funkyceltic
Verified buyer
12/01/25
Science of Sound
Very useful information, great instructor.
Science of Sound: Bus Processing (FaderPro)
Everything Music Producers Need To Know About Bus Processing
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Jono Buchanan
Educator
—
Genres
About this course
Jono Buchanan is back with another installment of the FaderPro Science of Sound series, and this time, he’s lifting the lid on bus processing. In it, he shares the key concepts behind the process that can be applied to any style of music in any DAW.
With an expansive back-catalog of FaderPro courses, including seven Science of Sound courses, who better than seasoned studio master Jono Buchanan to deliver this complete course on Bus Processing? Jono is a certified Logic Pro tutor, and his years of experience producing, composing, writing about, and teaching music production means he can convey key information about the overall production process effortlessly.
The course contains over three and a half hours of content on bus processing and general mixing practice, split over 23 easily digestible chapters that cover a host of processes that are sure to elevate your mixdowns. Within the course, Jono shows us his mix project setup, key signal routing approaches, and how and why to set up mix templates. He also demonstrates techniques that include bus EQing, bus compression, bus saturation and even looks at mastering for a range of musical styles.
Being the Logic Pro expert that he is, Jono delivers this course within Logic. Where relevant, though, he makes reference to how other DAWs handle certain processes, and every approach taught in the course is applicable to any DAW. He also dips into his plugin folder for a few select techniques, using some of his choice products from the likes of Universal Audio, FabFilter, SSL, iZotope, and Soundtheory. Jono is careful to explain how and why he uses each plugin in this course, so you can replicate the effect they’re having with whichever plugins you have access to.
This course is part of the Science of Sound series, which goes deeper into important music production topics that you'll use repeatedly in your projects. Understanding the fundamentals behind concepts like delay, reverb, equalization, compression, and how we, as engineers and listeners, perceive sound will allow you to approach your productions with greater confidence, purpose, and know-how.
No Ph.D. is needed; our awesome educators explain the science-y parts in a way anyone can understand!
With an expansive back-catalog of FaderPro courses, including seven Science of Sound courses, who better than seasoned studio master Jono Buchanan to deliver this complete course on Bus Processing? Jono is a certified Logic Pro tutor, and his years of experience producing, composing, writing about, and teaching music production means he can convey key information about the overall production process effortlessly.
The course contains over three and a half hours of content on bus processing and general mixing practice, split over 23 easily digestible chapters that cover a host of processes that are sure to elevate your mixdowns. Within the course, Jono shows us his mix project setup, key signal routing approaches, and how and why to set up mix templates. He also demonstrates techniques that include bus EQing, bus compression, bus saturation and even looks at mastering for a range of musical styles.
Being the Logic Pro expert that he is, Jono delivers this course within Logic. Where relevant, though, he makes reference to how other DAWs handle certain processes, and every approach taught in the course is applicable to any DAW. He also dips into his plugin folder for a few select techniques, using some of his choice products from the likes of Universal Audio, FabFilter, SSL, iZotope, and Soundtheory. Jono is careful to explain how and why he uses each plugin in this course, so you can replicate the effect they’re having with whichever plugins you have access to.
This course is part of the Science of Sound series, which goes deeper into important music production topics that you'll use repeatedly in your projects. Understanding the fundamentals behind concepts like delay, reverb, equalization, compression, and how we, as engineers and listeners, perceive sound will allow you to approach your productions with greater confidence, purpose, and know-how.
No Ph.D. is needed; our awesome educators explain the science-y parts in a way anyone can understand!
What you'll learn
- Apply bus compression to create cohesion and 'glue' in mixes
- Use bus EQ to shape entire instrument groups
- Create stems for remixers, mastering engineers, and collaborators
- Control stereo width on specific instrument buses
- Configure output channel processing for final mix maximization
Release date: 12/15/2023 • 3h 29m runtime
Sample lessons
Bus Commpression: Backing Vocals
Demonstration
Mid/Side Compression
Demonstration
Drums Overheads
Demonstration
Mastering Bus
Demonstration
What's included
24 lessons
Science of Sound: Bus Processing
I'm Jono Buchanan, and welcome to FaderPro's Science of Sound course on bus processing. Have you ever wondered how to get that cohesive, glued sound within your mixes? This course is designed to help you achieve just that by recognizing that sounds often work well when grouped together.
