Ping-pong_recording
Ping-pong recording
Sound recording technique
Ping-pong recording (also called ping-ponging, bouncing tracks, or reduction mixing) is a method of sound recording. It involves combining multiple track stems into one, allowing more room for overdubbing when using tape recorders with a limited set of tracks. It is also used to simplify mixdowns.
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The two most common methods consist of
- Dubbing tracks between two tape recorders (or tracks on a multitrack recorder) connected through a mixing console
- Dubbing tracks internally, through the onboard mixer of many machines, including Portastudios and similar multitrackers.
In both cases, a new instrument, voice, or other material may be added with each bounce, depending on the setup's mixing capabilities.
In analog recording, the audio quality normally decreases with each generation, while in digital recording, the quality is usually preserved. In either case, the most leeway comes with having the best possible source material.