Recording a bus output to a track

[markmann]

Hi folks,
I'm coming over to Traktion 2.0 from Digital Performer for mixing because the 64-bit mix engine sounds better than DP's 32-bit engine. I want to be able to record my final mix onto a stereo track in real time. In DP I am able to send all the tracks to a bus and then use that bus as the input for a stereo track. I place the track into record and then play the song through with the mix being recorded onto the stereo track in real time. Why do this? My experience is that real time dumps sound better than "rendered" dumps.

How can I do this in Traktion? I can't see any way to get a track to record unless its input is one of the hardware inputs. Is there a way to make a bus or a rack unit appear as a recordable input on a track? Any suggestions? I'm considering going out through the S/PDIF output and coming back in on the S/PDIF input on my hardware. But I'd rather do this internally in the computer.
Thanks
Mark Schleunes

[.jon]

There is an option to "Export 1 x play-speed" in the export audio dialog, you then need to bring the audio file back to the edit manually. For me, this makes sense as I want the final mix to another edit anyway.

[Lunch Money]

I second pakana's recommendation; however, if the word "render" is still throwing you off and you truly want it *played*, then you will need to do the S/PDIF technique you mentioned.

Greg

[M'Snah]

Maybe Tape It or Voxengo Recorder could help? Unless you want to record in 64 bit as well...

[Lunch Money]

Yes, if it's the 64-bit you want, you're going to lose it unless you render. Remember, the comparisons made so far have been using Tracktion's render. Put your faith in it. I'm sure you've heard all the arguments before about how render will produce identical output as internal realtime recording.

What have you got to lose by doing an A/B? Try it the realtime way you're already familiar with and comfortable with, and then try a render, and see which one sounds better to your ears. Get a friend to select the files for you for playback so that it's a blind test.

[semiquaver]

hi Im a recent conversion from DP. Try render at 1x speed. you won't be disappointed.

[IIRs]

I'm considering going out through the S/PDIF output and coming back in on the S/PDIF input on my hardware.

most soundcards provide the option to record their own output in some ay.. what are you using?

I have to say though, assuming a reasonable resolution and / or proper use of dither, exports sound the same as real-time playback in my experience.

[djsubject]

yep aslong as you dont have any buggy plugins the export is verry good!!

the best i have come across!!!

[semiquaver]

one advantage to render is that your system can't hiccup. And spdif can introduce error too. do an experiment -> mix twice - once through spdif and then a second time w/render - flip the phase and lets see if there is any difference...

[Hypertone]

Stay away from tape-it. I have done some spectral comparisons to renders from different hosts and using tape-it and it is not transparent in the least, it boosts the output by about 5 db, cuts the lows and boosts the highs.

[markmann]

Wow. Thanks for all the info people. I am going to try the 1X render and compare it to a real time dump. I realized that a real time dump can be done on Tracktion with Audio Hijack Pro which will go up to 24/96. I haven't yet done any sonic comparisons of AHP, but their site claims that it makes a "bit for bit" copy of the audio being streamed out of the hijacked application. It seems to work with Tracktion 2. I'll report on my perceptions after I get these mixes dumped.