please explain what these do in a mixer: aux sends, inserts...

[Veej007]

hello everyone.

can you please explain what these two features are used for, and what i should try to find as far as each is concerned? i am looking to buy a budget mixer, about $150 max.

aux sends

inserts

[F_cksia]

Both are used for routing the incoming Mic/line signal to an external device to be processed there or whatever and to return back in the board.

For example:

mic - pre-amp - AUX SEND cable to compressor Line IN - compressed audio via compressor line OUT to AUX RETURN - compressed signal to work on with in the board - eq and all.

The Insert is actually the same, but the SEND (L) and RETURN (R) in one stereo-in-/output. One channel for the sending of the dry signal and one for the returning of the processed sound.

[slabrock]

Originally posted by F_cksia
Both are used for routing the incoming Mic/line signal to an external device to be processed there or whatever and to return back in the board..

Yes. However, there's a difference.

Insert point routes all the signal of the channel, so it is a means of inserting something, that you want to affect all of the sound. Typically gain-affecting effects such as a compressor, expander, noisegate...

Aux send, however, sends only a percentage of the signal out. Therefore you will usually use it for reverbs, delays and sugh time-affecting effects.

You don't have to return Aux-sent effect to Aux return. Usually you return reverbs and such to their own channels for better to adjust them.

Aux returns you can use for patching in your reference cd-player and that kind of things.

Clearer?

Slabrock

[mshilarious]

Another important difference is an insert is a single channel whereas an aux send is a mix.