Freeze vs Commit
 

I'm running Pro Tools 2021.10.0 and haven't ever used the Track Commit or Freeze options. Can you explain the differences between them and give me real world examples of the benefits of each? Are there any Cons in using either?

My environment:
macOS Catalina Version 10.15.7 (19H1519)
16 GB RAM
SSD Internal
Two external G-Technology SATA drives
Apollo x6 with an Octo Satellite
Avid S1
Avid Dock

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

https://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=375528


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Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Great - thanks for responding.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

If the search function on this site is inadequate for you, try googling like this:

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Thank you

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

No problem. And if you for some reason want to see what other sites say about the same thing, you can reverse the search to exclude duc.avid.com by turning that plus into minus

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Personally I've never found myself using Freeze very much. It's handy if you've got e.g. some sort of panner which isn't clocked to the tempo and you want to be consistent for all the various versions of mixes you're printing. Sometimes I freeze a track just to look at the magnificent difference in the waveform pre- and post- processing. But they're just a massive pain in the neck if you or the talent suddenly decide you need to chop up the structure of the track, or even just try out various edits further down the timeline.

Anyway I'm usually too scared to use it as I'm terrified the plug-ins won't come back as I left them, especially if there's been some sort of OS (or other) software update. (Possibly irrational.)

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

The way I have used is this.

- create your instrument track and only have the VI plugin there
- create aux track with plugins needed, route instrument track to aux
- once "done", freeze or commit the VI track to mark it is "done"

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Thank you all - My guess is these options at the least reduce the overall stress on the Host CPU by reducing the overhead of the track's plugins correct? Please let me know if that's accurate and if there are any other ways these are used.

Best,

Rick

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Normal plugins are not often CPU heavy, but of course when you are using one, or one that requires large amount of latency compensation, it is useful. I only use it on VI's though


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Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Sorry - now I am confused.

From reading several posts or watching videos prior to starting this thread everyone discussed using Freeze or Commit a track in order to free up resources caused by heavy plugin use in tracks.

I appreciate your insight.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Of course it frees up resources while using other resources (storage). In my point of view it is not needed for "normal" plugins apart from commiting to something as in "this track is done". It is however very useful in commiting to VI track once MIDI is done. And few posts up I told what is the easiest way of going back if needed to. Only commit to the VI, not other processing (apart of obviously what is essential to the sound of the instrument) which is mixing and likely changes over time.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Perfect!
Thanks Janne

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

For me, "Freeze" = Temporary (during composing & tracking)
and "Commit", = Finalization (during and after mixing).

For example, I may temporarily freeze a set of instrument plugins after establishing some basic tracking accompaniment before recording audio tracks.
This is not always necessary on my setup, but sometimes really active cymbal parts in the drum plugin I use can cause CPU spikes when recording guitar through an amp/fx plugin at a lower buffer size.
Then if I want to modify a drum pattern, I can momentarily unfreeze the track.

I have a modest setup so it's just an efficiency method when needed.
It's mainly when the cymbals are really active or if I want to load more layers and free memory for more multi-sampled/processed instrument tracks while recording.

When mixing, I commit in sections/sub-groups as they are established to open up processing power for the mix & master bus.
Or commit lightly processed tracks for stem export so that a more professional mixer can import the tracks and have their way with them!

This is just my approach at a hobbyist level.
More professional producers can provide more ideas as to their own logistics & foresight.
And their machines likely have way more processing power so they can do as they please~ with such ease~ with no need to freeze***;)

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

What a fantastic response and thanks!

This is the type of feedback I need. My initial post was a result of a session I am working on for a client. I am in the process of upgrading (methodically) my environment and for now my MacBook only has 16GB of RAM. WIth the amount of tracks he's provided and the overall amount of plugins being used there have been a few times when my system has basically halted. Yes, I have gone through the proper optimization both on the system level as well as in Pro Tools so I am trying to regain as much resources as I can until I upgrade to another computer.

Having said that I have implemented some UAD Apollo gear and can get by when absolutely necessary by using LUNA and the UAD plugins. Because I'd rather work in Pro Tools I'm guessing occasional freeze or commit on some tracks may help me resource-wise?

Again, thanks for your response.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Use Commit. It creates an audio file that becomes a permanent part of the session. Freeze makes a temporary audio file that disappears when you, or someone else un freezes the track. That can be inconvenient if you are not expecting it.

And, yes it can save resources. If you are using, say Trillian for bass, playing back the audio file is a lot less DSP intensive than having the instrument up.

Steve

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

I'll give it a try Steve.
Thanks for the feedback.

Rick

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Yes, as said freezing is intermediate solution. As long as you are not sure if your Trillian track is done, freezing may help on some occasion, but once the track is "final" (what is that) then you better commit and not touch it again.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Going along with that advice, Commit gives the option of keeping the the original track in an inactive state.
So you could opt to commit even on a temp basis and reactivate the original track if need be.

*Tip: Make sure to establish all your tempos before temporarily freezing too. Otherwise you'll have to unfreeze & re-freeze everything to adjust tempos while recording and that can interrupt a good recording vibe & workflow.

I use the Trilian bass module also. Sometimes two instances for different sections. Rock & Synth Bass trade offs!
As JFreak mentioned, I'll commit the instrument only to free up resources and THEN insert plugins on the committed track.
That way I have a "lighter" audio clip of the bass track that I can still experiment with plugin-wise (as the mix changes) or apply clip gain & fades during the mix phase.

