large track count mixing problem

[walleyI]

Ok i think the technical term is Heeeelp.

I have a track count of 64 and growing, however at that amount of tracks i can't see the volume or pan filters for mixing.... they simply dissapear on show all tracks on screen, and i dont get a full picture of the arrangment without that view, (its an orchestral rock thing - hence the track numbers).

Any idea how i can mix in this mode and still see the entire arrangement?

Oh, i have already thought of rendering all strings and choral sections down to one track etc but i am loathe to loose the midi tracks until i am satisfied that i have the entire track sorted.

anything i might be missing?

Wal.

[rpc9943]

higher res?



RonC

[walleyI]

nope. still can't see the filters at max res.....

[braj]

Any idea how i can mix in this mode and still see the entire arrangement?

I don't think you can. It sure would be nice be able to lock track sizes to a certain size regardless of your view ie. you can't go below a certain size.

Submix some tracks (I know, even more tracks) and drag the submix tracks to the top of the mix to make it more manageable?

[rpc9943]

yes that too. not sure man how you can expect to see stuff on 64 freaking tracks, i mean what the hell are you making here

RonC

[walleyI]

yup ok thats the only way i could think of doing i. Just wondering if i was missing a magic button somewhere, (its happened before and will happen again.

Ron, Its sort of an operatic rock song - think queensryche on operation mindcrime for the best description, (yeah i know ...80's still rule in my view). worrying thing is its nowhere near finished yet, so more tracks are likely to be needed somehow!!!

thanks for the help anyway guys.


Wal.

[mandolarian]

Yeah, you need folder tracks! Heck, we all need folder tracks.

So...Beno when will folder tracks make it into the fold?

[IIRs]

My approach would be to render down to a sensible no of sub-groups, delete the unneeded tracks, and save the edit with a different name. If you realise at any point that you made a fatal error, simply open the earlier edit and re-render. (if you use a specific file-name you can replace the original file and then just re-open the mix edit: the new file will be referenced automatically). If you need to make changes in context, copy the original tracks and paste them back into the mix edit..

If you still have too many tracks to comfortably manipulate faders, just expand all the tracks a bit and scroll over the filters area to navigate up or down the edit. I find it helps if the tracks are arranged logically (I usually stick to the same layout, with drums at the top, then bass etc, with any vocals at the bottom: same way I lay out a mixer for a live set, only vertical instead of horizontal!) and I also like to delete vol / pan filters on tracks that I only use for automation lanes.. positioning these by the tracks they automate can help to break up the filters on the right and make it easier to see where you are.

[midi-man]

When I arrange a song I usually experiment with several alternative arrangements. Working this way require a very large number of tracks, so folder tracks is probably one of the the things I miss most in Tracktion.

It would also be a godsend if we could mute clips. Without this feature it's trouble everytime you want to do things like "Hmm...maybe I should try the chorus from the funk-version together with the verse from the gospel-version".

I tried EnergyXT for the first time yesterday, and even though it's not as self-explaining as Tracktion it seems to support my way of arranging songs better. I'm even considering using it as vsti until Tracktion catch up with the competition regarding these things. Tracktion handles everything else so damn well, so it would be a kinda sad though...

[valley]

Any idea how i can mix in this mode and still see the entire arrangement?

I don't think you can. It sure would be nice be able to lock track sizes to a certain size regardless of your view ie. you can't go below a certain size.

I'm not sure how that's a solution. If you lock track size, you've lost the ability to see the entire arrangement, which is the whole point.

The only solution is to buy a bigger monitor.

One weakness of Tracktion's horizontal mixer is that increasingly monitors are shifting to 16:9 format, which means that there'll be even less vertical space.

Apps such as Cubase that run the mixer horizontally will be able to take advantage of that for mxing purposes, 'cos they'll have a greater horizontal space. The downside of this though is that with reduced vertical space, Cubase will offer you no real choice but to obscure the arrangment with the mixer.

All told, it's a draw, with no ideal solution. You want more screen-estate? Buy a bigger monitor.

[aldi]

on some grafic card drivers theres an option to turn the display 90°, maybe this helps

[rpc9943]

zzzzzzzz

RonC

[walleyI]

Sorry guys, been away for a few days.

thanks for all of the advice. Looks like my scrolling hand is going to get a good work out.


cheers anyway


Wal.