Are you new to using Pro Tools and wondering what a send is? A send is a powerful tool in Pro Tools that allows you to route a copy of a track’s audio signal to another track, where you can apply effects or processing without affecting the original track. This can be particularly useful for creating reverb or delay effects, or for creating a separate headphone mix for a recording session.
Sends can be set to either pre-fader or post-fader mode, which determines when the signal is sent to the destination track. Pre-fader sends send a copy of the audio signal before it is affected by the track’s fader or any other processing, while post-fader sends send the signal after it has been affected by the track’s fader and any other processing. Understanding the difference between pre-fader and post-fader sends is crucial for getting the most out of this powerful tool in Pro Tools.
Understanding Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation used for recording, editing, and mixing music and sound for films, television, and other media. It is widely used in the music industry and has become an industry standard for audio production.
One of the key features of Pro Tools is the ability to use sends. Sends allow the user to send a copy of an audio signal to another track or bus, where it can be processed separately and then returned to the original track.
Sends are commonly used for adding reverb or delay effects to a track, creating headphone mixes for recording sessions, or sending a mix to an external effects processor.
There are two types of sends in Pro Tools: pre-fader and post-fader. Pre-fader sends send the audio signal before it reaches the channel fader, while post-fader sends send the audio signal after it has passed through the channel fader.
Pre-fader sends are useful for creating a separate headphone mix, while post-fader sends are useful for adding reverb or delay effects to a track.
In addition to sends, Pro Tools also allows for the use of inserts and buses. Inserts are used to add effects directly to a track, while buses are used to route audio signals to multiple tracks or outputs.
understanding the use of sends, inserts, and buses is essential for creating professional-quality audio productions in Pro Tools.
What is a Send in Pro Tools?
A send is an audio routing feature in Pro Tools that allows you to send a copy of an audio signal from a track to another track or an external device. Sends are used to apply effects, such as reverb or delay, to an audio track without affecting the original signal.
Sends can be pre-fader or post-fader. Pre-fader sends send a copy of the audio signal before the fader level is adjusted, while post-fader sends send a copy of the audio signal after the fader level is adjusted. This means that pre-fader sends will send a constant level of the audio signal to the destination track or device, regardless of the fader level, while post-fader sends will send a level of the audio signal that changes with the fader level.
Sends can also be mono or stereo. Mono sends send a mono copy of the audio signal, while stereo sends send a stereo copy of the audio signal.
Sends are created by adding a send plug-in to an audio track. The send plug-in is added to the insert section of the track and then routed to the destination track or device. Once the send is set up, you can adjust the level of the send using the send level control.
a send in Pro Tools is an audio routing feature that allows you to send a copy of an audio signal from one track to another track or an external device. Sends are used to apply effects to an audio track without affecting the original signal. They can be pre-fader or post-fader, mono or stereo, and are created by adding a send plug-in to an audio track.
Types of Sends in Pro Tools
When working with Pro Tools, sends are an essential part of the mixing process. They allow you to send a copy of a track’s audio to another track, where you can apply effects, EQ, or other processing. There are three types of sends in Pro Tools: pre-fader sends, post-fader sends, and pre-post fader sends.
Pre-Fader Sends
Pre-fader sends are sends that are taken from the original track before the fader. This means that the level of the send is not affected by the fader’s position. Pre-fader sends are useful for creating headphone mixes, where you want to send a copy of the audio to a separate track for monitoring purposes. You can adjust the level of the send independently of the original track’s level, allowing you to create a custom mix for the performer.
Post-Fader Sends
Post-fader sends are taken from the original track after the fader. This means that the level of the send is affected by the fader’s position. Post-fader sends are useful for adding reverb or other effects to a track, where you want the level of the effect to be controlled by the fader. This allows you to create a more natural-sounding mix, where the level of the effect is proportional to the level of the original track.
Pre-Post Fader Sends
Pre-post fader sends are a combination of pre-fader and post-fader sends. They allow you to take a copy of the audio from the original track before the fader and after the fader. This means that you can create a custom mix for the performer using the pre-fader send, while also adding effects to the track using the post-fader send. Pre-post fader sends are useful for creating complex mixes, where you want to apply different processing to the same track.
understanding the different types of sends in Pro Tools is essential for creating a professional-sounding mix. By using pre-fader sends, post-fader sends, and pre-post fader sends, you can create custom mixes, add effects to tracks, and create complex mixes that sound great.
