Using real-time effects

You can use plug-in effects non-destructively, in real time (to apply effects offline, see Applying audio effects), from the Track view, Track Inspector and Console view. You can also hear your plug-in effects in real time on any live instruments you are recording—just make sure Input Monitoring is enabled (see Input monitoring). You can also insert effects directly on clips (see Effects on clips).

For example, suppose you want to add a reverb effect to an audio track containing a recorded violin solo. You could do it in two different ways:

Destructive. The digital audio data itself is modified. Although this may be exactly what you want, it does limit your options. If you want to modify the effect parameters slightly or to remove the effect and try a different effect, you must use the Undo command, or revert to a saved copy of the original data.

Non-destructive (real-time). The digital audio data in your track is not changed but simply altered on the fly during playback. This means you can experiment with effects parameters, bypass effects, or remove them entirely at any time. Since most effects require complex numeric calculations, real-time effects processing puts a heavy load on your computer’s CPU. If you use too many effects, the CPU will not be able to keep up and playback will sound choppy and disconnected.

You can also apply real-time audio effects to a submix in a bus. For example, rather than patching separate reverb effects in each of several guitar tracks, you can mix the guitar tracks together in a bus and apply a single reverb effect to the submix. This makes much more efficient use of CPU time. Patching effects on a bus also opens up new creative possibilities.

There are several reasons why you might want to apply effects offline (destructively):

If you want to apply more effects than your CPU can handle, applying some of the effects offline will reduce CPU usage during playback.

If you want to apply effects to an individual audio clip, rather than the whole track, it is simpler to do so using offline effects.

The File > Export > Audio command, allows you to apply real-time effects when you export, so you do not need to apply your effects destructively or use the Track view Tracks > Bounce to Track(s) command to prepare the tracks beforehand. For information about exporting audio, see Preparing audio for distribution.

All plug-in effects and soft synths have a Preset window you can use to save and recall your favorite settings for those plug-ins.

 

See:

Effects parameters

How to use real-time effects

Applying audio effects

Applying MIDI effects

Bypassing effects globally

Using the Plug-in Browser

Effects chains