Recording fright?

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Chipotle

A track made up of multiple takes, compositing the best bits of each take into one single track. It can be done using multiple tracks as well, but many DAWs let you have multiple takes on a single track and tools to jump from one take to the next.

Heck, people have even been known to copy the really nice take from one section and copy it to the other place(s) it will be used.

Man, that's how I do it. I'm a solo multitracker, mostly on keys, but playing guitar more lately. Just home recording for myself and friends. For less than 200 bucks, your computer can be a recording studio these days. Maybe not pro quality, but pretty good if you ask me. I'll record the same part 3 or 5 times, pick out the best parts, then copy and paste them over onto the section of the "main" track that has the flub or the less than stellar section. Then on to the next 2 or 4 tracks of the next instrument. You want to set the tempo in the DAW (I use cubase elements) and use "snap" so your cuts and pastes are always on the right timing. Here's a sample of an original piece.... [link]

[MikeBmusic]

In Reaper, using 'takes' on a single track lets you blend the composite track together without getting a 'click' like you may get if you cut and paste (without doing a fade-in/fade-out). The 'click' happens because the waveforms don't match at the start/finish exactly.
You can also, of course, keep the takes on separate tracks and manually do the fade-in/fade-out with volume automation.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

In Reaper, using 'takes' on a single track lets you blend the composite track together without getting a 'click' like you may get if you cut and paste (without doing a fade-in/fade-out). The 'click' happens because the waveforms don't match at the start/finish exactly.
You can also, of course, keep the takes on separate tracks and manually do the fade-in/fade-out with volume automation.

So if I understand you are saying you can set Reaper up to automatically make crossfades when comping from takes on an individual track ?
I believe most full featured DAW's have a version of this , or select the comped track and multi fade all edit points at once like in Pro Tools

[tdq]

Just a hobby/home recordist here, I usually take the path of planning multiple takes and cherry picking the best bits.
Often, though, I'll do four or five takes and find that the best one is the first one. Probably, mentally I'm more relaxed as my self-imposed pressure isn't there. By the last take I'm desperately trying to nail it.

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by KevWind

So if I understand you are saying you can set Reaper up to automatically make crossfades when comping from takes on an individual track ?

Correct. And you can, of course, manually adjust the crossfades, too, as well as set the default shapes/times.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

When I see "composite" I think "shingles." Just me, probably. :-)

Ha... I've never heard that before but it sure can look that way when you have stacked comp tracks in the edit window.

[Photojeep]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I've dealt with this and I deal with this, both as a guitarist and as a recording engineer, which is my profession. Two things work for me: repetition (recording over and over again) and a gentle inner monologue. You have to record enough to begin to understand in your gut that there are no takes that can't be discarded. There is no attempt that should be dumped if it isn't good enough. And then you have to come to terms with your own inner critic: learn how to critique and encourage at the same time. I've written an essay about it, HERE.


Bob

Mr. Womack,
That essay was great!
Thanks for sharing.

Best,
PJ