MIXER AUX SENDS EXPLAINED for Live Jams/Creative Mixing 

Thank you!!

Give this man a cigar

Ha nice one!! It could go on the output of the Hexmix, but then you'd want another final stereo mixer to then blend the sidechained mix back in with the kick itself (could be done in your audio interface?).

@@mylarmelodies Ah dang, I was trying to make that 3rd channel my 'compressor for everything' channel after multing my kick to it's own channel and the sidechain input on MSCL, but fair enough, cheers Alex!

So you have several effects connected to the patchbay and then to mixer or what? I have problems getting this. Atm I have reverb connected to the send return on my external mixer so how do you switch between effects?

You need a way of doubling, or splitting your original audio channel. You also need a mixer that assigns channels to busses, these mixers also have an assignment button for the master. Bear in mind this functionality is mostly absent from smaller mixers. This can be done using a patchbay, or you could use direct outs if your mixer has them. The effects are connected to the aux send and returns (aux send to the inputs, return from the outputs). So double the sound so you have the same on 2 channels. The first channel is your regular channel. You assign it to your master using the assignment button on the mixer. The second is your "send", which you assign NOT to go to the master, nor any busses. Instead you ONLY use the aux send on this channel. Now you can use the main fader of the channel as your "send". But note: you can send to multiple auxes at once! Like 25% to reverb 1, 33% to delay, 55% to reverb 2, etc. The main fader now functions as a sort of "Marco Send". And of course, you assign the Return Aux to the master. Check out videos of Scientist like ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nA8OBQMt9WY.html A momentary switch is cruder in its options than a full fader (just on or off), but in a small euro case like in the video above they can roughly perform the same function. Some info on channel assignment if the above is not clear: www.mediacollege.com/audio/mixer/channel-assign.html

@@s90210h Hey! Thank you so much for your extensive and comprehensible explanation. It all makes sense and I see why I can't do this with my curent mixer, something I expected, but my setup is evolving so I know more now what to look for. All this is very much appreciated and also thanks for the links, I'll look at those videos later today. : )

Yeah right! Just straight up mean. I'm assured mine will be sent out end of January/ beginning of February.

@@patientzero4889 all I can find is end of Feb/ early March, so I didn't order :'(

@@ignacecoenen7488 I actually didn't realise they were out of stock when I ordered. I just saw mylar's video on it and blindly ordered. Oh well, I'll have to wait.

It controls the overall volume of the sound being sent from the send, so that you can fine tune the signal to suit your effects

Ah, of course, that makes sense. Due to the imprint on the panel, I thought it was to be able to fade between pre and post, which made no sense to me(I haven't bought the hexpander yet and couldn’t test it). Thank you very much for the clarification.

I'm very late to the party, but you could achieve a post channel send/return like this with a matrix mixer and a stereo mixer. Put your effects at the outs of the matrix mixer and then full wet into the stereo mixer. Four in, one dry out and sends for three effects. Works like a charm for me and should cost around 500 euros less than the hex combo

As it’s a vactrol it doesn’t shut off absolutely immediately no, but it shouldn’t be very noticeable? Vactrol tolerances vary so yours may be quite different. How long does it continue for on yours?

@@mylarmelodies I see. Mine is quite strong, it feels almost like a delay effect. Here I recorded a video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mmLJBZGxHn8.html

They’re amazing but depending on the size of the system may be too much - one compact module I’ve been messing with is the endorphines Cockpit which is incredible - stereo, with mutes AND sidechaining!

@@mylarmelodies makes sense. Cheers, will check that one out!

I use Hexmix+Hexpander on a 98HP 6u system. For multi-layering, taking advantage of pre and post sends to increase your sound palette its just AMAZING!

@@Xustafu so your system is actually 186hp (both layers combined)? Meaning mixer takes 30% of your overall space, correct? Just double checking :)

@@4lpina FWIW this is the system in the video, and it's defo not too big for this. www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/1195982

Yes! My god why didn’t I think of that?!!

Actually these are the knobs for the aux send level, not the returns. But you are right, It's a way to do it but because of the placement and sizing a mute option would be way easier.

@mylarmelodies You wanted some audience participation, I am sure! ;-)

wwindowlicker808 tesseract mixers get pretty close to that.

Not sure what you mean, can you say again?

@@mylarmelodies Your connections on the expander in the video are using the "Pre" out for the AUX sends. If you move the connections to "Post" instead does it change the behavior of the mute switches? I would assume so. Most mixers work that way.

Strange world

Doesn’t everything?

Yep!

@@mylarmelodies thank u! Love ur channel btw, I think the way you explain things is really eloquent and has helped me understand some of the most foundational principles of modular. So thank u.

Thanks for your videos mylarmelodies! Adding to Ryan's comment. This might be a stupid question, but why do all eurorack mixers have only a mono out send? Shouldn't it be two stereo sends and two stereo returns? Or is it because FX modules duplicate the mono signal and therefore only stereo returns are needed on mixers? thanks again for your help!