Recording in studio

[jmh]

I think it is a good time for the ultra concise recording thread.

• [1] In Multitrack view click (L) one of the red REC buttons (if it is a new session, follow the prompt to name it). A record meter (and record transport) will pop up.
• [2] In the record meter, click on INPUT. Navigate to, and select the input that you have audio routed to (i.e. mono-device->01). Make sure the font is solid for the selected device - otherwise (grayed) it will not be a valid (or working) input.
• [3.A] Tap the ENTER key. You are now recording.
  [3.B] If there is existing audio that you would like your recording to accompany, Instead of step 3.A, tap the spacebar first, then tap enter. You are now in simultaneous-record-and-play.
  [3.C] If you have an area marked in the multitrack, during step 3.B, it will automatically punch in and out only recording in the marked area.

Notes:

• Prior to step 3.X, you can click RecRdy (in the record transport). This will make your record meter active. Here you can ensure that you have signal routed into your input. If so, you will adjust the gain of the analog signal in the real world, so that the highest peaks displayed on the record meter don't exceed -10dB (this is a matter of personal taste - but for now go with -10 and we'll skip the lengthy discussion). Click STOP - I think you have to click on the multitrack before you can continue to step 3.X
• If this procedure does not work, it probably means you have a setup issue to sort out. There have been several forum threads dedicated to getting particular soundcards and mixing devices working.
• I prefer the hotkey method I've described. There are several variations that were introduced to accommodate some user's needs, and additional tricks like punching in successive layers. Also, there are several settings that impact your recordings track name, paths, bit-rate, sample-depth and latency. Don't worry about any of that yet - just get steps 1-3 above working.
• Also I'm with Micro in not using SAC - but I'm positive you want to master the process (including understanding the settings listed in the previous bullet) in Saw prior to adding SAC.

[mr_es335]

jmh,

A few "things"...

1) Thanks so very much for this documentation...appreciated!
2) What is (L) referring to?
3) Is "step 3.1" not referring to "step 2.1"?
4) The references to the use of the keyboard is "excellent"!! Thanks!
5) "step 3.2" = "step 2.2"
5) Prior to step 3 = Prior to step 2
6) In SAW v1.4 [RecRdy] is now [Ready]
7) "...but I'm positive you want to master the process (including understanding the settings listed in the previous bullet) in Saw prior to adding SAC..." Agreed!

Again, jmh...thanks for this..and again...appreciated!

[jmh]

(L) = Left Click

I couldn't copy my wordprocessor numbering format,

I'm going to renumber. (I'm winging it with the markup language, so you get what you get).

> 6) In SAW v1.4 [RecRdy] is now [Ready]
I'm referring to the popup record transport - not the transport on the multitrack. I was in 32 bit SS when I looked at this.

Prior to 3 will mean prior to 3 (since my edit 3.X). This will entail clicking on the 'record transport' - which I generally avoid, as it - rather than the multitrack (and it's keybindings) gains focus.

Hopefully this gets you started.

[Microstudio]

Here you go, it's 2023, and videos are great and much more informative.

Record In SawStudio


You will learn
Sound Card Setup
Setup File Paths
Record In The MultiTrack
Record In The SoundFile
Add SoundFiles
Edit In The MultiTrack
Make A Click Track
JMS Metronome
Program A Drum Beat
Using And Record VST in MultiTrack
Live Mode

Its all free.

[jmh]

Also, there are several settings that impact your recordings track name, paths, bit-rate, sample-depth and latency. Don't worry about any of that yet - just get steps 1-3 above working.

To finish this up:

• Sample rate: Anything over 44.1k - you can use 96k and higher - but you probably can't hear it, or make intelligent choices - and at the expense of doubling your cpu consumption.
• Bit depth: 24 bit - don't bother with less (I think I use packed).
• Loopback latency: This is an issue that arises from the delay caused by various buffering and processing activities within saw or sound device drivers. It is only an issue with simultaneous-record-and-play (SRP). Saw is extremely consistent processing audio - and many sound cards are as well, so you can adjust this exactly or for other cards, pretty close. It may have to be adjusted after playing with buffer settings in a driver or saw.

Adjusting latency:

1. Record a transient like a handclap.
2. Patch an analog audio output to an analog input, and arm that input.
3. SRP so the output transient is recorded to a new track - the waveforms should have a similar shape.
4. Measure the difference in samples between the original and new transient peaks.
5. Enter the value in Options>Audio_Driver_Model>Record_Loopback_Latency _Adjust
6. Repeat steps 3, 4, & 5 (tweaking the last value) until the difference in alignment is as consistently close to 0 samples as possible.
7. Save to preferences.

You may need to redo this whenever you do hardware or driver updates.