Ableton related effects processing - series, parallel, return-send

Hello humans,

 

I've asked a similar question before but still find myself a little confused.

 

What I'm trying to do is quite a simple thing in a way but I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly and want to get it right.

I want to effectively add reverb/delay/distortion to a single sound on a single track in do it exclusively for that one sound.

 

So I've got any sound coming from Simpler (Ableton's sampler), synth, plug, guitar amp then running through an EQ to balance it out etc (so that's the sound I'm happy with) - then what I want to do is add reverb in series to that. BUT what I want to do is ensure that only the desired frequencies of that sound (i.e. not the low end bassiness to improve a good mix overall) are affected by the reverb so I place a reverb/filter before the reverb device.

 

BUT, as far as I'm concerned, that means to me that the end result after it's left the effects device (whatever that might be), is filtered back, as it's run through another eq specific for the reverb treatment, so you only hear the reverb affecting the desired frequencies and not the wet part of the signal playing at the same time as the source sound. Unless I'm just doing it wrong in terms of what order I put stuff in the track.

 

What I've tried is using audio effect racks in a parallel processing fashion and having one chain playing the dry sound - i.e. the original sound without the effect and then adding an additional chain, placing an eq and reverb there, so that the final output is original sound PLUS the wet signal playing at the same time. I THOUGHT this was right but then I realised that I'm basically just doubling/trebling/whatever the entire output of the sound so shit just gets louder as a pose to blended seamlessly.

 

What am I doing wrong? Yes, I'm a noob and I overthink.

 

I realise that I can achieve what I want via the return/send channels route but you can only have 12 sends on a track in Ableton so that limits the processing you can do - I like to treat each sound uniquely as a pose to sharing, for instance, a reverb over multiple tracks - to me that might make sense in some situations but if you can add effects in series, then you can treat it uniquely right? So I must be doing it wrong...

 

Thanks in advance, you guys/gals rock :)

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure I'm reading this right, but I'll take a crack at it. When you 'group' your effects in a rack and create a separate channel just for the effect, you should be able to set the signal on your effect chain to 100 percent wet, and then adjust the volume of that chain to taste?

 

If you're trying to apply an effect to the pre-eq'd signal, then place the end result after the eq without it being affected, I think a send might be the only option.

  On 9/15/2015 at 5:40 PM, Polytrix said:

What I've tried is using audio effect racks in a parallel processing fashion and having one chain

playing the dry sound - i.e. the original sound without the effect and then adding an additional

chain, placing an eq and reverb there, so that the final output is original sound PLUS the wet signal

playing at the same time. I THOUGHT this was right but then I realised that I'm basically just

doubling/trebling/whatever the entire output of the sound so shit just gets louder as a pose to

blended seamlessly.

This is what I usually do, tho you're right that it's not the same as a regular wet/dry control. You can try splitting the audio to 2 tracks, on one track put a low-pass at the frequency you want, on the other track put a hi-pass at that same frequency. You should mix these 2 together without any of the original track. Now you can apply fx to the low/high tracks and controll their wetness like you would normally do.

I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're asking?

I think you're overcomplicating whatever it is you're trying to do. It seems a bit silly to use a combination of all these insanely twisted and complicated effects chains and aux channels in order to achieve something. I mean, it almost sounds like you're programming something.

Instead, bounce/export the sound you want to work with, edit it, add effects, bounce it again, copy that file, add effects to that, and so on and so on.

Thanks all! I think this helps me. There is some logic in my question...I think! Thanks for your time.

Your reverb should have an 'in' filter, which lets you control what frequencies get fed to the reverb itself. Then it's just a matter of getting the correct dry/wet mix.

 

And yes, if you're doing parallel, make sure you've got your reverb signal at 100% wet.

 

Personally I would practice just using the reverb and really understanding the way damping, EQ and dry/wet works within a reverb unit.

Thanks! I'll consider my question answered. Always very helpful. Appreciated. :)