Audio recording w/song sequencer-recorder

[Jokeyman123]

Again-as in my sampling post-the "audiomix" tutorial guide I found-has the only somewhat clear explanation about how to record external audio sources into the 8 channel inputs. Reading the reference manual again, is describing every detail about how to edit recorded audio and midi tracks-but as far as how to actually assign, monitor and record audio-not very clear to me. Griping I guess, but there is no clear explanation-except this audiomix tutorial-as to how one assigns a particular input jack to a track. No wonder Deepsonic was able to sell their tutorials. I had to study posts here, to begin to get to grips with how to use the audio recorder portion of the fusion. It works well, but definitely not easy to understand. I think that the design is rather "open" is part of what makes this hard to grasp. From what I understand, I can use 1-2 or all 8 audio input jacks, or any combination-and record all of this into 1-2 tracks at a time, or just one? Not sure. I am missing a clearer explanation comparing a recording 'track" to an audio "input" channel. And the visible audio bar graph monitor-must have been a bug, but when I followed the exact steps in the tutorial and manual to see the audio monitor bar graph-there wasn't any! I had to reboot the Fusion, and there it was. Does this monitor only one "channel" or "track" at a time-this is to me at least still pretty confusing, and I have recorded audio with at least 6-7 different digital multitrack recorders over time, I am no beginner. If anyone here (Jesse, parametric?) can point me to a clear post about recording with the audio inputs, It would be helpful. I posted what I have in .pdf, which is I believe already in jesse's archives.

[Jesse]

This may be of interest as it is probably what the Fusions 8 track recorder is based on and most likely one of the reasons for the HDD

[parametric]

I have only ONCE recorded Audio on the Fusion - (A vocal). Using my Sm58 into a Mic preamp,

and thence - to an armed Audio Track. It produced very good results.

Rich Menga in his "Power Start Guide" gives some useful info . . . .

Some important words about multitrack audio recording with the Fusion

Use a mixing board

When recording any audio, it is highly suggested (but not required) that you run your
instrument(s) through a proper mixing board, then to the Fusion. While it's true you can
plug in “direct” without a mixer, this may at times lead to undesirable results. Alesis
themselves makes audio mixing boards you can use that will work wonderfully with the
Fusion. You can find suitable mixers of all ranges (including some with very reasonable
prices) at www.alesis.com, or at your local Alesis retailer.

Recording audio is not the Fusion's primary function

Bear in mind that the multitrack audio recording ability of the Fusion is not its primary
function. The Fusion is an instrument first. It is not designed to replace a full recording
studio. This is not to say you couldn't mix and master an entire album on it, but you should
know where the Fusion's priorities are.

It still takes time to get recorded audio to sound good

Recording physical audio with the Fusion is convenient, but not necessarily make the
process any faster. As is the case with true recording studios, you will still have to spend
time setting up microphone placement, tuning instruments and the like.

The quality of the output is 100% dependent on the quality of the input

If you feed the Fusion crappy audio, you will get crappy audio in return. While the Fusion
does produce clean pristine sounds on the synthesizer end, it will not magically turn a
crappy audio recording into a good one. In essence, you will have to make an effort to
make sure the audio you send is good from the start. This isn't to say your audio “must be
perfect”, but rather that your audio must be as clean as you can get it.

If you do not use amplification, the signal may be too “weak” to use

You can adjust audio volume levels once something is recorded into the Fusion, but it helps
a great deal if you have some amplification (hence the suggestion of using a mixing board)
when recording audio.

Example of an instrument that works “as is”: Acoustic-Electric guitar with powered pickup.
Most acoustic-electric guitars come provided with a 9-volt battery that allows for
amplification when sending audio out. This is a good strong signal and will work well with
the Fusion.

Instruments that will not work: Electric guitars and non-powered microphones. The electric
guitar itself has no amplification, and therefore will have a weak signal. A non-powered
microphone has the same problem.

For non-powered instruments, using a mixing board (whereas you can increase the volume a
great deal) will help immensely.

This document is quite old now - so some of the links might not behave . . . .

Regarding the Fusion 8 Track recorder - the Fusion Ref. Manual says this:

The inputs record at 24bit 44.1kHz and can be active at the same time, letting you record up to eight channels simultaneously. All inputs are balanced and the recorder has standard transport controls with locate points.

Doubtless this is true - but nowhere can I find a detailed description of how to actually set it up . . . .

seems audio tracks can be set up in pairs - you have to <highlight> each track to arm it . . . . . .

SOMEWHERE - I saw that if you <un-highlight> a track - it disarms it Which is a GAFF - if true . .

. . .SO . . . I guess it needs to be TRIED, to create 8 audio tracks, ARM them - and SEE if they STAY ARMED???

I've never needed to do do this, which (I guess) explains WHY I don't know . . .

Chris

[Jokeyman123]

What i have deduced-the "ARM" function has 2 ways of working (well 3 if you consider "off" as the 3rd)-and this is what confused me. if it is set to "Auto"-I need to select whatever individual track I want to record to and then record-it will only record to that single track-one track at a time. I have to literally have that track's "page" or menu open for that single track in order to record to that track from whatever input I am using-and it can be any of the 8 inputs, there is no distinction which strikes me as rather odd. I suppose the logic behind this was to insure that one doesn't accidentally erase a prior recorded track if one is recording 1 track at a time, not simultaneously. Now if I set a track to "ON"-whatever track is set to "ON", not "auto", I can record as many tracks simultaneously-to the limit of the 8 inputs. All I needed to know-if recording 2 tracks at once for stereo or panning left/right-I need to ARM at least those 2 tracks to "ON" not "auto". A very important distinction which has taken me several days of studying to understand. This is somewhat different than how to assign channels and tracks to a standard mixing console or multitrack recorder which threw me off. I only fathomed this out after very carefully reading the "audiomix" pdf which describes how these ARM functions differ. You have always made clear Chris-the manual is verbose regarding what the Fusion can do, but not necessarily how to do it!