Best ways to import multiple audio tracks to specific templates?

[Daniel Feldman]

Hello Community,

I working to improve my efficiency working with templates, and wonder if there is a better way to import multiple tracks (from a band multi-track recording made on a digital mixer) into a set of Track Templates I have made for each source.

My scenario looks like this:

I run sound with a seven-piece band and frequently record rehearsals or performances as multi-tracks to an SD card on the Allen & Heath CQ-18T. The mixer names each track according to its signal, for example 01PAUL.WAV,      02MARY.WAV...,     03BASS.WAV. The CQ-18T produces a folder for each recording, filled with these WAV files for each armed track. Note that up to now, I have not connected the mixer as an interface directly to Cakewalk, and have only recorded to the SD card on the mixer for later import into Cakewalk.

Since I start with certain settings for EQ, sends, ProChannel processing etc, for each track, I have created Track Templates for each expected signal. I have also created a Project Template with these configured tracks.

Prior to setting up these templates I simply dragged the WAV files onto a blank project and started setting each up. After a rehearsal or performance with 5-30 song recordings, this is obviously tedious. Clearly a job for templates.

One obvious workflow would be to open the Project Template, drag in the files, then individually drag each imported track onto each empty track template. I now wonder if there is an easier way to load up the set of configured template tracks with new files in one move.

I suppose this is a common scenario, and people have established efficient ways to accomplish this. Please share your approaches.

Thank you for your advice.

Dan F.

 

[57Gregy]

Not the answer you're looking for, but why don't you record to your DAW live from the A&H?
"An integrated USB audio interface enables easy multitrack recording, playback and streaming via your DAW".
Seems like that would be easier.
Probably others will have different ideas soon.

[Daniel Feldman]

Thanks for the response 57Gregy. Direct into the DAW is of course an option, and I will likely go in that direction. I somehow haven't had the motivation to do that yet. Bringing a laptop and an external drive to a gig, keeping that charged, would add just a bit more complexity to an already busy situation of setting up for this band. One of the beauties of the A&H is how compact and self-contained it is.

Best,

Dan

 

[David Baay]

If you can get the recorded files to have the same order in the source folder that they have in the project, you can select them all, drop them in the first track of the project, and they'll all import to their respective tracks from top to bottom. Alternatively, you can drop them all in the empty space below the existing track which will create one new track for each file, and then drag the clips to their respective tracks within the project.

Better yet, if CW's default project sample rate and import bit depth are the same as the recordings, you can start by saving the new empty project created from the template, then copy/move the files to that project's Audio folder, go to File > Import > Audio, select all the files in the Audio folder, and clips will be created referencing those files directly without having to copy  or re-sample them.

[Sock Monkey]

@Daniel Feldman

I have a workflow for this I will share. 

I use a Zoom L8 which records directly to an SD card. This way the recorded tracks are clean and unaffected by any changes made to the mixer during a show.  I can also record the stereo master output which is the board mix. 

I used to record direct to Cakewalk using a Tascam 16x4 interface,  but as you mentioned, this is a bunch of extra work and you need a second table to put everything on. The Zoom is much simpler to use as a multi track interface but you still need the Laptop.  The SD card records 48/24 wave files so there's no quality difference.  Personally I think recording to the SD card is the way to go.  

I noticed you only mentioned Track templates and not Project templates?  That might have been the simple answer to your question. But I'll explain what I do anyhow. 

Open an empty  template and grab all the tracks from the SD card and drop them in. This will populate the project and the tracks will be stacked in order of the naming convention the SD card uses. For me this is channels 1 thru 10   ( or 12 if I use the master)  

Now you use this to set up a new project Template. Name the tracks, colour add effects create sub buses etc. Now save this as a CWT template file. 

Now all you do is bulk drag and drop the other songs into this template 

For the first song I now save and name it as a CWP file. I then set to work mixing. When I'm happy with the Mix I save it as a MIX RECALL. 

Now when I open the second song I can drag the Mix Recall from song #1 mix recall  folder into Song #2 track pane. Now Song #2 will have all the effects and settings used in song #1.  

If you have recorded a whole show/ set/ practice  none stop or in multiple songs no problem. 

Drag those to the template. 

Turn on Ripple edit. 

Split just at the beginning of song #1.  Highlight the Left selection and then delete.

Go to the end of song #1 , split, highlight right, delete. 

Important- Use  "SAVE AS" and name the song.  Make sure and save it as a CWP file. 

Now go to UNDO and this brings back the deleted Right selection, ( songs #2 etc)  Now delete the Left selection ( song #1) and go to end of song #2 and repeat using SAVE AS and UNDO until you have a project for each song. 

Note:  they can/will all be in the same project folder and will share the original audio data to save space.  Later you can use SAVE AS and move them ( to a different drive? ) as individual projects. 

Important note: Don't forget to turn off ripple edit when you open each file later. 

 

Edited November 9 by Sock Monkey