How to "correctly" use sends?

[RottenToTheGore]

Sorry for a very noob question, but I'm wondering when it's best to use sends, versus adding that effect to the insturment.

What I mean to say is if I'm understanding correctly, I could add a compressor to send A, or add it to the instrument I intend to use it on right?

But if it's a common effect that most tracks need (Compressor again? EQ?) is it more of a time saver?

Thanks for clearing this up Hopefully I'm not completely off here <_<

[henke]

this could become a long long answer. some short snippets of it:
it is common practice to divide the usage of effects in two groups:

"insert" effects and
"send" effects.

insert effects are placed in a specific track to affect only this track ( and also to be only affected by that track !) typical use of a compressor is a good example: you want it to work on the baseline, and you want only the audio from that baseline to actually effect how the compressor works.

send effects are placed in a separate return channel and are typically _added_ to the signal and fed by more than one track. this is what the sends are for on the tracks. the typical example is reverb or delays: you want a bit of reverb on the snare, you want more reverb on the strings and no reverb on the bassdrum. you also want the same kind of reverb on all those tracks since you want it to act like a real room. So you feed all those tracks to it, some more some less.

However, all this is just "common practice" and you can do what ever you like. There is nothing wrong with having a different type of room on each individual track if you do not care for a "realistic" sound.
There is nothing wrong with using a compressor in a send/return if you are into the magic of parallel compression. But if you go this way, you will need to understand latency, and other advanced concepts of digital audio or you might experience 'strange' results.


So, as far as adding the compressor is concerned: place it in the track you want to compress. Experiment with placing it before and alternatively after the EQ and figure out what kind of difference it makes. Experiment with extreme settings of the EQ and the compressor parameters to get more of a feeling what goes on. Compression is a non trivial part of electronic music.... but fun !!!!

Robert

[RottenToTheGore]

Ok, I think I understand.

"Send" effects are usually for something that every may need. No need to add something like...overdrive to every single track when you're just going to use that on something like 1 guitar track.

[simonlb]

Ok, I think I understand.

"Send" effects are usually for something that every may need. No need to add something like...overdrive to every single track when you're just going to use that on something like 1 guitar track.

Yeah you're getting there

I use a send if I want to apply the same effect to multiple tracks in varying degrees. E.g. a reverb. I'll set the reverb to 100% wet and put it on a return track.

I generally wouldn't use a send for a compressor because compression settings will be different for different tracks and 2. compression isn't an "additive" effect (i.e. one you blend with the original signal, like a reverb or delay) - it takes one signal and outputs a new one.

I'm not feeling particularly lucid just now so I hope this makes sense... sometimes I break my own rules by doing things like using multiple sends with big FX chains, feedback, etc. but as a noob you won't be worrying about this yet

[ciw]

The simplest answer is, don't. In some ways sends are a hangup from days when 1. people mixed on hardware desks with a limited number of effects units, 2. people mixed on more limited computers which could only handle a few effects at once.

Nowadays even a cheap laptop can handle tens of reverb plugins at once, so you can put one on each channel. It's usually easier and gives better tweakability - you can change reverb params on one track without affecting them all (which is usually what you want).

There are still some uses for sends as the others have said, but especially since the introduction of racks they aren't often necessary. One example might be for a live setup - you only have so many knobs on your midi controller which might then limit you to having fewer effect plugins. Parallel compression is another (but it's probably worth getting to grips with ordinary compression first!)

[triss]

sends are tools for creativity. be creative with them.

this article's really good: http://www.renoise.com/indepth/renoise- ... nd-tracks/

and the sends in renoise are not half as flexible as the ones in ableton. (feedback ftw).