manual/include/aux-sends.html

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<p>
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<dfn>Auxilliary sends</dfn> are simple <a
href="@@processor-box">processors</a> in a bus or
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track channel strip. They tap the signal at a specific point in the signal
flow (pre-fader, post-fader, before or after EQs and other plugins, etc.)
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and send a copy of that signal to a bus, without affecting the
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normal signal flow downwards to the channel fader.
</p>
<p>
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Aux sends from several tracks are collectively sent to a
<dfn>bus</dfn> in Ardour, to create a monitor mix for a
musician, or to feed an effect unit. A bus used in this way is considered
an auxilliary bus or <dfn>Aux bus</dfn> even though it is the same as
any other bus. The output of such a bus might
be routed to separate hardware outputs (in the case of headphone or monitor
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wedge mixes), or returned to the main mix (in the case of an effect).
</p>
<p>
Aux sends are not JACK ports, <a href="@@external-sends">
External Sends</a> should be used to send audio to Jack ports. External Sends can
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send the tapped signal somewhere else directly, which is not usually
possible on hardware mixers.
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</p>
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<p>
It may be useful to
<a href="@@comparing-aux-sends-and-subgroups">compare and contrast</a>
the use of aux sends with <a href="@@subgrouping">subgrouping</a>.
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</p>
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<h2>Adding a new aux bus</h2>
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<p>
New busses can be created using the <kbd class="menu">Session &gt; Add Track, Bus or VCA&hellip;</kbd>
menu, and selecting <kbd class="menu">Audio Busses</kbd> in the Template/Type
selector on the left of the <kbd class="menu">Add Track/Bus/VCA</kbd> dialog.
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</p>
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<h2>Adding a send to an aux bus</h2>
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<p>
Context-clicking on the processor box for the track to send to the bus, and
choosing <kbd class="menu">New Aux Send &hellip;</kbd> shows a submenu, listing the busses.
Choosing one bus will add a send (which will be visible in the processor box).
Note that if the only existing bus is the Master Bus, the menu will be grayed out.
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</p>
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<h3>Pre-fader and Post-fader Aux Sends</h3>
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<p>
Depending on whether the context-click happened above or below the fader in the
processor box, the new aux send can be placed before or after the fader in the
channel strip.
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</p>
<ul>
<li><dfn>Post-fader</dfn> aux sends are typically used when using an aux for
shared signal processing (FX), so that the amount of effect is always
proportional to the main mix fader.</li>
<li><dfn>Pre-fader</dfn> sends ensure
that the level sent to the bus is controlled <em>only</em> by the send, not the
main fader&mdash;this is typical when constructing headphone and monitor wedge
mixes.</li>
</ul>
<p>
The color of the processor will reflect this pre/post position (red for
<span style="color:darkred;">Pre</span>, green for <span
style="color:darkgreen;">Post</span>). Dragging and dropping the send inside
the processor box before or after the Fader processor changes the type of
fader accordingly.
</p>
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<h2>Adding a new aux bus and sending a Track Group to it</h2>
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<p>
All members of a group can be sent to a new aux bus at once with a single click.
After creating the <a href="@@track-and-bus-groups">track group</a>
(and adding tracks to it), context-clicking on the group tab allows to choose either
<kbd class="menu">Add New Aux Bus (pre-fader)</kbd> or
<kbd class="menu">Add New Aux Bus (post-fader)</kbd>. A new aux bus will be created,
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and a new aux send added to every member of the track group that connects to
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this aux bus.
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</p>
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<h2>Altering Send Levels</h2>
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<p>
The amount of the signal received by a send that it delivers to the bus it connects to
can be altered in two ways:
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</p>
<h3>Using the Send Fader</h3>
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<p>
Every send processor has a small horizontal fader that can be adjusted in the
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usual way. It is not very big and so this can be a little unsatisfactory if
a very fine control over the send level is required.
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</p>
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<h3>Map Aux Sends To Main Faders</h3>
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<p>
In Mixer mode, pressing the button marked <kbd class="menu">Aux</kbd> on a aux bus will
alter the channel strip for every track or bus that feeds the aux bus. Many
aspects of the strip will become insensitive and/or change their visual
appearance. More importantly, the main fader of the affected channel strips
will now control the send level and <strong>not</strong> the track gain.
This gives a larger, more configurable control to alter the level. Clicking the
<kbd class="menu">Aux</kbd> button of the aux bus again reverts the
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channel strips to their normal use.
</p>
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<h2>Disabling Sends</h2>
<p>
Clicking on the small LED in the send display in the processor box of the
channel strip will enable/disable the send. When disabled, only silence will
be delivered to the aux bus by this track. When enabled, the signal arriving
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at the send will be delivered to the aux bus.
</p>
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<h2>Send Panning</h2>
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<p>
Send panners can be configured to either be independent of the main
panner, or to follow it. The latter could be useful for Reverb effects, or
for in-ear monitor mixes delivered in stereo.
</p>