This tutorial focuses on advanced techniques utilizing Track Bounce in Pro Tools using multiple tracks at once. These functions are a great timesaver when needing to do things such as create stems, consolidate tracks with processing, etc...

As a continuation of our previous article on the basics of Track Bounce, we will now focus on advanced Track Bounce techniques. Lets's first discuss using Auxiliary Tracks.

Auxiliary Tracks are used in several instances during the course of mixing. Since Auxiliary Tracks do not contain media, they are used to combine outputs of several tracks that are assigned to the Aux track’s Input, and routing them through one channel (usually stereo Aux tracks in a music mix). Please see Diagram below:

Tracks Number 7, 12, 20, 21, 30. 31, 32, 34, and 40 represent all the tracks I would select for my Track Bounce. These would be all of my Submix Aux tracks, along with one solo synth track (Number 21).

Step 1- Holding down the Command key (Mac) (or Control key on Windows), I am able to select non-contiguous tracks (please see diagrams below):

Partial Mix Window view with faders at normal width (one of two)

Partial Mix Window view with faders at normal width (two of two)

Step 2- Once tracks are selected, then we make a timeline selection to include the entire length of our Track Bounces (insuring that they will all be the same length). See below:

Step 3- Once we have our tracks selected and out timeline selection, then right-click on any of the highlighted track nameplates, and select Track Bounce from the dropdown menu. See below:

In this dialog box, we can determine whether or not we would like to include Volume and Pan Automation. We can also set the File Type, File Format, Bit Depth (usually the same as the session Bit Depth), and Sample Rate. Finally, we can add our Project Name/Date, as it will be included in each file name, which will always include the Track Name from which it was bounced (please see next picture). The Default Folder for our Track Bounces is the Bounced Files Folder within our Session Folder. And if all of our processing is done internally, we can choose to Bounce faster than real time (Offline).

Step 4- Bounce our tracks.

After this quick one step bounce process, we are left with the following files (see below)

Bounced Files Folder in our Pro Tools Session Folder

Not only do we have our Full Mix (from the SubMaster AUX), but separate stems of the Full Band (Instrumental) Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, and even partial Band breakouts (Drums, Basses, Synth Pads, Sound Effects, and the Lead Melody Synth Line.

All the effects processing that was on our Sub-Mix Aux tracks (as Inserts) are printed on each stem (also labelled with the -St extension). Notice that there was no additional Insert processing on the full BAND SubMix AUX, as well as the SubMasterAUX, since all processing was accomplished on the Sub Mix Busses that were routed to each one of these.

So whether we are mixing in a Music-Production session, or a Post-Production session, we can easily create the Full Mix and subsequent stems from this valuable Track Bounce procedure.

Joe Sears

Author: Joe Sears
Avid Expert Certified Pro Tools Instructor
www.protoolstraining.com

888-277-0457

Joe SearsAvid Pro Tools instructor

Joe Sears is an Audio Engineer/Sound Designer/Composer, and Educator; an industry professional since 1985. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (LeMoyne College) along with a minor in Music Theory and Composition (Crouse College at Syracuse University), Joe became a Full Time employee of David Horowitz Music Associates in New York City. Working on film, TV, Radio, Commercial Music and albums with award-winning composers, world-class musicians, vocalists, and voiceover artists (as well as celebrities) in a variety of different genres, Joe has acquired a deep knowledge and understanding in his field. In 2013, Joe became an AVID Certified Pro Tools Instructor, obtaining Expert Level Pro Tools Certification in both Music and Post Production.