Mixdown question

[Findlay]

I've really enjoyed using my DP32sd this year - especially during the lockdown, and set myself a project to record my own versions of one of my favourite albums - CSN&Y's Deja Vu. I continue to be amazed at how good this machine is. Just a couple of questions though - I sometimes find I only have 3 seconds or so of a mixdown recorded, even though I have the in and out points set ok and the record light is on for the whole duration. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here - it seems to work ok the next run, but sometimes it has happened twice on the go. Also, I have a song with about 15 tracks recorded where I would like to add about 10 secs of silence a the start of them all to allow more time for an intro. What is the best way of doing this? When I tried adding 10 secs of silence to tracks one by on my DP008ex they went out of sync. Grateful for any help!

 

[-mjk-]

Hi @Findlay. Let's see about these questions.

I sometimes find I only have 3 seconds or so of a mixdown recorded, even though I have the in and out points set ok and the record light is on for the whole duration.

With a properly functioning machine, this is impossible actually. If the In/Out points are properly set, and you press Record, the machine stops automatically at the end point so that cannot be done wrong by the user, unless prematurely stopped of course. Another possible reason that the song length is truncated is if you Master the song and stop before it goes to the end. Now there may be many reasons why one would want to stop and go back to make an adjustment, but (as long as we're on the topic, it should be stated):

If you press Record while in Mastering mode, you should always let it run to the end, even if you realize you need to make some changes and do it over. You can make all the Mastering changes you want but as soon as you press record, you are committed to going to the end to preserve the song length. If you find yourself in that position, instead of pressing Stop, simply press Undo at the end of the recording and you are back where you started before you pressed Record.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here - it seems to work ok the next run, but sometimes it has happened twice on the go.

The next time that happens, make a point to stop and review exactly what you did. This thread may be useful: Tascam DP 24 SD Master Comp | TASCAM Forums

Also, I have a song with about 15 tracks recorded where I would like to add about 10 secs of silence a the start of them all to allow more time for an intro

The DP machines have a pretty good editor. You can move tracks by selecting them and then adjusting the time settings on the Edit screen. Go into Edit mode and explore it for yourself. You can instantly Undo anything that didn't go how you'd like it to.

 

[Findlay]

Thanks for your help MJK - very much appreciated. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong with the mastering - I let it run with the record light on until the end and wait until playback stops and the light goes off. All I can think of is that I am a bit hasty in playing back the master - should you wait a minute or two?

With regard to adding 10 seconds to the start of my song I'm still not sure quite what to do with the track editor. It seems you can do a global edit to all the tracks, so I maybe can avoid a sync problem. If I describe what I need to do maybe it will help? I have a song where the bass and drums come in about 10 secs into the track but I need to put a guitar intro in at the start. The guitar intro needs to start almost 10 seconds before the bass and drums, ie almost at the very start, so I don't have time to start the machine and punch in record, even using the foot pedal. I have tried it but the extreme time pressure leads to mistakes. I don't know how I can set the in out times for the track edit as this seems to need at second or so between in out times and not sure which edit mode to use - move or silence for example?

 

[Mark Richards]

...I sometimes find I only have 3 seconds or so of a mixdown recorded, even though I have the in and out points set ok and the record light is on for the whole duration...

This post and those following seem to be related to your situation. perhaps the answer is among those posts.

 

[Findlay]

1. Mark the In/Out points for the silent gap you want to insert (there's a minimum, but no maximum length that can be inserted).
2. Go into Track Edit mode, select "Silence", choose "All", select "YES". This will place unrecorded space between the In/Out points on all tracks, maintaining sync.
3. Then reset your Start/End In/Out points as needed for the song.

It helps to use BAR Display mode if you've set the Tempo (BPM) and (Time) Signature for your song in the Metronome Screen.

Also, make life easy for yourself- use Autopunch.

 

[Findlay]

Thanks Mark. I've tried this but it doesn't do the trick. Maybe I've not explained the problem properly. I need to do the digital equivalent of splicing 10 seconds running time of audio tape at the very beginning of my recording - leaving everything I have already recorded in sync and running for what will amount to 10 seconds longer. This existing drums and bass start at 3.19s from the start, which does not give me time to feel comfortable to start playing the guitar intro after starting the machine (the intro continues after the bass and drums kick in - playing CSN&Y version of Woodstock). In other words I need to add 10 seconds silence at time zero or whatever the minimum time frame of the editor is., so the drums and bass kick in at 13.19. But there doesn't seem to be any way of adding an extra amount of time like this - or am I being spectacularly dim here? (not the first time!).

I've looked at the posts about the curtailment of the mastered file - thanks for posting the link. My problem seems to be similar in some respects, although I only get 3 seconds of mastered file when it occurs, not 33s. The 3s is quite consistent regardless of the song length - some have been 2m songs, some 5, 6 or 7 m. I have managed to get a successful master of the right length after a few attempts but still not sure what causes it to happen or what fixes it . Using the recommended cards (Sandisk Extreme Pro) and it happens with all of them. It is particularly annoying after a complex mixdown!

 

[Phil Tipping]

Set IN to 0, set OUT to just after end of song, move transport to 10 secs (this is the TO point). Go to Track Edit, select Move/Paste, select ALL in the track number field (scroll to the end), then press F2(YES).
All tracks will be moved 10 secs forwards, leaving a 10 sec gap at the start.
Update:
Just realised the OPEN function is even easier
Set IN to 0, set OUT to 10 secs, go to Track Edit, Open, select ALL tracks.

 

[Findlay]

Brilliant! Thanks so much Phil - just what I needed. Has saved the song!!!
Just wondered if you had any thoughts on the mastering hiccups?

 

[Findlay]

I would like to thank you guys again for all your help with this fantastic machine. David Porter who inspired me to buy when I wasn't sure, Phil for the brilliant tutorials, MJK for other advice and many others. This summer I have put together an album that (despite the mediocre playing) would cut it as a CD by any standard. Wishing you all a good and safe Christmas guys.

 

[Phil Tipping]

Just wondered if you had any thoughts on the mastering hiccups?

Nothing more than what Mark and MJ have already said. I re-visited that long thread linked by Mark and had forgotten just how much time the guys spent trying to sort this out.
Assuming you are definitely driving the machine correctly, the bottom line from the above discussion was that the sd-card had become corrupted (the .sys control file was out of sync with the actual data)... but you have to follow the exact steps shown to avoid propagating the problem to new cards and getting in a knot.

Update: seems we cross-posted. Thank you Findlay, and happy Christmas to you too.

 

[Mark Richards]

[

Thanks Mark. I've tried this but it doesn't do the trick. Maybe I've not explained the problem properly.

No, you explained clearly. I suffered a senior moment.
Post removed to avoid confusing others who my find this thread with a similar issue.
Phil's answer is spot on. Use "Open".