For example, the approach we take with drums, considering compression, EQ, or spatial aspects, might differ from how we treat vocals, synths, or basses. In this course, we will harness the power of each instrument group, gradually adding sophistication to our mixes.
We will explore various aspects of stereo buses, including setting up an auxiliary stereo bus, bus compression, EQ, reverb, and adding stereo width. We'll also focus on the final ultimate stereo output bus, learning to configure an output channel solution that maximizes mixes at the final stage.
The power of stereo bussing is applicable across musical genres. The techniques you'll learn are versatile, ensuring that your mixes are ready to take the next step in their musical journey. So join me to unlock the full potential of stereo bus processing.
For example, the approach we take with drums, considering compression, EQ, or spatial aspects, might differ from how we treat vocals, synths, or basses. In this course, we will harness the power of each instrument group, gradually adding sophistication to our mixes.
We will explore various aspects of stereo buses, including setting up an auxiliary stereo bus, bus compression, EQ, reverb, and adding stereo width. We'll also focus on the final ultimate stereo output bus, learning to configure an output channel solution that maximizes mixes at the final stage.
The power of stereo bussing is applicable across musical genres. The techniques you'll learn are versatile, ensuring that your mixes are ready to take the next step in their musical journey. So join me to unlock the full potential of stereo bus processing.
Science of Sound: Bus Processing
In this lesson, we will explore the intricacies of mixing music, focusing on the integration and interaction of various sounds in a mix. We'll dive into understanding not just volume balance, but also the stereo spectrum (left to right), the frequency spectrum (sub-bass to super treble), and the spatial aspect (front to back) of mixing. The course will guide you through handling mixing on a track-by-track basis during the writing and production stages, using plugins for EQ and compression on individual tracks.
As we transition to the final stages of production, the lesson emphasizes the importance of grouping tracks in your mix. We'll explore how elements like live drums are not just individual instruments but part of a collective sound that requires group processing. This concept extends to grouping similar sounds like backing vocals or synths, allowing for more efficient and cohesive processing.
A key focus will be on the use of stereo auxiliary buses. You'll learn how these buses act as summing points for multiple tracks, enabling you to adjust overall mix elements like volume, tone, and dynamics across grouped tracks. We'll discuss how utilizing a stereo bus for shared effects like reverb not only creates a unified spatial feel in your mix but also reduces CPU load.
Moreover, the course will cover practical examples, like grouping drum tracks for combined dynamics control and applying bus compression to add punch and power to specific instrument groups. You'll understand the historical significance and application of famous stereo bus processors, such as the SSL G Bus compressor, in contemporary mixing scenarios.
This lesson is ideal for anyone looking to refine their mixing skills, understand group processing, and effectively use stereo buses to enhance their musical projects.
As we transition to the final stages of production, the lesson emphasizes the importance of grouping tracks in your mix. We'll explore how elements like live drums are not just individual instruments but part of a collective sound that requires group processing. This concept extends to grouping similar sounds like backing vocals or synths, allowing for more efficient and cohesive processing.
A key focus will be on the use of stereo auxiliary buses. You'll learn how these buses act as summing points for multiple tracks, enabling you to adjust overall mix elements like volume, tone, and dynamics across grouped tracks. We'll discuss how utilizing a stereo bus for shared effects like reverb not only creates a unified spatial feel in your mix but also reduces CPU load.
Moreover, the course will cover practical examples, like grouping drum tracks for combined dynamics control and applying bus compression to add punch and power to specific instrument groups. You'll understand the historical significance and application of famous stereo bus processors, such as the SSL G Bus compressor, in contemporary mixing scenarios.
