So if I create a Drummer Track, then convert to midi and work on velocities etc, is it best to work on compression/EQ etc at this point, or when I have bounced in place to Audio Tracks?
Or does it not matter?
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)
The only difference is being able to alter velocities etc whilst it's still midi.
If you're totally happy with the velocities etc then it makes no difference. Try it.
Bounce a track in place but opt to keep the midi version too. So you'll have identical channels with identical plug-ins and settings but one will be midi and one will be audio. You can directly compare the two, or better still, do a null test.
When people send me a song to mix I often ask them to render any midi to audio. Sometimes it's ok if they don't (as long as nothing changes) because sometimes it may sound better to alter the velocities before I mix. When I'm happy with that though, I always render to audio.
The only difference is being able to alter velocities etc whilst it's still midi.
If you're totally happy with the velocities etc then it makes no difference. Try it.
Bounce a track in place but opt to keep the midi version too. So you'll have identical channels with identical plug-ins and settings but one will be midi and one will be audio. You can directly compare the two, or better still, do a null test.
When people send me a song to mix I often ask them to render any midi to audio. Sometimes it's ok if they don't (as long as nothing changes) because sometimes it may sound better to alter the velocities before I mix. When I'm happy with that though, I always render to audio.
They are both audio output, software instruments are MIDI in, Audio out so there is no basic difference except for the added control you would have leaving it MIDI. Well... there is one benefit if bounced to an audio track. The Software instrument will not be eating up CPU cycles and neither would any effects that are bounced, so you would save some CPU. A basic audio track with no effects uses barely any CPU.
adding fx to midi or audio, which is best?
