Ok, Im done with a project...now what?

[Dimwit]

I've just purchased and unlocked Traktion.
How do I go about exporting and converting this project into an MP3 file so I can share it with my friends?

Do I export as a single Traktion file and then take that and drop it into an file compression utility? Or do I use the compression on the export dialog

Do I have to render all the tracks into a single stereo WAV file first?

..on Handles. So handles are extra bits of time tacked onto the end of audio clips? What's the purpose of this?


As you can see I'm a total noob, any words you can give would be righteous.

[Lunch Money]

Righteous advice on its way:

The handles can't let you size the audio bigger than the original, but they CAN let you shrink audio clips down. Why is this handy? Tonnes of reasons--

1. You record your vocals, but make some room noise before making it to the 'stop' button. Well, you don't want to HEAR all that shuffling around. You use the handles to trim off the bits that shouldn't be heard.

2. As with #1, just use it to trim any bits that aren't needed. To take out a chunk that's in the middle of a clip, select the clip, position the cursor where you want to make a cut, and press '/' to cut it. Then use the handles on either side to make your gap. Since both newly-split clips will be selected by default, make sure that you only have ONE selected before trying to resize, or the other will be shifted out of place as you move the handle.

3. You record 3 different guitar solos. You like the first part of 1, the second part of 2, and the third part of 3. Resize the clips with the handles and use "shift+drag" to move them into place on the same track.

-- there are obviously hundreds of other uses, but that'll get you started, and once you get going, you'll "get it".

****

Regarding MP3s-- you need to export the whole song as a .wav. If you recorded in 24-bit and want to export a 16-bit .wav file, don't forget to put MDA dither into the master area, with the appropriate settings.

Once you have exported your .wav, I'm afraid you need a separate program to convert to MP3. Luckily there are hundreds of such freeware programs available, such as dbpoweramp and foobar2000. I use the latter, or sometimes the even simpler RightClickMp3.

Greg

[IIRs]

I think I sense some confusion here: Lunch is correct in everything he says, but he is talking about slip-editing clips on the edit page, while Dimwit (great name!) is talking about the "handles" refered to when exporting an archive..

Dimwit, when you say "share with friends" do you mean simply playing them your finished piece? Or do you intend to collaborate, with them continuing to work on a project you started?

If its the first, do as Greg advised (export a 16-bit stereo audio file and encode it to mp3 with one of the free encoders available).

If its the second, then you need to export an archive: this is a single file with all your audio and MIDI etc so that someone else with Tracktion (and all the plugs you used) can open it up and edit or add to it. You can't use mp3 compression for this, but you can use Ogg-Vorbis (which is better).

The handles you refer to determine what happens to audio you have edited non-destructively in Tracktion: Obviously the original audio files are untouched even if you have only used a few short sections. You have the option to include the entire source files, or to only include the bits you actually used.. or you can opt to leave "handles" which means Tracktion still only includes the bits you used, but now leaves a little bit extra at each end so that it is still possible to make small changes to the edits (cross-fades etc) at a later date.

Hope that makes sense..

[Lunch Money]

Bah,

I didn't even KNOW about those handles. I'm still not sure what's being referred to... must go home and have a peek. <chuckle>

Thanks for slipping into the convo, platinumears. I'll get me coat.

Greg

[Dimwit]

Thanks you guys

What I'm doing(which I just messed up by trying to browse thses pages at the same time) Is rendering to a 16 bit stereo wave.

I clicked normalize(is the adjust level based on RMS kinda the opposite of this?)

I clicked render at 1x speed(last time i do this, took freakin forever)

I clicked remove silence at start/end

I plan on taking that wav and dropping it into something like MkwActII to convert to MP3

[rpc9943]

get lame and razorlame

RonC

[Dimwit]

DAMN DAMN DAMN!!!

Now it's stopping the rendereing at about 10% done and Traktion quits responding

I tell you, I've been at computer music for about two weeks now and EVERY freakin thing I try to do doesn't work at first like it should. I mean EVERY little step has been fraught with frustration. I swear I feel like breaking down and sobbing.

Why in the heck is Traktion freezing during rendering. I can't even hit cancel. This makes no freaking sense. You should see my posts at manytone forum about doing a simple install of a sampler. For some freaking reason one little folder was being installed in a different directory than the rest.

I've just about had it with the illogical behaviour of my computer.

Now I fully appreciate why guys say you should have you comp set for DAW purposes and nothing else.(no video games, no internet etc.)

Because by will of God, once you get it up and working, DON't TOUCH ANYTHING!!!

[Lunch Money]

Dunno whassup with render.

I've never had a render hang or fail.

Greg

[valley]

Now it's stopping the rendereing at about 10% done and Traktion quits responding

Mac? PC?

If PC, did you enable real-time priority mode? If you did, disable it again.

Now I fully appreciate why guys say you should have you comp set for DAW purposes and nothing else.(no video games, no internet etc.)

MY PC is cheerfully running all kinds of crap, including games, no problems here. I wouldn't take the "never run anything on your DAW" stuff too much to heart unless your business is dependent on it.

[Dimwit]

Now it's stopping the rendereing at about 10% done and Traktion quits responding

Mac? PC?

If PC, did you enable real-time priority mode? If you did, disable it again.

Yes I did valley, I will disable it and try again, thanks for the tip.

[koolkeys]

Also, I learned a long time ago that just like with CD burning, when you are rendering, it's good to not run anything else while you are waiting. It takes alot of CPU, I'm guessing. Just a thought.

Koolkeys

[SaviorNeeded]

All Right! At last there's another dimwit here besides me! Don't worry, dimwit--when I first started out on this music thing, I remember reading many, many posts about how "great Tracktion is, I don't need the manual!" and how simple it is to program sounds on the Cameleon 5000 and so on...not for me, baby! I had to ask Jules for special permission to reinstall Tracktion some five times before I got it right! Then I bought EVE and never did get it right. It works, but it brings up a whole bunch of error messages if i try to relist my VSTs in Tracktion.

But there's hope for you! After months of this, I'm finally able to figure out most everything (knock on wood), especially with the help of KVR's resident geniouses. So hang in there, it'll all come to you in time.

Just be prepared for the software and gear lust that is waiting to tackle you and your wallet

Tom

[Dimwit]

Ok i disabled real-time priority mode and rebooted and tried again.

Nada

Same thing. The hard drive light will be fully lit for about 10 seconds than it starts blinking and the rendering stops.


The project is 3 tracks with the ManyStation vsti on each track.
Perhaps I could try the render at 1x again and see if that helps.
Otherwise maybe I need to re-install Traktion again. If that don't help, then I'm screwed, I've just wasted eighty bucks

[SaviorNeeded]

Just a thot--are you able to freeze the tracks? (Highlight the tracks by cntl clicking--on a PC anyway--to the left of the track, then click the freeze option below, I think is how it's done). You can also choose to render a track this way. If that doesn't work, something is possibly wrong with the install or set up or even hardware.

Tom

[pHz]

maybe obvious question but ...

... how much free HD space you got ???

slainte rob