My sessions are messy... I need help!

[scorchedwave]

Hi guys!
I'm very new to this, so forgive me if my question is vague. I think it's straight forward enough though!

After I record a band, I've noticed that my "etiquette" for editing is absolutely disgusting.

I just learned the hard way that I need to phase-align ALL of my tracks (for drums, in this instance) in ALL playlists before I make my comp track. Now I have to deal with fixing phase problems in DIFFERENT TAKES when comping, which totally messes me up. It's taking a ton of time and is annoying.

I also just learned that I should be consolidating my clips. Whoops.

Can someone point me towards a thread that can discuss how to keep your sessions clean and organized? I've done some searching but so much of it is obvious (label your tracks, color code tracks, etc...)

Looking for something that can help me save time, space, and clutter. Please advise!

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by scorchedwave

I just learned the hard way that I need to phase-align ALL of my tracks (for drums, in this instance) in ALL playlists before I make my comp track. Now I have to deal with fixing phase problems in DIFFERENT TAKES when comping, which totally messes me up. It's taking a ton of time and is annoying.

Sounds like the best way to go about this is fine-tuning the mic positioning.

For your sessions that are already recorded, you can determine the offset in samples and apply the inverse as a User Offset to the track, so it affects all playlists and comps. For example your snare bottom is 109 samples later than your snare top, set a user offset of -109 on the SN BOT track.

As for the rest of it, I don't remember a thread where session organization was discussed in depth, but you can check out this PDF for some guidelines: http://www.soundcurrent.com/PTGuidelines.pdf or https://www.grammy.org/files/pages/DAWGuidelineLong.pdf

[scorchedwave]

You're right, I guess I just need to practice miking more... I've been aligning for phase using sync points, which has given me fantastic results. It's just tedious to match up phase correctly for separate regions/takes after you've already done it for a previous region.

I should probably just get it right during recording. It's tough, though. I can get it very close, but it's never spot on.

At any rate, thank you for your help. I'll read over these pages and apply it to my next session.

Any other helpful tips/opinions out there for keeping sessions neat and tidy?

[YYR123]

I might kick the session back to right after I finished the recording, (via session backup files)

But that way you start over with all files intact and can phase align from there and then edit.....

There is trigger for sample replacement and elastic audio for out of time parts...quite tedious at times but if you can't go back and re-record and the drummer can't play in time, it's really the only thing you can Do

Ps you want to group all tracks after you phase align and then elastic audio the drums as a group. Or else you can cause some phase issues that way as well

[Stereo Missile]

General tips for keeping sessions clean and organised: -

1. use colour coding and group tracks of the same group together. I use a system in every mix or track I do:

Drums - yellow
Bass - Dark blue
SFX - light blue
guitars - green
synth leads - pink
synth backing / pads / strings - purple
horns - orange
lead vocals - bright red
backing vocals - dark red

I group all tracks of the same colour and group next to each other in the session.

The beauty of this is I can navigate around my sessions easily, If I open another song or project I can quickly find the track I want because the colour coding is always the same.

2. Use location markers to mark out the song arrangement (i.e.. Vs 1, Chs 1, bridge etc). Much easier to find the point in the song you want.

[Stereo Missile]

ps sorry just noticed in your op that you are already across all that!

:)

[Emcha_audio]

You can also use this which is very helpful

http://www.soundradix.com/products/auto-align

[scorchedwave]

Yes, I know to do this. Making timing corrections is fine, and I understand why you would never go out of your groups when editing.

When I say my sessions are messy, I suppose I'm also talking about my file management. When should I be clearing my lists? Consolidate after comping, after editing, or both? Thanks for your help!

[Emcha_audio]

Originally Posted by scorchedwave

Yes, I know to do this. Making timing corrections is fine, and I understand why you would never go out of your groups when editing.

When I say my sessions are messy, I suppose I'm also talking about my file management. When should I be clearing my lists? Consolidate after comping, after editing, or both? Thanks for your help!

only once the mix is completely done and that you know that you won't have to come back to it later.

[simon.a.billington]

Laying out like with like on the timeline so they span adjacent tracks is a good idea too, as is good color and naming conventions.

As with phase alignment, of course perfecting mic positions is a good place to start, but if it ends being a big enough or common enough problem, you can always try phase alignment plugins like InPhase.