Synchronizing audio tracks from collaborators

[cardell]

What method do people here use to synchronize audio tracks from various sources (i.e. collaborators) using different DAWs?Stuart

[hummingbird]

Oct 29, 2009, 12:45am, cardell wrote:What method do people here use to synchronize audio tracks from various sources (i.e. collaborators) using different DAWs?Stuart-always start with a reference track (drum loops, or rythm guitar with a scratch vocal) that everyone will play along with when recording their tracks, this should have a count in-have everyone start their wav at the same place, counting in with the count in on the ref track (even if they only play the second verse)-if my contribution was starting later in the song (back-up vox), I'd snip & copy a couple bars at the beginning of the song & position it in the same place as the ref track at the beginning of my wav to help the mixer line things up. Then he/she could snip it off againHTH

[hummingbird]

PS - sometimes you might find that mp3s vary in length, so it's best to have the ref track as a wav that everyone can download from yousendit or a similar service, and then everyone sends their final wav to the mixer the same way.

[ciskokidd]

For sheer songwriting, meaning no production, it is the easiest to send mp3s back and forth. You just have to ensure that the tracks are the same bit and sample rate. I always find it best to send 44.1K 24 bit files.Once you get to production, then you have to move to wav or aiff file format so that there is no loss, but you still have to ensure the bit depth and sample rate are the same for each collaborator.Best,Cisko

[mazz]

Agree on a file format, sample rate, bit depth, for instance:24 bit WAV at 44.1 kHzAgree to start all tracks at time 0 so they all have exactly the same start reference. It's a good idea to leave a bar of silence before any sound, even if you have a pickup bar, just in case you want to put a sound effect or a different drum fill or whatever. This applies whether the track starts at the beginning, or comes in at 1 minute into the song. All tracks don't have to end at the same time, for instance a guitar solo that only comes in at the middle and then never comes back doesn't need to be bounced to the end.Alternatively, you could agree to put the very first hit or bar of the drum track so everyone can line up their tracks. This is dicey if someone is trimming the beginning, because if they're off on their trimming, then the following tracks could be a little bit off and the ones after that, etc. Better to start all tracks at the exact same time reference so they all drop in with their left edge at the very beginning of the sequence. It's less ambiguous.Make sure if you're going to do any MIDI overdubs or any grid work that everyone is using the same tempo map.Create an audio click track and send this to everyone.Create a rough mix as a reference for when you send your tracks back. Of course, make it start at the same time as the rest of the tracks. This way, the collaborator can have an idea of what was in your mind when you overdubbed.Just a few more ideas.Mazz

[cardell]

Thank-you. This was very helpful.Stuart