Real Time Mix Bounce

[BigSkyAudio]

Can I bounce/record a mix in real time by playing the multitrack session and recording the outputs, 1+2, back into a new stereo track without going out through my interface?
I have a 2 in, 2 out Presonus interface.
Would like to compare such a bounce to the one done by Export: Render to a file

[Dark Lane]

Yes, it should work exactly as you describe

[Watchful]

This is what I do:

1. Create a track called "Master."
2. Create a track called "Bounce."
3. Change the input of Bounce to receive audio from Master.
4. Mute Bounce.
5. Arm Bounce to record.
6. Change the output of all active tracks to Master.
7. Move the playhead to the start of the project.
8. Hit record.

The file is found in the project's Recorded folder.

I find this so less problematic than using the render feature, as I can control what tracks are recorded, and I work with a fair amount of hardware that can't speed render. Doing a fade out on my Master track is easier to adjust than putting any automation on the master bus, too.

I still put some headphone correction on the master bus, but my method isn't limited by the previous Waveform's four-plugin limit.

[dysjoint]

The advantage of Watchful's method is that you are not locked out of the UI during the bounce, so you can adjust everything on the fly. If you are in loop mode you can do multiple takes.
If you are a top down mixer just remember to have your limiter and the like on the 'master track' that you've created as you'll obviously be effectively bypassing the actual Master Bus.

[BigSkyAudio]

Thanks, will give it a go today!

[Watchful]

Correct, and thanks! What I do is an old method, from the analog days, but it has advantages in Waveform.

Dysjoint is right--I avoid putting anything that affects final recording on the master bus proper--I put it on the Master track I created. This includes any mastering plugins and overall track reverbs, etc.

As I mentioned, the only things I'll throw on the master bus itself are headphone correction software, if I check a project with Izotopes' Tonal Balance Control, etc. I put those on the master bus and delete when finished.

The primary advantage is to get around Waveform's original four plugin limitation on the master bus that existed prior to v12. But it's also great for overall metronomes or click tracks that I don't want recorded: all I do is route the audio for those to default output--because they aren't routed to the Master track, they don't get recorded.

[don_ortalion]

The only drawback is that you can't render tracks that output audio to another track separatly.

[Watchful]

Not simultaneously. By muting tracks, I can render any individual track to the bounce track selectively. That works for all submix tracks. And I can click on any clip and render it in place from the properties pane.

And the master bus still works for anything that I want to bypass, too.

[pough]

Another thing to keep in mind is that some plugins have quality modes that change depending on whether your DAW is playing or rendering.