In audio, “aux” (short for auxiliary) and “groups” refer to essential concepts used in audio mixing and signal processing. They play a crucial role in managing and enhancing the sound in various audio production scenarios.
Aux and Groups Explained
Aux:
Auxiliary channels, often called aux tracks or aux sends, allow audio engineers to route a portion of a track’s signal to a separate processing chain. This is commonly used for adding effects like reverb, delay, or chorus to individual tracks without affecting the original signal. For example, in a live sound setup, the lead vocalist’s signal can be sent to an aux track with reverb applied, creating a sense of space and depth without altering the original dry vocal signal. Aux sends are also used in creating monitor mixes for performers on stage, allowing them to hear a customized mix of the overall performance.
Groups:
Audio groups, also known as subgroup or busses, involve grouping multiple audio tracks together to process and control them collectively. This grouping enables the audio engineer to apply processing and adjustments to multiple tracks simultaneously, streamlining the workflow and maintaining a consistent sound. Groups can be used to balance and compress drum tracks together, EQ multiple background vocals simultaneously, or control the overall level of various instruments in a mix. By doing so, it helps achieve a more cohesive and balanced sound across the entire mix.
In summary, aux and groups are powerful tools in audio production and mixing. Aux tracks allow the application of effects independently of the main signal, while groups provide a means to manage and process multiple tracks together. Understanding and skillfully implementing these concepts are essential for audio engineers and producers to create professional-sounding mixes with depth, clarity, and cohesion.
Sound Engineer Jokes, Puns and Memes
Buses Vs. Subgroups, Aux Sends/Returns, VCAs & Groups
Key Differences in Audio Bus, Subgroup, Auxiliary Track, Auxiliary Send, Auxiliary Return, and VCA:
- Bus: An audio signal path that combines or “sums” different signals to be processed together.
- Subgroup: A group of instruments or tracks mixed into the main mix as a composite signal.
- Auxiliary Track: A type of bus used for creating auxiliary mixes or applying common parallel processing.
- Auxiliary Send: An aux bus that sends audio to auxiliary effects and processors.
- Auxiliary Return: A mixer channel receiving the output from auxiliary effects and processors.
- VCA (Voltage-Controlled Amplifier): A voltage control source acting as a master control over channel volume levels in the VCA group. VCAs do not pass audio.
- Group: Linking of user-defined functions, such as level, between tracks, with additional options like editing, automation, alternative/playlist select, panning, solo, mute, and record arm.
In this video by MarlonV we show you everything you need to know about Aux (Auxiliary) and Groups.
Video Text:
Aux and Groups on Mixers
this video will describe using
auxiliaries and groups on mixers to
begin let’s describe a basic mixer setup
in our setup we have a mixer and two
powered speakers we have a microphone
that is connected to the channel input
and then the output of the mixer is then
sent to the left and right outputs if
you look at the back of the mixer we are
connecting the outputs of the left and
right which are on the left side of our
video and if we look at the right side
these are the channel inputs we have a
mic in a line in an insert and a direct
out if we look at the mixer from the top
the main sections that will be adjusting
would be the gain or the trim making
sure that our signal is strong enough as
it comes in we can then use the fader to
adjust the level that is sent to the
main faders the main faders set the
general output that finally goes to the
speaker’s again this is a very basic
mixer setup but let’s do something a
little bit more advanced let’s use the
Using Aux Sends and Output Basic Monitor Setup
auxilary stands and outputs in a basic
monitor setup if you look at our basic
setup you’ll notice that we have added
two powered floor monitors if we look at
our mixer these are the areas that we
will be adjusting each channel in this
mixer has six sends but they all operate
the same way by adjusting this send we
are sending the signal that has already
come into our channel input and we will
be sending it to a master section this
master section also has controls very
similar to the master faders if we look
at the back of the mixer there are six
auxiliary outputs and inserts these are
but we’ll be using to connect to our
powered monitors if we look at our setup
again our microphone goes into channel
one and the outputs of the main are set
to the left and right main speakers but
we’re gonna make an adjustment on our
Channel and make
that our auxilary one is sent to
auxilary one output which is then
connected to a powered floor monitor and
the same thing is done with auxilary 2
now let’s use auxilary sins and outputs
Using Aux Sends and Output Basic Monitor and Dual FX Setup
with a basic monitor setup and now we’ll
add some effects
here is our mixer again our main
speakers are auxilary one auxilary two
for our floor monitors but now we’re
going to add a reverb unit and a delay
unit and this time on our channel strip
we’re going to make sure to send a
signal using auxilary v which will
connect to the input of the reverb unit
and it is also set back in auxilary vi
is sent to the delay unit and it is also
set back in to connect the ins and outs
of an effect unit we’re going to utilize
a special section of our Zilla
it’s called the insert the insert
actually acts like an input and an
output by using a TRS connection also
known as a tip ring sleeve connection
part of it will act as a send and part
of it as a return so let’s look at our
setup once more we have our powered
speakers our powered monitors and our
microphone we connect the microphone to
channel 1 the output of left and right
are sent to the main speakers auxiliary
1 & 2 are sent to our powered floor
monitors auxiliaries 5 is sent to the
reverb unit coming back in on the insert
an auxilary 6 is sent to the delay
coming by also back in on the insert so
that now when we adjust 5 & 6 we will
here echo reverb that is now being sent
out to our main mix and even to our
monitors as well there are two ways to
send auxilary signals the first is
called pre fade the second is called
post fade and the word fade is referring
to the fader on a pre fade the channel
Channel Fader does not affect Aux level Send
fader does not affect the auxilary
level send meaning that whatever
adjustments you make at the auxilary
level on the channel the fader if it’s
all the way down does not affect the
signal however in the post fade setup
the channel fader will affect the
auxilary level send almost acting
a second master control for the auxilary
send a singer typically wants to hear a
solid signal throughout their
performance so using the pre fade is
preferred so that when you make
adjustments to their fader they will not
hear those adjustments and have the
confidence they need to hear themselves
accurately however in the post fade one
typical use is to use it with an effects
processor which means the stronger
signal you send in the fader more of
that signal will be sent to the effects
unit therefore creating a more dynamic
response please note exhilarate can also
Note: Aux returns can come back in on a channel input.
