Using FX Chain presets

FX Chain presets can be used in track, clip and bus FX Racks. One or many FX Chain containers can reside in a single FX Rack, but you can not nest an FX Chain container inside other FX Chain containers.

Figure 380. To create a new FX Chain, drag an FX Chain preset from the Plug-in Browser’s Audio FX tab to an audio track or audio clip FX Rack.

Figure 381. Double-click an FX Chain container to open the FX Chain property page.

A. FX Chain container in FX Rack B. FX Chain property page

To create a new FX Chain container

1.	Right-click an FX Rack and select FX Chain on the pop-up menu.

A new FX Chain container is inserted and its property page appears.

2.	Insert the desired plug-ins in the FX Chain container by doing one of the following:

Right-click the open FX Chain container and select the desired plug-ins from the pop-up menu.

Drag audio plug-ins from the Browser’s PlugIns tab to an FX Chain to append to it. As you drag a plug-in over the container, it will open automatically, allowing you to drop in the plug-in at the desired position.

Note: An FX Chain can only be created for audio effects (not for MIDI effects or software instruments).

To edit an FX Chain property page

1.	Double-click the FX Chain container in an FX Rack to open the FX Chain property page.

2.	Do one of the following:

To add a new plug-in, right-click the FX Chain property page and select a plug-in from the pop-up menu. You can also drag plug-ins from the Browser.

To re-order plug-ins, drag the plug-ins to the desired position.

To edit an individual plug-in within an FX Chain property page, double-click the plug-in to open its property page.

To bypass an individual plug-in, click the small button to the left of the plug-in name.

To delete a plug-in, right-click the plug-in and select Delete on the pop-up menu.

Figure 382. FX Chain.

A. FX Chain container in FX Rack B. FX Chain property page C. Right-click to add a new plug-in

FX Chain property page controls

Figure 383. FX Chain controls.

A. Effects Chain name (double-click to edit) B. Bypass Effects Chain C. Input level D. Input meter E. Scroll plug-in list left F. Click button to bypass/un-bypass plug-in G. List of effects in chain (double-click to open plug-in; drag to reorder) H. Assignable rotary (right-click to assign) I. Assignable button (right-click to assign) J. Scroll plug-in list right K. Output level L. Output meter

The FX Chain property page contains the following controls:

FX Chain preset name. The name of the current FX Chain preset. Double-click to rename.

Global bypass. Bypass all plug-ins in the FX Chain.

Input level. Input level before the FX Chain. This parameter is automatable.

Input level meter. Measures the pre-FX Chain level.

Assignable rotaries. Up to 6 assignable rotaries allow you to control automatable plug-in parameters without having to open a plug-in's property page. For details, see Using assignable controls.

Assignable buttons. Up to 6 assignable buttons allow you to control automatable plug-in parameters without having to open a plug-in's property page. For details, see Using assignable controls.

Output level. Output level after the FX Chain, before next effect or FX Chain. This parameter is automatable.

Output level meter. Measures the post-FX Chain level.

List of plug-ins in FX Chain. List of all plug-ins that are included in the current FX Chain preset. The signal flows from left to right. Drag to reorder plug-ins, and right-click to add/remove plug-ins. You can bypass individual plug-ins by clicking the small bypass toggle to the left of the plug-in name.

To rename an FX Chain container

1.	Right-click the FX Chain container in an FX Rack and choose Rename on the pop-up menu.

2.	Type a new name and press ENTER.

To save an FX Chain preset

Do one of the following:

To save an FX Rack as an FX Chain preset, right-click any blank space in the FX Rack and choose Save FX Rack as FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu. Specify a preset name and location in the Save FX Chain Preset dialog box. All plug-ins in the FX Rack are consolidated into a single new FX Chain.

To save an FX Chain container as a new FX Chain preset, right-click the FX Chain container in an FX Rack and choose Save FX Rack as FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu. Specify a preset name and location in the Save FX Chain Preset dialog box.

Click the Browse Plug-ins button in the Browser, then drag the FX Chain container from the Track view to the Audio FX section in the Browser. The FX Chain is added to the FX Chain folder.

Note: FX Chain presets are stored as FX Chain Preset files (*.fxc). For track and bus FX Racks, the default name for the FX Chain preset is the track/bus name. For clip FX Racks, the default name is the clip name.

To load an FX Chain preset

Do one of the following:

Right-click an FX Rack and choose Load FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu. Select the desired FX Chain Preset file (*.fxc) in the Load FX Chain Preset dialog box and click Open.

From the PlugIns tab of the Browser, under Audio FX, expand the FX Chain branch and drag the preset to an FX Rack.

Note: You can automatically extract plug-ins when loading an FX Chain preset. To do so, hold down the SHIFT key while loading the preset. For more information about extracting plug-ins from an FX Chain container, see To extract plug-ins from an FX Chain container.

Caution: If you load a SONAR Artist/Steam Edition/Professional/Platinum project in an older version of SONAR, SONAR will report the FX Chain as a missing plug-in and the contents of the FX Chain will be unavailable. Resaving the project will permanently remove the FX Chain.

To delete an FX Chain container

Do one of the following:

To delete an entire FX Chain container, select the FX Chain container in the FX Rack and press the DELETE key.

To delete an entire FX Chain container, right-click the FX Chain container in an FX Rack and choose Delete on the pop-up menu.

To delete an individual plug-in within the FX Chain, double-click the FX Chain container to open the FX Chain bin, then select the plug-in and press the DELETE key.

To convert an FX Rack to an FX Chain container

Right-click the FX Rack and choose Convert FX Rack to FX Chain on the pop-up menu.

All plug-ins in the FX Rack are consolidated into a single new FX Chain.

To extract plug-ins from an FX Chain container

Right click the FX Chain and choose Extract FX Chain Plugins on the pop-up menu.

All plug-ins in the FX Chain are merged into the FX Rack and the FX Chain is deleted.

Note: You can automatically extract plug-ins when loading an FX Chain preset. To do so, hold down the SHIFT key while loading the preset.

To replace FX Rack contents with an FX Chain preset

Hold down the ALT key while you drag an FX Chain preset to an FX Rack. The FX Rack is cleared and replaced with the FX Chain container.

To replace the FX Rack content and automatically extract the plug-ins from the FX Chain preset, hold down ALT+SHIFT while you drag an FX Chain preset to an FX Rack.

To move plug-ins between FX Chain containers

1.	Open the FX Chain container that contains the plug-in you want to move to another FX Chain container.

2.	Hold down the SHIFT key and drag the plug-in to the target FX Chain container. If closed, the target FX Chain container will open automatically when you point to it during the drag operation.

You can drag individual plug-ins and effects chains between track and clip FX Racks.

Tip: To copy plug-ins instead of moving them, hold down the CTRL key while you drag the plug-in to another FX Rack.

To automate FX Chain plug-ins

Effects in an FX Chain can be automated just like other effects in an FX Rack. Parameter names for plug-ins that reside within an FX Chain container are listed in submenu's prefixed by the associated FX Chain name.

You can also use ACT to control the FX Chain’s input level, output level and assignable knobs and buttons. For details, see ACT.

For information about automating effects, see Automating effects.

To rename an FX Chain preset

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

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

3.	Select the FX Chain, then click the FX Chain name again and type a name.

 

See:

Effects chains

Using assignable controls

Customizing the FX Chain UI

FX Chain collections

Audio effects (audio plug-ins)