manual/include/aux-sends.html
2023-08-13 18:09:06 +02:00

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<p>
<dfn>Auxiliary sends</dfn> are simple <a
href="@@processor-box">processors</a> in a bus or
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.)
and send a copy of that signal to a bus, without affecting the
normal signal flow downwards to the channel fader.
</p>
<p>
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 auxiliary 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
wedge mixes), or returned to the main mix (in the case of an effect).
</p>
<p>
Aux sends do not show up outside of Ardour either on the audio device
or as JACK ports, <a href="@@external-sends">External Sends</a> should
be used to send audio to the audio device or Jack ports. External Sends can
send the tapped signal somewhere else directly, which is not usually
possible on hardware mixers.
</p>
<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>.
</p>
<h2>Adding a new aux bus</h2>
<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.
</p>
<h2>Adding a send to an aux bus</h2>
<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.
</p>
<h3>Pre-fader and Post-fader Aux Sends</h3>
<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.
</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 class="for-red">Pre</span>, green for <span
class="for-green">Post</span>). Dragging and dropping the send inside
the processor box before or after the Fader processor changes the type of
fader accordingly.
</p>
<h2>Adding a new aux bus and sending a Track Group to it</h2>
<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,
and a new aux send added to every member of the track group that connects to
this aux bus.
</p>
<h2>Altering Send Levels</h2>
<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:
</p>
<h3>Using the Send Fader</h3>
<p>
Every send processor has a small horizontal fader that can be adjusted in the
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.
</p>
<h3>Map Aux Sends To Main Faders</h3>
<p>
In Mixer mode, pressing the button marked <kbd class="menu">Show Sends</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">Show Sends</kbd> button of the aux bus again reverts the
channel strips to their normal use.
</p>
<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
at the send will be delivered to the aux bus.
</p>
<h2>Send Panning</h2>
<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>