In this video I demonstrate the difference between summing stacks, VCAs, folder stacks, and groups! Support the sponsor of this video, Boombox | bit.ly/boomboxsponsor Check out my older "deep-dive" tutorial on this topic here | ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JRe68qPVnPU.html For mixing/mastering work, contact me at my website | carneymediagroup.com Follow MusicTechHelpGuy on Instagram | instagram.com/musictechhelpguy Support the channel on Patreon | patreon.com/musictechhelpguy Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:27 Sponsor Segment 1:05 Summing Stacks 3:35 VCAs 5:39 Folder Stacks 6:08 Groups 8:47 VCAs in Groups
What I love about this video- is the way each use case and functionality (the attributes) of summing stacks, VCAs, folder stacks, and groups are demonstrated, while each are being explained in a way that is so easy to grasp! I understand the similarities and differences. I understand the benefits of one vs the other depending upon my goal. It's really an enlightening video and it gave me new ideas of what I can do. Thank you MusicTechHelpGuy!
Yeah, I suppose it can get repetitive, but I just wanted to pile on this comment. These features are super useful and your video made them crystal clear. You're truly making a contribution to lots of people's lives by helping us with our artistic pursuits. Thank you so much!
And also, I'd say, control multiple busses' volume faders within a dedicated group or vca in order to make automations easier and making more busses at once share the same operations and happenings but keeping the summing plug-in and individual settings distinct! 8-)
Thank you! It helped me better understand! I am using track stacks and will continue to work that way, but I now know why I don't use VCA or groups, and not only not using because I don't know what they do!
so could you explain how a vca would effect the input level on say a parallel compression bus? would this be the same as routing the pre-fader parallel bus n the summing stack to a volume bus to control the stereo output without effecting the input signal? appreciate the videos you’ve clarified a lot tips n strategies for me ✍🏽
8:50 so VCA's essentially become something like a sub group in mixing desks? I generally always use summing stacks for mixing, it's become part of my workflow, but using groups and VCA's has recalled my attention - btw great and useful video, thanks!
For many people, myself include, there isn't much of a benefit. I almost never use VCA's unless I want group volume control over certain tracks, but not others within a summing stack. I'll give you one recent example -- I had a project with 3 layered acoustic guitar parts, each recorded in stereo. The left and right channels for each guitar were on mono tracks, and panned accordingly. So 6 mono tracks total, 3 guitar parts. I put each group of 2 guitars in a VCA for individual volume control to keep the left and right channels the same volume, and then put all 6 tracks inside of a summing stack for buss processing. That's one example, where I would use them, but I know a lot of people who still like to use them, especially composer-types. The only real benefit is you don't waste a bus.
@@leeahegg2377 They don't necessarily "input" into the summing stack, because VCAs don't actually pass any signal through them, but you can assign VCAs to tracks within track stacks.
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For my mixing workflow, no. I almost never use VCA's. However, I know many people who use VCA's all the time. If you want the group volume control without the summing, and without wasting any busses, that's when you could use a VCA. I know a lot of composer types that use VCAs to group the volume control of multiple instruments. 10 years ago, I used groups almost exclusively, but once they added track stacks, that's all I use now.
There's a reason for everything, really depends on what you do or want. Imagine for example some orchestra, typical sections strings, winds, metals. Now let's say you want all sections leader to control simultaneously, First violin, viola, cello, recorder etc... this might be one idea to use a group ,without having them "seated" close to each other (neither in the orchestra nor at your console hahaha. This is just one hypothetical example, the deeper you get into mixing more than just "typical" drums, bass, guitar etc band setup, the more reasons you will see for each option (or even, to combine them for several purposes). What I love in Logic, that the Apple guys did not put old stuff to legacy, but instead keeping them as another option you can choose from.
That's the same thing as a summing stack. A summing stack is an aux track with multiple channels routed into it, but it also has the added benefit of the folder organization. But there's no difference from a signal flow and routing standpoint than what you are describing. That's the way I did it for years before summing stacks were introduced.
It's really a matter of preference and what's comfortable and natural to you, I think. Like Josh, once Track Stacks were introduced in Logic, that became my default over bussing some tracks to an aux and naming it. Those two operations are combined when you create a summing stack (with a keyboard shortcut, if you like those) and I like that that "aux" lives to the left of the tracks it's controlling, and that you can collapse it to keep the mixer lean and mean. :-)
For my mixing workflow, yes. Summing stacks are really all I use. But I know plenty of people who like to use VCAs. If you need grouped volume control, but don't want the summing, or don't want to waste any busses, that's a way to do it. I know a lot of composer types that use VCAs to group the volume control of multiple instruments. 10 years ago, I used groups almost exclusively, but once they added track stacks, that's all I use now.
