The Andrew Scheps Rear Bus Technique

[@codycreepcore]

Been doing this for a bit, but had no idea it was called the Rear Bus technique. Cool

[@BetterMixes]

There are probably other names that other people have given it, I just originally heard about it from Andrew Sheps, and that's what he calls it. But yeah, it's definitely a cool trick!

[@newell2339]

Had not heard of this method until someone mentioned it in the "Cakewalk by Bandlab talk" Facebook group. Nice video.

[@BetterMixes]

Yeah, it's a cool little technique! Thanks for watching!

[@lalocura1828]

Maybe a fast release and fast attack to get it to be driven more by the vocal and pumped back allowing dynamics to pull back in fast with fast release when the vocals are unpresent

[@BetterMixes]

Yeah, that would be a good idea! It's worth noting that on an 1176, even the slowest attack setting is still pretty darn fast as compared to a lot of other compressors, but maybe even faster would work even better!

[@MartinvonBargen]

Enjoyed watching that, thanks

[@BetterMixes]

I'm happy to help! Thanks for checking it out!

[@AlexReidStudios]

One question: Scheps mentions he uses dual mono processing... how do you do that with plugins? I don't know if that's on the plugin or on the DAW (I don't have protools).

[@BetterMixes]

Hey! So I think in most DAWs, that's on the DAW. In Pro Tools, for instance, when you choose a plugin, it'll give you the option of multichannel (stereo) or multi mono (dual mono). Some plugins will also have this option built in (MJUC by Klanghelm comes to mind), but a lot don't. What DAW are you working in?

[@AlexReidStudios]

@@BetterMixes Yeah I figured it out for FL (I used patcher to divide the signal). But recently I changed to Studio One and you can route the tracks internally. Thanks for the answer tho!

[@BetterMixes]

@@AlexReidStudios Awsome! I'm glad you got that sorted out.

[@adisatrio3871]

Dear Mike, can you help me clear up my confusion about rear bus and how to implement it on my mixer setup? So basically my setup is like this: Master (final output)

[@BetterMixes]

Hey! Let's see if we can figure this out for you. So in your setup, you'd want to send your low bus, music bus, sfx bus, vocal bus, bgv bus, and fx bus to the rear bus (as well as your mixbus). Without the compressor turned on on the rear bus, you want it to be your mix without drums, so you'd want any processing you have on your other busses to make it's way to the rear bus. From there, you'll send the rear bus (and your mix bus) to your master. I hope that helps!

[@adisatrio3871]

@@BetterMixes so the rear bus is a different stream of signal flow that goes to master than the mix bus? Or it goes to the mix bus first to then get processed with mixbus processing as well? cuz I've asked 3 other content creator on youtube and they provide different end route. i'm so confused.

[@2pandaemonium2]

Hey! The first thing that came into my mind was, how is it possible that when the vocals kick in the other instruments will be lower in vol? Isn’t the purpose of a compressor to trim the dynamics, make the lower parts louder and vice versa?

[@BetterMixes]

The key is that it's in parallel. Since the vocals are the loudest thing in the parallel chain, they kinda "control" the compression. It's really a combination of everything, but since the vocals are louder, when they kick in, the compressor really clamps down, turning everything (including the vocals) down. But then when we mix this in with the regular mix bus, it has the effect of squashing the guitars and bass and whatever else just a little bit, opening up some extra room for the vocals. Let me know if that was a clearer explanation!

[@NessunDorma732]

Cool stuff man thanks

[@BetterMixes]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@tarnishedknite]

This is an interesting mix technique, definitely going to try it, thanks for this.

[@BetterMixes]

Happy to help! Let me know how it works for you once you try it!

[@DrDTsoukas]

Do you know if it is true that scheps is using a mono dual compressor for rear parallel and not a stereo compressor? Could you confirm and if yes revise? Thank you very much

[@BetterMixes]

I believe he usually does do multi-mono. I didn't here because the compressor I wanted to use doesn't support multi mono, and I personally prefer stereo compressors on my mix bus in most cases. But YOU should try both and see which YOU like! Set up 2 versions of the rear bus channel with identical plugins and settings except have one as multi-mono and one as stereo. Close your eyes and flip back and forth to decide what works for you. I'm planning on making a video all about the differences between multi-mono and stereo, but in the case of a mix bus compressor, which works best depends on both the song/arrangement and personal preference. If I had a very balanced mix left vs right, multi mono might help to make it a little wider. If I had a song where there are some guitars on one side and less going on on the other side during a verse or something, stereo might work better so it won't shift the vocal out the center. But ultimately, the point is that either will work for this technique. The concept and the routing are much much more important than whether you use a stereo or multi-mono plugin.

