Bus/Effects Problem

Okay, I'm using MC5.  I'm running my guitar direct through my soundcard.  I recorded some tracks and then use "insert send assistant" and create an effect bus to add my amp sim to.  And then send my 4 guitar tracks to that bus to save on CPU power.

If I don't change my track outputs to that bus, I can hear the original recording (which is clean) mixed in underneath the effects of the amp sim.  I've used a couple different amp sims and still get the same result.

Although when I switch my track outputs to the bus with the amp sim on it, it sounds great.  But I lose all control of track panning, volume, etc.   All 4 guitar tracks are now controlled by the one bus.  I don't remember this being a problem before.

So is there another way to get rid of the background recording besides switching  my outputs.  Or am I inserting my effects bus incorrectly? 

Posted this in the wrong forum on accident yesterday.  I got this response but I'm still confused.

"But you have made a send for your guitars, so unless the sends are 100% wet the tracks will pass a percentage of the dry (uneffected) sound onto the main bus.  Make it 100% or just create a "guitar" bus and route the guitars there directly.  Put your amp sim on the insert and route it back to the main.  Either way will get you full amp sim sound. "


Thanks!

Thanks Beagle.  This way works sound wise too.  But again I lose control of panning.  All 4 tracks' pan controls are now set to that single effect bus.

I just pan each guitar track like 60 % either way.

wait - that won't work - I didn't think it thru.  gimme a minute.

ok - I think this will work

leave the sends like you have them, make sure you have PRE fader selected on the sends and just turn the slider for each track down to -inf.  make sure you have the send level at 0dB or 100% (I can't remember exactly what the parameter is I'm doing this from work from memory)

I can't help as much without MC in front me, sorry.  I would have thought that would have worked, tho.

Well... here's what I do. 

Lets say I have 4 guitars.... 2 acoustic and 2 electric. 

1. I INSERT A NEW STEREO BUS.


2. I reassign the outputs to that new bus


3. I add the FX to the bus.


Doing it this way I still have total control over the panning and volume from the tracks. I loose no control of the individual tracks. I've always done it this way. 




Try inserting a new stereo bus instead of the way you did it....then route the guitars to the bus and add the amp sim into the bus's FX bin and see how that works.  


I never thought of using one amp sim for multiple tracks.... I'd be interested in hearing the results.... Might have to try that. 

how about posting some screen shots so we can see what you're doing?

Grrrrrrr.........That didn't work either.   Working on some screen shots now.

RobertB - Yea.........I think you're right.  When I pan left it does nothing, when i pan right it kills the volume.

Well, I always run out of CPU when I'm near the end of my songs with 1 or 2 amp sims plus all the other effects and softsynths and whatnot.  I end up freezing almost everything.  So running 4 Amp sims at once isn't an option.

Anyway, I've always ran 2-4 guits through 1 amp sim on a bus with no problems, but I wasn't running direct before. And never had to mess with the outputs to get rid of any remnants of the original recording.  So unless there is some other way to lose the background recording, I guess I'm stuck with bouncing to tracks while running direct.

Don't see the point of posting Screenshots or Specs now, so I won't unless you guys still want me to.

Anyway, Thanks again everyone

Ahhh....just realized.   Starting to understand now a little more.  I dont have this problem when I mic, because I dont have to re-route anything.



Yep.......didn't know plug-in was set to mono.  Switched it to stereo and everything's fine.

Thanks again everyone.