Multiple tracks in n-track?
Hello all…new member here, and have (I assume) a simple question. Our 3 piece band is wanting to record a demo, and I’ve been using n-track at home for some solo work. The question I have is this…how do I go about recording, lets say, 3 separate tracks at the same time, one for the drums, one for the bass, and one for guitar? We of course would like to be able to edit each instrument separately from each other…(reverb on drums, bass dry, and delay on guitar). I’ve been googleing the devil out of this, and still get no definative answer. I know I’m looking at a new soundcard, without getting into technical specifics, and opinions, can anyone explain simply to me how this works? We’re using a 16 channel outboard mixer that has several aux send options, so thats not an issue. I just need to understand how to get mutiple tracks at once to the puter…
TIA
noimagination
Eyup!
Welcome to the forum!
In order to record from multiple sources, you need a soundcard with multiple inputs.
The basic Soundblaster has one line input which you can use as a single stereo, or two mono.
So you can record (up to) two sources at a time.
Ntrack can record from as many sources as your soundcard has, simply select the required ones and away you go.
Many NTrackers use cards with multiple inputs, I am sure they will chip in with their recommendations.
Steve
To do that you need a multi-channel soundcard (audio interface). With a built-in soundcard or Soundblaster, the most you can do is two tracks at a time using the soundcard’s stereo line input (one channel using left, one channel using right, and split by n-Track into two mono tracks).
If you have a multichannel soundcard and want to figure out how to do this, the first step is to go to “Preferences -> Audio Devices” and select your soundcard. After you do that, you should see an input meter for each channel your soundcard supports. If not, click the hammer under any input meter and select the channels to enable. You might also have to use the software that came with your soundcard to control it: set it in the correct mode and adjust record levels.
HTH
Jeff
Hi guys,
my first impression of the product features http://ntrack.com/what_is.shtm
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| Multiple input and output soundcards or more than one soundcard are supported: you can record multiple tracks at a time and output to more than one stereo output |
made me believe to be able to record 4 channels with 2 normal soundcards. Am I wrong ? But I was’n able to figure out how to configure n-Track to use more than one soundcard simultaneously.
Is there any way to do multitrack recording with more than one soundcard ?
Thanks in advance
Sossy
Thanks guys…that makes sense, and kind of what I gathered…so in theory, if you soundcard/input device has 2 stereo inputs, you ultimately end up with capability to have 4 mono tracks…depending on how you use your channel pans…and n-track is intuitive enough to realize that your sound card has X amount of I/Os…once you set the preferences for your particular sound card…sure…ok…thats helps a bunch…thanks!!
noimagination…
Right. And, Right.
Sossy, you’re correct in adding what I omitted: he either needs a multichannel soundcard or else multiple soundcards. If you have more than one, you select them the same way you select the one you have (only, hold down control key to pick more than one).
HOWEVER: if you don’t find a way to synchronize the clocks on all soundcards, you will get synchronization problems. There are solutions to this for most soundcards other than built-ins, especially soundcards with digital I/O (e.g., S/PDIF, ADAT).
Elaborating a little on what learJeff said, using the kX drivers, you can link multiple cards to a master card via S/PDIF cables. One of the cards must be a Creative Labs card compatible with the kX project:
http://kb.kxproject.lugosoft.com/guide/caniuse.html
The other card(s) must have an S/PDIF out to link to the master card. I suppose the other non-kX card could also be the master if it has ASIO drivers. Audigy 1 and most (not all) Audigy 2 cards have 2 sets of converters on them so you can actually get 4 Mono inputs from each Audigy card with some minor soldering (not on the card itself).
I am not however, 100% sure that all S/PDIF signals follow a strict standard and are 100% compatible manufacturer to manufacturer. I would think this is the case but someone else could maybe confirm this.
If multiple cards do not share the same clock, you will hear the time difference as drift after just a couple minutes. Normally not a good idea for multitracking.
I would advice against putting reverb on all the drums as a group. Normally, it is the snare alone that gets a nice short snappy reverb. Cymbals tend to sound swirly and phasey when verbed.
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| If multiple cards do not share the same clock, you will hear the time difference as drift after just a couple minutes. |
In the case of kX drivers using cards hooked together with S/PDIF cables, the timing issue is resolved because inputs from all cards appear on the RECEIVE card. There may be a minute bit of latency, (very minute, I can’t hear it) in the transfer of data from a SEND card to the RECEIVE card but it is insignificant.
All inputs are then running off the clock of the RECEIVE card.
| Quote (Doug W @ Jan. 01 2006,16:06) | ||
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In the case of kX drivers using cards hooked together with S/PDIF cables, the timing issue is resolved because inputs from all cards appear on the RECEIVE card. There may be a minute bit of latency, (very minute, I can’t hear it) in the transfer of data from a SEND card to the RECEIVE card but it is insignificant. All inputs are then running off the clock of the RECEIVE card. |
Good to know that Doug.
I used to have a bunch of cheapie 20$ sound cards and experimented with multitracking using various combinations. I was very lucky that I found a pair of Ensoniq audio PCI 16 bit cards using the same clock exactly. That was my first PC 4 tracking setup. Later I got a STAudio C-Port 10X10 24 bit card, and eventually now a dedicated recorder Alesis HD24.
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| There may be a minute bit of latency, (very minute, I can’t hear it) in the transfer of data from a SEND card to the RECEIVE card but it is insignificant |
Hi Doug, I did a measurement of the latency running two Live cards like this a couple of years ago. IIRC correctly the latency was something like 10 nano seconds.
And you could PUT UP with that? That would annoy the HECK out of me. 
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| And you could PUT UP with that? That would annoy the HECK out of me. |
Well I never stand more than 3mm from my guitar cab.
