring the drums, bass and rhythm guitar, muting any keyboards and lead guitar parts. The flexibility available in a DAW will doubtless be considerably greater than your keyboard.

I totally agree, DAW's (GB but I guess also Sonar) offer a lot of flexibility in that sense. Managing tracks, if I have to chose between the keybord or DAW, I wouldn't hesitate and choose the DAW for this kind of tasks.

Also, I personally use my keyboard for nothing else than midi input, and link it to a virtual instrument. There are a good amount of virtual instruments that come with DAW's or it is possible to purchase, they offer great sound and can be played directly from your keyboard, providing midi input.

The result is great from a sound perspective and very flexible, as you have numerical data on your track that you can manipulate very easily, as opposed to audio input.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 05:51 AM CDT

No question about it, get yoruself a DAW. If not for the ease of use, for the amount of virtual instruments and quality of them. My keyboard doesnt even have any built in sounds, it is purely built to perform with a DAW. DAWS can provide you more freedom and speed the workflow.

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Friday, August 13 2010 @ 06:56 AM CDT

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Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 11:00 AM CDT

Interesting discussion as it leads us into the whole workstation vs keyboard thing. I share a studio with my son-in-law who is a synthesizer lover. He is always touting the latest workstation. I have an 88 key MIDI only M-Audio Keystation 88ES and every possible library that I can afford. In the end though, it is the DAW (in our case Logic GB, Reason and Ableton) that makes the recording and producing possible. Although there is nothing wrong with recording on a workstation, A digital audio workstation (DAW) like GB is much more convenient for manipulating and producing music.

Again, we both do live music. I use the software only approach through MainStage, He uses workstations and triggers some of his library sounds through MainStage or Ableton. Of course he has much more experience as a professional than I do, so I respect his approach and know that it is not uncommon. In the studio, however, the DAW is king and we both acknowledge that.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 12:58 PM CDT

Ok! so I have been scolded at Cakewalk forums for not doing my homework from the get go!

When I first discovered Cakewalk and or the ability to record music onto a computer, I basically started jumping up and down. But I did not want to spend a whole lot of time learning Sonar, since it was a little bit overwhelming, I already had enough of trying to learn how to set up a midi keyboard, soundcard, etc.

So, I skipped a whole lot of reading and bought a external soundcard(Soundblaster) which allowed me to record 'what you hear' option in the mixer. So, I started to use VST plug-ins, through the soundcard, which also let me record midi and audio at the same time(I did not know any better). As it turns out that is not the right approach to using VST plug-ins, you first record the midi data and then you create the audio track and do a final mixdown.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 01:25 PM CDT

Quote by: edpdx Ok! so I have been scolded at Cakewalk forums for not doing my homework from the get go! When I first discovered Cakewalk and or the ability to record music onto a computer, I basically started jumping up and down. But I did not want to spend a whole lot of time learning Sonar, since it was a little bit overwhelming, I already had enough of trying to learn how to set up a midi keyboard, soundcard, etc. So, I skipped a whole lot of reading and bought a external soundcard(Soundblaster) which allowed me to record 'what you hear' option in the mixer. So, I started to use VST plug-ins, through the soundcard, which also let me record midi and audio at the same time(I did not know any better). As it turns out that is not the right approach to using VST plug-ins, you first record the midi data and then you create the audio track and do a final mixdown.

Once you have the midi recorded in your program (garageband, cakewalk etc) you can replace the instrument to anything you want after the fact. You can also apply effects to the track and take them off, switch one effect for another. You can even edit mistakes by hand. Compose music by hand by plotting notes, or even grid lock the part so it stays perfectly in time. Amazing what is possible. Garageband is very easy to use if you have a mac, plus it is free. I am guessing you dont from your use of cakewalk though.

The process is the same for non midi files (sound files). Record them completely dry with no effects at all. then add the effects later so you can be very precise with how they are applied.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 02:38 PM CDT

Yes, believe me, investing a little time in getting the most interesting functions in Sonar should pay off great deal.

What Charles mentioned is pretty much common to all DAW's, I used until now 3 different ones (and not the most professional ones) and they all have these functions, I'm sure Sonar also does.

Once you hook your keyboard to your DAW, record your music and be able to "edit" the way you like, that's it, from there you can do pretty much anything.

Re:Recording separate takes!
Friday, August 13 2010 @ 11:52 PM CDT

Please bear with me.

- Began using a VST plug-in and recorded midi and audio(what you hear/Green) at the same time - like I have always done or known.
- I then bounce the midi data to track to create a second audio track(Pink). - New learned approach


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But as you can see the two takes are slightly different. There is something off, when bouncing to tracks.
I understand the concept behind MIDI but I do not want to loose any details when recording.