This lesson is ideal for anyone looking to refine their mixing skills, understand group processing, and effectively use stereo buses to enhance their musical projects.
Making an Aux
In this lesson, we will explore bus processing techniques applicable across various musical genres, focusing on enhancing a mix through group processing of sounds. We'll begin by examining a pop dance record, illustrating how bus processing can elevate a mix that's already shaping up well. Additionally, we'll analyze these techniques in a different musical context, emphasizing their versatility in applications ranging from music for picture to dance, pop, and other genres.
We will listen to a track to understand its verse and chorus structure, providing a practical context for our learning. The track, created in a Logic live loop session with an added top line and rearranged parts, presents a classic song structure, albeit in an abridged form with one verse and one chorus. This serves as a foundation for discussing the transition from individual track mixing to more comprehensive bus processing.
Throughout the course, we will delve into what bus processing entails and how it can significantly improve a mix by collectively treating groups of sounds rather than processing each track separately. This approach not only streamlines the mixing process but also ensures a more cohesive and unified sound across the entire mix. By the end of this lesson, you will have a clearer understanding of bus processing techniques and how to apply them effectively in your music production, regardless of the genre you work in.
We will listen to a track to understand its verse and chorus structure, providing a practical context for our learning. The track, created in a Logic live loop session with an added top line and rearranged parts, presents a classic song structure, albeit in an abridged form with one verse and one chorus. This serves as a foundation for discussing the transition from individual track mixing to more comprehensive bus processing.
Throughout the course, we will delve into what bus processing entails and how it can significantly improve a mix by collectively treating groups of sounds rather than processing each track separately. This approach not only streamlines the mixing process but also ensures a more cohesive and unified sound across the entire mix. By the end of this lesson, you will have a clearer understanding of bus processing techniques and how to apply them effectively in your music production, regardless of the genre you work in.
Do I Still Have Track Control
In this lesson, we delve into the flexibility and functionality of auxiliary buses in a music mix, particularly focusing on their application in drum mixing. We address a common misconception regarding auxiliary buses: that creating an auxiliary bus for a group of sounds, such as drums, restricts access to their individual components. Contrary to this belief, we demonstrate that even after routing drum sounds through an auxiliary bus, individual tracks like the kick drum remain fully accessible for separate adjustments.
We explore how to solo and adjust individual drum tracks, such as the kick or snares, within the context of an auxiliary bus. This includes making changes to each track's volume and accessing its channel strip of plugins for specific modifications. Furthermore, we highlight the capability to send these individual drum sounds to other auxiliary buses, emphasizing the importance of careful management to avoid complexity.
This lesson underscores the dual advantage of auxiliary buses: while they allow for collective processing of grouped sounds, they also maintain the flexibility to tweak individual elements within that group. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to effectively utilize auxiliary buses in your mix, balancing both group and individual sound treatments to achieve a cohesive and dynamic mix.
We explore how to solo and adjust individual drum tracks, such as the kick or snares, within the context of an auxiliary bus. This includes making changes to each track's volume and accessing its channel strip of plugins for specific modifications. Furthermore, we highlight the capability to send these individual drum sounds to other auxiliary buses, emphasizing the importance of careful management to avoid complexity.
This lesson underscores the dual advantage of auxiliary buses: while they allow for collective processing of grouped sounds, they also maintain the flexibility to tweak individual elements within that group. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to effectively utilize auxiliary buses in your mix, balancing both group and individual sound treatments to achieve a cohesive and dynamic mix.
Bus EQ: Backing Vocals
In this lesson, we focus on the efficient use of auxiliary groups for vocal processing in a mix. By employing this technique, we can apply a single set of plugins to multiple vocal tracks, rather than duplicating plugins across each individual track. This approach not only streamlines the mixing process but also ensures consistency in the treatment of the vocals.
