Ableton Forum

Hi I was wondering if someone could tell me how to set up a simple effects return. The manual doesnt give much in the way of how to do it and is a litlle overly simple...though i think this is pretty basic.

I have several audio tracks and the I want to apply the same reverb, eq , comp, to many of them so i would like to set it up in a return and then dial in the amount in the sends for each track.

Now as i understand it, there is basically 1 effect per return channel...so I would need three. I am just not sure how to go about the assigning of audio to" in the tracks and the audio to in the return. Dont i want the audio for each track to go to the return track (with the effect) - but its not an option.

what am I doing wrong here?

thanks all

Insert as many return tracks as you want, and as many effects per return track as you want.

Reverb and delay are typical send effects, as might eg chorus be. Compression and EQ are typically insert effects, ie you usually want the to affect the whole signal.

To try out reverb as a send effect: Just drop the reverb into a return channel (say A in the default template) and set it to 100% wet. Then add a loop to an audio track and start it playing. Then just adjust the level of the A send from the audio track to get more or less reverb.

If you want to apply the same compression to several tracks, route all those tracks to a single audio track and insert the compressor there.

make a return track, add whatever effects you want.

then go to the channel you wish to add effects,

and turn the "dial" that says "a" this will route your track to the return track.

read the manual about the pre and post settings...

good luck
m

ok duhh, I got it...instead of double clicking the effect to add it or dropping it in the bottom area I was dragging and dropping it into the top of the return channel...and then it wasnt working.

So i guess it doesnt look like you really need to reassign your audio to and from to set up a return ....just add an effect and turn up the a/b sends on whatever track you wan them on...easy...

so then I guess for compresson and other inline insert effects...those just need to be added to each clip individually?? any way of doing the same type of deal or do I need to add a bunch of separate compressors?? by the same deal i guess I mean is there any way to use one compressor to control a bunch of clips - but not with the return track since I dont want to dial in a specific amount....I just want the compression applied to that clip...or several...like my drums...these are 3 different clips (bass snare and hihat) - how do i create one compressor and apply it to all the clips??

thanks all....knowing this program it will be fairly simple.

you can use live's routing to send the audio into a new chanel and compress there
route tracks a,b,c to d and add compression on d


or you can add it to each track

ah...Ill try that...thanks for the help mike.

In case there's a confusion: You apply the effect to the track, hence any clip within the track (vertical column in session view). If you have clips spread out over several tracks, do as the last poster said.