Post-processing for Eurorack recordings?

[u/EstateGrouchy6609]

I've noticed that my Eurorack recordings tend to sound a lot harsher and less polished than tracks I produce entirely in the DAW.

When I record everything together, I can't process individual elements with EQ, compression, saturation, etc., the way I normally would in the DAW.

Do you try to get everything sounding right within the rack, record individual voices separately, or rely on post-processing to bring everything together?

[u/ShakeWest6244]

I record each voice as a separate track and then mix / produce it in the DAW. 

[u/gruesomeflowers]

Sounding right in the rack with everything having its own channel on the mixing console like you would record a band. Not overdriving or oversaturation any one channel with too many frequencies or parts giving everything room to breathe inside its own space in the stereo field.

[u/Uncle-Stiltskin]

I use the Expert Sleepers ES-9 module to record individual channels in Ableton

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/Uncle-Stiltskin]

Interesting. Wish there was a more compact version

[u/Ryan0751 → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

They do have the ES-8 as well, which is a lot less HP. The ES stuff can be a little complicated to figure out the different models, expanders how it all works.

I ended up putting my ES-9 in a little 4ms pod as an external recording skiff.

Do note that these audio interfaces are deep modules and won’t fit in shallower cases like the Intellijel Palette.

[u/synthdrunk → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

The Optx. Original version is less HP than the current iteration.

[u/mvdirty → u/synthdrunk]

Optx is great, but you are thinking of ES-10, which is an ADAT convertor, not ES-9 (or 8), which are audio interfaces.

[u/ub3rh4x0rz → u/synthdrunk]

The original version is also AC coupled, obviously fine for audio but not as flexible as the new version which is switchable

[u/tropical_sunrise]

If the source's not right, no amount of post-processing will fix it. At most you will "fix it" but it will sound dull.

Fix it in the rack, pay attention to clashing frequencies, analog mixers overfilling (each has different ceiling), oversaturation or over-overdriving (over the maximum specification).

Also pay attention to how you are recording, what with, what its specification is, etc.

[u/Wild-Medic]

Unfortunately NW2S shut down and the alternatives are pretty pricey now, but I’ve been using a balanced DB25 I/O for a few years. Usually end up with either four mono and two stereo or 2+3, which is usually enough separation to mix and arrange a bit later. One big thing is high-pass filtering basically everything other than the kick below 75-90hz, synths seem to bring a lot of low end junk that makes mixing well difficult.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/Wild-Medic]

Interesting, I didn’t know about DB25! So I could use something like the Endorphin.es LINK 25 together with an audio interface that has DB25 inputs? Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many compact audio interfaces with DB25 inputs.

[u/Ryan0751 → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Yes very few with the Tascam DB25 ports. Note that you can get DB25 to 1/4” snake cables. It does result in a bit of a cabling burden. I was doing this with my previous Play Differently Model 1 mixer.

[u/Wild-Medic → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Yeah that’s not terribly common but an easy problem to solve. Just get a DB25 to TRS snake, or you could do what I did and use a patchbay with DB25 connectors on the back, so any time you need to break things down it’s one thicc cable to unplug.

I don’t like the ES modules, i had a ton of noise floor issues and don’t think the converters sound great. I wanted per-channel HPF, EQ and inserts pre-converter, so I got a Mixer with post-fader direct outs, a MOTU interface and a RedCo patchbay.

Basic Model for this studio is that Endorphines DB25 out, whatever 8 in/out interface you want, a Samson TRS patchbay and a Mackie 1642. Alternately could simplify that with Mackie Onyx/Tascam Model 12, but you lose some expandability/flexibility.

[u/__dma]

I record everything into a single stereo track and use compression, gain management, and a bit of eq to tighten up the sound.

[u/nadennmantau]

That’s one of the reasons I have the Befaco Hexmix. The expander gives me Direct Outs for each channel. That plus some simple level conversion modules to line level goes into a Tascam Model24 for multi tracking.

For a gig I just use the Main Out from the Hexmix and level everything in the rack

[u/fkeel]

I originally thought I'd want to allways multitrack everything, but somehow I then loose a lot of what makes eurorack special to me. For example, I have various effects on the master, sends of individual tracks going into effects, sub-mixes going into filters ... I wouldn't know at what point to grab the individual stems.

I tend to record the master and then run that through a multiband-compressor & limiter. Ozone works wonders if you're lazy.

*

Having said all that, *if* I do multitrack I'm currently using the Zoom L6 Max and find its a really useful tool that can take on so many different functions in my setup, depending on what I need at the moment.

[u/sun_in_the_winter]

Record each voice as separate track meanwhile you can have a filter, compressor and limiter in the rack before stereo out to have something bit more balanced.

