Working with effects

Insert FX

By definition, insert effects are inserted in the signal chain and process the whole channel signal, as opposed to Send effects (see “Send FX”) where the effect balance is adjustable. Typical insert effects are dynamics, distortion, chorus etc., plus mastering effects for the Master Section.

As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the channel strips and Master Section strip have a “slot” dedicated to insert effects - the Insert FX section. In the Insert FX section, you can choose to load Effect Combi patches using the standard Patch browser. However, it’s also possible to manually create effect devices and use as insert effects.

A very flexible way of using Insert FX is to have the effects in separate mixer channels and utilize parallel processing, see “Parallel Channels”.

Adding Insert effects

To add an effect device as an insert effect, proceed as follows:

1.	Select a channel strip in the Main Mixer, a Mix Channel or Audio Track device in the rack, or an audio track or Mix Channel track in the sequencer.

2.	Select the desired effect device from the Create menu or from the context menu.

The effect device is created and automatically routed in the Insert FX container in the channel's rack device.

A Scream 4 device created as Insert FX in an Audio Track device.

3.	If you need to re-route any connections, press [Tab] to flip the rack around.

The “To Device” and “From Device” connections in the Insert FX slot in the Audio Track device.

Note that the Mix Channel/Audio Track device must be unfolded to show the connections.

If desired, re-route the connections according to the standard routing procedures (see “Manual routing”).

The signals always travel from the “To Devices” outputs, via the desired effect devices, to the “From Devices” inputs on the Mix Channel/Audio Track device.

•	When the Show Insert FX button is on, you can add devices directly in the insert FX container area, drag devices in or out, etc. - just like with a Combinator (see “The Combinator”).

Note that if you add, load or route insert effects in stereo, and the Mix Channel/Audio Track device (and channel strip) is in mono, the channel will automatically switch to stereo.

Loading Effect Combi patches

It’s possible to load Effect Combi patches directly into the Insert FX container of the channel. An Effect Combi patch loaded in the Insert FX container has the same functionality as a regular Combinator patch, with the following exceptions:

•	Insert FX do not receive note and performance controller data (Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel etc.).

•	If you load a Combinator patch which has a backdrop image, it is not shown in the Insert FX section in the rack.

To load an Effect Combi patch in the Insert FX section of a channel strip, proceed as follows:

1.	Click on the “Browse Insert FX Patch” button (with the folder icon).

The Patch browser opens.

2.	Navigate to an Effect Combinator patch and select it.

Effect Combinator patches can be found in the Effect Patches folder in the Reason Sound Bank.

3.	Click “OK” to load the selected patch in the Insert FX section.

The Effect Combinator is loaded and patched in the Insert FX container in the channel's rack device, so you can hear the result of the effect immediately. The name of the patch is also shown in the display on the channel strip:

Editing and saving Insert effects

Insert effects can be edited from their device panels in the Insert FX container in the channel’s rack device. You can also assign device parameters to the four buttons and knobs on the Insert FX Programmer panel. These buttons and knobs are mirrored on the Insert FX section of the channel strip.

Most of the Effect Combi patches already have a number of parameters assigned to the four buttons and knobs on the Insert FX Programmer panel. These assigned parameters can be edited at any time from the Insert FX section in the channel strip, and can also be automated on a Mix Channel/Audio Track in the sequencer.

To edit effect device parameters that are not assigned to the four knobs and buttons on the Insert FX Programmer panel, you have to access the device(s) in the rack.

1.	Click the “Edit Inserts” button to get to the channel’s Insert FX container in the rack.

The channel’s Insert FX container is scrolled into view, and unfolded, in the rack.

Now, you can edit the effect device(s) parameters, just like for any other devices in the rack.

To edit the parameter assignments on the Insert FX Programmer panel, click the “Show Programmer” button on the Mix Channel/Audio Track device.

The parameter assignments are made in the same way as when creating/editing regular Combinator devices (see “The Combinator”). The parameters you assign to the Insert FX Programmer panel in the rack are automatically mirrored on the four knobs and buttons in the Insert FX section on the channel strip.

2.	If you like, you can choose to save your effect device setup in the Insert FX container (along with any parameter assignments) as an Effect Combi patch by clicking the “Save Insert FX Patch” button (with the floppy disc icon) on the Programmer panel.

This will bring up the Patch browser, where you can select name and location for your Effect Combi patch.

You don’t have to save your insert effect as an Effect Combi patch unless you want to use the effect chain in other songs later on. All settings are automatically stored when you save the Song document.

Bypassing Insert effects

Click the “Bypass” button at the top of the Insert FX section on the channel strip, or on the device in the rack, to bypass the insert effects for the channel.

The “Bypass” buttons on the channel strip and on the device.

