Using Aux Channels for Bus Returns


The submix channel you just created works well enough but lacks an important element needed in the signal chain; busses do not have an effects Send. Without the Send, you cannot assign the submix-processed tracks containing the backing vocals to any reverbs configured on Bus Objects.

By their very nature, Sends (which are the busses) are not available directly on Bus channels. You need to feed the output of the bus to another type of Object, an Aux channel. An Aux (short for auxiliary) channel has Sends similar to those of an audio track but, unlike an audio track, it can be set to receive input directly from a Bus channel.

Let's take a look at the available Aux channels by viewing them side by side with the busses. You can view multiple Object types at the same time in the Track Mixer by Shift-clicking buttons in the Track Filter menu.

1.

In the Track Filter menu at the far left, Shift-click the Aux button.

Two available Aux channels appear alongside the busses.

2.

Click-hold the Output field on Bus 6, and choose No Output.

3.

Click-hold the Input field on Aux 1, and choose Bus > Bus 6.

4.

Click-hold the topmost Send on the Aux 1 channel, and choose Bus 4.

Bus 4 is the vocal reverb.

5.

Click the channel's Solo button to solo the Aux 1 channel.

6.

Play the song.

7.

Drag up the Send knob on the Aux 1 track, listening to the backing vocals as you adjust the amount of signal sent to the vocal reverb.

8.

Stop the song.

The signal path for the backing vocals is now as shown in this diagram:

With each Object feeding into the other, the Aux channel can now act as the volume control for the submix, enabling you to adjust the relative volume of the backing vocal tracks by dragging the fader.

There are several areas within the signal flow that could change the level of the backing vocals. To avoid confusion, you should make sure that only the Aux channel will be affecting the gain by and reset the fader on the Bus 6 track.



Apple Pro Training Series Advanced Logic Pro 7
Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Logic Pro 7
ISBN: 0321256077
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 166
Authors: David Dvorin

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