Cut the Song & Virtual Takes

Bands frequently record entire 2-hour rehearsal sessions as one continuous, monolithic audio file (ZOOM0001.WAV). Slicing this file in a DAW (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton) requires hours of chopping, exporting individual MP3s, and re-uploading them to cloud storage.

BandRoom's "Cut the Song" engine eliminates this chore. Drop non-destructive markers during or after rehearsal to turn monolithic recordings into discrete, playable virtual song takes that link directly into your Song Book.

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How Virtual Song Takes Work

A Virtual Take is a slice of audio defined by non-destructive timestamps:

00:00                02:15               06:45              07:30                  14:20
  │                    │                   │                  │                      │
  ├─ Warmup Jam ───────┼─ Song 1: "Ghost" ─┼─ End / Banter ───┼─ Song 2: "Neon" ─────┤
  │                    │  [+ Song Marker]  │  [⏹ Boundary]   │  [+ Song Marker]     │

• Dynamic Start: The virtual take begins at the + Song marker timestamp (e.g. 02:15).
• Dynamic End Boundary: The take automatically ends at the next + Song marker, or at a designated ⏹ End / Banter boundary marker, or at the end of the audio track.
• Zero Storage Duplication: The underlying 500 MB WAV file is never modified or duplicated on disk. BandRoom plays the exact audio range using high-precision Web Audio offset playback.

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Step-by-Step: Cutting a Rehearsal Jam

1. Open the Cuts Drawer (✂️)

1. Play your rehearsal recording in the expanded Studio Cassette Deck.
2. Tap the Scissors icon (✂️) in the deck header to open the Track Cuts Drawer.

2. Stamp Chapter Markers & Virtual Songs

As the audio plays (or by scrubbing to specific timestamps):

• Tap + Song: Inserts a virtual song boundary marker. Enter the song title or link it directly to an existing Song Book catalog song.
• Tap Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Solo, or Outro: Stamps a color-coded chapter marker. Tapping Verse multiple times automatically numbers them (Verse 1, Verse 2).
• Tap ⏹ End / Banter: Sets an explicit termination boundary to omit room chatter, tuning breaks, or false starts between songs.

3. Micro-Nudge Timing (±0.5s)

For surgical precision on the downbeat:

• Use the -0.5s and +0.5s nudge buttons on any marker row to dial in the exact start of the drummer's count-in.

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Linking Virtual Takes to the Song Book

1. On any virtual song marker row, tap the Microphone (🎤) icon.
2. In the modal, attach the slice to your catalog song (e.g. Ghost).
3. Rate the performance 1–5 stars (★ ★ ★ ★ ★) and optionally crown it as your 👑 Golden Take.
4. The virtual take now appears in the Song Book alongside full-length takes, complete with exact duration and direct playback triggers.