Newbie question- BUSS

[fz3s]

hi

I am fairly new to multitrack recording and mixing. i have reorded a few thing using Sonar 8.5
but I am unsure that im doing it correctly. What is the proper setup for Buss mix
right now I use a Buss For each type of intrument(ie.. Guitars and bass one Buss -Drums another Buss) and so on. Is this the best way to get a decent mix.

 

[ecc83]

hi

I am fairly new to multitrack recording and mixing. i have reorded a few thing using Sonar 8.5
but I am unsure that im doing it correctly. What is the proper setup for Buss mix
right now I use a Buss For each type of intrument(ie.. Guitars and bass one Buss -Drums another Buss) and so on. Is this the best way to get a decent mix.

The Top People will be along soon I am sure.
In the meantime the correct spelling is "bus". The term is a gross contraction of "Omnibus bar" a copper rail used as a conductor in the very earliest of electrical engineering systems.
A buss is a kiss!

Not being picky because you are a newb! Many get it wrong, like that other mathematical nonsense "rms" watts!

Dave.

 

[Farview]

Busses are used to organize tracks for further processing. for example, I will send all the drums to a buss to compress them as a group. All the guitars to another one, so I can eq them using one eq instead of several.

You can use the busses any way you want to in order to accomplish what ever you are trying to do.

There is no single way to use them that is 'better' than another.

 

[mixsit]

I set up record/mix templates in Sonar that have various buses like that. Some of the tracks- the ones that are generally always used and pre-assigned to the pres and inputs, are pre-assigned to those buses. Others stay floaters' and go directly to the master bus.
For example my drum inputs are fairly standardized, as are a pair for bass are assigned to they're buses. But beyond that, vocals, guitars and such vary quite a lot, so even though there's some buses (hidden/muted) named vocals', a few others etc they'd just be there 'at ready.
Unless there's a need to either combine or add a second layer of control or processing, a 'bus is actually redundant.
Bass for example. Track a D/I and a mic. The two tracks are sitting there in track view, and while they go to the 'bass sub.. up to the point of needing more than what's needed at their tracks and inserts.. the bass sub just sits there, 'clean, at 'zero and minimized.

 

[Farview]

I kind of do the opposite. I send everything to a buss of some sort and balance the volumes from the busses. That way, once I get the balance of the group right, I can just turn the whole thing up and down to fit with the rest of the mix.

As you can see, there is no one way to do this. What ever works for your situation and the way you think is just fine.