Aux vs. Inserts: to Send or Not to Send?

Aux vs. Inserts: to Send or Not to Send? – The world of audio mixing offers a toolbox of effects to sculpt your sound. But with that power comes a question: where do you put those effects? There are two main options: inserts and aux sends. Understanding the difference between these is crucial for achieving the perfect sound.

Inserts: In the Thick of It

Imagine an insert as a direct line for your audio signal. When you place an effect as an insert, the entire signal from your track gets routed through the effect processor. This is ideal for processors that directly impact the core sound, like:

• Compressors: Taming dynamics and evening out your audio. By inserting a compressor, you can control the peak levels of your signal, preventing unwanted distortion and making it sit better in the mix (https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/audio-mixing/audio-dynamics.html).
• Equalizers (EQs): Shaping the tonal balance of your instrument. Inserts are perfect for EQs because they allow you to surgically sculpt the tonal characteristics of your sound, like boosting high frequencies for added brightness or cutting low-end rumble (https://www.audioissueseq.com/).
• Gates: Eliminating unwanted noise from microphones. Gates inserted on vocal tracks can effectively remove breaths, plosives (those explosive “p” and “b” sounds), and other microphone bleed, cleaning up your audio significantly.

Aux Sends: A Parallel Universe

An aux send, on the other hand, creates a copy of your signal. You can then control how much of that copy gets sent to the effect processor. This allows you to blend the processed signal back with the original, dry signal. This is perfect for effects that add ambience or space, such as:

• Reverbs: Creating a sense of room or hall. Aux sends are ideal for reverbs because they allow you to maintain the original, dry sound of the instrument while adding a subtle or dramatic sense of space behind it (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lJkpjp55Ejo).
• Delays: Adding echoes and rhythmic textures. Similar to reverbs, delays benefit from aux sends as you can control the amount of the delayed signal blended back with the original, allowing for creative rhythmic effects without muddying up the core sound.
• Chorus and Flangers: Thickening and swirling the sound. These time-based effects can add richness and movement to instruments. Using aux sends allows for subtle thickening or creating more pronounced psychedelic textures.

Making the Right Choice

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are some factors to consider:

• Effect Type: Generally, use inserts for processors that directly affect the core sound (compressors, EQs, gates) and aux sends for ambience or time-based effects (reverbs, delays, chorus, flangers).
• Parallel Processing: Want a subtle touch of reverb alongside the dry signal? Aux sends are your friend. Conversely, for an EQ that sculpts the entire sound, inserts are the way to go. A classic example is “New York style compression,” where a separate aux track is used with compression to add punch and weight to a kick drum or snare drum without affecting the original signal (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lJkpjp55Ejo).
• Workflow and Efficiency: With aux sends, you can apply the same effect to multiple tracks by adjusting the send level on each track. This can save processing power and time compared to using inserts on every track, especially for effects like reverb or delay that you might want to use on multiple instruments.

Experimentation is Key

The best way to decide? Experiment! Try the same effect as both an insert and aux send. Notice how the sound changes and which approach better serves your creative vision. There’s also no rule against using both! You can have an EQ as an insert to shape the core sound and a separate aux send for a touch of reverb.

By understanding inserts and aux sends, you’ll unlock a wider sonic palette and take your mixing to the next level. So, grab your headphones, fire up your DAW, and get creative!