Sure thing @evilheat
Set up is basically:
RYTM > Overhub > Mac
A4 > Overhub > Mac
OT Cue Out > A4 Ext Inputs > REC via overbridge
I have RYTM and A4 Overbridge sync setting set to clock so they receive start/stop/sync from Ableton live.
I also have a midi out from RYTM to Octatrack and when recording I turn the OT so its receiving sync only but its sending out program change messages. This is because when I perform I am used to changing patterns on OT because thats how I play live. The sync needs to come from DAW not OT though because otherwise my recordings are way off grid.
I set up Overbridge control panel to accept inputs on 8 tracks for RYTM and 5 tracks (4 incl ext) for A4. So now I have 13 tracks set up in Ableton live set to rec from the correct OB inputs. I actually made a template that I use always for OB recordings so I don’t have to do it each time.
Now the second weird thing I do is I also record stereo in via my Steinberg UR22 MKII interface. It’s also hooked up with Overhub. This sits at the top of my arrangement view always and I can mute/unmute it.
I have the master out on OT going into the UR22 and I monitor the stereo on my speakers not the ableton output. This gets recorded on it’s own stereo track alongside the OT multitrack.
The reason I like having both the multitrack OB recording and the stereo track simultaneous is I record the whole song same as I would perform it live. With all modulations and live tweaking, mutes, etc. I keep the stereo file always as my reference for how I played with the FX, and how I live arranged it. So even if I chop up all the multitrack files and re-arrange and clean it up with Ableton, I can refer back to the original live recording. I want to enhance the live arrangement only, not re-write it.
So after recording I have the full song in multitrack and I’m staring at 13 audio files with long spaces of empty (sometimes even empty tracks). I begin the DAW arrangement by adding a dummy midi track on top and I put 8 bar clips colored and named to match different parts of the song. IE: INTRO, PART A, PART B. This helps me quickly chop up the audio tracks and move things around. I generally chop it up in 8 or 16 bar segments especially for the drum tracks. The long performy bits where maybe I was tweaking things live, I will leave as intact as possible, deleting only the silent areas. I also go through the tracks and fix any blips … the most common for me would be muting/unmuting drums at the wrong time. Missed kicks or stray hats mostly
I set up 3 sends to represent the FX that were removed by OB because I’m working with dry recordings. I have a reverb, delay, and saturation/overdrive send. I try and match as close to the original FX I had set up so its easy to look at the machines and replicate the FX levels. I don’t really add back any Chorus because I add some stereo widening in master and I don’t want to “over widen” anything. I barely use any chorus anyways since I get some stereo stuff from rev/del.
For mixing I usually have it already mixed to the right levels on the machines so I don’t touch the levels. The only time I change the level is when I add plugins that bring the level up. I could use wet/dry levels or reduce makeup gain, but it’s not always possible to get it perfect so I just use my ears. Also thats why I keep my original live as ref ! Keep the mix the same.
After I have all the tracks chopped, arranged, FX re-added, and mix just right I usually take the loudest part of the track and add a reference track on top of it so I can compare my mix, EQ, fullness, transients etc etc. I always bring the reference track down to match my RMS not bring my RMS up to match the reference. (Since I’ll be bringing mine up in Master) For bouncing my mix I keep my master FX pretty limited. I use a transparent compressor with just mild glue settings. A characterful EQ just boosting a bit and cutting a bit, and a use Voxengo Span to really get a detailed look at the shape of my EQ curve.
For Master I take the 24/96 audio file I rendered and I move into Reaper. I know I could do it in Ableton, but I like the way reaper navigates and I prefer doing master in a different “headspace” or environment. I basically do all the stuff you’d do to master … I can make another long typey post about this hahahaha but I’m also not even close to pro at mastering so … errrhh I’ll omit it for now.
If you have questions about any of the process, please hit me up. Happy to share