This double tracking tip isn’t new and isn’t a secret, but if you don’t already know it then… If you are trying to get the basics of an idea down, getting derailed or sidetracked is your enemy. By default, anything that helps you move forwards quickly is your friend. Say hello to my little friend…
In this example, the musical idea is in its infancy and is only 16 bars long. The idea was then fleshed out with a guitar part that is 8 bars long played twice. I then added a few more parts and decided that I would like to have the guitar in stereo.
Quick Double Tracking Avoidance Tip:
Now, I could just create a new track and play it all again, job done. In the moment, it occurred to me that I already had two good takes… No one would ever know, I’m only sketching it out anyway, the guitar is over there and I dropped my pick…
Anyway, here’s how it’s done, I’ll let you read your own moral compass. TL;DR – You can pretty much figure it out by glancing at the images.
- Here’s the initial idea, complete with a mono guitar track. The guitar part is an 8 bar pattern played twice. Because each of the 8 bars was played and not copy/pasted, this will work nicely.
2. Cut the 16 bar part into two 8 bar parts. Then colour one of the clips to help you avoid confusion in the next step.
3. Duplicate your track. Then, move the parts around into the pattern above.
4. Pan one left and then the other right and we’re done.
Troubleshooting:
If you only played your audio as an 8 bar part and duplicated it across the 16 bars then this tip won’t work. You’ll have to doubletrack it after all. Sorry!