LARRY'S BOUNCING METHODS

Several methods are available to combine tracks when making a recording using overdubs. Here are descriptions of each.

The examples show a 4-track recorder, but they can be used with a multitrack recorder of any size.
 
 

1. Copy and Add:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Two 2-track recorders, Mixer

   This technique can be done even if you do not have a multitrack recorder. Play the already completed tape through two mixer channels, panned hard left and hard right (or use a single stereo channel). Mix in the new parts, with all panning and effects included. Record the result on a fresh (blank and bulk erased) tape in the second recorder.

   Advantages: Low equipment cost.

   Disadvantages: Each added set of musicians adds the degradation of one generation-loss to all previously recorded parts. Also, if anyone makes a mistake, all of the new parts added have to be redone.
    

2. Technics RS-B11W Copy-mixing:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Technics RS-B11W, Mixer

   Mix the new parts together, with all panning and effects included. Feed the result into the recorder. Put your previous 2-track in the play side, and a blank tape in the record side. Put the recorder in copy mode on normal speed, and use its fader to set the level of the new parts in relation to the old.

   Advantages: Low equipment cost.

   Disadvantages: Each added set of musicians adds the degradation of one generation-loss to all previously recorded parts. There is no control over levels of previous tracks. Also, if anyone makes a mistake, all of the new parts added in the pass have to be redone.
    

3. Internal Bounce and Combine:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Multitrack recorder, Mixer (internal or external to recorder)

   Play the already completed tracks into the mixer. Mix them and record the result on an unused track.

   Note: If needed, new parts can be mixed in at the same time.

   Note: On a machine with more than 4 tracks, this can be done in stereo, using two destination tracks.

   Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs.

   Disadvantages: All of the parts combined must have the same pan position in the final mix (except as noted above).
    

4. Stereo Internal Bounce and Add:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Multitrack recorder, Mixer (internal or external to recorder)

   Play the already completed tracks into the mixer. Mix them with the new parts (with all panning and effects included) and record the result in stereo on two unused tracks.

   Advantages: Preserves stereo image of previous mixing.

   Disadvantages: Each added set of musicians adds the degradation of one generation-loss to the previously recorded parts. Also, if anyone makes a mistake, all of the new parts added during the bounce have to be redone.
    

5. External Bounce and Combine:
   

    

   

   Minimum equipment required: Multitrack recorder, Mixer (internal or external to recorder), 2-track recorder

   Put a fresh tape in the 2-track. Play the already completed tracks on the multitrack into the mixer. Mix them (including all effects and pan positions) and record the result in stereo on the 2-track. Then use one of the return methods listed next.

   Note: This is also the procedure for making the final master tape (omit the return bounce).

   Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs. Preserves stereo image of previous mixing.

   Disadvantages: This process adds the degradation of two generation-losses to the parts already recorded.
    

   Return Methods:
    

   • Return Bounce:

     Put a fresh tape in the multitrack. Play the 2-track, and record the stereo mix on it onto two tracks of the multitrack.

     Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs. Preserves stereo image of previous mixing.

     Disadvantages: This process adds the degradation of two generation-losses to the parts on tape.
      

   • Return Bounce and Add:

     Put a fresh tape in the multitrack. Play the stereo mix from the 2-track into the mixer. Mix this with the new parts (with all panning and effects included) and record the result in stereo on two tracks of the multitrack.

     Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs. Preserves stereo image of previous mixing. Allows adding parts.

     Disadvantages: This process adds the degradation of one generation-losses to the parts on tape. Also, if anyone makes a mistake, all of the new parts added during the return bounce have to be redone.
      

6. External Bounce, Combine, and Add:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Multitrack recorder, Mixer (internal or external to recorder), 2-track recorder

   Put a fresh tape in the 2-track. Play the already completed tracks on the multitrack into the mixer. Mix them. Also mix in the new parts. Include all panning and effects and record the result in stereo on the 2-track. Then use one of the return methods listed above.

   Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs. Preserves stereo image of previous mixing.

   Disadvantages: This process adds the degradation of two generation-losses to the parts on tape, and adds one generation-loss to the added parts. Also, if anyone makes a mistake, all of the new parts added during the bounce have to be redone.
    

7. External Bounce and Combine to Multitrack:
   

   Minimum equipment required: Two Multitrack recorders, Mixer (internal to both recorders, or external)

   Put a fresh tape in the second multitrack. Play the already completed tracks on the first multitrack into the mixer. Mix them and record the result in stereo on the second multitrack. Then continue your work on the second multitrack.

   Note: If a second external bounce is needed, bounce to a fresh tape in the first multitrack, and continue working there.

   Advantages: Frees up tracks for more overdubs. Preserves stereo image of previous mixing. Adds one less generation-loss than the regular external bounce method does.

   Disadvantages: Needs two multitrack recorders. Adds the degradation of one generation-loss to the parts already recorded.
    

 
Record 11 parts with at most 2 generation-losses on a 4-track

Minimum equipment required: Multitrack recorder, Mixer (internal or external to recorder), 2-track recorder

Here's how to do it:

1. Put fresh tapes in both machines.
2. Record parts 1, 2, and 3 (simultaneously or overdub) on tracks 1, 2, and 3 of the Multitrack.
3. While playing tracks 1, 2, and 3, and adding part 4, mix them and record the result on track 4.
4. Overdub parts 5 and 6 (simultaneously or separately) on tracks 1 and 2 of the Multitrack.
5. While playing tracks 1, 2, and 4, mix tracks 1 and 2 (parts 5 and 6) with added part 7, and record the result on track 3.
6. Overdub part 8 on track 1 of the Multitrack.
7. While playing tracks 1, 3, and 4, mix track 1 (part 8) with added part 9, and record the result on track 2.
8. Overdub part 10 on track 1 of the Multitrack.
9. While playing tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4, and adding part 11, mix them all down and record the final master on the 2-track.

Note the following:

PANNING:

• Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 must all have the same pan position in the final mix.
• Parts 5, 6, and 7 must all have the same pan position in the final mix.
• Parts 8 and 9 must have the same pan position in the final mix.
• Parts 10 and 11 each have their own independent pan positions.

LOSSES:

• Parts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 all have two generation-losses.
• Parts 4, 7, 9, and 10 all have one generation-loss.
• Part 11 has no generation-loss.

MISTAKES:

• If someone makes a mistake, only that part will have to be played again.
• A mix will have to be redone only if a mistake is made on part 4, 7, 9, or 11.

MONITOR:

• Different ratios of parts for monitoring are not always possible.

A good stereo mix with this system might have the following example part assignments:

1. Drum Kit (pan center)
2. Bass
3. Violin
4. Lead Vocal
    
5. Percussion (Pan wide left)
6. Rhythm Guitar
7. Back-up Vocal 1
    
8. Keyboard (Pan wide right)
9. Back-up Vocal 2
    
10. Lead Guitar (Pan near right)
     
11. Saxophone (Pan near left)
     

It's all up to your imagination what you can do with your multitrack.

LINKS:

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