3 <dfn>Auxilliary sends</dfn> are simple <a
4 href="@@processor-box">processors</a> in a bus or
5 track channel strip. They tap the signal at a specific point in the signal
6 flow (pre-fader, post-fader, before or after EQs and other plugins, etc.)
7 and send a copy of that signal to a bus, without affecting the
8 normal signal flow downwards to the channel fader.
11 Aux sends from several tracks are collectively sent to a
12 <dfn>bus</dfn> in Ardour, to create a monitor mix for a
13 musician, or to feed an effect unit. A bus used in this way is considered
14 an auxilliary bus or <dfn>Aux bus</dfn> even though it is the same as
15 any other bus. The output of such a bus might
16 be routed to separate hardware outputs (in the case of headphone or monitor
17 wedge mixes), or returned to the main mix (in the case of an effect).
20 Aux sends are not JACK ports, <a href="@@external-sends">
21 External Sends</a> should be used to send audio to Jack ports. External Sends can
22 send the tapped signal somewhere else directly, which is not usually
23 possible on hardware mixers.
28 <a href="@@comparing-aux-sends-and-subgroups">compare and contrast</a>
29 the use of aux sends with <a href="@@subgrouping">subgrouping</a>.
32 <h2>Adding a new aux bus</h2>
34 New busses can be created using the <kbd class="menu">Session > Add Track, Bus or VCA…</kbd>
35 menu, and selecting <kbd class="menu">Audio Busses</kbd> in the Template/Type
36 selector on the left of the <kbd class="menu">Add Track/Bus/VCA</kbd> dialog.
39 <h2>Adding a send to an aux bus</h2>
41 Context-clicking on the processor box for the track to send to the bus, and
42 choosing <kbd class="menu">New Aux Send …</kbd> shows a submenu, listing the busses.
43 Choosing one bus will add a send (which will be visible in the processor box).
44 Note that if the only existing bus is the Master Bus, the menu will be grayed out.
47 <h3>Pre-fader and Post-fader Aux Sends</h3>
49 Depending on whether the context-click happened above or below the fader in the
50 processor box, the new aux send can be placed before or after the fader in the
54 <li><dfn>Post-fader</dfn> aux sends are typically used when using an aux for
55 shared signal processing (FX), so that the amount of effect is always
56 proportional to the main mix fader.</li>
57 <li><dfn>Pre-fader</dfn> sends ensure
58 that the level sent to the bus is controlled <em>only</em> by the send, not the
59 main fader—this is typical when constructing headphone and monitor wedge
64 The color of the processor will reflect this pre/post position (red for
65 <span style="color:darkred;">Pre</span>, green for <span
66 style="color:darkgreen;">Post</span>). Dragging and dropping the send inside
67 the processor box before or after the Fader processor changes the type of
72 <h2>Adding a new aux bus and sending a Track Group to it</h2>
74 All members of a group can be sent to a new aux bus at once with a single click.
75 After creating the <a href="@@track-and-bus-groups">track group</a>
76 (and adding tracks to it), context-clicking on the group tab allows to choose either
77 <kbd class="menu">Add New Aux Bus (pre-fader)</kbd> or
78 <kbd class="menu">Add New Aux Bus (post-fader)</kbd>. A new aux bus will be created,
79 and a new aux send added to every member of the track group that connects to
83 <h2>Altering Send Levels</h2>
85 The amount of the signal received by a send that it delivers to the bus it connects to
86 can be altered in two ways:
88 <h3>Using the Send Fader</h3>
90 Every send processor has a small horizontal fader that can be adjusted in the
91 usual way. It is not very big and so this can be a little unsatisfactory if you want
92 a very fine control over the send level is required.
94 <h3>Map Aux Sends To Main Faders</h3>
96 In Mixer mode, pressing the button marked <kbd class="menu">Aux</kbd> on a aux bus will
97 alter the channel strip for every track or bus that feeds the aux bus. Many
98 aspects of the strip will become insensitive and/or change their visual
99 appearance. More importantly, the main fader of the affected channel strips
100 will now control the send level and <strong>not</strong> the track gain.
101 This gives a larger, more configurable control to alter the level. Clicking the
102 <kbd class="menu">Aux</kbd> button of the aux bus again reverts the
103 channel strips to their normal use.
106 <h2>Disabling Sends</h2>
108 Clicking on the small LED in the send display in the processor box of the
109 channel strip will enable/disable the send. When disabled, only silence will
110 be delivered to the aux bus by this track. When enabled, the signal arriving
111 at the send will be delivered to the aux bus.
114 <h2>Send Panning</h2>
116 Send panners can be configured to either be independent of the main
117 panner, or to follow it. The latter could be useful for Reverb effects, or
118 for in-ear monitor mixes delivered in stereo.