Misc Questions

[Carthago]

Hi everyone,

Some patches have a 2-IN in the FX Area instead of a FX-IN and the Output on the VA is selected on Bus. What is the difference between using a FX-IN or a 2-IN in the FX Area?

And by the way : Is it correct that the Poly Area was replaced with the FX-Area in the recent versions of the Modulars?

Thanks in adv.

Regards,

-Carthago

[mother misty]

Hi Carthago!

the difference between the 2 modules is the following...
2-IN in the FX Area: routes the audio from the audio inputs to the FX area
(something has to be connected to audio input 1,2,3 or 4)
FX-IN: routes the audio from the VA to the FX area

So use "2-In" if you want to process external audio and
use "FX in" if you want to process audio from the VA area

hope that helps...

[Rob]

In addition to the 'direct' connection from the VA area to the FX area by the FX-In module there is an alternative route, named the 'Buss'.

The G2 has four internal buss lines that are very similar to the buss lines you find on mixing desks. A buss line is sort of a rail that runs through both the VA and FX area's of all four slots. By using the buss settings on the input and output modules you can either add a signal to one of the four lines or tap it from one of these lines. When a signal is added to a buss line it will be automatically mixed with signals that are added to the buss line in another place.

The great advantage of these buss lines is that audio can be routed from everywhere to everywhere else within the G2. So, it can do what the FX-In module does, that is routing audio from the voices to the FX area. But it can do a lot more, e.g. route audio from the voices in one slot to the FX area in another slot. This last possibility is very handy when layering several slots to one multitimbral sound and then routing all voices from all slots to just one FX area in one slot where e.g. the reverb module is. This not only saves DSP power but there is another sonic reason. A reverb essentially places sounds in the same 'sonic space', like how different musicians would play in the same room. Just like you only need one room for a couple of musicians you only need one 'ambience reverb' for several instruments. The buss lines can help very much to do so. Of course, when you use a reverb as a special effect, like a gated reverb on a snare, it is a different matter.

With the buss lines you can even route audio back from the FX area to the VA area and create freaky feedback loops.

So, the reason why some people tend to use the buss lines instead of the FX-In module is that later they can easily route the audio from slot to slot to share effects on the sounds that come from more slots, before saving all slots as a performance. But you must be careful, otherwise your voices might end up in the wrong slots.

You should have a good look at the picture of the buss lines in the manual. And look at how the buss lines on a good mixing desk can be used. As busses are a powerful feature.