4.0

9
Audio effects
Using group channels for insert effects
Like all other channels, group channels can have up to
eight insert effects. This is useful if you have several audio
tracks that you want to process through the same effect
(e.g. different vocal tracks that all should be processed by
the same compressor). Another special use for group
channels and effects is the following:
If you have a mono audio track and want to process this
through a stereo insert effect (e.g. a stereo chorus or an
auto panner device), you cannot just insert the effect as
usual. This is because the audio track is in mono – the
output of the insert effect will then be in mono as well, and
the stereo information from the effect will be lost.
One solution would be to route a send from the mono
track to a stereo FX channel track, set the send to pre
fader mode and lower the fader completely for the mono
audio track. However, this makes mixing the track cumber-
some, since you cannot use the fader.
Here’s another solution:
1. Create a group channel track in stereo and route it to
the desired output bus.
2. Add the desired effect to the group channel as an in-
sert effect.
3. Route the mono audio track to the group channel.
Now the signal from the mono audio track is sent directly
to the group, where it passes through the insert effect, in
stereo.
Send effects
Background
Send effects are handled through FX channel tracks.
These are special tracks that each can contain up to eight
insert effects. The signal path is as follows:
• By routing an effect send from an audio track to an FX
channel track, the audio is sent to the FX channel and
through its insert effect(s).
Each audio channel has eight sends, which can be routed to different FX
channels. You control the amount of signal sent to the FX channel by ad-
justing the effect send level.
• If you have added several effects to the FX channel, the
signal passes through the effects in series, from the top
(the first slot) downward.
This allows for “custom” send effect configurations – you could e.g. have
a chorus followed by a reverb followed by an EQ and so on.
• The FX channel track has its own channel strip in the
mixer, the effect return channel.
Here you can adjust the effect return level and balance.
• Each FX channel track has an automation subtrack, for
automating various effect parameters.
See the chapter “Automation” in the Operation Manual for more informa-
tion.
Setting up send effects
Adding an FX channel track
1. Pull down the Project menu and select “FX Channel”
from the “Add Track” submenu.
A dialog appears.
2. Select a channel configuration for the FX channel
track.
Normally, stereo is a good choice since most effect plug-ins have stereo
outputs.
3. Select an effect for the FX channel track.
This is not strictly necessary at this point – you can leave the Plug-in
pop-up menu set to “No Effect” and add effects to the FX channel later if
you like.
4. Click OK.
An FX channel track is added to the Track list, and the selected effect, if
any, is loaded into the first insert effect slot for the FX channel (in that
case, the lit Inserts tab for the FX channel track in the Inspector indicates
that an effect has been assigned and automatically activated).