Its The Aux/Bus question of the Week

[Alanfc]

hey-

OK I've gone through all the aux bus topics and can't find this one thing...

I read something about AUX Busses and their use for reverbs, delays etc,I get that.... But I think I remember something about NOT using them for EQ or compression. Is this true?

I ask because I'm trying out something where I have to put the same hi-pass filiter on several tracks. Like if I used the filter on each track I'd be sunk. Cakewalk stops me at 16 FX or so

So, Compression and EQ are OK ? No? Yes? If its no, can you give me a little detail?

thanks

[moskus]

Originally posted by Alanfc
But I think I remember something about NOT using them for EQ or compression. Is this true?

Normally compression and EQ should be used as Insert-effects, as in they only apply to one track. But there's nothing wrong with experimenting.... Whatever works for you!

[dachay2tnr]

Usually an Aux Bus is blended back together with the original track(s). Sort of like 2 parts gin and 1 part vermouth. The ratio between the two (track and bus) determines how much effect is heard, and therefore how wet/dry the part will be.

Conversely, compression or eq is usually done to the entire track (i.e., it wouldn't make sense to eq or compress just "part" of the track).

I guess, though, that you might be able to accomplish this by setting up the Bus as "pre-fader, and then lowering the voume on the original track to inifinity. In this manner, none of the original track will be heard, and it will all go through the Aux Bus.

Never tried it myself.

[Alanfc]

....Its some idea I read on "tightening up the low end"

the guy runs every single track of non-low-endy (!) instruments like vocal, guitar, snare etc, through a High-Pass about 80-100 hz. Then sets to work on what track will command the 60-90 hz, whether its the bass or kick.

I've got to try this!

So there's no tech reason why it shouldn't work - eh?

[crosstudio]

why wouldn't you set up two virtual outs?

the first for tracks that you want to low cut, and the 2nd for tracks that allowed to have bass. Have the output for both virtual outs go to the same physical output.

someone on this board has been doing that for a while.

hey moskus, in sonar3 can you route the virtual outs to a main mix out so that you can see the sum total of the volumes from the sub-mixes at one output?

if so, I could do drum, and back vocal sub-mixes, then route the sub-mixes to the main out.

[dachay2tnr]

Originally posted by crosstudio
why wouldn't you set up two virtual outs?

the first for tracks that you want to low cut, and the 2nd for tracks that allowed to have bass. Have the output for both virtual outs go to the same physical output.

Excellent suggestion, Cross. Other than the inability to sum the output (which I think has been resolved in S3), this should work fine.

OTOH, eq doesn't really use a lot of horsepower (unlike reverb or compression). You might simply get away with patching an eq plugin to each track. Waves has a 2-band eq (REQ 2) that seems pretty CPU friendly.

[Alanfc]

oops

Thanks guys, this is good