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DRUMS => Spark => Spark Users Community => Topic started by: storoi90 on October 08, 2012, 05:34:43 pm

Title: What is the best way to get Sparks banks and patterns in to audio files?
Post by: storoi90 on October 08, 2012, 05:34:43 pm
Just wondering, what method do you guys use when you want to go from using Spark in real time, to converting all of your drums (banks and patterns) in to audio-files?

I have so far experimented with these methods:

1. Rendering patterns and dragging audio-files in to Pro Tools.

Works ok, but i am DEFINITELY noticing some reductions in the sound quality, as oppose to Spark in real time.
Also, when using reverb on different drums in patterns, the audio-clips cuts of that when one is copying clips in the DAW, so itīs rarely practical for me.


2. Printing entire patterns via bussing in Pro Tools

Works bad. The sound quality of the drums is greatly reduced when i print Spark patterns to an audio-track in Pro Tools, as oppose to running Spark in real time.
On the plus side i now have an audio file thatīs coherent, and doesnīt cut of any reverb or other effects.

3. Printing individual drums via the multiple outputs in the mixing window in Spark.

Best quality so far, although it wonīt print in stereo in Pro Tools 8.0.5. It is supposed to print on "Aux 1,2,3" etc.
according to the video on "Recording multiple outputs", but in Pro Tools 8.0.5 i only have "Out 3+4", "Out 5+6" and so on, all the way up to "Out 33+34". And that only prints in Mono.



Title: Re: What is the best way to get Sparks banks and patterns in to audio files?
Post by: Kevin on October 18, 2012, 11:41:49 am
Just wondering, what method do you guys use when you want to go from using Spark in real time, to converting all of your drums (banks and patterns) in to audio-files?

I have so far experimented with these methods:

1. Rendering patterns and dragging audio-files in to Pro Tools.

Works ok, but i am DEFINITELY noticing some reductions in the sound quality, as oppose to Spark in real time.
Also, when using reverb on different drums in patterns, the audio-clips cuts of that when one is copying clips in the DAW, so itīs rarely practical for me.

Check the "Wav export size" preference (see attached screenshot).

Quote

2. Printing entire patterns via bussing in Pro Tools

Works bad. The sound quality of the drums is greatly reduced when i print Spark patterns to an audio-track in Pro Tools, as oppose to running Spark in real time.
On the plus side i now have an audio file thatīs coherent, and doesnīt cut of any reverb or other effects.

3. Printing individual drums via the multiple outputs in the mixing window in Spark.

Best quality so far, although it wonīt print in stereo in Pro Tools 8.0.5. It is supposed to print on "Aux 1,2,3" etc.
according to the video on "Recording multiple outputs", but in Pro Tools 8.0.5 i only have "Out 3+4", "Out 5+6" and so on, all the way up to "Out 33+34". And that only prints in Mono.

I have to check this. Did you create stereo tracks?

Considering audio quality I don't know if this comes from us r from Pro Tools?
Title: Re: What is the best way to get Sparks banks and patterns in to audio files?
Post by: storoi90 on October 20, 2012, 05:01:11 pm
Quote
Check the "Wav export size" preference (see attached screenshot).

Thank you so much!

Quote
Did you create stereo tracks?

Yes. Inserted Spark (BTW is now called "Spark VST" instead of just "Spark" after 1.4 to 1.5 update in Pro Tools 8.0.5) on a Stereo Instrument Track.

Then tried adding Stereo-tracks (and Mono-tracks and Aux-tracks in desperation), but i get the same results.
I donīt know whatīs going on here, but it must be a Pro Tools 8 compatibility issue with Spark.

Another compatibility issue with Pro Tools 8, is that Sparkīs tempo is slightly of from Pro Tools tempo grid.
If i trigger "Tempo" and "Host" in Spark, then drag a Wav file in the PT DAW, itīs slightly of from the grid.
See the attachment.

Itīs not really a BIG problem, but itīs annoying when you want to duplicate instead of copying.