33.5 Recording a Subgroup (Loopback)
TotalMix supports a routing of the subgroup outputs (=hardware outputs, bottom row) to the
recording software. Instead of the signal at the hardware input, the signal at the hardware output
is sent to the record software. This way, complete submixes can be recorded without an
external loopback cable. Also the playback of a software can be recorded by another software.
To activate this function, click on the white label in the third row while holding down the Ctrl-key.
The label's colour changes to red. In case the channel has already been part of a group, the
colour will change from yellow to orange, signalling that the group functionality is still active for
this channel.
In loopback mode, the signal at the hardware input of the corresponding channel is no longer
sent to the recording software, but still passed through to TotalMix. Therefore TotalMix can be
used to route this input signal to any hardware output. Using the subgroup recording, the input
can still be recorded on a different channel.
As
Recording a Software's playback
In real world application, recording a software's output with another software will show the following
problem: The record software tries to open the same playback channel as the playback
software (already active), or the playback one has already opened the input channel which
should be used by the record software.
This problem can easily be solved. First make sure that all rules for proper multi-client operation
are met (not using the same record/playback channels in both programs). Then route the playback
signal via TotalMix to a hardware output in the range of the record software, and activate it
via Ctrl-mouse for recording.
Mixing several input signals into one record channel
In some cases it is useful to record several sources in only one track. For example when using
two microphones when recording instruments and loudspeakers. TotalMix' Loopback mode
saves an external mixing desk. Simply route/mix the input signals to the same output (third row),
then re-define this output into a record channel via Ctrl-mouse – that's it. This way any number
of input channels from different sources can be recorded into one single track.