How do you use submix groups?

I have never really used sub-groups in my mixing. Part of that is I very rarely use more than 10 or 12 tracks. But, for instance, say I wanted to put all my guitars in a submix group. I would bus them all to say, 3-4, and then apply comp and eq to the group. But at that point, I'm hearing the auxilary track, and the real tracks, right? I can't mute the real tracks and only hear the submixed group, can I? do you guys normally print the submix to audio and then apply comp/eq, etc. Thanks. It's just a technique I don't use day to day, and would like to experiment. I know there's no right answer, but I'd love some ideas to try out. I usually record songwriting demos at home with drum loops, a little midi, my stuff is mainly guitar based. I have some stuff posted here, if you're interested. thanks!! bp

hey bp, Once you route the original tracks through the sub group aux you no longer hear the original tracks because they no longer go directly to the stereo bus. They have to go through the aux to get to the stereo bus so if you mute the aux you won't hear anything and if you mute one of the original tracks you will hear only that track drop out. I use subs for guitar and vocals because I usually have more than one track of each and it becomes too many faders and plugins to deal with. I set each of my guitar and vocal track levels relative to each other including any automation I'm using on them individually and then route them to a sub group. Then at final mix time I only have one fader for each to worry about when trying to mix the level of the main intruments, Kick, Drums, Vocals, Bass, Guitar. As far as plugins, it has to do with similar settings. If I am using the same settings anyway on all the tracks I might as well put them on the sub. If I want different settings for each, then I will put them on the original tracks. randy

badperson, Bus the output of each track of your sub group to the input of the Aux track. Don't use a send. This should insure that you are not hearing the original tracks in addition to the Aux output. Greg

ok, gotcha. that makes sense. bp

Re: TRY THIS BADPERSON 

Re: TRY THIS BADPERSON 

Badperson, did you ever get this template? Just trying to see if it helped you at all? E-mailed it to you as well.. - Doc