Multitrack routing and EQ controls

Although the wide variety of routing and EQ controls may seem intimidating at first, the controls for each track are identical, so once you’ve learned one, you’ve learned them all.

For more information, see Vertically zoom tracks.

Assign audio inputs and outputs to tracks

For more information, see the following:

• Record audio clips in the Multitrack Editor

• Set track output volume

Invert the polarity of an input

If a pair of stereo inputs such as overhead drum microphones are out‑of‑phase, you’ll hear duller sound and a narrower stereo image. To correct the problem, invert the polarity of one the inputs.

Routing audio to buses, sends ,and the Mix Track

Buses, sends, and the Mix Track lets you route multiple track outputs to one set of controls. With these combined controls, you can efficiently organize and mix a session.

Understanding bus tracks

With bus tracks, you can combine the outputs of several audio tracks or sends and control them collectively. For example, to control the volume of multiple drum tracks with a single fader, output all the tracks to one bus. Or, to optimize system performance, apply a single reverb effect to a bus track, and then output sends from multiple tracks to that bus. (Individually applying the same reverb to multiple tracks would inefficiently use CPU resources.)

Although bus tracks lack a hardware input, they have all the other features of audio tracks. You can apply effects and equalization and automate your changes over time. For most mixes, you’ll output buses to hardware ports or the Mix Track. If you need to combine buses, however, you can even output them to other buses.

Understanding sends

Sends let you route audio from a track to multiple buses, creating tremendous signal‑routing flexibility. Each track provides up to 16 sends, which you configure independently from the track output. For example, you can output an unprocessed track directly to a hardware port, but output Send 1 to a reverb bus and Send 2 to a headphone bus. (A headphone bus lets performers hear a unique mix during recording. Drummers, for example, may prefer a louder bass track.)

Understanding the Mix track

A session always contains one Mix track, so you can easily combine the outputs of multiple tracks and buses and control them with a single fader. Because the Mix Track exists at the very end of the signal path, it offers fewer routing options than audio and bus tracks. The Mix Track can’t directly connect to audio inputs, or output to sends or buses; it can only output directly to hardware ports.

Set up a send

When you set up a send, you determine the volume and stereo pan it outputs to an assigned bus. You also place the send either pre‑ or post‑fader. Pre‑fader sends aren’t affected by track volume; post‑fader sends are. (For example, if you output a pre‑fader send to a reverb bus, the reverb continues after you fade out dry audio. If you instead output a post‑fader send, the reverb fades out in unison with dry audio.)

For more information, see Insert effects before or after sends and EQ.

Equalize tracks

For each track, the Multitrack Editor provides a parametric equalizer.