Why use sends?

[whirlwindRA]

For using plugins such as delay and reverb, everyone always says to send it to a Group FX bus. What are the huge advantages to doing it this way? I have put delay/reverb on the tracks, and tried this, and I don't really get what the difference is (besides being able to apply it to multiple tracks at once). Thanks for the help!

 

[gecko zzed]

For using plugins such as delay and reverb, everyone always says to send it to a Group FX bus. What are the huge advantages to doing it this way? I have put delay/reverb on the tracks, and tried this, and I don't really get what the difference is (besides being able to apply it to multiple tracks at once). Thanks for the help!

Two advantages:

1 being able to apply it to multiple tracks at once.

2 loading up just one instance of the plugin and saving CPU resources.

 

[hueseph]

Two advantages:

1 being able to apply it to multiple tracks at once.

2 loading up just one instance of the plugin and saving CPU resources.

Well, there's more to it than that. By using sends you can have the effect set at 100% wet, this allows you to have full control over the wet/dry ratio that you wouldn't otherwise have by just using an insert.

For example, by setting the effects send to pre fader, you can send signal to the effect while the fader on the source channel is fully attenuated. Raising that fader slowly brings the source slowly "closer" into the speakers. Lowering the fader pushes the source slowly away. Playing with the levels on both the effects channel and the source channel will change the "position" of the source in your stereo image. You can really create a virtual audio landscape in this way.


By setting the send to post fader, you control the amount of signal that the effect gets by raising the fader on the source. So, the amount of effect increases with the level on the source fader.

 

[Mo Facta]

It has just always been done this way since the days of mixing on a big console with a lot of outboard.

Cheers

 

[gecko zzed]

this allows you to have full control over the wet/dry ratio that you wouldn't otherwise have by just using an insert.

100% wet is achievable with just an insert.

 

[hueseph]

100% wet is achievable with just an insert.

Sure it is but then you have to control the amount of wet/dry from the effect. Using a send allows you to control the amount of signal the 100% wet effect gets from the fader or from the send.

 

[Guitargodgt]

They have been putting wet/dry knobs on reverb plugs for a while now...

That said, it's easier to apply and mix reverb so it sounds like it's in the same space when using sends.

 

[Bobbsy]

If you only need reverb on a single channel and don't mind using the wet/dry control on your plug in, then there's nothing wrong with working this way.

However, all the reasons given above are valid--it's quite common to want to apply the same reverb to multiple channels and using a group/bus/aux is the easy way and lighter on processor loading. And, as said, when working with mixers and outboard racks, that's how you work.

So, for those reasons, most of us are just used to working that way.

 

[hueseph]

They have been putting wet/dry knobs on reverb plugs for a while now...

That said, it's easier to apply and mix reverb so it sounds like it's in the same space when using sends.

You are totally missing the point. They have had inserts on console's for a long time too. It's about control and effect. But I suppose, it's one more trick up my sleeve.

 

[Farview]

You can also get a stereo effect on a mono channel if you use the send. Depending on your DAW, putting a stereo effect on a mono insert will only give you the left channel of the effect.

Sending a snare and three toms to one reverb sounds different (and better) then having separate instances of the same reverb on each track. Part of that comes from the tracks interacting with each other in the one reverb.

Also, if you put a different reverb on each drum the reverb for each individual tom will be panned to where the tom is panned. Since a drum set is normally treated as one instrument playing in a single space and not a collection of instruments playing is separate places, it would make sense to send them to a single reverb.

 

[whirlwindRA]

You can also get a stereo effect on a mono channel if you use the send. Depending on your DAW, putting a stereo effect on a mono insert will only give you the left channel of the effect.

Sending a snare and three toms to one reverb sounds different (and better) then having separate instances of the same reverb on each track. Part of that comes from the tracks interacting with each other in the one reverb.

Also, if you put a different reverb on each drum the reverb for each individual tom will be panned to where the tom is panned. Since a drum set is normally treated as one instrument playing in a single space and not a collection of instruments playing is separate places, it would make sense to send them to a single reverb.

Now that's a good explanation!

 

[Farview]

It's just like with anything else you do in audio, it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. EQ before compression sounds different than EQ after compression, delay before reverb sounds different than after, sends sound different than inserts, etc... it's just the way it is.

You have to decide what it is you are trying to do, then decide the best way to accomplish that goal.

 

[mholloway]

wow, some people in here seriously need to look up the difference between Parallel and Serial FX processing. They are NOT the same and those of you saying "inserts have a knob to control it just the same way" really don't know what you are trying to argue. Sends allow more flexible routings because the amount of wet audio *doesn't have to be* a ratio of the total. inserts, the more wet you use, the less dry you use. that knob only has one dial on it, after all.

but this was already explained by folks in this thread who then got incorrectly shot down by other folks who missed the message completely.

so again, look up Parallel vs Serial routing, OP, and you'll see why Sends can be very useful.

Maybe worth noting that *some* plugins used as inserts allow parallel routings, like the delays native in Renoise. But it's not exactly common.