Routing through Buss track kills the volume

[Brightbelt]

Hello,
I'm running Pro Tools 2021.7.0 on an iMac Pro (2017) with an 18-core Intel Xeon, 2.3 Ghz and 256 GB of ram.

This project is rather large, with 54 tracks, including all audio tracks, buss tracks and all aux tracks, and midi tracks etc.

Simply put, when I route my electric guitars through a Buss track (Stereo aux track), the volume goes way down. The guitars were recorded through a Direct Input via a Great River PreAmp. AND, this happens when there's NOTHING on the buss track...no limiter, no EQ etc.

My engineer tried creating a second buss track named GtrBuss2 (the first was named GtrBuss). It helps a little but when I compare these results by switching the routing the main Stereo Out, the volume jumps way high.

I appreciate any help. I still have much to learn about routing....Thank You, Frank B.

[The Weed]

Try putting the Bus Track in Input Only.

[Brightbelt]

Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what you mean.... I tried setting buss tracks to 'No Output" with only the Input defined....

Of course that didn't help - it cut off the routing chain and my audio didn't play.

Anyways, I'm not sure I did what you meant to say...Thanks....

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Brightbelt

Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what you mean.... I tried setting buss tracks to 'No Output" with only the Input defined....

Of course that didn't help - it cut off the routing chain and my audio didn't play.

Anyways, I'm not sure I did what you meant to say...Thanks....

Are you routing to the bus via track outputs or track sends? You really should use track outputs or if you're using sends use a prefader send.It's possible that you may have phase issues and that's why you're seeing a drop in level. Obviously you need to have an output routing so you can hear audio.

[Brightbelt]

I do both. I route effects in busses using sends for individual tracks.

I route Busses via track output for grouping instruments and using single effects.

Could two different electric guitars (1 is a Gretsch - the 2nd a Rickenbacker)
have phase issues both being recorded by Direct Input?

Thanks for your responding....

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Brightbelt

I do both. I route effects in busses using sends for individual tracks.

I route Busses via track output for grouping instruments and using single effects.

Could two different electric guitars (1 is a Gretsch - the 2nd a Rickenbacker)
have phase issues both being recorded by Direct Input?

Thanks for your responding....

It's possible due to the internal wiring of the guitars. Where are the returns for the sends going? If you're using unique effects for each guitar instead of using sends just insert them right on the track and that way you don't have to mess with sends/returns.

[The Weed]

Originally Posted by Brightbelt

Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what you mean.... I tried setting buss tracks to 'No Output" with only the Input defined....

Of course that didn't help - it cut off the routing chain and my audio didn't play.

Anyways, I'm not sure I did what you meant to say...Thanks....

No, you need an Output of course.

I'm talking about putting the Bus Track to "Input Only Monitoring". See page 531 of the Reference Guide.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by The Weed

No, you need an Output of course.

I'm talking about putting the Bus Track to "Input Only Monitoring". See page 531 of the Reference Guide.

Looks like he's using an Aux track, not an Audio track.

[massivekerry]

This might be a long-shot, but nothing so far has made any sense with my experience in this kind of situation.

If the routing has some additional processing that's not immediately obvious (like a Volume Trim Automation at the head, a Trim plugin, also routed to a channel with a polarity-reverse...)

Maybe look for something like that. Make a new Aux Channel that you route those guitars to, and make sure that they are ONLY routed to that Aux, and the Aux is ONLY going to the Master.