Yep. Matt you are right sir.

I have a pretty good set up but on my more "adventurous" stuff that can have up to 48 tracks (all with VSTs going), I have to do it in two stages with effects.

1. I start with no effects, and just put the effects I need (no master bus effects mind you) on the instrument tracks and get a perfect mix of that bed then export.

2. I do the same with vocals.

3.) I go to a mastering template. I either do:

A.) A mix of vocal bed and instrument bed

B.) A mix of instrument bed with 3 or four vocal tracks using different effects on those different vocals tracks.

C. A and B plus I may double the drums or guitar, or whatever seems to have gotten lost in the mix.

Adding last minute effects to these beds, or the master, judiciously, I am able to get the sound I want and the computer doesn't crash.

Pus it sounds much cleaner and crisper.

Plus, if I decide six months I want to change the mix six months later, I am fiddling with four or five tracks max (sometimes only 2 or 3) and not 48.

smile

David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

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