|
Avid Pro Audio CommunityHow to Join & Post • Community Terms of Use • Help Us Help YouKnowledge Base Search • Community Search • Learn & Support |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Understanding Busses, Groups and VCA
Hi,
I'm getting to know Pro Tools and like it so far. I have trouble understanding the difference between a bus, a group and a VCA-fader. 1. Is it correct that a VCA-fader only controls other tracks without the signal actually running through it? 2. In a video, a guy explained how to create group tracks via aux input channels. He created an aux input track, then he assigend the tracks he wanted to be on it to a bus, then he selected that bus as input on the aux input track. In a different video, another guy just selected the aux input track as output on the tracks he wanted on the aux input track, without going via a bus. Does that make any difference? |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Understanding Busses, Groups and VCA
Quote:
Setting up channel groups is similar to VCAs, except that you don't get the VCA group master fader and you have to ungroup the channels to make changes to their levels relative to each other. In live sound consoles (where VCAs (or DCAs as some manufacturers call them) originated) you can automate the channels that are assigned to each VCA group on a scene by scene basis. So in one scene VCA 1 might have just the lead vocal in it, in the next scene, VCA 1 might have another singer, and the channel that WAS on VCA 1 previously may now be on VCA 3 as part of the female chorus. It's kind of complicated, but Protools doesn't provide for scene memories, so they don't really get the full value of VCA automation. Quote:
Bussing a channel to another channel, such as an AUX send allows you to send the signal from that channel to the AUX while still outputing it to the main output to which it is assigned. This is often used for sending a channel (or portion of) to an effects processor such as reverb, when you still want to hear the main output of the channel and be able to mix in the reverb at a different level. Sending a channel to a different output is just that. Perhaps you want the channel assigned to only your rear speakers, or to the subwoofer, or maybe only to fold back monitors. Changing the main out put of a channel will take it out of the other output completely.
__________________
Justice C. Bigler www.justicebigler.com Lenovo P50: quad-core i7-6820hq, 64GB, 2TB SSD, Win 10 Pro / Protools Ultimate 2023.6 / HD|Native-TB 2018 MacBook Pro: six-core i9, 32GB, 1TB, Monterey / Protools Studio 2023.6, / DVS / DAR, L-ISA Studio Home/mobile: Focusrite Red 8Pre+HD32R / Clarett 4Pre Road/hotel: Roland OctaCaputre / Apogee One |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Understanding Busses, Groups and VCA
JC did a great job, but I wanted to offer a little history and zero in on the term "VCA" and what it really refers to. What we have in Pro Tools is really a "virtual VCA master" and here's why. In an analog console(with VCA's) every channel has a VCA(Voltage Controlled Amplifier) that raises and lowers the volume of that channel. Each VCA is controlled by the channel's fader because the fader controls a voltage(0-10vDC) that feeds the VCA(so the fader actually passes no audio, only DC voltage). The VCA Master faders simply over-ride the voltage of the channel VCA's that are assigned to that master.
__________________
HP Z4 workstation, Mbox Studio https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...0sound%20works The better I drink, the more I mix BTW, my name is Dave, but most people call me.........................Dave |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Region Groups-->Clip Groups Import File Menu Not working | minister | Pro Tools 11 | 0 | 01-06-2014 11:23 AM |
stupid editing problems, mix groups, busses not working | Jenk2k | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) | 6 | 06-23-2009 07:22 AM |
Groups (nesting groups) | whitetar | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) | 1 | 04-18-2009 08:25 PM |
I need a little understanding | Young&Aspiring | General Discussion | 1 | 01-17-2006 05:58 AM |
Understanding EQ | HR123 | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) | 5 | 12-11-2003 12:53 PM |