come back in on a channel input and some
engineers like to have their effects
ends not be processed through an insert
but the output of the effects unit will
actually come back on another channel
allowing them to control the amount of
effect that’s sent to the main mix
through a fader here again is our setup
that we’ve described now let’s go onto
something different let’s talk about
fader groups
the basic idea of a fader group is this
you set levels of multiple channels with
faders and then you combine them into a
group that is controlled together as a
unit by another master fader if we look
at our mixer from the top the fader
section is highlighted here next to each
fader is a series of buttons that we can
assign groups the first group that we
most basically use is the left and right
main section the second button is to
assign the fader two groups one and two
and the third button is to assign the
groups two three and four if we look at
the back of the mixer these are the
outputs that the faders will be sending
through let’s describe how to assign a
fader to a group let’s take a closer
look at our mixer channels one and two
will be assigned to groups one and two
and now these groups are colored green
showing that they will now be controlled
by the master groups one and two
Channel seven and eight will be assigned
to groups three and four and they two
now colored blue will be controlled by
group fader three and four the remaining
channels will assign to left and right
and they will go directly to our main
mix using faders left and right
let’s assign a fader group now in a more
Assigning a Fader to a Group and using Panning
advanced setup and we’re going to be
using the panning system to help us get
more groups in our scenario we’re going
to assign channel 1 and 2 to group 1 & 2
but by panning them both left they will
now be controlled only by the odd
channel number 1
channels 3 & 4 will also be assigned to
group 1 & 2 but if we pan them right
they will now be controlled by the even
number Group fader number 2 if we go on
to channels 5 & 6 and assigned them to
groups 3 & 4 and pan them to the left
they also will be controlled by group
fader number 3 and channel 7 & 8 will
also assign to group 3 & 4 but if we pan
them to the right they will be
controlled by fader number 4 the rest
will be controlled by left and right
main faders two things should be noted
about group faders they can be sent to
the main left & right output or they can
be sent to the individual group outputs
this allows greater versatility in using
these outputs for other things like what
will look in the next sample we now have
our mixer our main speakers and our
monitors like before but we’ve added
three more vocalists we added a rhythm
section and we’ve added a laptop to
record the event and a video camera
possibly to stream the event let’s see
how the group faders can help us in a
mixing situation we’re going to assign
all the singers to Group one we’re going
to pan them left we’re going to assign
the rhythm section or the band to group
two and pan them all right
you’ll notice that Group one and two are
being sent to the output of the main
left and right speakers this is helpful
in case we want to achieve a balance
between the vocalists and the band
instead of adjusting each band member up
and down we set the band at a level that
works for them and then we adjust them
as a whole group to find balance between
the vocalists in the same situation
we’re going to take those same inputs
and we’re also going to select those
microphones and the rhythm section to
also be assigned to group 3 & 4
we’ll be using the outputs of the mixer
for group 3 & 4 to go directly into our
recording system to
laptop so this allows us to make some
adjustments to the signal that is going
into the laptop or the camera and it
makes it much easier we also have our
auxilary sense 1 & 2 going to our band
making sure that auxilary one fits well
for the singers auxilary 2 will be for
the band
some singers don’t like to hear a lot of
the band maybe just a keyboard some band
members only want to hear the vocalist
and more of themselves these adjustments
can be made on the individual channels
we’re also going to have auxilary 3 & 4
set up to use for our effects sense
I hope this video has been helpful if
you have any questions or comments
please post them in the comment section
and please subscribe thanks
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