Subgrouping - Solid State Logic SL 9000 J Series Operator's Manual

Basic Routing and Signal Flow

Subgrouping

When dealing with several channels of similar sources in a mix, eg. background
vocals, it may be desirable to apply overall compression or other signal processing to a
group of channels rather than to each individual source.
For level control alone, Large Faders can be subgrouped to one of the eight group
control faders in the centre of the console. However, in order to apply overall signal
processing to a group of sources, an audio subgroup must be set up. This can be
achieved by routing signals to one of the Stereo Subgroups and inserting outboard
processing at the Stereo Bus Output patch point (see opposite), before returning the
subgroup back into the main mix (see also Page 2-27).
Alternatively spare I/O modules can be used to setup audio subgroups. This can be
easily achieved without the use of patch cords, and in either stereo or mono. Say, for
example, we have six backing vocal tracks returning on channels 43 to 48. Channels 25
and 26 are currently spare. By selecting the Large Fader to Multitrack Routing button
(LF), the channel signal may be assigned to the Routing Matrix (see opposite). Select
routing buttons 25 and 26 to feed a mix of these channels to Group Outputs 25 and 26.
If the SUB GP buttons on Channels 25 and 26 are now selected, the pre Group Output,
post Bus Trim signals will be fed to the inputs of Channels 25 and 26. Pan the Large
Faders on 25 and 26 left and right. The position of the source tracks in the stereo group
can be set on the Large Fader pans of Channels 43 to 48. Overall processing can now
be applied using the EQ and Dynamics sections of Channels 25 and 26.
If, instead of hitting the SUB GP buttons on channels 25 and 26, we select the GROUP
buttons, the Small Faders will receive the grouped backing mix, as GROUP simply
switches that module's Group Output to its Monitor fader. These two Small Faders can
now contribute to the mix by pressing SF MIX.
By using Small Faders to act as audio subgroup masters, the Large Faders can still be
used as normal, fed from the Channel path. Remember that, as with the use of Small
Faders providing extra inputs to the mix described on Page 2-19, there will be a limit
to the distribution of signal processing between the Small and Large Fader signal
paths.
In fact it is possible to set up other variations on the above theme, i.e Small Fader to
Large Fader and Small Fader to Small Fader subgroups. By the way, although we are
describing all this in the MIX mode, the basic principles are exactly the same in the
other desk statuses.
You can only route to the first 48 Groups via the Routing Matrix, but any channel
above Channel 48 can be a subgroup master by patching from any of Group Outputs
1-48 into the Line Inputs (or Tape Monitor Inputs) of channels from 48 onwards.
2-21
5.9.96