Deleting Insert effects

Deletion of insert effects can be done either in the rack or with a mixer channel selected in the Main Mixer:

1.	Select a Mix Channel or Audio Track device in the rack or a mixer channel in the Main Mixer.

2.	Select “Clear Insert FX” from the Edit menu or context menu.

This will disconnect and delete all Insert FX devices of the selected channel. The deleted devices will be replaced by an internal straight-through connection.

Another way of deleting Insert FX is by manually removing them from the Insert FX container in the Mix Channel or Audio Track device in the rack:

1.	Unfold the Mix Channel/Audio Track device and click the “Show Insert FX” button.

2.	In the Insert FX container, select the device(s) you want to remove.

3.	Press [Backspace] or [Delete], or select “Delete Devices and Tracks” from the Edit or context menu.

An alert appears asking you to confirm the deletion. (See “Deleting devices” for more details).

Copying and Pasting Insert effects between mixer channels

To copy the insert effect(s) from one mixer channel and paste to another mixer channel, proceed as follows:

1.	Select the mixer channel which contains the Insert effect(s) you want to copy.

2.	Select “Copy Channel Settings” from the Edit or context menu and then select “Insert FX” from the sub-menu.

If you select the Master Section, the “Copy Insert FX” item will appear directly on the Edit menu or context menu.

3.	Select the mixer channel to which you want to paste the Insert effects and choose “Paste Channel Settings: Insert FX” from the Edit menu or context menu.

If you select the Master Section, the “Paste Insert FX” item will appear directly on the Edit menu or context menu.

Send FX

Send effects are routed in parallel with the signal chain, and the effect balance can be adjusted - as opposed to Insert effects, which are inserted in the signal chain and process the whole channel signal (see “Insert FX”). Typical Send effects include reverbs and delays.

The Main Mixer can hold up to eight separate Send effects per Song. These eight Send effects can be used simultaneously by any or all mixer channels in the Song, at individually adjustable levels per mixer channel. The main Send FX controls, which include the FX Send and FX Return sub-sections, are located in the Master Section strip in the mixer. In these sections, you can control the FX Send and FX Return levels to and from all mixer channels, as well as panning for each of the Send effects.

In addition to the “global” Send FX controls in the Master Section, each mixer channel features a Send FX section, where you can control the levels to each of the Send effects for the specific mixer channel.

Creating Send effects

Send effects can be added as follows:

1.	In the Main Mixer, select a channel strip or the Master Section strip.

2.	Select “Create Send FX...” from the context menu.

The Browser appears (if it was hidden) and the Send FX section gets browse focus. Now, you can now browse for and load effect devices. You can also browse for Effects patches and load these into their corresponding devices, e.g. Effect Combinators.

If all eight Send effect busses are already in use, the “Create Send FX...” item on the context menu is grayed out.

•	Each FX Send and FX Return in the Master Section strip has a display that shows the name of the last effect in that send's signal path:

The names of three added Send effects are displayed in the Master Section strip.

3.	If you need to re-route any connections, press [Tab] to flip the rack around.

The Send FX connections on the Master Section device.

Note that the Master Section device must be unfolded to show the connections.

As you can see, all Send effects are placed outside the Master Section device - as opposed to Insert effects, which are placed in the Insert FX container of the Master Section device.

•	It’s also possible to manually connect devices to the FX Send and FX Return connectors according to the standard routing procedures (see “Manual routing”).

The signals always travel from the “FX Send” outputs, via the desired effect device(s), to the “FX Return” inputs on the Master Section device.

Editing and saving Send effects

Click the “Edit” buttons in the FX Send or FX Return sections to get to the corresponding Send effect device(s) in the rack.

The Edit buttons for the Send effects in the FX Send and FX Return sections.

The corresponding Send effect devices are scrolled into view in the rack.

•	Send effects can be edited from their device panels according to standard editing procedures.

Any edits you make will be automatically stored when you save the Song document. If you edit Effect Combi patches, these can also be saved separately as Combinator patches as usual.

Muting Send effects

Click one of the “M” buttons in the FX Return section to mute the FX Return for the corresponding Send effect.

All channels that currently use the muted send effect will be affected.

The Mute buttons for the Send effects in the FX Return section.

The Mute buttons only mute the FX Return signals. If you should choose to route an FX Send output of the Master Section device to an effect, and then route the effect to a regular Mix Channel instead of an FX Return input, the Mute button will of course not have any effect.

Deleting Send effects

Deletion of Send effects is done in the rack according to the standard device deletion procedures:

Select the device(s) you want to delete and press [Backspace] or [Delete] - or select “Delete Devices and Tracks” from the Edit or context menu.

An alert appears asking you to confirm the deletion. (See “Deleting devices” for more details).

•	When a Send effect has been deleted, the name will automatically be removed from the displays in the FX Send and FX Return sections in the Master Section strip.