Multitrack Songs

DickyDutch

Hello Peter I just thought I’d share a recent experience Ive had with regards to preparing multi track songs which could affect other users.

I’ve been gradually converting some of my older stereo backing tracks to multi track songs hoping to give them a new lease of life.

Unfortunately as I worked through each song I didn’t appreciate the importance of ensuring each multitrack needs to have a unique file identifier for STAGETRAXX purposes (I think I’m right in saying that now). Instead for each song I used a very simple system of naming each track by its instrument name i.e. Drums.mp3, Bass.mp3, Piano.mp3 and so on. The problem of course was I loaded STAGETRAXX with different multitrack audio files with the same name!

I only realised the problem when on playing the last song I had created, surprise surprise, a mixture of different song files were being playing and not the ones I expected for that song! I went back and uniquely renamed each audio file and problem solved.

The funny thing is though I know I have other songs with duplicate file names and so far there hasn’t been a problem with them.

I can’t see anything in the user guide warning against this but you could say that user common sense should prevail.

However if this aspect is so important maybe STAGETRAXX should prevent duplicate multi file names being imported?

Damir

DickyDutch hi Dicky, I don’t get how you managed to load multiple Drums, Piano, Bass of different songs without the songs name first to identify which drums are for which song , that would just keep overwriting the tracks and you would just end up with the last song imported instrument tracks, you definitely need the songs name first then it’s instrument name , that way every song has its unique name and instrument version, because the files all share the same folder it will get pretty messy after 200 songs x 6 track versions.Total 1,200 tracks all in one folder, that’s pretty messy.
I’ve decided to stick with stereo tracks for my solo act, if I had my old band I might have gone multitrack, but it’s a lot of work and time just to fatten up the band sound a bit.Stereo track with click on one side is still easier.

peter

The thing is that there are legitimate reasons to import the same song multiple times. For example when you want to update that file.

DickyDutch

Hi Damir I action one song at a time so I know where I am with regards to file assignment. I agree with you it’s best to add the song name to to each audio multitrack therefore ensuring each track has a unique identifier. I’ve found one definite advantage of multi track songs is that you can tweak and polish the mix. As you know you can mix a song at home but when you play it live it’s not quite right. Like you I am eager to test the looping function of STAGETRAXX when it becomes available e.g. bring able to loop the intro of a song whilst engaging the crowd will be great!

Damir

DickyDutch Most definitely It’s fantastic to have multitrack for a number of reasons you mention and if I didn’t require Tempo change on the night I would spend the extra time to make all my songs multitrack, I love it and wish I had it a few years back when performing live with a band , the youngsters today don’t know how lucky they are, but for my solo performances I can get my mix pre programmed pretty accurately, mind you I have been a sound engineer at ABC Tv/Radio Adelaide for 35 years so I have an advantage over most users not to need multitrack but I can definitely say I think it’s a very powerful tool for a lot of users out there. I just think it’s file implementation is not designed for a fast and simple workflow, no individual folder for each song with everything in it and no quick way to sample play a file but other than that it is a fantastic tool.