Benefits of Using Sends in Pro Tools
Using sends in Pro Tools can greatly enhance your workflow and creativity. Here are some of the benefits of using sends:
Efficient Use of Effects
One of the primary benefits of using sends in Pro Tools is the efficient use of effects. Rather than adding an effect to each individual track, you can use a send to apply the effect to multiple tracks simultaneously. This saves time and CPU power, especially when working with large sessions.
Sends also allow you to control the amount of effect applied to each track independently, giving you more control over your mix. For example, you can apply a reverb effect to a vocal track using a send, and adjust the amount of reverb for each individual track to create a more natural and balanced sound.
Creative Mixing
Another benefit of using sends in Pro Tools is the creative possibilities they offer. Sends can be used to create unique and interesting effects that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with individual track effects.
For example, you can use a send to apply a delay effect to a group of tracks, and then use automation to create rhythmic patterns by adjusting the send level. You can also use sends to create parallel processing chains, where the original signal is split into two or more paths, each with its own set of effects.
Sends can also be used to create headphone mixes for recording sessions, allowing each musician to hear a customized mix of the tracks they need to hear.
using sends in Pro Tools can greatly enhance your workflow and creativity, allowing you to create more efficient and unique mixes.
How to Use Sends in Pro Tools
Setting Up a Send
In Pro Tools, a send is a way to route audio from one track to another. To set up a send, first select the track you want to send audio from. Then, create a new send by clicking on the “Sends” section in the mix window and selecting “New Send” from the dropdown menu.
Next, choose the destination track you want to send audio to. You can adjust the level of the send by dragging the fader up or down. You can also choose whether you want the send to be pre-fader or post-fader. A pre-fader send will send the audio to the destination track before it reaches the track fader, while a post-fader send will send the audio after it has been adjusted by the track fader.
Adjusting Send Levels
Once you have set up a send, you can adjust the level of the send by using the send fader. This allows you to control the amount of audio being sent to the destination track. You can also adjust the pan of the send, which determines the stereo placement of the audio being sent.
If you want to adjust the level of multiple sends at once, you can use the “Sends to Selected Tracks” feature. This allows you to adjust the level of all sends going to a selected group of tracks at once.
Routing Sends
In addition to routing audio to another track, you can also use sends to route audio to an effects processor. To do this, create a new send and choose the destination track as the effects processor. Then, send audio from the original track to the send, and adjust the level of the send to control the amount of audio being sent to the effects processor.
You can also use sends to create headphone mixes for musicians during recording sessions. By setting up a separate send for each musician, you can create a custom headphone mix for each person, allowing them to hear only the instruments they need to stay in time and in tune.
sends are an incredibly useful tool in Pro Tools that allow you to route audio in a variety of ways. By understanding how sends work and how to use them effectively, you can take your mixing and recording skills to the next level.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Sends in Pro Tools
Sends are a powerful tool in Pro Tools that allow you to route audio from one track to another, but they can sometimes cause issues that can be frustrating to troubleshoot. Here are some common issues with sends in Pro Tools and how to troubleshoot them:
Issue: Send is Not Working
If you have set up a send in Pro Tools, but it is not working, there are a few things you can check:
- Make sure the send is enabled by clicking on the “S” button next to the send.
- Check that the send level is set correctly. If it is set to 0 dB, you will not hear any audio.
- Make sure the output of the track you are sending from is set correctly. If it is set to “None,” the send will not work.
Issue: Send Level is Too Low or Too High
If the send level is too low or too high, you can adjust it by clicking on the send level fader and dragging it up or down. You can also adjust the send level using the “Send Level” control in the Sends section of the Mix window.
Issue: Send is Creating Feedback or Echo
If you are experiencing feedback or echo when using a send, there are a few things you can check:
- Make sure the send is not routing back to the same track it is coming from.
- Check that the send is not being routed to a track that is being monitored in the control room or headphones.
- Make sure the send level is set correctly. If it is too high, it can cause feedback or echo.
Issue: Send is Creating Latency
If you are experiencing latency when using a send, there are a few things you can check:
- Make sure the buffer size is set correctly. A larger buffer size can cause more latency.
- Check that the send is not being routed through a plugin that is causing latency.
- Make sure the send is not being routed through a track that has a delay compensation plugin.
By troubleshooting these common issues with sends in Pro Tools, you can ensure that your audio routing is working correctly and avoid any frustrating issues that can arise.