When VI drums are done, I'll commit multi-output to separate audio tracks. Again, just the instrument plugin and maybe a limiter.
That way I can remix and save various versions of the unprocessed committed tracks.
After my instrument tracks are done, I usually have enough resources for mix plugins and would only need commit again if exporting as session stems.

Whether you choose to freeze or commit, restarting Pro Tools frees up the RAM allotted to previously active instrument plugins.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Yes. Commit up to this insert is a beautiful thing. And Hide and Make Inactive is best option for the original instrument track.

I also usually commit Melodyne when I'm done tuning because I love the Clip Gain line for automation.

Steve

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Ha. I've found myself doing a lot of that within the Melodyne environment of late.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Hi,

For me the CPU hit is minimal; it's more about how to retain as much memory as possible.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Yes, freezing/commiting also frees up memory (after session restart).

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

I use Freeze as a strictly temporary thing and unfreeze when the session is ready to close. I can always re-freeze the next time, or I will COMMIT, and leave the original track inactive but showing if I think I will need to make changes. With Melodyne, I will select "Do Nothing" to the original track and move the .cm audio file back to the original track on a new Playlist and make Melodyne inactive(or remove it). You have many options, so find what suits you best;)

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Thanks Steve, for reminding me of the commit up to insert feature.
I'll have to read up since I'm just getting back into everything.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Yes. I've done it both ways. Clip Gain is just more normal to my habits. There is nothing worse than adjusting some clips only to realize that nothing is changing because PT is not really playing back the pretty pictures that you are looking at! But it all works. Timing changes are usually best done in Melodyne. For me...

Steve

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Ha yeah! The number of times I go to a mute a clip and then... d'oh!

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

When using Freeze or Commit what is the impact if I use any Automation on the track?

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Automation will be visible on the frozen track as its just rendering the audio in place.

Commit will print the automation onto the newly rendered file if you tick the boxes. Otherwise you can choose to not have the volume, pans, mutes etc. printed.

Have you tried either? A dialog box will pop up when you go to commit and you can see all this stuff pretty clearly.


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Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Thanks! I haven't tried either yet as I am in the middle of a project but I expect I'll try both out very soon.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

:p:p:pOh yeah, done that a few times! As much as I love Clip Gain, if I am doing Melodyne editing, I often adjust gains right in Melodyne, but I can't say that either method is better. Timing in Melodyne is a nice bonus and also gets plenty of use here.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

In terms of going back to revise the original track, is it easier to bounce it to another track versus using commit? That way you just revise the midi track and bounce again.

I wish they implemented what Studio one does with their “transform track” which allows you to transform the midi to audio; you can continue to edit and revise the resultant audio, and when you go back to the MIDI, all your subsequent audio edits are reflected in the updated MIDI.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

It partly depends on what you care freezing/committing and why?

MIDI tracks I tend to leave uncommitted as I am working on the arrangement. You can edit MIDI notes/transpose far better with MIDI and of course change or layer the sound easily.

Same thinking for guitar tracks with virtual amps. You can pick up the same guitar, add extra parts and such months later and get the same tone if needed.

For audio, I use Elastic Audio quite a lot and I tend to leave this uncommitted for the same reason. There always seems an extra edit or tweak required along the way!

I used Freeze when it came out but didn't find it didn't work well for me. That said, I gave it a spin earlier this year and it seemed to work as advertised. The Commit function I use instead, but normally keep the original tracks inactive and hidden just in case.

For archiving, you'll want to consolidate and commit the audio for future retrevial. There's probably a good chance some plugins might not make it into the future so good to print it just in case.

Much of the need to freeze or commit for reasons of saving on the CPU will disappear as the CPUs get more and more powerful.

Stephen

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

I have a memory of freezing a track on a session when the feature was first introduced, taking it to another studio, "unfreezing" and losing both the plug-in settings and the "frozen" audio. At least with "commit" the audio isn't going to just disappear in a puff of smoke.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

In my personal use „commit“ is the better „freeze“…[emoji12]

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Two different purposes. When you are not yet one with your VI track, you freeze it while working for something else. Once it is done, you commit to your track. It is also making a mental note for you that it is done and not to be touched again, unless there is something serious to fix.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

FYI, I froze some tracks - closed the session - renamed the session - and when I opened it up again, PT couldn't find the frozen audio. So I usually prefer to commit.

Re: Freeze vs Commit
 

Thinking in terms of logistics, you can temporarily freeze VI's during recording and commit during and after the mix stage.

Here's a couple examples of when you might want to freeze vs. commit instrument tracks:

Say you have a few VI's running that you want to record a guitar track to.
Freezing enables you to temporarily minimize CPU while recording at the lowest buffer setting & jamming along with the other instruments & favorite plugins.
Depending on your system you may not need to freeze at all. But sometimes highly active cymbals in a drum VI can cause CPU spikes that might interfere with recording.

Unfreezing instrument tracks is just a click if you decide you want to change the tempo or modify a drum pattern. If need to modify or embellish any MIDI data later you could simply unfreeze the tracks.

A couple examples of when committing the instrument tracks is a better option:

The drum track is finished and you want to commit the track or each separate output to audio for editing & mixing.

Or, while mixing, you may want to employ fades or adjust the levels of each processed instrument section differently via clip gain.
Committing the instrument tracks at that point would enable you to split the committed audio clips and adjust the clip levels individually. Whereas freezing or unfreezing an instrument track would not allow that.
Just think logistically when deciding which to do.

Freeze for temporary CPU intensive tasks (with a view to modifying later).

Commit when parts are established during the mix or export stage. Or if you want to maintain the ability to split the audio track into sections for editing.

Just another 2 cents to add to the kuh-nawl-edge bank.