master fader mixdown

[jhammer619]

For my final mixdowns I have been bussing every track to a stereo Auxilary track. This has my mastering plug-ins on it. I then send the output to a stereo Audio track and hit record. To get a summed .wav file, i highlight that audio file i just recorded, and hit shift+apple+k to export it.

Essentially I created a master fader. What boggles me is that I cannot do this using the built in master fader. When I simply create a master fader, put the plug-ins on it, and send it to an audio track to record, it records nothing. Anybody else have the same problem?

[peppertree]

Master faders don't "send" anything. They are ASSIGNED to a specific bus or output. They do not affect routing. They are simply an insert point (pre- their own fader) and a fader that is 100% identical to altering all the faders sending to that bus or output by their fade proportion.

So you can do this but you need to send all those tracks to the bus that is used as input to the audio mixdown track, and then assign a master fader to that same bus. The plugins must be on the master fader and not the audio track itself, as plugins on an audio track are "post-tape". The aux input variety works just as well but costs an additional bus.

[jhammer619]

so basically to do what I wish, there's no way to avoid sending each and every track to a bus. But the way you said is more efficient, thanks!

[dogon]

Another good reason for working the way you are is.....
Inserts on the master fader are post fader inserts.
This is not that great if you you have a compressor inserted and do a fade out.
happy mixing