Effects Groups - PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE 16.4.2 - V1.12 User Manual

5 Tutorials
5.5 Subgroup mixing
Effects Group
5.5.2
This is perhaps one of the most creative ways in which a subgroup can be used. By assigning an
effects mix to a subgroup, the front-of-house engineer can become, in effect, a member of the band.
This is especially useful when employing specialty or signature effects. What would an electronic
band sound like if the vocal mix didn't dramatically trail of in a wash of reverb—or a reggae band
without delay on theirs? The StudioLive allows you to assign either or both of the onboard effects
buses to a subgroup. So let's take the example of the reggae band.
In this example we will assign the delay on EFX A (effects bus A) to Subgroup 3. Press the FX
button in the Master Control section to access the Effects menu. In the EFX A parameters, use
the Value Encoder to scroll through the effects library until you find a suitable delay, and adjust
its parameters according to taste. (See Section 2.10.1 for complete operation instructions.) Next,
decide which channels should be sent to the effects bus. In dub and reggae music, the vocals are
most commonly sent to a delay, so let's send our two vocalists on channels 10 and 11 to that delay.
To assign the vocals, select the Mix button on EFX A. Using your meter section, locate the send
encoders for channels 10 and 11 and turn them to a little more than 50%. Press the Select button
for EFX A and assign this bus to Subgroup 3 and to the main outputs. If you like you can also add
some dynamics processing and EQ at this point as well.
Press the Select button for Subgroup 3 and
assign the group to the main output. (Because
a delay can increase the signal's volume quite
dramatically, you may want to experiment with
the delay at its most intense setting, with EFX
A's output turned up, and use the limiter for
Subgroup 3 to keep the level under control.) The
level of the vocal delay is now controlled by the
Subgroup 3 fader, and you can use it to season your reggae band's performance. The Tap button
allows you to go one step further and set the tempo of the delay to match the tempo of the song.
There are several advantages to assigning an effect like delay or reverb to a subgroup rather than
simply leaving it on the effects aux bus:
• You can quickly add or subtract the effect by grabbing a fader.
• The effect can be muted or soloed.
• The performers on stage can have a different amount of the effect in their monitor mix than
the audience hears in the main mix, enabling you to reduce the possibility of feedback while
providing the performers with the tools they need for the best performance possible.
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