How should you route a submix to Master Fader and then to hardware outputs?

How should you route a submix to Master Fader and then to hardware outputs?

• A. Route the submix bus directly to hardware outputs, bypassing Master Fader.
• B. Route the submix bus to a Master Fader; route Master Fader to an external effect return.
• C. Route the submix bus to a Master Fader; route Master Fader to the hardware outputs.
• D. Route the submix bus to a Master Fader; route Master Fader to a bus channel.

Answer: (C)

The submix should be routed into a Master Fader, and then from the Master Fader to the hardware outputs. The Master Fader is the final control point for the sum of those tracks, so sending the submix to it lets you apply global processing and set the overall level for the entire mix. After that, sending from the Master Fader to the hardware outputs delivers the final stereo (or mono) mix to your interface for monitoring or printing. Routing the submix directly to hardware outputs bypasses this central control, which isn’t ideal for managing the overall level of the mix. Routing the Master Fader to an external effect return would send the sum through an effect path rather than directly to the output, which changes the signal flow. Routing the Master Fader to another bus would add an extra stage and isn’t the typical final path to the hardware.

The submix should be routed into a Master Fader, and then from the Master Fader to the hardware outputs. The Master Fader is the final control point for the sum of those tracks, so sending the submix to it lets you apply global processing and set the overall level for the entire mix. After that, sending from the Master Fader to the hardware outputs delivers the final stereo (or mono) mix to your interface for monitoring or printing.

Routing the submix directly to hardware outputs bypasses this central control, which isn’t ideal for managing the overall level of the mix. Routing the Master Fader to an external effect return would send the sum through an effect path rather than directly to the output, which changes the signal flow. Routing the Master Fader to another bus would add an extra stage and isn’t the typical final path to the hardware.