Parallel FX - Send vs audio output path

[abt]

Greetings. I feel like a complete noob (as always) at the discovery of the fact that you can select multiple simultaneous outputs from the Audio output path selector. Until now I've always just used sends to create parallel FX buses.

Coming from a different DAW a few years ago it never even occurred to me that this was even an option.

Apart from having a fader on the insert, I can't see much difference. One benefit I can see using sends, apart from that's what I'm used to, is that if you have a send it is much easier to see as opposed to the little plus sign next to the audio output path.

What am I missing? Is there a benefit for either method?

[albee1952]

I always use sends here. As you said, its easier to keep track of it all.(and its a holdover from the old days of analog consoles).

[abt]

Thanks Albee. I was reading something and they used multiple audio out in their example. I though it was weird as I'd never seen it done this way so I looked it up and saw another example. That's when I had that moment where you think have been doing this wrong all this time (I have that moment a lot).

[PD-John]

I've heard some say they use this to set their Submix aux track's output to both the master output, as well as a stereo audio track for printing the mix inside Pro Tools. When you're ready to print, you just record arm the muted audio track while still monitoring through the MF. I just change the output of the Submix track when I do this though.

[bashville]

It just gives you another way of connecting the dots. You could also name a bus "drums", then use the same bus as input to two separate processing paths. Still feeding two different places, just another method.

I usually use the send option for the ability to have the send level be different than the "output" level.

[zedhed]

I predominantly use sends for sub-mixes and stems and/or FX channels. I save window configurations to have all the appropriate sends lined up as if it were a separate mixer. A mix within a mix as it were, as mentioned using audio tracks to record to or Aux tracks for plugins/routing junction.

Sometimes I'll leave the channel output to Main bus as well as a send, and other times either or.

[formfunction]

Originally Posted by abt

What am I missing? Is there a benefit for either method?

having a discreet level and pan adjustment is one.. the other is sends can be muted when you don't want you track outputs muted or vica versa.
If your on HD, the copy to send function is great to set initial levels. But it is cool that PT offers a lot of options to get to the same result, just depends on your workflow. ff