I am just building a new template that I hope I can use for a variety of electronic genres I make, primarily electro/bass house, dubstep and drum & bass. I have my drum racks set up (yes using Ableton) and my empty synth slots etc but am wondering what to do with my effects.

I have always tended to not put any effects on the instrument channels, with the exception of maybe an EQ, and route everything into bus groups. I then apply the effects mostly to the groups, running them all into a pre-master bus to glue them all into the same space before sending to the master.

Anybody got any good solid bus effects or master effects chains that they use and can recommend?

 

that is still a wide range of plugins, before this topic becomes another name calling round.

it is better if you explain in detail what you are trying to achieve.

 

right, it really depends
on electronic samples, grooves I ve noticed that compression is often not necessary
sometims it just ruin it all, when those samples are already processed (most of the times)
eq is always necessary as buss mixing, limiting etc
recorded real instruments need more work than samples

generally I like eq comp limiter eq
sometimes some plug wouldn t be necessary, like the limiter
is use pre comp negative eq and post comp tone control, enhancing freqs
so that the comp wouldn t become frequencies dependant, unwanted portions of the signal are less compressed
and the mid highs wouldn t get too harshy or gain artifacts due to the compression
if you d try on a whole mix you d notice the difference
On real drums the SSL channel is a good compromise: just 1 plug, with all you need
maybe on the snares I would go for eq 1176LN eq

On the Buss eq limiter eq, some transient shaper, some widener like Waves S1, analysis plugs
sometimes some plug is not necessaty

On the master eq, multiband comp, comp, eq, mid side or stereo widener plugs, zero out limiter, analysis plugs

All the FX (pitch, delay, reverbs) on the Auxes, send return
Overdrive and distortions of course in the channel strip

then... About what plug... it depends on what you like, your workflow, if you like vintage emulations, colored comps, analog saturation or more modern plugs.

 

Last edited: Jan 25, 2016

more here:

https://audiosex.pro/threads/all-kind-of-rock-mix-and-master-tutorial.22958/

that s not meant for electronic music, but all those principles and examples may apply to any mix
the frequencies may change, the compression technique too, I don t talk kick bass side chain as istance...
but... maybe it will be useful