If you have used a software or hardware mixer - and let's face it you probably have if you're reading this - you will have come across the terms "bus" or "bussing" used in the context of routing audio. But how much do you actually know about it? Maybe it's something you have avoided using because you weren't sure what it was for. But it's actually an incredibly powerful and useful technique to know and can help simplify your workflow and improve your mixes. In this short video from the course AudioPedia 107: Editing And Signal Flow, Joe Albano explains everything you need to know about the concept of bussing.
AudioPedia 107: Editing And Signal Flow
As Joe explains, a buss is a signal pathway and in the field of mixing, it's a path that can be shared by multiple signals. All mixers send their channels to a master bus, which may also be called a stereo bus or something similar. But busses have other functions too, like being used or send effects - routing multiple channels through a single effect or chain of effects with varying levels so they all share for example the same reverb or compression. And of course busses can be used for creative routing and grouping of channels, say as an example to submix a live drum kit or backing vocals. For much more on the core signal flow and editing skills you need, check out the full course using the links below.
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