> Step by step
7. Recording
1 Now let’s look at adding some audio. Our original default Edit had eight tracks and we have one left. To get ready for recording, add some more tracks. By clicking the plus icon below the bottom track in the Arrange panel, a dialogue opens and we’re adding four tracks.
2 To record audio we need to make sure the correct interface input is routed to the track. Click below the track name to reveal the options. We are selecting Input 1 as that has our mic connected to it. Note, if we wanted to record in stereo we would select Treat As Stereo Channel Pair from the Parameters panel.
3 It’s worth taking a few minutes to check out the Properties panel at the bottom. Here you can apply digital gain, activate Input Monitoring, set threshold-dependent recording, and also specify file format. There’s also the option to replace or overlay the existing audio when you record over it.
4 The first thing we’re going to add is a live shaker. Set the recording mode to Overlay and then set up loop points – we’ve gone for a 4-bar section. Now hit record and capture a number of cycles.
5 When we hit stop it looks like we’ve only got one clip, but click on the plus icon in the bottom right and you’ll see a list of takes. Of course we can go through these takes individually and have a listen and another option in the list is to unpack them to new tracks. However, for quick editing, select the Show Takes option.
6 The Show Takes option is Waveform’s quick comping system and folds open all the takes into lanes below. Just like a number of other DAWs, you then simply cursor-highlight the sections you want. Once you’re happy, you can simply Hide the takes again, which leaves the option to return to the comp later.
7 Rather interestingly, you can also cut into your take and move sections around and continue to adjust your comp on the separate sections. So here for example we’ve cut out a section we like and moved it to another beat of the loop, and we can do this while we’re still tweaking the comp.
8 With the comp complete, as mentioned, we can simply fold it away. Alternatively there’s an option to Flatten it. This is a permanent decision that creates a new audio file from the comp and removes the original files from the track. You can also opt to permanently delete the original take files if desired.
9 The final task is to take our live 4-bar shaker loop and copy it to the parts of the track where it’s required. Here we’ve used it as a lifter halfway through the first section, and then brought it in halfway through the drop section running through to the end.