The Main Mixer : Working with effects

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 is shared among all channels and the balance is individually adjustable for each channel. 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 create effect devices and use as insert effects.
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Adding Insert effects
To add an effect device as an insert effect, proceed as follows:
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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.
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The “To Device” and “From Device” connections in the Insert FX slot in the Audio Track device.
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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.
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Using Effect Combi patches as insert effects
It’s possible to load Effect Combi patches as Insert FX as well. First you either need to create a Combinator device in the Insert FX container of the channel - or drag an Effect Combi patch from the Browser and drop in the Insert FX container.
You could also add several Combinators/Effect Combi patches to the same Insert FX container, e.g. by dragging and dropping. This makes it possible to have multiple Combinators in series, for even more complex effects processing:
Three Effects Combinators serially connected in the Insert FX container.
Bypassing Insert effects
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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:
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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:
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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:
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If you select the Master Section, the “Copy Insert FX” item will appear directly on the Edit menu or context menu.
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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:
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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.
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The names of three added Send effects are displayed in the Master Section strip.
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The Send FX connections on the Master Section device.
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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.
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
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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.
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
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All channels that currently use the muted send effect will be affected.
The Mute buttons for the Send effects in the FX Return section.
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Deleting Send effects
Deletion of Send effects is done in the rack according to the standard device deletion procedures:
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An alert appears asking you to confirm the deletion. (See “Deleting devices” for more details).

The Main Mixer : Working with effects