Group Aux&VCA Volume automation won't follow

[NvD]

I am trying to fabricate a workaround for an Aux/VCA hybrid solution. But the volume automation won't group between an Aux an VCA and I cannot figure out why this is.

I have 10 dialogue tracks controlled by a VCA master. The dialoge tracks feed the Dx Aux. The output of the Aux goes to a dummy bus. I have a pre-fader send on the Aux which goes to my output.
I group the VCA an Aux (seperate group) which groups: Solo, mute and volume

This way I can:

-keep my mixing faders to a minimum (just Auxes on my layouts or custom faders)
-Solo the Aux (because it also solos the VCA which solos the Dx tracks)
-Use the aux for bus processing and sends while mixing
-Use the Aux for volume automation, the Aux volume automation does nothing other than control the VCA since the output is going to a pre-fader send.

Or so I thought, problem is that when I ride the aux fader, the volume automation does not transfer to the VCA. When I use the mouse to make breakpoints or volume adjustments it does work, when I touch a fader it just does not follow.

Does anybody have a clue to why this is?

Thx
Nardi

[reichman]

I'm confused. If you're so committed to the Aux, why bother with the VCA?

And my other observation is that if they did group, you'd get double the attenuation or double the gain.

Maybe I don't fully understand your goal...

[NvD]

Thx for your reply Reichman

I'm confused. If you're so committed to the Aux, why bother with the VCA?

Because I prefer the VCA volume method, if we had the option of soloing or post fader inserts on an Aux track, I probably would not bother with a VCA

And my other observation is that if they did group, you'd get double the attenuation or double the gain.

No, because the output of the Aux is going tot a dummy bus and I use a pre-fader sent for the output, the Aux automation is essentially doing nothing but controlling the VCA.

My goal is to have a Aux which has the benefits of a VCA.

Thx
Nardi

[minister]

Hi,

I don't understand the point of your desired workflow. I use a VCA for my DX tracks and it feeds the DX Aux master. I don't touch the volume of the DX Aux Master, but it does have plugins on it. The output feeds the Master Bus (which actually has nothing on it except a limiter for stopping overs). There is post-fader send on the DX AUX that feeds the DX STEM record track.

In my workflow, I can still solo individual tracks.

If you want to minimize fader movement, convert the volume automation on your DX tracks to Clip Gain. Then your faders are "quiet". If you end up doing a lot of VCA movement and the DX track fader movement bothers you, coalese the VCA automation, then convert to Clip Gain.

[Branko]

Originally Posted by NvD

My goal is to have a Aux which has the benefits of a VCA

That simply does not make sense.
I don't understand how you plan to control the levels in this configuration. If you group channels and control them via VCA, you'll vary the input levels into your Aux bus and that will cause the (dynamics) inserts to react differently.
If you control the group volume by moving your Aux fader, you'll have the bus dynamics reacting equally for any position of the Aux fader.
It is not really clear what do you want to achieve. I'm not getting the idea of a pre-fade send on the bus.
Solos and mutes operation is well explained in Minister's reply

[garret]

Do you know about “solo safeing” an aux input? That will
Solve your soloing problem.
I cannot for the life of me work out why you would want to use a different fader to control the vca fader? Why not use the vca fader itself? Whether you use a different fader to control it or not, it will amount to the same thing.
You are overcomplicating and over thinking this as far as I can see.
Minister has explained things quite succinctly.