The MRS-8 is an 8 track recorder with 6 channels. If you want to record more than 6 parts of a song then you will need to convert 2 or more tracks into one.
Considerations
When you reduce 2 tracks to one, you are committed to any effects and processors applied to the individual channels.
- For example. Track 1 is guitar with a distortion insert effect. Track 2 is a piano with lowered volume and a reverb send/return effect. At present, the distortion, volume, and reverb can all be adjusted or even swapped for another effect at any point. This will become useful as more tracks are added, affecting the overall dynamic of the song. If you bounce these to one track, the control will be lost but memory and channels will be gained.
- An alternative method is to use vTakes. This will allow you to free up channels while still keeping the raw recording tucked away for later if required. This may free a channel but will double your memory usage.
Basic reduction mix
The process below can be used to reduce 2 or more mono tracks into 1 mono track. Stereo options will be explained later but are fundamentally the same.
This process assumes the "SYSTEM BOUNCE" menu is in its default state. (I.e. you have not adjusted the "SYSTEM BOUNCE" menu since starting a new project)
- Get everything sounding how you want it.
- Mute the tracks you don't want to Bounce (don't forget to mute the rhythm track if you don't want to include this)
- Press the [Status Key] of the channel you want to record to until it is red. This is the 'Destination Track'
- For a basic reduction mix, use an empty track. The option to use, but not overwrite, an all ready recorded track is explained below.
- Make sure the inputs are off to prevent any back ground noise and button clicks being recorded.
- You can, of course, include an input into this reduction mix to save time. (But why rush it?)
- Press [BOUNCE]
- Now is a good time to hit play and have one last check that there is no clipping. Everything you hear now, including levels, effects & processors, will be recorded on to a new track.
- Rewind to the beginning and hit [RECORD] then [PLAY]
- Sit back and listen. The process is completed in real time so not to cause any deduction in quality.
- Once finished, hit [STOP]
You now have a new single track plus the original tracks available for playback.
If you want to save memory and are confident that the new track will not need rerecording you can delete the original tracks. See Track editing guide
If you are not concerned with memory space and want to preserve the original track for a later date see "switching vTakes" in the vTake guide
Stereo Reduction Mix
If you use stereo effects or panning in your tracks then you will want to Bounce to 2 destination tracks to preserve these. Follow the steps above but select either 2 linked mono channels or a stereo channel to record to.
Reduction mixing to a vTake
This is where digital comes in to its own. It is possible to bounce 2 or more channels into 1 that has already been used without erasing it.
For example: You have used all your channels. If you used the Basic Reduction mix method above, you would have to sacrifice one channel!
The process of reducing to a new vTake is very common and also forms the basis of final mixdown on multitrackers that do not have a dedicated master channel.
In the example below we will start with all 6 channels having an instrument each recorded on vTake 1 (If you don't know what this means then chances are you are already using vTake 1 as it is the default for a new project) but we want to add more. We will not be using the rhythm track, so it is muted.
- Green light the [status key] on all the tracks and get things sounding as you want them.
- Press [SYSTEM/UTILITY]
- Cursor right until "SYSTEM BOUNCE" is on screen and press [ENTER]
- Cursor right until "BOUNCE RECTRACK" is on screen and press [ENTER]. You now have 2 options:
- "MUTE" is the default and will cause any recordings on the destination track to be overwritten.
- "PLAY" will allow the destination track to play at the same time as record. Effectively recording it's self again but with the addition of any other channels you have set to play in the steps above.
- We want to include all the channels in the Reduction mix so turn the dial to display "PLAY"
- Hit [EXIT] to go back to the "BOUNCE" menu.
- Cursor Left until "BOUNCE RECTAKE" is on screen and press [ENTER]. You now have more options.
- "CURRENT" is the default setting and tells us that a bounce will overwrite anything that is on the Current vTake of the destination track. Using this option will overwrite some of our song.
- "1" - "10". These are the available vTakes. Selecting one of these will insure we preserve the original recording on the destination track.
- We want to keep the original recording for later so select vTake "10"
- It is good practice to use vTake 10 for reduction mixes, but which ever Vtake you choose, make a note of it or you might find your self trawling through 40 vTakes later on trying to find it!
- Hit [EXIT] a bunch of time until you are back to the main screen.
- Now perform a Reduction Mix as described above. Probably a good idea to use stereo Channel 7/8 as the destination to preserve any Stereo qualities of the Recordings.
- Once finished, set all the [STATUS KEYS] to green, rewind and play back.
Nothing has happened! All the channels are separate and even the Channel you just recorded to only has its original content on!
All these tracks are preserved for adjustment later if you wish. The new Reduction Mix is hidden away in vTake 10 of Channel 7/8. To listen to it....
- Tap the [TRACK PARAMETER] button
- Tap the [STATUS KEY] of Channel 7/8 (it will turn orange)
- Cursor down to the "vTake" display (it's below "Fader")
- Turn the dial until vTake "10" is displayed
- Hit [EXIT] a bunch of times to get back to the main screen
- Mute all channels except 7/8
- Hit [PLAY]
The result should sound identical to the individual tracks.
You now have the option to overwrite the original tracks if you are confident of the Reduction Mix and need to save memory.
If memory is not a concern, change all the channels (except 7/8) to a new vTake. (see vtake guide)
You can repeat this process a number of times and if you don't want to preserve the original recordings, can repeat to infinity! (Can you imagine a full 48 piece choir where every one is you?)
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