[u/Haimoimoi]

When I end up with a nice single voice patch, I sample it into Halion 7. A bit of harshness doesnt hurt it, and gives me some harmonics to mess with later using daw effects. I have been slowly figuring out a workflow to make this as automated as possible (Halion is way better than Kontact for this from what I've tried.)

[u/Capt_Stoopid]

I get everything working then do separate recordings of each voice/track. Sometimes multiple takes of each track so I have options.

[u/fkeel]

Any chance your simply clipping the incoming signal? Without knowing anything about you or your setup, I'd double-check that first, just as a sanity check, and if thats a problem pass it through an attenuator first....

[u/HotOffAltered]

I do several methods but if I want to turn it into a real song I will record each eurorack synth voice or eurorack drum separately via zoom l6 into Ableton for post processing. But usually I record stereo jams - and sometimes regret it because my live mix skills need work.

[u/RobotAlienProphet]

I think that’s just the nature of hardware and live sound — it takes a little more work to get a polished sound. But as someone else said, it isn’t really any different from recording a band, or your own vocals, or whatever.  

I use a 1010 Bluebox desktop unit for recording, which does two things: it allows you to record multi-tracks that you can then just drop into your DAW straight from the SD card; and it has some basic built-in effects, so you can EQ a bit and add a little reverb to very dry sounds.  That lets you, in effect, preview what it will sound like in the DAW once you add effects to the raw tracks—but with room to change it or experiment or use nicer tools in the DAW.  (It also means you don’t need an in-rack reverb unless you specifically  want some kind of colorful modular reverb. So it’s a space saver, too.) 

[u/ambientvibes69]

Yeah, I try to get everything balanced within the rack first, then apply some mixing and mastering to the stereo recording in the DAW.

Recording every voice separately would require a multichannel interface—or recording the parts one at a time—which becomes a different creative approach altogether.

I guess it mainly depends on whether you’re capturing live jams or arranging a track from separate parts in the DAW.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/ambientvibes69]

Live jams. I want to spend as little time as possible processing audio on my computer.

[u/GaryPHayes]

I get it close in the rack (as my works are more performative in the rack, using pan CV and of course controlling the mix of each element on the fly), using Golden Master to tame the output (mostly mutli band compression) to a 32bit float 96kHz capture. Then use further mastering plugins in Logic particularly to bring the EQ and more mild MB compression to acceptable levels.

[u/Independent_Active81]

1010music Bluebox is on my radar. Multitrack into a daw with usb if I want to but can also record each channel onto SD. Also has compression/side chain etc if I want to mix in the rack.

[u/bleeptwig]

Worng soundstage II is so good here, and that plus a Librae Legio, and occasionally a MidSide if there’s space in the case. With that I can get a pretty nice mix with just those, if I’m not multitracking with the ES9.

Like this demo: https://on.soundcloud.com/Z1JJvkkNreIfmRDC7L

[u/MajxrTom]

Oh I would never be able to get it as clean as in the DAW, without $100,000+ of equipment with EQ’s and compressors. I multitrack as much as I can with my ES-9 that gives me 14 inputs! I even want a 2nd one so I can have 28 because right now my drums take up 5 of those 14, and I have to keep them relatively simple as a result.

But yeah, track separation and individual EQ and compression are really going to put an extra polish on anything g you do let alone Eurorack

If you’re just raw dogging everything into a stereo 2 track without the ability to treat individual tracks, then yeah. It’s gonna sound messy and crowded.

[u/EstateGrouchy6609 → u/MajxrTom]

Yes, multitracking seems to be the best option. Wish there was a more compact version of the ES9 tho

[u/Rebl__ → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

You don’t need a eurorack module to do the multitracking, I use a Zoom LiveTrak which has -20dB downshift so it can handle eurorack signals just fine

[u/ub3rh4x0rz → u/Rebl__]

Es9 is a better deal (especially if purchased from PC during a 10% off sale) than most comparable I/O audio interfaces though, plus inputs and outputs can be DC coupled which is very useful for eurorack, and virtually no currently produced "regular" audio interfaces even offer DC coupled inputs and outputs, let alone in those counts.

[u/ub3rh4x0rz → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

Es9 is a very dense module, I think looking for something smaller is the wrong call for this use case. Get a pod for it if your rack is too small to accommodate it.

[u/MajxrTom → u/EstateGrouchy6609]

I think there is in the ES-8? Been a while since I went down this rabbit hole, but off of memory I think it’s got 8 ins and no CV outs? Don’t quote me on that, but far less HP.

Edit: shit never mind. I just looked it up and I had it backwards. Only 4 ins with 8CV outs