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How to Bounce Tracks With an Alesis HD24

The Alesis HD24 is a 24-track hard disk recorder. The benefit of using a hard disk recorder over an audio production software program is that it records audio, rather than data. This typically results in a warmer, more authentic sound. However, while software programs have the capacity for limitless virtual channels, hard disk recorders are limited by the physical amount of recording tracks. You can mitigate this limitation by "bouncing" down tracks that you've finished mixing. Bouncing is a technical term for grouping. Once you've mixed a track, or if you want to mix multiple tracks together, bounce them to the same channel to free up some space.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select the tracks that you want to group together. Typically, the first tracks that you mix are the rhythm instruments, such as drums and bass. Group tracks together that are in a similar sonic spectrum, such as bass instruments. Instruments that occupy a similar frequency range can work better together on a single track. For example, if you have recorded four tracks of backing vocal, you can group each track together and mix them as one track. This saves time and space on the hard disk recorder.

    • 2

      Review the mix. Listen to each track in isolation to make sure that it is mixed exactly how you want it. Once you've bounced a track to a new location, you need to delete the original to free up the space. Once deleted, you can't get the original track. Once bounced, you can't isolate the track to change the mix.

    • 3

      Identify a hard disk track location. For example, if you have recorded the bass and drums across tracks one through ten, tracks 11 through 24 may be free. Make sure the track is empty before specifying it as your bounce location.

    • 4

      Group together the tracks you plan to bounce. Press and hold the "Track Edit" button. While holding, press the track record enable button of the tracks you want to bounce. This groups the tracks together as one, ready for bouncing. When prompted, select "Cut." Because the cut function deletes the original audio, the Alesis HD24 will prompt you to confirm your intention. A message appears on the display saying "Cut Selected Regions?" Press the soft-key next to "Yes" to proceed with the cut.

    • 5

      Press and hold "Track Edit" once again and press the track number button of the bounce destination track. When prompted, select "Paste." This command sends the grouped tracks to the destination track and wipes the audio from the original track.

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