Forget the faders, knobs, and digital displays – flip the console around and show off your superhero skills.
Those mind-mannered auxiliary sends are for more than monitor mixes.
Aux sends, controllable at both channel and master levels, provide solutions to six unique challenges that range from communication to improvising a stage subwoofer.
1: Mix A Better Recording
A single-track house mix recording never sounds the same when compared to the live event – fact of life. When multi-track recording isn’t available, aux sends provide the next best thing because they provide channel-level control.
Plug an aux send into a recording device. Next, plug headphones into the recording device. See where this is headed? Use the channel-level aux volume control to mix the recording.
Additionally, the aux mix method works for one-off recordings such as when your friend says, “You owe me a favor – can you record my band performing this one song for my girlfriend?” So much for the glamorous side of audio production.
2: Better Audio For Video
Yes, I said it: the “v” word. Videographers have a tough job and getting quality audio is part of it. Give them an aux send and they’ll become a friend for life.
Be it an informal event, high-end wedding or corporate gig, a videographer will ask for a dedicated line from the console to tie into their camera. Use the aux send, like in the aux recording section, to provide a nice audio mix.
Video cameras can take an assortment of audio jacks and what the videographer has and what is required aren’t always the same. A TS-to-3.5mm stereo cable and a TS-to-RCA cable should do the trick. Yes, they’re mono-sends but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Aux sends can be pre-fader or post-fader so set them accordingly. A good rule of thumb is pre-fade for monitors and post-fade for everything else.
3: Send Audio Anywhere
Secondary locations include hallways, overflow rooms, outdoor patios, and anywhere else people want to hear the mix from the main venue. Most of the time a straight house mix suffices, but there are a few unique situations when an aux send comes to the rescue.
Some people don’t want to hear everything broadcast during an event. Maybe they only want to hear the person speaking at an event, not the band. Or maybe they want the band and not the emcee’s blathering pronouncements. Whatever the case, pull the source from an aux send mix instead of the house mix.
Note secondary location loudspeakers may or not be powered, therefore don’t assume the output routing change is as simple as swapping a few cables. Draw up a system schematic if there isn’t one and observe how to alter the routing.
