Hello Sonarites.
 
Every time I am tempted to use aux tracks in SONAR I'm always finding myself in this kind of setup:
 
Track 1 main output to a BUS A (for example)
Track 1 SEND to AUX track 1 
AUX track out to BUS A
 
But, I can always hear some kind of slight phasing going on when doing so...
 
My questions:
 
Is this approach a good one or should I avoid it as much as possible
When working in this configuration, how should we manage this slight phasing issue... A slight delay on the source? How do you guys do it?
 
Thanks!
 

yummay
 
Track 1 main output to a BUS A (for example)
Track 1 SEND to AUX track 1 
AUX track out to BUS A
 

this setup is OK and per se does not produce phasing. you can double check that by putting send level to 0.0 dB and phase inverting the aux track. it will fully cancel to silence i.e. there is no delay / phasing - of course only with all FX disabled in the aux track.
 
so if you hear phasing it either has something to do with the FX you use on the aux track or possibly even your direct monitoring chain. you need to dig deeper to find the source ...

Thanks a lot, Rob! Will do...

sorry guys.  Can i ask a question please?  Im familiar with what a bus is.   But what is an AUX track?   i used think that aux tracks where just what cuebase (or other DAWS) called what we Sonar folks call a bus.   I'm clearly wrong on this.  Thanks.   

couple of good references
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCAlFThGvH8
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Mixing.14.html
 
it's a track which you can feed via a "patch point" (summing of all inputs to the PP) or sends. all track functions are available including bounce. 

Thanks Glen. I'll check those links out.

What is the scenario that you are routing a send to an Aux track and the track output and aux track output to the same bus?
 
I usually do the opposite.  I route the output of tracks to an aux track (e.g. to get a submix on top and bottom snare mics) and then send from the aux track to a bus (or busses - e.g. a reverb bus, delay bus, etc.).
 
I am wondering if the other type of routing could be useful to me.

dwardzala
What is the scenario that you are routing a send to an Aux track and the track output and aux track output to the same bus?
 
I usually do the opposite.  I route the output of tracks to an aux track (e.g. to get a submix on top and bottom snare mics) and then send from the aux track to a bus (or busses - e.g. a reverb bus, delay bus, etc.).
 
I am wondering if the other type of routing could be useful to me.

Dave,
I think you've got two different things going here:
The first scenario has a SEND going to the AUX while the OUTPUT of both tracks go to a bus.  You would do this mostly if you've got FX on the Aux track (a 100%wet Reverb for example).  Then you would send both the audio track and the Aux to the same bus since they're still the same instrument.
The Reverb Aux would be beneficial as multiple instruments could send to the same reverb tank and all fit in the same sound.  It's also helpful in other DAWs that may have a limitation on how many FX you can put in your bin (which is why you would have the Aux Reverb at 100% wet, instead of putting it in your audio track's FX bin at 50% wet).
 
For your action, routing the OUTPUT (not the 'send') to the Aux, you're essentially using the aux track as a bus.

Thanks for the info.  I tend to uses buses for 100% wet effects (like Reverb and Delay) where I want multiple tracks using the same instance.
 
I guess its just preference on where you want the tracks located visually in the console and track views.  I like submixes next to their instruments so I use Aux tracks for that.  I like my effects in the buses pane because so many different tracks are usually going to them (and often routed as sends from other buses.)

Interesting idea.  I hadn't thought of that - using your busses as FX tracks, separated in the Console view.
I can't think of any downsides to your setup, outside of terminology if you run into trouble (using Aux as traditional busses, and vice versa).
 
I like to keep the busses separate, summing up to the Master, and put the Aux/FX tracks in the Track Folders next to the instruments that feed them.