What is Routing?
Understanding Routing in DAWs and Mixing Desks
What is Routing? – Have you ever opened a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) or stared at a mixing console and felt overwhelmed by all the knobs, buttons, and… wires? Well, fear not, intrepid audio adventurer! A big part of taming that audio jungle is understanding routing.
RECORD, MIX AND MASTER – A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO AUDIO PRODUCTION. OUT NOW!
Routing Explained
Simply put, routing is the process of directing audio signals within your setup. Imagine it like building a network of roads for your sound. In a DAW, you use virtual cables to connect tracks, plugins, and effects. On a mixing desk, it’s achieved through physical cables plugged into specific channels.
Benefits of Routing
- Flexibility: Route audio wherever you need it. Want to send a drum track to a dedicated reverb processor? Done. Need to combine multiple vocals before adding compression? Easy! This allows you to create complex signal chains that wouldn’t be possible with a single microphone or input.
- Signal Flow Control: Craft a precise order for your effects. For example, applying EQ before compression can result in a more transparent sound, as the compressor is working with a signal that has already been shaped [reference “EQ Before Compressor or After?” on Waves Audio waves.com]. By routing the signal through the EQ first, you can control how much of the boosted or attenuated frequencies the compressor will affect.
- Creative Possibilities: Experiment with parallel processing by sending a signal down two separate paths for unique sonic textures. This is a popular technique for guitars and vocals, where a clean signal is blended with a heavily effected version to create a wider, richer sound.
Routing in Action
Here are some common routing scenarios:
- Mixing a Band: Route individual instruments to separate channels on your mixer for independent level and EQ control. This allows you to adjust the volume and tonal balance of each instrument in the mix.
- Recording Vocals: In your DAW, route your microphone input to a vocal track and add a compressor plugin for a smoother, more polished sound. Compression helps to even out the dynamics of a vocal performance, reducing the difference between loud and quiet parts.
- Adding Effects: Route a drum track to a dedicated reverb bus to create a spacious, ambient feel. This is a common technique for adding depth and dimension to drums, especially in larger productions.
DAW vs. Mixing Desk Routing
Both offer similar functionality, but with some key differences:
- DAW: Virtual, offering unlimited flexibility and the ability to save and recall routing setups. This is a huge advantage, as it allows you to quickly experiment with different routing configurations without having to physically re-patch cables.
- Mixing Desk: Physical, with limitations based on the number of channels and patching points. However, some high-end mixers offer digital recall capabilities, allowing you to save and recall complex routing setups.
Routing Tips
- Keep it Organized: Label your tracks and channels clearly to avoid confusion later. This is especially important in complex projects with many tracks and effects.
- Start Simple: Don’t go overboard with complex routing until you’re comfortable with the basics. Master the fundamentals of routing individual channels and adding basic effects before diving into more advanced techniques.
- Experiment! Routing opens doors to a world of sonic possibilities. Don’t be afraid to try new things! By experimenting with different routing configurations, you can discover unique and creative sounds to enhance your productions.
By mastering routing, you’ll unlock a new level of control over your audio. So, grab your virtual cables or dust off your patch bay, and start building those sonic highways!
