Bounce-to-Disk vs. Recording a Mix to an Audio Track (Pro Tools content)

[pifos_2]

This is pretty interesting : http://www.protoolstraining.com/ProMedia-Blog/Faculty-Articles/bounce-to-disk.html

I was aware of the option for a long time but I never thought it could sound 'better' or it'd be more accurate.

Now I got one question for you Pro Tools guys.
When you record your mix to a stereo track, you get 2 mono tracks _L and _R, how do convert that to a 'client-ready' stereo file ?

Cheers,
Nicolas.

 

[::XeS::]

When you record to a new stereo track, in protools you have 2 mono tracks but it's a stereo track in your disk.

 

[BLUElightCory]

The great thing is that there are still PLENTY of engineers who argue about this even though the "record to a stereo track sounds better" myth has been scientifically debunked about a million times. Both methods have pros and cons so it's really just a matter of workflow preference.

A good, modern computer with adequate processing power shouldn't have much problem accurately recreating automation during a bounce. I've done the same kind of tests with complex mixes and had total cancellation (minus some modulation effects, which is normal) between bounced-to-disk and recorded-to-stereo-track files. With my older Apple G4 I did have occasional problems with bouncing automation, but my current Mac Pro is solid.

Now I got one question for you Pro Tools guys.
When you record your mix to a stereo track, you get 2 mono tracks _L and _R, how do convert that to a 'client-ready' stereo file ?

Cheers,
Nicolas.

Just highlight the resulting stereo track of the mix and hit Command-Shift-K to export it.

 

[pifos_2]

When you record to a new stereo track, in protools you have 2 mono tracks but it's a stereo track in your disk.

it doesn't seem to be like that here man.

Just highlight the resulting stereo track of the mix and hit Command-Shift-K to export it.

that worked fine.

 

[Scott C.]

I Think the main reason some Engineers record to a track is for stability not sound. Sometimes when your running a large session/alot of plugins you will get errors when bouncing to disk. that's the reason I started recording to a track. I had a couple sessions lock up and not bounce and even had to retrieve the sessions from backup. no problems since I switched to recording to a stereo track

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

If you print to an audio track (this is what I do), you get two advantages:
- if the playback fucks up during the printing, you just have to record from there (instead of re-bouncing everything again if it fucks up during "bounce to disk"...)
- if you're doing a revision of your mix, you can only record specific sections (like "raise the guitar solo here") instead of re bouncing the whole track, major time saver.