Question on Routing for Analog Summing

Hi all,
 
I'm trying to get Sonar to work in an analog summing situation but I've run into a bit of a problem. I have 8 stereo buses set up (vocals, bass, guitars, synths, etc.) and all 16 channels of these go out to my Midas Venice 320. No problem there. I have also set up a track to get the audio from the Midas (inputs a7/8). This all works GREAT. 
 
except...
 
I cannot solo a track. Because the audio comes back on a track if you solo any other track you mute the return of the console. But I can't assign an in to a buss, so I'm stumped.
 
How can I get the return from the Midas without affecting the solo behavior while editing other tracks?

Hi James, I do (more-or-less) the same thing. You just need to solo-safe your return track. Hold down shift and click the solo button on the return track and you should be good to go.
 
Dean
 
EDIT - Sonar actually calls it "Solo Override"

bitman
Yeah.
 
I ran a balanced resistive stem summer for awhile until the newness (pita) ran out.
Like mute and solo and fast bounce loss.
 
You'll be back in the box with the console emulator where you belong soon enough.

Or go back to Ableton... ;)
 
Seriously though - I'm not certain yet about analog summing but I am enjoying the summing process. I've got 16 tracks out to the Midas and then the Midas goes to a pair of Stam Audio Neve Pre-Amps (1073MPA with the Sowter Transformers). I have a Stam Audio SSL G bus clone on order as well.
 
I've always wanted to try a hybrid system and I'm committed to fully trying before backing out. The Midas gives me a bunch of pre-amps as well as let me do some helpful routing such as:
 
1. Record guitar direct. Right now I play through a Fractal Axe FX that records SPDIF through one of my Apollos. The first thing my guitar hits is a VHT Valvulator in which I put a 12AT7. The Valvulator has two outs so one goes to a Peterson Tuner > Skreddy Top Fuel and then into the Axe. The other I send to the Midas which records into one of the Apollo ins so I always have a dry guitar signal.
 
2. I have a cool shimmer effect in the Fractal - think U2s the Edge. I control it with a foot pedal. The problem is when I record sometimes I have too much shimmer or not enough. I'm setting up the Fractal so that it sends the Shimmer signal out the FX loop, through the Midas, and into the Apollo. That way, the shimmer is recorded on it's own track. I suppose I could just run the FX loop straight to the Apollo, but where's the fun in that? :)
 
3. My original EP3 Echoplex is on a Midas channel. This unit has a notorious volume drop so I have it on an insert on a channel and the channel is fed by, and returns to - my patch bay. That way, I can patch in the Midas channel to get the Echoplex and I can use the channel to shape the tone and create unity gain.
 
4. My two Atomic FRFR monitors are set up on the Midas Group3/4 outs so anything that travels through the Midas can be sent to those big speakers. I send the Apollo 1/2 to a Midas stereo channel so I can easily send anything from the PC to the Atomics.
 
5. I run my turntable through a stereo channel on the Midas so I can listen on the Atomics and I can control the volume with the slider and of course EQ using the Midas.
 
6. If nothing else, I get a LOT of good preamps in the Midas.
 
So I figure even if I give up analog summing, the Midas is helpful. The Neve preamps are available for tracking whenever I want, so if I don't use them in summing they are still a good purchase. If I abandon summing, the one thing that may be unnecessary is the Apollo Silverface, but it's hard to argue with having 16 in/out converters around.
 
I like to play with toys! :)

This seems obvious so there must be a reason why you haven't done it, but it seems to me you have a huge control surface standing by - why not simply solo on the Venice?

Fair enough, worth a shot! :)

It might be an idea to leave 1 or 2 channels free for just the stereo mix. 
 
I.e. Rather than use all of the allocated busses, keep all your final group summing fed to to last stereo bus, so it's just a case of soloing the one bus. Rather than having to bypass each one everytime. This will make your mix balance and monoaural checks quicker too.
 

You can get dedicated bus controllers or monitor mix matrices. Unless you already own one, I'm not sure what to suggest. I would try to decide what is your summing point and take it from there. It sounds like your taking a long trip for a shortcut to me. There's always an easier way.
 
For example, if I was using 12 track/4 bus mixer I would always keep in mind my main output will be my summing point. So in  a way, you could split that to a monitor control which allows you hear your mix through different speakers without sending multiple group sends. If that makes sense.