Understanding Aux Sends: Beyond the Basics
In the intricate world of audio mixing, the term “aux send” might sound intimidating to beginners, but it’s actually a simple and powerful tool that allows you to manipulate and shape your audio in countless ways. This article will guide you through the concept of aux sends, exploring their functionality, applications, and benefits.
Imagine a mixing console as a central hub for your audio signals. Each channel represents a specific input source (like a microphone, guitar, or keyboard), and each channel has its own volume control, tone controls, and other features to shape its sound. Aux sends, also known as “auxiliary sends,” are like side exits from these channels, allowing you to direct a copy of the audio signal to an external device or another part of the mixing console itself.
The Anatomy of an Aux Send
Before we delve into the applications, let’s understand the physical components of an aux send:
- Aux Send Knob: This is the primary control for the aux send. It determines the amount of signal sent from the channel to the aux bus.
- Aux Bus: This is a separate output bus on the mixer, distinct from the main stereo output. The audio sent from the aux sends ends up on this bus.
- Aux Return: This is the point where the audio from the aux bus is fed back into the mixer, allowing you to reintegrate the processed signal with the original track.
Why Use Aux Sends?
Now that we’ve dissected the components, let’s explore the benefits of incorporating aux sends in your mixing workflow:
Creative Effects: Aux sends open up a world of sonic possibilities for applying effects to your audio. Imagine adding a reverb to your vocals, but only wanting it to subtly enhance the chorus section. With aux sends, you can route the vocals to an aux bus with a reverb plugin and control the wet/dry mix using the aux send knob, adding the desired effect only when needed.
Flexible Monitoring: Auxiliary sends are incredibly useful for monitoring specific tracks while you’re mixing. For instance, you can send a vocal track to an aux bus and listen to it through headphones, ensuring a clear isolation for your vocal adjustments.
Sub-Mixes for Precision: Aux sends allow you to create sub-mixes for various instruments or groups of instruments. This can be helpful for balancing different sections of your music, adding specific effects to a group, or even compressing a sub-mix for more dynamic control.
Control Over Dynamics: Aux sends can also be used to manage the dynamics of your audio. By routing a track to an aux bus with a compressor or limiter, you can shape the overall volume and transients without affecting the original signal directly.
Common Applications of Aux Sends
Here are some of the most common ways aux sends are employed in various mixing scenarios:
1. Reverb and Delay:
- The Setup: Create an aux bus dedicated to reverb or delay effects. Connect your chosen plugin to this bus.
- The Process: Send tracks to this aux bus to add the effect. Control the amount of effect using the aux send knob for each track.
- The Benefit: This allows you to add reverb or delay to specific tracks without affecting the dry signal directly.
2. Vocal Processing:
- The Setup: Create an aux bus with vocal processing plugins like EQ, compression, and de-essing.
- The Process: Send your vocal track to this aux bus, and adjust the plugin settings to refine your vocal sound.
- The Benefit: This streamlined approach keeps the vocal track separate from the main mix while you experiment with processing.
3. Instrument Groups:
- The Setup: Create an aux bus for each instrumental group, such as drums, guitars, or keyboards.
- The Process: Send all the tracks belonging to a group to their respective aux buses. This allows you to apply effects or adjust the overall volume of a group.
- The Benefit: This allows for precise control over various instrumental sections of your mix.
Practical Examples of Aux Send Applications
Let’s take a closer look at how aux sends can be utilized in real-world mixing scenarios:
1. Adding a subtle reverb to a vocal track:
Imagine you’re mixing a pop song and want to add a touch of reverb to the lead vocals during the chorus. Using an aux send, you can create a bus with a reverb plugin and send the vocal track only during the chorus section. Adjust the aux send knob to achieve the desired amount of reverb, creating a subtle, immersive effect.
2. Creating a parallel compressor effect:
A parallel compressor is a technique that adds a processed version of a track to the original signal. Using an aux send, you can route a track to a bus with a compressor and blend it with the original, adding warmth and punch to the overall sound.
3. Creating a separate headphone mix for the drummer:
During live performances, a drummer often needs a specific headphone mix tailored to their needs. You can use an aux send to create a dedicated monitor mix for the drummer, including essential elements like the click track, in-ear monitoring, and other essential tracks.
Tips for Using Aux Sends Effectively
- Start Simple: Begin with basic applications like adding reverb or delay to a single track. As you become more comfortable, explore more complex scenarios like sub-mixing or parallel processing.
- Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different effects and configurations. The key is to find what sounds best for your particular project.
