Subgroup Mixing; Instrument Groups - PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE 24.4.2 Owner's Manual

8 Tutorials
8.4

Subgroup Mixing

Subgroup Mixing
8.4

8.4.1 Instrument groups

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A subgroup allows you to combine multiple channels in a single bus so that
the overall level for the entire group is controlled by a single fader. In addition
to level control, the StudioLive allows you to apply the Fat Channel's noise
gate, limiter, compression, and EQ to the group as a whole, in addition to the
processing available for each channel. Subgroups can also be soloed and muted.
You will find many uses for subgroups, nearly all of them make mixing
more convenient and provide better control of your mix. In this section, we
will explore two different ways in which subgroups can help you to create
a more efficient mixing environment and a more successful live mix.
Grouping individual instruments that create a section in your mix has obvious
advantages: the entire group can be muted or soloed, brought up or down
in a mix, and faded in or out for a more polished intro or outro. Some of the
most common submix groups are drums, backing vocals, horn sections,
and string sections. Drums are a classic application for subgroup mixing. We
will be using a drum group in this particular example but these principles
can be applied to group any type of instrument section in a live mix.
A drum group is especially useful when every piece in the
drum kit has a microphone on it. In this example, our drums
will be connected to the StudioLive as follows:
• Channel 1: Kick
• Channel 2: Snare Top
• Channel 3: Share Bottom
• Channel 4: Floor Tom
• Channel 5: Tom 1
• Channel 6: Tom 2
• Channel 7: Overhead Left
• Channel 8: Overhead Right
• Channel 9: Hi-Hat
1. We will create a stereo subgroup by linking Subgroups 1 and 2.
The first step in creating a subgroup is to get a good mix of the instruments you
are grouping together, in this case, the drums. With the drummer's assistance,
set the input trim, EQ, and dynamics for each drum separately. As you select
and solo each channel, assign each channel to be routed to Subgroup 1.
2. After you have gone through the entire kit and are satisfied
with each channel's level, EQ, and dynamics, unsolo your
final channel. Have the drummer play the entire kit and
set the relative volume and panning for each mic in the
mix. Choose the Select button above Subgroup 1.
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