So my productions are getting big enough to where I feel need to free up some CPU usage.
I know ableton has things like flatten and freeze (which I use). However, just some general tips on WHEN you guys decide to bounce a track to audio would be great!
For instance, i’ll sometimes freeze a portion of the track that im working on, then have to make an edit of it later, so i’ll have to unfreeze it, yada yada. Is this normal? is there a more consistent, workflow friendly way to do this?
Just some general knowledge about this would be great.
Where possible, I usually keep the whole thing in midi until i am done with the arrangement and then bounce to audio before starting mixing, but having said that, when the CPU is taking strain if I have a particularly heavy combination of stuff going on then i will usually duplicate the entire track and turn off all devices on the duplicated track (I keep this as a reference in a grouped channel of duplicated tracks - they are all off so consume no CPU) then I will freeze and flatten the other copy of the track and work with it in audio.
If i need to go back to the instrument collection and midi, i turn on the devices in the specific track, makes my mods and repeat the process.
It’s a bit of a pain to be honest but it gets the job done and at least leaves you with the ability to go back if you need to.
Once I write something and I think its good enough, I freeze the track just to keep it as is.
I dont bounce anything to audio until I’m at the mixing stage. Even then, only a few things will get bounced to audio. More then likely i will find a midi problem during mixing and have to make a change. Thats why I just freeze/unfreeze. Saves enough CPU for me, and still allows me to make changes when needed.
Once I get a sound that I like, I resample it and put it in a simpler or use something like impulse for shorter sounds. That way, it keeps CPU down and in a more subtle manner, prevents me from getting distracted by the sound parameters itself. In other words, if I resample, I have less tendency to wander into the synth and start messing with the sound further. Keeps the workflow moving forward, for me at least.
J
[quote]JamieinNC (09/05/2011)[hr]Once I get a sound that I like, I resample it and put it in a simpler or use something like impulse for shorter sounds. That way, it keeps CPU down and in a more subtle manner, prevents me from getting distracted by the sound parameters itself. In other words, if I resample, I have less tendency to wander into the synth and start messing with the sound further. Keeps the workflow moving forward, for me at least.
J[/quote]
Yah there is something awesome about committing to a sound.