- Use Pre-Fader and Post-Fader Options: Many mixers offer both pre-fader and post-fader options for aux sends. Pre-fader sends the signal before the channel fader, while post-fader sends after the fader. Understanding these options allows for precise control over how the signal is routed and processed.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Aux Sends
Aux sends are an indispensable tool for any audio mixer, regardless of skill level. They offer flexibility, creative control, and endless possibilities for shaping your audio. By understanding their functionality and exploring their diverse applications, you can unlock a new dimension of sonic manipulation and elevate your mixing capabilities to new heights. So, embrace the power of aux sends and unleash your creativity!
FAQ
1. What are Aux Sends on a Mixer?
Aux sends are a feature on mixing consoles that allow you to create separate audio paths from your main mix. They are like extra outputs that you can use to route specific signals to different destinations, including external effects processors, monitoring systems, or even other channels within your mixer. These sends are typically used to add effects, create separate mixes for different outputs, or isolate specific signals for monitoring purposes.
Imagine having a microphone recording a vocalist, and you want to send that signal to an external reverb unit. You can use an aux send to route the vocal signal to the reverb processor without affecting the main mix. You then mix the wet and dry signals back into the main mix, adding reverb to the vocal without altering the original sound.
2. What are the benefits of using Aux Sends?
Aux sends offer numerous benefits for sound engineers and musicians. They provide flexibility in routing audio signals, enabling you to use effects without altering the main mix. You can also create separate mixes for different outputs, like a stage monitor mix or a separate headphone mix for musicians. This allows you to adjust individual levels and send specific signals without affecting the overall mix.
Furthermore, aux sends are ideal for monitoring purposes. They allow you to isolate specific signals or groups of signals, allowing you to adjust levels and hear individual instruments more clearly. This is especially useful when working with complex mixes or during live performances where individual instruments need to be monitored independently.
3. How are Aux Sends different from Direct Outputs?
Direct outputs are separate outputs that send the raw signal of a channel directly to an external device, bypassing the mixer’s internal signal path. This means that the signal does not pass through any internal processing or effects within the mixer. Aux sends, on the other hand, send a copy of the channel’s signal, which can be processed internally or externally.
Direct outputs are primarily used for sending signals to external recording devices or for feeding instruments directly into a monitor system. Aux sends, however, offer greater flexibility in routing and processing signals, allowing for more complex and creative signal paths.
4. How many Aux Sends are there on a typical mixer?
The number of aux sends on a mixer varies depending on the model and size. Smaller mixers may have just a few aux sends, while larger consoles can have several dedicated aux sends, each with its own level control and routing options. Most mixers will have at least one or two aux sends, but some may have four, six, or even more.
The number of aux sends you need will depend on the complexity of your mix and the number of effects or separate mixes you want to create. You can always choose a mixer with more aux sends than you think you’ll need, ensuring that you have ample flexibility for future projects.
5. Can I use an Aux Send for both effects and monitoring?
Yes, you can use a single aux send for both effects and monitoring, although this can require some careful planning and balancing. When using an aux send for both, you’ll typically send a portion of the signal to the effects processor and a separate portion to the monitoring system. This can be achieved by using a dedicated monitor control on the aux send or by using a splitter to divide the signal before it reaches the effects processor and monitor.
However, it’s often recommended to use separate aux sends for effects and monitoring, especially in complex mixes where multiple signals need to be monitored or processed independently. This ensures that each function has its dedicated path, allowing for greater control and flexibility.
6. How do I use an Aux Send with external effects processors?
Using an aux send with external effects processors is relatively straightforward. You simply route the desired signal to the aux send, adjust the send level, and connect the aux send output to the input of your effects processor. The processed signal is then typically routed back to the mixer through a dedicated return channel or a stereo input.
Some effects processors offer a wet/dry mix control, allowing you to blend the processed signal with the original signal, while others may require separate channels for wet and dry signals. This depends on the specific effects processor and the desired signal path.
7. What are some examples of creative uses for Aux Sends?
Aux sends offer numerous creative possibilities beyond basic effects processing and monitoring. You can use them to create unique sound effects, blend different mixes for specific outputs, and even create interesting ambient soundscapes.
For instance, you could use an aux send to create a subtle delay effect on a vocal track, subtly adding depth and dimension. You could also use an aux send to create a separate mix for headphones that includes a click track for live performances, allowing musicians to stay in time without affecting the main mix. You can even use aux sends to create a separate mix for a video game soundtrack that includes specific sound effects for different events, allowing for a more immersive and interactive experience.
These are just a few examples of the creative uses for aux sends. Experiment with different settings and routing configurations to unlock the full potential of this powerful mixing tool.