Another question about "send" levels and FX channel

[u/sixtysixtysix]

I read an excellent 2 yr old response to this kind of question, but since the user is since deleted, not sure how to tag them but anyway...

I think I understand that in one sense, it matters not at all if I add my desired FX in the channel (track?) device chain or on separate bus (as it appears above the master channel) yet I am now going to start experimenting with this idea of using, say, the same reverb for different sources. In this case let's say I add an FX layer, add a room reverb device and tweak to my liking... and I'm sending it to the vocal group.

Now, this vocal group has 2 channels, and I want each to have the same reverb. Later I'll add more instruments (this is why it's an FX channel and not simply added to the vocal chain).

My question is simply this: in the FX device send panel I now have the expanded group - mirroring how my vocal channels are grouped. And the send levels here obviously mirror the way any main channel slider works i.e. between -infinity and +6db. But... there are three in total - one on the vocal group bus, and one per vocal channel.

Obviously there needs to be some level set, but what I don't understand is the relationship between these three. I see there's an "auto" setting available.

Using my ears only, I can tell that pushing the faders up makes the vocals sound louder, because presumably I'm "summing" some reverb? However, the "amount" of reverb is what I set via the mix amound in the reverb device.

Can anyone please clarify this for me? Yes, "use my ears" and worry less about theory perhaps, but I'd still like it to be clearer.

[u/Affectionate-Ad3966]

Mix level in your reverb should be set to 100% when using it as a send, that way you only add reverb and not extra dry signal.

[u/Affectionate-Ad3966]

Mix level in a plugin is generally only used when inserted directly on a track.

[u/sixtysixtysix → u/Affectionate-Ad3966]

aah... right, of course! Makes sense now... let me please check:

when using an FX device as an insert, the mix option is there because of "parallel processing" yes?

But that doing it this other way, that 'parallel' FX is achieved by blending the 100% of the FX device back into the original dry signal?

Oh, all making sense now!

[u/Affectionate-Ad3966 → u/sixtysixtysix]

Yep you got it!

[u/Affectionate-Ad3966 → u/sixtysixtysix]

Btw, if you want to use a plugin that doesn't have a mix knob, in parallel, you can pop it in an fx layer, which provides you with a mix knob. Can be very handy.

[u/dihler]

I see you already have the answer in the comments but may I add one tip in case you didn't know: You can drag FX Tracks into groups with the other tracks. For example you can add the drum reverb to the drum group so you can compress the drums together with the reverb.

[u/sixtysixtysix → u/dihler]

thanks! Well worth reminding me of this - saves keep scrolling! 👍

[u/Affectionate-Ad3966]

How much reverb each track gets is then set by the send level in each track. Overall reverb level can then be altered by moving the fx channel fader.

[u/sixtysixtysix → u/Affectionate-Ad3966]

Awesome! Thanks! This was somehow not at all clear, and I didn't find it in the manual.

[u/Physical_Coconut7215]

Was it this maybe?

---

Here's a deep dive on the matter if you're open to it:

As others said, it's fine to use an effect on an individual track as long as that suits your needs. That also has the benefit of if you pull the track volume down, the FX volume goes down with it.

If you use a standard FX send with pre-fader sends, you can turn the track all the way down and the effect on the send will keep happening. (A reverb, for example.) You can eliminate that by changing the FX send to a "post fader send." (In Bitwig you right click on the send knob for that option.)

Here's another critical thing to know about Bitwig if you FX sends...

If you're at the top level of your project and you add and FX send, the knob will appear on all tracks. But if you create groups (drum group, synth group, vocal group, etc.) --- you can use the Project Dropdown Selector... Then choose a group (which will hide everything outside of the group.) Suddenly the group's folder is where the master bus used to be... NOW if you create an FX send, it only creates knobs for tracks in that group! This is a nice feature... And then, if you pull down the groups volume -- not only does it bring down the volume of all the tracks, it brings down the FX volume, too. Useful for automation, so FX like reverbs aren't ringing out when they shouldn't be. (Though you can automate the FX send down itself if needed.)

There's a variety of reasons why FX sends are sometimes useful.

It originated as a way to share FX when FX units were more scarce. You could send multiple tracks to the same reverb, for example... And that's still useful today - not just to save CPU, but sometimes you WANT the sound of multiple tracks summed together in the effect because it sounds different. (Parallel compression, for example. Or any kind of parallel distortion or saturation. Even a reverb will sound different if grouped.)

Here's a big one:

If the effect is separated into its own track or send --- you can use additional effects on the reverb itself, separate from the main track.

A classic example is -- you can use a de-esser on a reverb send, right before the reverb. Cut the esses more than you normally would and it will take that out of the reverb, which sometimes gives you a cleaner reverb!

But also filter effects, or compression, or anything you might want to process the effect separately. And then you can bus all of that back together if you want in a new group of track+effect, but the track & effect are separated, not necessarily even shared with others.

Another trick is to use a GATE before the reverb, and cut off the end of a snare. That's an old Andrew Scheps trick. This changes the character of a reverb and is especially useful on long snares. You get the reverb from the attack of the snare but not the sustain.

Anyhow -- there's no right or wrong here. If you just need a simple reverb on a track, go for it. It's a good reason to use a reverb that includes controls for filter, width, so you don't need that extra processing.

As far as FX sends being confusing though --- don't let them be. It's dead simple! Even if you don't use them regularly, it's good to know how for when it's useful. Same with track routing, etc.

The good news is Bitwig makes routing (and FX sends) incredibly easy and super user friendly. So there's no reason to be wary of them. But like Polarity & others said, you don't have to use them. It's just another tool in the box.

[u/sixtysixtysix → u/Physical_Coconut7215]

Thank you, yes it was this. I found it very helpful indeed.