[@Joshuab-my7ub]

I recently got Andrew’s amazing template and have been learning this technique. What confuses me is that it seems like the vocals aren’t sent to the rear bus and neither are backing vocals. Am I missing something? I thought only the drums get routed to mix bus? Please help

[@BetterMixes]

Hmm, that's strange! Yeah, my understanding is that the vocals going to the rear bus is key to this technique. Maybe he's modified this technique more recently and is trying to accomplish something different with it now days? That's my best guess.

[@STARDOG]

great

[@BetterMixes]

Thanks for watching!

[@PuRe_AdDicT]

Dive on in

[@BobbyWashingtonvlog]

Why not rear buss the drums as well?

[@BetterMixes]

By not including the drums, the vocals are the loudest thing and therefore are the main thing that drives the compression. With the drums in, it would most likely be the kick and snare that would really be controlling the compression, so you wouldn't get the effect of the guitars and other instruments ducking out of the way of the vocal.

[@15bleach51]

What is attack time?

[@FredDeMassiveAlambic]

isn't it easier to create a group will all the instruments (not drums) where you set a compressor side-chained to the vocals ? You can even put this at the end of your mix since you're not over-compressing the vocals

[@BetterMixes]

You can absolutley do that! In fact, I think I have a video on my channel showing that technique, but I'm not positive. But yeah, that's a much "cleaner" sounding way of accomplishing more or less the same thing, but this way has a cool sound of it's own as well.

[@needshelp9857]

There’s a difference.. side chain compression causes a pumping whether it’s heavy or light where as this technique causes a different type of “swelling” or “pumping” because everything’s already in the mix already and when the vocal reduces the rest of the track it’s not really disappearing because it’s only being reduced in the rear bus, but everything remains in the main mix the same as it was, just the vocal gets louder because it’s being played twice and the second vocals in the rear buss is just reducing the extra instruments to make room for the vocal.

[@needshelp9857]

Basically in simpler terms- with side chain compression there is only one set of everything else and it’s getting reduced when the vocal comes in, and basically kind of disappears a bit during the vocal. In this technique there is two mixes going at the same time and only the instruments in the second mix are being reduced, allowing the original balance to remain fully intact.

[@FredDeMassiveAlambic]

@@needshelp9857 this compressor has a mix knob

[@cleverdood]

I tried this, couldn't notice a difference at all...assuming user error! I use Vocal Rider and buss out all my instruments to an aux track. Then I sidechain the vocal rider to that buss and it auto-magically fits the vocals into the mix. I think that's the same desired effect?

[@BetterMixes]

Sorry for the slow response! I missed this comment. But anyway, your method isn't doing the exact same thing, but it's ultimately another way of accomplishing the same goal! The rear bus technique is basically turning down the instruments when the vocals are there, and using the vocal rider, it will turn up the vocals when the instruments are getting in the way. But like I said, at the end of the day, both methods are a way to make sure your vocals are heard, so whatever works for you!

[@roeilevi4594]

if the rear buss isnt going to the mix buss how do i print it in the mix?

[@BetterMixes]

It's still going to my master fader or main output, in this case, so when I print the main output, it get's printed with everything else!

[@roeilevi4594]

@@BetterMixes oh ok i usually print the mix buss

[@rickhorvath]

Would like to hear this with a more open mix. This entire thing is over compressed

[@BetterMixes]

Well, the best way to hear it would be to try it in one of your own mixes. That's the only real way to know if something will work for you.

[@byronwade1204]

I think you need a major de-esser on your talking voice. I'm going to try to get through this. I'm at :50 sec and taking a breather. Appreciate the free advice though. OK, here goes..........lol

[@BigMuff75]

It sounds terrible, couldn't watch it longer than 30 secs.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Where is your "cheat sheet"?

[@BetterMixes]

I'm pretty sure it's now under the "free lessons" tab on my website.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

@@BetterMixes i'll look for that on desktop, thank you. I don't recall seeing it on the mobile site.

[@PalkoChris]

Or just sidechain the vocals to the 2bus compressor. Less processing power. Same outcome.

[@BetterMixes]

Not exactly. The biggest difference would be that with the setup you mentioned, the drums would be compressed as well. With Andrew's technique, the drums are completely untouched (or rather, they're only being compressed by the main bus compressor, not the vocal-centric one). But, you could achieve something similar with your method (assuming your 2bus compressor has a mix knob since this is in parallel), but still not the same. It'd be worth trying both and seeing what you like better! You might be surprised. And as for processing power, this is using one extra 1176 plugin, so obviously it depends on which plugin you're using, but all the 1176 plugins I own have a pretty much negligible CPU hit, so it really doesn't make any difference there.

[@AudiophoolDeBunkHunter]

Damn ... Knowing that technique, Shit in Shit Out.. and it sounds absolutely shitty ! No dynamic at all ..

[@BetterMixes]

🥱 Well good thing the band and their fans love it 🙂