Using Effects Channels

[G-bo]

Hi,I was wondering if someone could help me understand effects channels a little better.I have created an efects channel and have inserted a reverb into the channel.Now when I switch to mixer I choose a channel and go to the far left and activate the the effect and bring up it's level as much as I need.OK this is all good but now when I go to another channel in the mixer and click on it's "e" and bring up the reverb I cannot modify the reverb settings without it affecting the reverb settings on the first channel that I used it on.So I am guessing that all you can do with an effects channel is control the amount of effect that you can send to the channel.If this is the case I fail to see the advantage of effects channels as I have to vary the effects settings depending on which instrument I am effecting at the time.Still learning at this software so appreciate any insight,am I missing something simple?Cheers.

[tacman7]

I setup an FXchannel in VSTconnections. When you create it there you can add an FX to it and choose the preset at that time. (It can be changed later) There can be more than one FX on a channel(if you want)

Then when you click on the 'e' in the mixer and get the channel settings window where you select the FXchannel you created in the sends. Then you turn it on, and raise the slider to the level you want 'sent' to the FXchannel. You can change the settings of that fx channel from there but it will effect all the other tracks that use that FXchannel.

[G-bo]

Hey Tacman,thanks for the info.So I guess we use different ways to set up the effects channel as I just do it in the tracks window,works out the same anyways.I was really looking for a way to use one effect in an effects channel and be able to change it's parimeters depending on which track I was adding the effect to.Do you know if there is a way to work around this?Thanks again Tacman,Cheers.

[tacman7]

Well that's just as I described.

When you get to a tracks channel settings you can click the 'e' button in the sends and see the plugin settings and adjust it.

There's mainly two reasons why you would use a system FX instead of just using it as an insert.

1. You can setup one FX channel so that several tracks can use it at once, thereby saving processing.

1. You can use an FX in a FXchannel because you don't want an insert FX you want the complete clean signal and send some of the signal sent to the FX.

What is it your trying to accomplish?

[G-bo]

Hi Tacman,I'll try to explain it a little better but I think you've already answered my question.I have 5 drum tracks and I was going to use compression on them.What I was trying to do was to use different settings on the compressor for different tracks,but if I understand you correctly this cannot be done with only one compressor in an effects channel.I can put the same compressor in one effects channel 5 times and each drum channel could use it's own compressor with it's individual setting.I believe this is what I will have to do,I was just thinking that if I only inserted the compressor the once that it would cut down on cpu useage that's why I was wondering if there might be some kind of way to work around it for the least drain on the system.

[Tony Ramone]

Usually you would use a compressor as a channel insert rather than send, since it's very rare that different signals would need to share the exact same compression settings.
The only time you might use it as a send is when you are using parallel compression, but even then I reckon you'd need to set up a separate FX channel for each compression setting you want to use.

[edub357]

Originally Posted by Tony Ramone

Usually you would use a compressor as a channel insert rather than send, since it's very rare that different signals would need to share the exact same compression settings.
The only time you might use it as a send is when you are using parallel compression, but even then I reckon you'd need to set up a separate FX channel for each compression setting you want to use.

does this practice co mingle with other daw's? im looking for the same thing as g-bo but i use cool edit? i would just set the compressor up on its own bus rather than fx channel? do you still mix 100% of the compressor and then adjust your wet/dry by the track channel?

[tacman7]

Compression can not be used as a system FX, it needs to be used as an insert.

Your trying to control the volume of the track with a compressor so you can't let the complete signal go by and attenuate a send from it, it would have no effect.

Use compression on tracks...or

It's common to use compression on a group bus, so send all your drums to a group track with a compressor inserted into the group track(sub bus).

Also common to have a compressor on the master bus.

Compressors over here, compressors over there, compressors everywhere.

A lot of time is spent trying different compressors in different places to get the sound you want.

[edub357]

Originally Posted by tacman7

Compression can not be used as a system FX, it needs to be used as an insert.

Your trying to control the volume of the track with a compressor so you can't let the complete signal go by and attenuate a send from it, it would have no effect.

Use compression on tracks...or

It's common to use compression on a group bus, so send all your drums to a group track with a compressor inserted into the group track(sub bus).

Also common to have a compressor on the master bus.

Compressors over here, compressors over there, compressors everywhere.

A lot of time is spent trying different compressors in different places to get the sound you want.

thanks alot tacman! ill just use it on its own bus for now and throw stuff at it.