Types of effects

Frankiestylee

Just curious as to the differance of "insert" effects, send effects etc. That's what they're called in cubase, though I assume they use similar lingo in other programs. It's not the actual effects I'm curious about, it's what the "insert" and "send" bit etc means.

cornbb

"Insert" means the effect is put directly into your signal path so everything in that path (e.g. a single mono/stereo track, or your master output bus) gets processed. "Send" effects are on seperate busses and you can "send" a specified amount of signal from any of your other tracks to them. Send effects are generally handier for effects that you might use/share across lots of tracks such as reverb, and offer the benefit of letting you mix the wet/effected signal with the dry/unaffected signal. Insert effects would be handier for the likes of compression, where you want control over the dynamics of a particular track. Hope that makes sense.

frobisher

Exactly what cornbb said. It's all in the name. In a DAW program insert points are for effects that are inserted into the signal path (typically compressors, limiters, exciters, EQs) chain and are used to alter and shape the sound. Send effects are fed by sending a copy of the signal, usually from an aux send, to an effect that you will blend in with the original to acheive the desired result (usually reverbs, choruses, delays etc).

Frankiestylee

Thanks, makes sense now. I'm just finding some of the jargon a bit hard to cut through in the manual. A glossary would have been lovely.

11811

insert points are used for adding dynamic processing or equalization to a channel or the mix. Unlike reverbs etc., which are usually added to the dry signal, dynamic processing is normally applied across an entire signal. Here an aux send would be inappropriate. Instead the signal is intercepted somewhere along the channel, fed through the dynamics processor and/or EQ, then returned to the console at the same point where it left. The insert point is normalized, i.e. the signal is only interrupted when a jack is plugged into it.

Insert points are most commonly used with dynamic processors that control a signal's dynamics range, such as noise gates, and compressors

In a conventional desk they are usually unbalanced, with a single TRS jack carrying the signal both into (send) the processor and back to the desk (return). In affect the processor becomes part of the desk channel

Inserts in ProTools are similar to the conventional type, except one has the option of using either an internal plug-in or and external processor through the audio In/Out of the interface.