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John Nelson
This chapter introduced a brief, but interesting look at plugins and what they can do for a mix. Plugins take an otherwise dry and flat mix, and add a depth and dimension that would otherwise not be prevolent. Take Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" for example...that song would sound incredibly different if it was not for the "reverb" and "delay" coursing through the mix. Though recording techniques have changed, and we use, or a log of engineers use, audio plugins to accomplish this added dimension. Whereas I know some engineers that strive to use as few as possible plugins - aside from EQ and Compression, there are many that view them as yet another tool in their proverbial mixing tool-box to enhance the listening experience. Additionally, there was a clear distinction made between inserts and sends, and how and why one would use them. I have found that you can accomplish much of the same effect while using the insert alone, and manipulating the "mix" amount - yet there is something about using the Aux Sends that seem to add a greater sense of control to the mix...that a lilttle extra variety. Undoubtedly, I still have much to learn, but this was a good exercise in going over the basics of plugins.
