Frequency Splitting Routing Question (Dry vs Wet)

[bigdaveo11]

Hey guys,

Had a routing question (using Logic). Ive been processing my bass sounds, keeping the lows mono, spreading the mids and highs. Do you guys always keep the original dry signal in your chain? If so, what is the best way to go about setting this up in Logic's Mixer. Currently I have one synth track with three sends (one for the low, mid and highs). The output of each of these channels is then routed to another aux (lets call this "main bass out aux"). Now in order to also have the original dry signal combined back with the three split frequency channels do I just change the output of the original dry signal to my "main bass out aux". I know there is no right/wrong way but I have read alot about keeping the original dry signal when doing this type of processing and wasn't sure how to go about setting that up. Apologies for any confusion in wording/terms...appreciate the help.

[Earjax]

I used to use loads of sends but it started to get to a point where there were so many plugins going on at once my mac couldn't handle it. Instead, I suggest duplicating the track three times and splitting the frequencies from there. It also means you can resample each part accordingly and bounce them together easily if you want to. The only thing I use sends for is reverb, delay, parralel compression and parralel distortion.
Hope that helps

[Earjax]

Oh and sounds like your doing the right thing routing everything including the original into a bus, maybe use another send to send the original to the final bus, you might not want 100% of the sound sending.

[FeedTheFaithless]

Oh and sounds like your doing the right thing routing everything including the original into a bus, maybe use another send to send the original to the final bus, you might not want 100% of the sound sending.

You can adjust the amount of the original signal that goes to the final bus with the channel fader, if the other sends are pre-fade

[JTMMusicuk]

dont mean to hi jack the thread but what would the reason be behind splitting the mids and highs? is it just for better mixing or do you tend to add different effects to different frequencies - obviously its all subjective but generally speaking why would you want to do it?
also what frequency range would you normally split them into?

[Volatile Psycle]

I split mids and high sometimes because if i use the same level of distortion on the highs as i do the mids, the tops can get nasty

[bigdaveo11]

great replies guys, helped a ton.

While were on the subject, what other FX/techniques do you like to use to manipulate your lows/mids/highs. Sometimes I over complicate the matter and try to do too much. One technique I have been practicing/trying to master is spreading the mids/highs out to make my bass sound wide.

One more thing, one your final "bass out" channel or wherever you recombine them all, Ive been having trouble getting the compressor settings right in order to glue my sounds together, could be too much processing on the individual channel. Any tips on this? Would you use a limiter in this instance even though I know it is different from track to track. Thx again.