8 · Takes & Comping
A take is one recorded performance of a part. When you record the same
section several times, AnalogDAW keeps the takes together so you can choose the
best one — or build a composite ("comp") from the best moments of several.
This is how you turn five good-but-imperfect vocal passes into one flawless
performance.
A clip can hold a primary recording plus any number of alternate takes.
Takes are added automatically when you record over an existing clip:
- Punch / re-record over a clip. Record a new pass that overlaps an existing
clip on the same track, and the new pass is stacked as another take on that
clip rather than replacing it.
- Loop recording. Turn on the loop around the section and keep recording.
Each pass through the loop is captured as a new take, all collected on one
clip. This is the fastest way to capture a stack of takes hands-free.
Each take remembers its own audio file, trim, fades, and gain.
Every take clip plays one active take at a time. To switch which take you
hear:
- Expand the take lanes. Open a clip's takes to reveal a row per take
beneath the clip, where you can see and audition each one.
- From the clip's menu, the Takes submenu lists Original plus every
take — pick one to make it active (a checkmark shows the current choice).
Switching the active take is instant and non-destructive — the other takes stay
right there.
Comping means assembling one great performance out of pieces of several
takes. With the take lanes expanded:
- Audition the takes and decide which one is best for each phrase or word.
- Select the portion of a take you want to use; that region is promoted into
the composite. Do this across the takes, section by section.
- AnalogDAW crossfades between regions automatically, so the seams are smooth.
Each comp region has fine controls so the result is seamless:
- Region slip — nudge the underlying audio earlier or later inside the
region to line up timing, without moving the region itself.
- Region gain — adjust the level of just that region so all the pieces match.
- Crossfade — the smooth blend at each seam between regions.
Reset options are on the region's menu: Reset Region Slip, Reset Region
Gain, or Reset Region Gain and Slip.
From a take clip's context menu:
- Set active take — choose which take plays (the Takes submenu).
- Delete Active Take — remove the currently selected take.
- Merge Takes (Flatten) — render your comp choices down into a single new
audio clip. This "prints" the composite so the clip becomes one simple file —
great once you're happy and want to tidy up. (The flattened audio is written
into the project so it travels with the session.)
Tip: Comp first, flatten last. Keep your takes around while you're still
deciding; flatten only when the performance is locked, since flattening
commits to your current choices.
If tracks are joined in an edit group (see
Mixing), choosing a take on one track can switch the
matching take on the other members at the same spot — handy for multi-mic
sources (like a drum kit) where all the mics should follow the same take.
Next: Editing Clips →