I am can see the similarities but I do not understand what makes one unique from the other.
What is the difference between Group and FX tracks?
Thank You!
I am can see the similarities but I do not understand what makes one unique from the other.
What is the difference between Group and FX tracks?
Thank You!
Basically the same, except:
a) An insert can be specified during creation of an FX track.
b) The channel is named with the chosen insert effect.
c) FX are added to the FX folder when created.
d) Groups are added to the Group folder when created.
c) They are classed differently for visibility in mixconsoles. For example, you can show/hide ALL the FX channels separately from the group channels, and vice versa.
If these differences don’t mean much to you, because you name all tracks explicitly and you put your group/FX tracks in different places according to your visual routing association needs, you will probably be able to forget about using FX, in favour of using only groups. That way, you can build up a routing hierarchy and just insert FX in whichever group suits your purpose.
Yes, I do not use fx tracks, I see them more as a relict of the past. Previously it was not possible to further re-route FX tracks… Now they are practically superfluous.
Thank You!
These explanations are very helpful.
When you have a lot of groups and use a lot of send-effects, separating them at can at least minimize the confusion, i think. Also, FX channel can be created and routed right from send menu of any track, and the plugin can be opened from there. Still some minor benefits after all.
Also: the FX Channel gets the name of the insert; Any new audio/instrument tracks get the sends pre-defined. Very handy. Using only Groups would require very meticulous naming and lots more mouse clicks. I love em!
Not a direct answer to how they are different, but rather a way to use to our advantage the fact that Steinberg has labelled them as being different:
I assign one color to FX channels, and one to Group channels. I use Groups as subrouting busses, and FX channels as places to put my effect sends.
When scanning the Mixer or Project Window quickly, it’s visually very helpful to have them color coded differently to each other, makes locating things a lot easier for me.
Of course now with the search functions in Cubase 7, maybe there are different ways to achieve that!
I find that unless there are substantial differences between what elements provide, I use what makes it conceptually easier for me to use, which comes down to routing workflow.
Inputs, audio, midi, instrument and outputs have definite functional exclusivities in the DAW workflow, so there is not much to mix it up with. Of course, the Control Room usurps some of the traditional output functionality. Even RME now has a Control Room on their mixing utility.
But from there, I tend to want to define the routing hierarchy for what I want to achieve first, then decide exactly where the FX goes. For others, they make think they want a certain FX, and then route accordingly. It’s a matter of conceptual thinking bias.
Perhaps its because I haven’t been mixing all my life for hours a day that I don’t have rules-of-thumb for FX placement automatically ingrained in my thinking. Since the differences are relatively minor, to my thinking, I just use groups.
But then, conceptually at least, I liked the mixconsoles from the word go!
This is where individual thinking biases can be more important than the functionality provided, because I:
a) Like to name ALL tracks for what I want them for, and I have often have a couple of inserts together.
b) Would rather tracks have no default routing, so that I am conscious of what the routing is.
Again, I think it is because it is not all second-nature to me, that I have to make conscious decisions about all routing. I have been caught out when adding tracks, because since they are heard in the output as soon as the input is assigned, I have subconsciously assumed their output is OK, whereas, I really wanted it to go to a group.
But hey, I:
a) Got to my 50’s before I suddenly got to tie my shoelaces without having to think about how I tied the bow.
b) Got to almost 60 before I could suddenly play guitar, even though I had had several instruments over the years that just didn’t gel for me!
Hey, whatever works for you, works!
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Hey, whatever works for you, works!
Exactly! Until I change my mind.
Thank You everyone.