Difference between stereo bus and aux.

[MarkSound]

Hello!
Explain the difference between a stereo bus and an aux channel in a specific situation. What will be the differences if I output several tracks to a new stereo bus (which will then be sent to the master channel), and if I do the same with the aux channel (output all the tracks I need to the aux channel, and the aux itself to the master channel)?

Edited yesterday at 03:04 AM by MarkSound

[mettelus]

The main difference is that the Aux Track gives you the ability to record (and other track functionality). The Aux Tracks (and Patch Points) came into being for a few reasons, but the most noteworthy for me was that a synth with multiple oscillators that are not synchronized internally to each other can create a vastly different performance each pass from the same MIDI input. The Aux Tracks gave the ability to capture that performance as a wav file so you have a permanent copy of that specific run. There is also functionality embedded into Aux Tracks to prevent feedback loops, so unless you specifically need track functionality with something, busses are often preferred for FX processing.

[MarkSound]

1 hour ago, mettelus said:

The main difference is that the Aux Track gives you the ability to record (and other track functionality). The Aux Tracks (and Patch Points) came into being for a few reasons, but the most noteworthy for me was that a synth with multiple oscillators that are not synchronized internally to each other can create a vastly different performance each pass from the same MIDI input. The Aux Tracks gave the ability to capture that performance as a wav file so you have a permanent copy of that specific run. There is also functionality embedded into Aux Tracks to prevent feedback loops, so unless you specifically need track functionality with something, busses are often preferred for FX processing.

Thank you for your detailed answer.

[MarkSound]

If anyone can add to the post above, I would be very grateful! I'm a beginner and would appreciate any useful information.

[reginaldStjohn]

I always suggest going straight to the horses mouth.

http://legacy.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Mixing.13.html#1750199

[David Baay]

Some other differences:

- Input to an Aux track is determined by its Input assignment (a Patch Point) and which tracks/buses are outputting/sending to the assigned Patch Point.

- Input to a Bus is determined only by the Output/Send assignments of other tracks and buses (notwithstanding that both tracks and busses can get input from plugins in the FX bin).

- Aux tracks have a Phase controls that buses do not.

- Buses have Input Pan that Aux tracks do not (allowing you to alter panning ahead of the FX bin)

- [Input] Gain on Aux tracks can add up to 18dB, Input Gain on Buses can add only 6dB.

- Buses have a Waveform Preview function that can be toggled on/off, similar to the "confidence recording" trace shown on armed tracks during recording.

[Promidi]

An Aux track needs its input echo enabled to receive audio.  A bus does not have such an input echo. A bus always receives any audio routed to it.

This comes into play if you have some AUX tracks that will suddenly stop working when you inadvertently click the global input echo toggle in the Mix Module to disable all input echoes.  The AUX tracks stop working because those input echo are also toggled. You have to remembebr to re-enable the input echos of any Aux Tracks.

This is why I use buses instead of Aux track when I want to route multiple tracks to a single track.