adding plugs when recording, when to freeze tracks?

slopeshoulder · 23rd July 2008

When should I freeze a track?
Hmm...I like to add plugs as I build an arrangement, after I record each track, in order to get a better sense of 1. the total experience of the song, and 2. a better sense of what is needed and not needed in the arrangement, as I build the recording. I'm not rehearsing a band for six months, recording a mountain of tracks, and letting the producer and engineer turn it into something overnight. I AM the band, engineer and producer, like many people today. I like to get in a creative trance of arranging and recording, and end up with most of a song done by the end of a long day. Plugs added as I go.
The issue is this: of course I'll make changes to plugs and settings when I mix for real, and I have to add automation (volume and plug parameters), but I find that long before this my UAD is running out, or my virtual instruments or reverbs are causing hiccups, so I need to freeze tracks. But then later I have to unfreeze them to add automation. It gets confusing and taxing and is a pain in the ass.

What do you do or recommend to maximize workflow and properly manage freezing? Freezing before automation is not working. Plugs at the end is not working. Your thoughts?

I imagine raw dry tracks, automation of volume and pan, followed by all plugs can make sense, but i like to add plugs as I go, as an arranging device (e.g., if I pull out low end on that acoustic guitar, can I double the part with a tele DI'd and pan in the same place for a hint of shimmer? Or: if I fatten up that electric piano and add multitap delay to that guitar, will I even want a viola? OR: how big will the bass be and then how shall I tune the kik drum? Etc Etc Etc. Addign plugs helps this a lot).

Thanks!

thedigitalgod · 23rd July 2008

faster computer = less/no freezing . . . unfortunately, the only solution to your problem.

a fast quad core at 44.1, if you need to freeze tracks, youre just using too much crap. at 88.2, the freezing would still be minimal.

detritusdave · 23rd July 2008

I had exactly the same problem. I've moved to writing in Ableton Live and using it's built in eq's etc, then when the arrangement of the track is mostly there I turn off all the effects and export everything into Logic to mix. I guess it's kind of similar to people who write their tracks in something like Garageband then export it all into Logic. So during the composition stage the effects usage is much lighter than, for example, the URS plugs I use when doing the actual mix. I also started using hardware synths a lot more, rather than vst, which has of course made a massive difference to cpu usage.

slopeshoulder · 23rd July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedigitalgod

faster computer = less/no freezing . . . unfortunately, the only solution to your problem.

a fast quad core at 44.1, if you need to freeze tracks, youre just using too much crap. at 88.2, the freezing would still be minimal.

I thinkt he real issue us not CPU but UAD resources.
I have a mac pro quad core at 44.1
I use channels on groups, 3-5 reverbs or delays, and the usual complement of UAD and Waves. Just a few virtual instruments. BFD though. Not too much. Certainly not 6 plugs ion every track or anything like that. Well recorded.
I think the answer is to bypass the plugs, add automation, add the plugs back, then freeze.

theblue1 · 23rd July 2008

I have a very modest machine (and a big jones for plugs and FX, including BFD, convo verb and all soft-synths) so I avail myself of various freeze options often.

My DAW offers a few different freeze options, including a quick-freeze that is fast but messes with some soft synths with regard to note tails (esp BFD). So I'll use the quick-freeze while I'm head down working and then, when I have things sorted out a little, I'll go back and do a full-quality freeze. If I'm worried I'll forget I either make a note in the project memo section or make a note in the title field for individual tracks if they have a quick freeze I'm afraid I might forget to re-freeze in full quality.

thedigitalgod · 23rd July 2008

ah, UAD cards, not much way around that i suppose

23rd July 2008	#1
slopeshoulder Gear maniac Joined: May 2006 Posts: 294 Thread Starter	adding plugs when recording, when to freeze tracks? When should I freeze a track? Hmm...I like to add plugs as I build an arrangement, after I record each track, in order to get a better sense of 1. the total experience of the song, and 2. a better sense of what is needed and not needed in the arrangement, as I build the recording. I'm not rehearsing a band for six months, recording a mountain of tracks, and letting the producer and engineer turn it into something overnight. I AM the band, engineer and producer, like many people today. I like to get in a creative trance of arranging and recording, and end up with most of a song done by the end of a long day. Plugs added as I go. The issue is this: of course I'll make changes to plugs and settings when I mix for real, and I have to add automation (volume and plug parameters), but I find that long before this my UAD is running out, or my virtual instruments or reverbs are causing hiccups, so I need to freeze tracks. But then later I have to unfreeze them to add automation. It gets confusing and taxing and is a pain in the ass. What do you do or recommend to maximize workflow and properly manage freezing? Freezing before automation is not working. Plugs at the end is not working. Your thoughts? I imagine raw dry tracks, automation of volume and pan, followed by all plugs can make sense, but i like to add plugs as I go, as an arranging device (e.g., if I pull out low end on that acoustic guitar, can I double the part with a tele DI'd and pan in the same place for a hint of shimmer? Or: if I fatten up that electric piano and add multitap delay to that guitar, will I even want a viola? OR: how big will the bass be and then how shall I tune the kik drum? Etc Etc Etc. Addign plugs helps this a lot). Thanks!

23rd July 2008	#5
theblue1 Gear Guru Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 15,095	I have a very modest machine (and a big jones for plugs and FX, including BFD, convo verb and all soft-synths) so I avail myself of various freeze options often. My DAW offers a few different freeze options, including a quick-freeze that is fast but messes with some soft synths with regard to note tails (esp BFD). So I'll use the quick-freeze while I'm head down working and then, when I have things sorted out a little, I'll go back and do a full-quality freeze. If I'm worried I'll forget I either make a note in the project memo section or make a note in the title field for individual tracks if they have a quick freeze I'm afraid I might forget to re-freeze in full quality. __________________ day job \| A Year of Songs \| music and social stuff \| mutant pop on facebook \| roots acoustic on facebook

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23rd July 2008	#2
thedigitalgod Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 776	faster computer = less/no freezing . . . unfortunately, the only solution to your problem. a fast quad core at 44.1, if you need to freeze tracks, youre just using too much crap. at 88.2, the freezing would still be minimal.

23rd July 2008	#3
detritusdave Gear nut Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 102	I had exactly the same problem. I've moved to writing in Ableton Live and using it's built in eq's etc, then when the arrangement of the track is mostly there I turn off all the effects and export everything into Logic to mix. I guess it's kind of similar to people who write their tracks in something like Garageband then export it all into Logic. So during the composition stage the effects usage is much lighter than, for example, the URS plugs I use when doing the actual mix. I also started using hardware synths a lot more, rather than vst, which has of course made a massive difference to cpu usage.