Insert VS. Auxiliary audio processing

Audio processing is an essential part of all almost all music. Bar the old acoustic guitar around the campfire, it’s used in almost every aspect of music to enhance the listening experience for the audience. Audio processing hardware, used with mixing desks, outside of the standard channel strip effects are utilised in one of two methods; Insert or Auxiliary effect. These two statements effectively describe the placement of the effect in the signal chain. Insert effects are applied directly to a channels signal pre-fader whereas auxiliary effects utilise a split signal returned to a different channel to allow signals to be blended together.  As to what effect should be placed where it varies hugely on the desired outcome of the effect but as a rule of thumb EQ’s and dynamics processors such as compressors, limiters and gates are the main uses for insert effects in a live scenario. Auxiliary sends may be used for effects like reverb, delays and harmonisers (essentially any effect you wish to have a wet/dry control for. Auxiliary’s also send and return busses to allow multiple channels to feed signal through effects.