Simplify your mix with routing

mixing Doubling tracks is a well known technique in recording and mixing. Sending tracks to the same bus and grouping them is as well. Doubling vocal tracks for instance can make a source sound thicker and more present in the mix.

By singing the same lines or playing the same chords over each other you get subtle differences that enhance the sound.

But moving multiple faders at a time can be tiresome, when you have the perfect balance.

When you have these types of tracks, two or more that are supposedly identical it can be good to process them together.

These tracks have minor differences that sound good together, but it's all about making it easier on the mixing process.

And when you are mixing multiple tracks with about the same processors, it can be a bit tiring and repetitive.

Luckily, if you are familiar with sending tracks in your DAW, then you can easily apply the same process but using the outputs of the tracks. Then you can use the same processors on multiple tracks and collectively treat them as one track.

An easy way to mix two overdubs together is sending their outputs to an aux bus or track and then process them together from there, like shown in the screenshot below.

Take the outputs of your tracks and route them to an internal bus.
Then make a new audio track and make the input of that audio track the same bus as the outputs of the former ones.
Now you have two(or more) different tracks sounding in the same bus, making it easy to use only one fader and one channel strip.
This is different than sending them to a bus because you are essentially only making the track sound from the bus but not a combination of a track and bus like you do with reverb or delay sends.

Instant usability!

So if you route say, the output of two guitar tracks to a bus, like I have shown in the diagram, you have them sounding in the same track, making it easier to process with insert effects like compressors and EQ.

And remember, it's not limited to only a couple of tracks. You can send whole drum kits to one group and manipulate them easily with one fader.

It’s just one of those things to make mixing simpler. Although you can have loads and loads of tracks, tips like this make mixing all the more easier and intuitive, leaving out the repetitive part and making room for creativity.

For something different than routing, try more tips on the mixing page

For some ideas on how to process your routed tracks, click here