creating a mix bus?

[chazzycm1]

Hi guys,sorry a bit of a quiz!!
when you mix tracks in the box there is the option of having just one stereo output where you can control the whole mix compress,limit etc.
is it possible on the d8b to create a mix bus like you would have in the box?

which is the best way to plug in a outboard e.q and compressor?

which is the best output for the final mix?

cheers.

[Casey_Pittman]

The only way I know of is to route to a pair of the 8 bus's on the board like bus 1&2 and take the bus out on the rear of the console to what ever chain of gear you want. Then bring it back into a couple of channels to monitor.

Unfortunately there are no inserts for the main bus this always made me sad.

-Casey

[chazzycm1]

thanks casey.
how do you do your mix downs?just on the d8b without needing a mix bus?
which is the best out put for the final mix?
cheers

d8b in motu 828 with logic.

[Casey_Pittman]

I send out my mix via bus 1&2 to a SSL mix bus comp, making sure to take all tracks out of L/R. Come back into 2 channels on the board and I route that to Cubase via the SPDIF OUT connector. I monitor the recording via the SPDIF IN (digital 2).

I"m not sure what you mean about the "best output for the final mix?" Are you talking about the final mix plugin that is inside the mackie or what physical output is better?

Any of the bus outputs are fine.

-Casey

[sweck]

Ifi have mutiple channels running through the desk assign all the channels to bus 1 and 2 tho be careful with ur mono and stereos, bus 1 and 2 appears in the 49/72 bank of faders. I then send this bus out as a stereo mix. i find that final mix isnt that great but if you want use it i would record ur mixdown above first then route your final wav / aiff thru it.

but heres a question closely related, what happens of some of my channels are mono, do i just route it to the left channel ie bus 1?

[Casey_Pittman]

If you only route it to one of the buses then you loose all panning info, it will be either side only. Send everything to 1 & 2 and your panning will translate out correctly. You have to think of the buses as the same as the main in this respect, which means pan the buses hard left and right so your stereo image doesn't disappear.

-Casey

[chazzycm1]

thanks guys.
@Casey what i mean by mix down is just the final mix from the board to the daw as there are several outputs on the d8b. of which you have answered.thanks

in terms of bussing if its a mono signal i usually select for example if i am working on a signal from channel 1 i would choose both bus 1&2 on that channel and on the stereo channels lets say 5&6 i normally select bus1 for channel 5 and bus 2 for channel 6 that way i maintain the panning info.

@Sweck..i know what you mean i tried bringing the mix back into the desk but it narrows the stereo field.

does any of you add any external eq or compressors?how do you do it? i have tried the aux option but it does not sound that great.

[sweck]

as ive been told on this board before, the eq & comp inside the desk and the messenberg are some of the best in the world.