Using send-return tracks

[gandalf458]

Can someone point me to a simple tutorial to set up a send-return track? I want to send part of a track to the reverb track but even watching a couple of vids it's not clear which setting and knobs to fiddle with. Thx

[RobrechtV]

In itself, pretty simple: every Return track has a corresponding Send parameter on every other track.

If you have a reverb in Return track A (which is how the default project is set up, but you can do it any way you like), the Send A parameter for every other track determines how much of it (as in: volume-wise) is sent to Return track A.

The easiest way to find the Sends parameters is in Session/Mixer view, where they'll be right above each track's volume slider.

You can add as many Return tracks as you like (via the Create menu or Option+Command+T / Ctrl+Alt+T) and fill them with any effects you want, just like normal tracks. They'll each get their own Send parameter in all other tracks.

Now one thing isn't clear: what to you mean when you say you want to send "part of" a track to reverb?

[gandalf458]

Many thanks. That helps a lot.

Now one thing isn't clear: what to you mean when you say you want to send "part of" a track to reverb?

Perhaps I've misunderstood but I thought one selected a percentage of the track (I guess volume) to have the reverb applied to.

[RobrechtV]

Perhaps I've misunderstood but I thought one selected a percentage of the track (I guess volume) to have the reverb applied to.

Ah yes, okay, so that's what the Sends dials do.

(I thought maybe you wanted to automate the Send parameter (which you can!) to only apply the reverb in certain sections of the song.)

But so you could see it this way: the Return track where you put your reverb (say, Return track A) will receive a dedicated mix of your other tracks, determined by each of their Send A parameters, and apply its effect to that mix. You could send a small bit of the drums maybe, a larger percentage of the vocals... So the Send parameter will determine how much of each track will be present in the resulting reverb signal.

[gandalf458]

Thanks again! I guess I understood, just didn't know how to explain.