Delay recording start in Cubase SX3

[Pic32]

This is going to sound not-too-pro, but here's what I want to do in Cubase SX3:
hit the record button, run into the other room where the microphone's set up so as to keep it as far from my noisy PC as possible, get myself comfortable in front of the mic, wait for the count-in and do my business.

In plain words, is there a way to specify a delay in seconds or minutes of when Cubase goes into record mode.

Thanks in advance,
Pic

[brandondrury]

Interesting question.

#1 I would highly recommend you snag a set of kvm extension cables. If you need USB for your mouse and keyboard you'll need to get individual cables for those.

Then just place your computer in a closet or something. (Make sure it has some room to ventilate.

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Cubase SX3 does have something called "preroll". Take a look in the manual. I'm not sure how high you can crank it up, but it's the word you are looking for.

Brandon

[Ruzz]

Think of this answer as a whiteboard/brainstorming session:

1 - You could probably setup a macro that plays something for say 20 secs and then rewinds to zero and hits * (I think that's the record key). But I'm not an expert on cb macros so I can't advise on the specifics

2 - Use a tempo track. Bars (measures) 1-10 set to whatever time you need and at bar 11 switch to the proper tempo (all recordings will now have 10 empty bars upfront). I'm only using 10 to keep the maths simple - if bar numbers matter to you (bar 25 is actually bar 15 etc). You could also make bar 10 play at proper tempo and use it as a count in/click.

3 - Turn the PC off while you're recording. Oh... wait...

Ruzz

[speiris]

Oh man, browser crashed just before I was about to submit a reply.

So without re-typing all that, in a nutshell:

How I used to do it:

Insert some empty bars before the beginning of the composition.
As many as gives you enough time to get to the mic, get comfortable and start playing/singing.

Setup a MIDI track and assign it to output to a drum module (e.g. LM7)
Create your own click track in the empty bars leading up to the start of your composition using say the hi-hat. Then in the bar just before the composition starts, instead of using the hi-hat as the "click" patch, change it to a snare or something (something distinguishable from the hi-hat). This way when you hear the hi-hat click change to the snare, you know it's time to start playing/singing at the beginning of the next bar. Something like that. I'm sure you get the drift.

It's a real hack of a method I know but it works.

I have the same problem as you. Having to run back and forth. Hit record, run to where the mic is setup, headphones on, start singing......screw up, scream "FUUUUU*K" into the mic, run back to the console, hit stop, rewind, and all over again. Frustrating as. I happened to come across a device called "Tranzport" by Frontier Design Group. It's a wireless device which lets you control cubase (or whatever host) from where your mic is setup. You can arm tracks for record, playback, rewind, select different tracks, mute them etc etc. It's exactly what I've been needing all this time. I'm in Sri Lanka on holiday at the moment but I'll be getting one of these units when I return to Australia. Well worth it I reckon. From what I've seen on the net, you can pick them up for $199 US. Having to run up and down really hampers the creative flow of things. How can you perform well when having to run back and forth is always in the back of your mind?

It's got me excited about recording all over again.
Haha, so much for "in a nutshell"
Cheers
Sriyan

[lividone]

Here's a simple solution.

Brandon kinda touched on it, but I use it often so I'll try to explain a little more.


(forgive me if the terms aren't exact, I don't have it in front of me at the moment.)


Up top> Select Transport > Select Metronome Setup.

There should be a field there called "Pre-count" (or Pre-roll) , with an option of how many bars you want the precount to be. My guess is that it is capable of up to 99 bars ( 2 digit scrolling box ). I usually set it to about 10 bars for the same reasons you have. Set that to your liking and save.

Go down to your transport bar and you have a "Click" On/Off button. To the left of that is the Pre-Count button - activate that.

You should now have a metronome pre-count plenty long enough to get to your "booth".



P.S. You can also change the sound of the metronome there as well. I often change it to a kick and snare sound for people who get shaken by the beeps.

[uab9253]

Boy these are all good suggestions, but I don't know how much pre-count or empty bars would work for those of us who are recording just linear audio. I know I generally don't set a tempo, use a click or have the project defined in bars, b/c I am not using midi much yet. In those situations, much like the empty bars method, record 30 seconds of dead or some other audio bs before laying your first track. If it is drums, do a count off on the kick or snare as a cue. Wouldn't the world be lovely if we could train a friend to work the console while we just crank out the music? Over the years, from tape, through Roland VS stuff, through now with PC's, I have had to get creative on how to roll tape and be ready to rock at the same time.
Good luck

[magno]

My method:
I use a 50ft vga extension cable it goes out to the "live" room. I have the desktop mirrored on this monitor.
I use a 2.4ghz wireless mouse and keyboard, it has a range of over 30ft and goes through walls without a problem.
To complete the task I send a headphone out from my interface via snake to the live room.
I even setup a webcam in the control room so I can see levels on my mixer and outboard
gear.

[brandondrury]

That's one elaborate setup! I'm guessing your live room sounds better.

Brandon

[magno]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

That's one elaborate setup! I'm guessing your live room sounds better.

Brandon

Hehh It does indeed.
Control room is roughly 12'x14', live room is kinda L shaped 20' on the outside walls and 15' on the inner with a long wide hallway on one side and stairs going up the other. There's a 12'x12' room in between the live and control room.
I even have a camera set up in the live room so that I can see what's going on from the control room, and the mouse I use has a gyroscope built in so you can use it in the air. Ever try to use a drum head as a mouse pad?

[brandondrury]

mouse I use has a gyroscope built in so you can use it in the air.

What? I want to see this. What model is it?

Brandon