No Monitoring During Real-Time Bounce to Disk – Is That Normal? [Solved]

[Arceo]

tl;dr:
I'm used to monitoring my mix during recording thanks to RME’s loopback via TotalMix. Now I’m temporarily using an 828x (CueMix 3.12), which doesn’t have loopback. I tried doing a real-time Bounce to Disk (unchecked "Offline Bounce"), hoping to hear the mix during the process — but no audio comes through. Is that expected behavior?



I haven't used the Bounce to Disk function in years because I usually work with an RME interface, and with TotalMix I can set up loopback on my master output channels. So I prefer to record the mix directly onto an audio track within my session — and I use that as an opportunity for one last listen while printing the mix

Now that my RME unit is in for repairs, I’m temporarily working with a MOTU 828x, which runs CueMix 3.12. Everything works great, but this older version of CueMix doesn’t offer loopback, unlike the newer CueMix 4 interfaces. So the simplest solution (without messing with physical patching on the back of the unit) is to just use Bounce to Disk.

That said, I’m really used to hearing the mix as it’s being recorded, so I tried to recreate that experience. I unchecked "Offline Bounce", thinking that would force a real-time bounce and let me monitor the mix as it plays — kind of like how it works in Pro Tools. But… silence. No audio during the bounce.

Is this normal behavior for DP, or is there something I’m missing?

Thanks in advance!

[HCMarkus]

I do real time mix downs within DP by routing using aux buses. Set the input for your monitor aux to the same input as your mix track.

[Arceo]

Yeah Markus, thanks for the hint!
I had actually thought about that myself, but I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of changing all the aux routings in this particular project — especially since (hopefully!) I’ll have my RME back in a few days and will finish the mix with it anyway.
And yes… you can definitely call me lazy!

That said, I’ll probably go that route for new projects going forward.

By the way, just to be sure: can you confirm that not hearing audio during real-time Bounce to Disk is normal behavior in DP?

Thanks again, man!

[HCMarkus]

I'll have to check. I'll be in the studio later today.

One thing I like about the routing approach I use is the fact that I can monitor thru room tuning software without worrying about impacting the recorded audio since Monitor is parallel to Mix. I also set up Stem Tracks fed from Sends on my Submaster Buses, so I can real-time record all stems simultaneously with the Mix should the project require it. All the stem tracks are normally in a collapsed folder so they don't get in the way while working.

For years I used a similar setup to your TotalMix approach... routed thru a MOTU 828mk2, and then an 828ES, and this worked well. I will say, having it all handled within DP is, IMO, more elegant. Back in the day, adding buses would weigh down my computer. No longer ask issue with Apple Silicon!

[bayswater]

Real time bounce? Or are you referring to the Bounce Mode setting which can be set to Offline. If not set to Offline, the tracks play as usual while the bounce is created. If not set to Offline, I don't hear anything.

[HCMarkus]

Real time bounce? Or are you referring to the Bounce Mode setting which can be set to Offline. If not set to Offline, the tracks play as usual while the bounce is created. If set to Offline, I don't hear anything.

Exactly, with a small correction, bolded above. I just tested.

[Arceo]

Real time bounce? Or are you referring to the Bounce Mode setting which can be set to Offline. If not set to Offline, the tracks play as usual while the bounce is created. If set to Offline, I don't hear anything.

Exactly, with a small correction, bolded above. I just tested.

Yeah, I get that when it’s not set to Offline, the bounce runs in real time — it takes as long as the song, just like regular playback.
My point is: even though the bounce is happening in real time, I still can’t hear any audio during the process.
That’s what I found odd, and I was wondering if that’s expected behavior or if I’m missing something.

[Arceo]

I'll have to check. I'll be in the studio later today.

One thing I like about the routing approach I use is the fact that I can monitor thru room tuning software without worrying about impacting the recorded audio since Monitor is parallel to Mix. I also set up Stem Tracks fed from Sends on my Submaster Buses, so I can real-time record all stems simultaneously with the Mix should the project require it. All the stem tracks are normally in a collapsed folder so they don't get in the way while working.

For years I used a similar setup to your TotalMix approach... routed thru a MOTU 828mk2, and then an 828ES, and this worked well. I will say, having it all handled within DP is, IMO, more elegant. Back in the day, adding buses would weigh down my computer. No longer ask issue with Apple Silicon!

Markus, thank you so much for all the insights and suggestions!
Really appreciated — there’s a lot of useful stuff in what you shared.

I totally see the advantage of having the monitoring path run in parallel to the mix, especially when using room correction software. And your stem tracking workflow sounds super clean and efficient — love the idea of keeping all the stem tracks in a collapsed folder to avoid clutter. Definitely something I’ll experiment with in upcoming projects.

Thanks again for taking the time to write all this — super helpful and inspiring.

[HCMarkus]

My point is: even though the bounce is happening in real time, I still can’t hear any audio during the process.
That’s what I found odd, and I was wondering if that’s expected behavior or if I’m missing something.

Just to be sure you are clear on what happens when I bounce in DP:

Offline Checked: Bounce is faster than real time and audio IS NOT heard while bounce is in progress

Offline Not Checked: Bounce is real time and audio IS heard while bounce in progress. This SOS article covers the matter well:

https://www.soundonsound.com/node/4923345

Thanks again for taking the time to write all this

My pleasure!

[Arceo]

Thanks again for your time and interest, Markus!

Oh, I finally realized the problem was on my end!
I just tried a brand-new project from scratch, and BTD behaves exactly as you described — and as I expected too, honestly (sure, I could’ve tried that earlier! ).

So yeah, I must have messed something up in the aux routing in that original session.
I’ll dig into it a bit more in the next few days when I have some time to breathe.

Really appreciate your help and availability: thanks!
And thanks a lot for the SOS link — great article and very explicative indeed!

Gotta say, this forum rocks — great to have people willing to share their time and knowledge!

Cheers!