User guide

Tracktion 4 Reference Manual
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The other options available from the click track button allow you to set the click to your taste. In
particular, you may want to check the pre-record count-in length value, as this denes the amount of
time click track plays before recording starts. More information on working with the click-track can be
found in Chapter Six.
OK, you’re ready to begin recording. Section Three of this chapter explains the various record
modes available to you, and how to use them.
5.3 : The Recording Modes Explained
Normal Recording Mode
When Tracktion is in the normal recording mode, recording will start as soon as playback is activated.
You can position the play-head cursor at any point before playback starts, so you can use this to start
recording at a specied point.
Generally the normal recording mode is best suited to jamming sessions when there is no existing
song structure, or you want to be able to record without dened start and stop points.
Recording in this mode is simply a case of setting up and arming an input as described in the earlier
sections of this chapter, and when ready, clicking the record button in the transport section. When you
are ready to stop recording, you can either click the record button again, or you can click the stop but-
ton.
If you select the recording input device, you can customise how Tracktion deals with existing clips
that would be overwritten by the recording. MIDI inputs have an option in the device properties called
action, and audio inputs have a corresponding option in the device properties called record mode.
Despite the different names, both of the options are essentially the same. You can opt to have Track-
tion either overlay existing clips with the newly recorded material, or replace existing clips with newly
recorded material.
MIDI inputs have an additional option that allows you to merge the recorded material into existing
clips, which allows you to build up a complex arrangement over successive loops, or takes.
The nal option, which is available to both MIDI and audio input devices, is to not make a recording
at all. This option is discussed in later in this section.
To record in normal mode, simply:
• Enable or disable the loop option in the transport section.
• Disable the punch option in the transport section.
• Select the input device and ensure that the recording mode/action is set to either overlay clips,
replace clips, or merge clips.
• Place the play-head cursor at some point before the location at which you wish to start recording.
• Press the record button in the transport section.
Tip: If you wish to use Tracktion’s safe record mode, you can activate it from the options button
menu. When safe recording is active, you will need to use a special key-combination to halt recording.
This protects you from accidentally knocking the SPACEBAR key, or clicking the stop/record buttons
and terminating a recording session. The key-combintaion needed to stop recording will be shown on
the screen while recording is in progress.