The Benefits Of Setting Up Subgroups On A Mixer

Better mixes, faster with my 3-step guide to perfect EQ:

Setting Up Subgroups On A Mixer
Subgroups are one of the most chronically underused functions by beginners, maybe because they require a little bit of set-up on digital mixers.

You may think you can get by just fine without them but you’re missing out on a whole host of benefits if you’re not using them.

If you’ve ever been mixing front-of-house sound as well as sending audio to a stream and have not been satisfied then groups can help. Or if you’re mixing performers, and want to make a half-decent recording but end up with vocals and keyboards dominating the recording, again, they can be the solution

If you’re not using subgroups or want more ideas on how to use them, this video is for you.

In this video:
You’ll unlock a new tool to improve your workflow by knowing what subgroups are and how they differ from DCAs.

You’ll be able to put them into practice immediately by learning exactly when and why you might want to use subgroups.

Gain familiarity with the process of setting and assigning to groups through a tutorial on setting them up.

Links:
Parallel Compression

Mix templates for M/X32:

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Subgroups Vs. DCA groups
03:36 When to use Subgroups
06:43 Setting up groups on X32/ M32
12:17 Summary

[paczookeeper]

Great Explanation. I thoroughly enjoy your videos.

[schzztzrz]

On the M/X32 family mixers, you need to be really careful with parallels processing. Running audio through a subgroup with processing on it will add a few ms of latency, and when you mix that delayed signal back in with the send to the mains you'll get some comb filtering. If you want to do parallel, you need to use two subgroups and make sure they have all the same modules inserted. You need to run your track to two subgroups, one with compression and one without. But make sure both those subgroups have the compressor inserted, and just set one of them so it's doing nothing. This way both halves of the parallels signal will arrive at the master at the same time.

[RAILWAY_FILMS]

one of the more useful videos on this topic

[eikeboettger]

Hi, thanks for your video! But isn't it possible to put the subgroubs post fader? In that case you could use your channel faders for levels without using the 'sends on faders'-Button. This works fine when you want to avoid hard vocal compression on your monitors: You do a light compression in the channel and the hard compression in the vocal subgroub without anybody on stage noticing that.
Cheers!

[conspiracytherapist]

Oh, that’s why one of my mics came screaming through the PA even though the fader was down. I routed it, but did not turn off the send to the main. D’oh!

[ImOzify]

How are you sending signal to your subs specifically when using subgroups? Do you send individual channels to an aux fed sub/matrix? Or do you send your entire subgroups to the subs? I’ve also seen people send their entire stereo LR to a sub matrix. Just wondering how you approach it. Thank you

[oxygene]

Hi, Great Video; but on my X32 I have Bus 13/14 as FX; and 15/16 as Main L/R (to send it via AES50), Is there a way to get at least 14 Busses? maybe 3 stereo & 2 Mono subgroups and 6 Monitor sends (wedges)??
Thank you.

[noelbulls]

You don’t have to push the faders up when you set up a subgroup you just only on mute them.

[akin_falaiye]

Hi and thanks for all the awesome videos is there a way to get the preset you talked about for the m32

[YourHaloCreations]

Is there a way to send busses to matrices pre-EQ or pre-insert? On an X32