Archive compression question

[seamonkey]

When packing a Tracktion archive or sending it to another person which is the best choice?

It seems 2.1 since it says lossless would be the best.

Which do you prefer?

[valley]

I only use the 2:1

[seamonkey]

thanks valley, that's what I thought.

[haydxn]

yeah i always go lossless, unless i just need to send an archive for someone to record a part over- in which case everything contained is just a guide, so i compress it hard just for ease of sending. that still allows them to move bits around, but it's me who's gonna be doing the final bounce, and i can refer all the original parts to the original files back at my end.

[Lunch Money]

The above poster does exactly what I do. One exception was that I was sending a track to somebody for a remix. Since they were going to supply most of the original sounds in a new remix, I didn't mind using slightly lossy compression so I went 4:1 I believe, and created a special archive that didn't contain absolutely 'every' clip, just the ones that got used in the final mix.

Managed to squeeze it down enough that I could upload it to a server and send it along.

Greg

[james]

Here's a better idea:

Do a workin mix of the song, render it to two tracks, dump everything else and archive it at the maximum compression. That's all the friend really needs to do an overdub. Saves a lot of space and can easily be attached to an email.

It would be great to see Tracktion enable mp3 audio encoding and decoding on the fly for just this purpose.

[haydxn]

of course that's an alternative

but that doesn't necessarily save space; the whole track could be a looped four bar drumloop with a few stabs and other looped guide sections here or there; a whole 2 track render would mean two continuous channels of audio for the entire duration of the song (and if mutually owned vstis are being used the midi data takes up less space). there is every likelyhood that the looped sections sum to less than the whole track length.

plus, the recipient is free to move the compressed clips around. even chop them up some, and rearrange the track as they get ideas; the original files can be used to update the returned archive, with all their adjustments reflected in the original uncompressed audio. having a two track bounce removes that extra dimension in long distance interaction on a project.

[james]

I guess it depends on the kind of music you're recording. I tend to do nearly all audio - using Tracktion like a big multi-track reel to reel. A rough mix saves lots of room.