Anderton Collection Sizzle Bus FX Chain

Figure 61. Sizzle Bus.

The Sizzle Bus FX Chain can impart a subtle, but important, dimension to a mix that’s similar to how the original “exciter” hardware circuits work. The Sizzle Bus uses a high-pass filter to eliminate all but the highest frequencies, which are then distorted to create artificial harmonics above the natural harmonics. Although superficially it resembles boosting the treble, the Sizzle Bus adds more of a “sparkle,” particularly to acoustic instruments and electric instruments that may sound a little dull compared to the electronic instruments. By setting up a “sizzle” bus, you can send signals from duller-sounding tracks as needed to bring them more into line with the brighter tracks. Keep the bus fader low, because it doesn’t take much to create the desired effect.

Sizzle Bus contains the following controls:

HF Cutoff. Sets the high frequency cutoff from about 8.6 kHz to 17 kHz.

Sizzle. Sets the aggressiveness of the distortion.

Delay 0-2 ms. Delays the sizzle signal from 0 to 2 ms. Longer delays can give more depth.

Width. Varies the stereo placement from mono (counter-clockwise) to stereo (clockwise).

To use the Sizzle Bus FX Chain

1.	Insert a new stereo bus and name it Sizzle. Keep the bus’ Volume control low.

2.	In the Browser, click the PlugIns button to show the Plug-in Browser.

3.	Under Audio FX, expand the FX Chain branch.

4.	Click Anderton Collection > Processors, then drag the Sizzle Bus (Bus FX) preset to the Sizzle bus’ FX Rack.

5.	On any track you want to process with the Sizzle Bus (Bus FX) FX Chain, insert a new Send control and assign it to the Sizzle bus.

6.	Adjust the track’s Send Level control to taste.

7.

Adjust the Sizzle Bus (Bus FX) FX Chain controls to taste. Typical settings are about 1/3 of the way up for the HF Cutoff, Sizzle full up (but you can dial back for more delicate sounds), Delay 0-2 ms set for the best overall effect, and Width adjusted as desired. Typically, you will want stereo with a stereo source, but if you make the imaging more mono, you can usually add a bit more sizzle.

 

See:

Routing and mixing digital audio

To create a bus send in a track

Stereo buses

Insert Send Assistant

Using FX Chain presets

Effects chains

FX Chain module

New features