We begin by isolating the vocal tracks in the chorus of a song. The main lead vocal, highlighted in orange, already has an effects chain applied. However, the harmony tracks, located lower down, are yet to be processed and are currently dry. We listen to the combination of these tracks to understand how they blend together in the mix. Interestingly, the reverb and delay effects on the lead vocal create an auditory illusion that the backing vocals are also treated with effects.
To demonstrate the true nature of the backing vocals, we isolate and listen to these harmony tracks on their own. This allows us to hear the raw, unprocessed state of the harmonies, highlighting the necessity of applying effects to them for a cohesive vocal blend in the mix.
By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to utilize an auxiliary bus effectively for group processing of vocals, allowing for a unified and polished vocal mix. This technique is key to efficient workflow and consistency in sound treatment, especially when dealing with multiple vocal layers in a music production.
We begin by isolating the vocal tracks in the chorus of a song. The main lead vocal, highlighted in orange, already has an effects chain applied. However, the harmony tracks, located lower down, are yet to be processed and are currently dry. We listen to the combination of these tracks to understand how they blend together in the mix. Interestingly, the reverb and delay effects on the lead vocal create an auditory illusion that the backing vocals are also treated with effects.
To demonstrate the true nature of the backing vocals, we isolate and listen to these harmony tracks on their own. This allows us to hear the raw, unprocessed state of the harmonies, highlighting the necessity of applying effects to them for a cohesive vocal blend in the mix.
By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to utilize an auxiliary bus effectively for group processing of vocals, allowing for a unified and polished vocal mix. This technique is key to efficient workflow and consistency in sound treatment, especially when dealing with multiple vocal layers in a music production.
Synth Bus EQ
In this lesson, we will explore the use of bus EQ in a tech house music context. We start by examining a specific section of a tech house track, focusing particularly on the harmonic elements behind the vocal sections, beats, and synths. The goal is to enhance the track's energy and excitement, especially in the pad sounds.
By isolating and listening to two key tracks, both color-coded in green for easy identification, we assess their current sound. We aim to add a new dimension to these sounds, particularly the main pad sound, which, while already contributing significantly to the track, could be made more dynamic and vibrant.
To achieve this, we'll create a track stack or group, essentially forming an auxiliary bus. This approach will enable us to apply collective EQ enhancements to these tracks, enhancing their presence and impact within the mix. By the end of this lesson, you will gain insights into using bus EQ to elevate the sound quality and overall excitement in a tech house track, demonstrating how bus processing can be effectively tailored to different musical genres.
By isolating and listening to two key tracks, both color-coded in green for easy identification, we assess their current sound. We aim to add a new dimension to these sounds, particularly the main pad sound, which, while already contributing significantly to the track, could be made more dynamic and vibrant.
To achieve this, we'll create a track stack or group, essentially forming an auxiliary bus. This approach will enable us to apply collective EQ enhancements to these tracks, enhancing their presence and impact within the mix. By the end of this lesson, you will gain insights into using bus EQ to elevate the sound quality and overall excitement in a tech house track, demonstrating how bus processing can be effectively tailored to different musical genres.
Bus Commpression: Backing Vocals
In this lesson, we explore the use of bus compression, an effective technique for processing groups of sounds in a mix. After understanding how bus EQ can tonally balance elements like backing vocals, we shift focus to dynamics processing, which plays a crucial role in shaping the sound's overall impact.
We begin by adjusting the vocal fader back to its original level and explore a precision bus compressor plugin. Bus compression is specifically designed for processing multiple sounds simultaneously, optimizing the dynamics of a group rather than individual tracks.
In this demonstration, we examine the limited range of compression parameters offered by the precision bus compressor. We have options like 2:1, 4:1, or an extreme 10:1 ratio, which effectively limits the sound. This limited selection contrasts with the more varied choices usually available in standard compressors. These set ratios allow us to apply compression more broadly across the bus, affecting all the grouped elements collectively.
By the end of this lesson, you'll understand how to use bus compression to enhance the overall dynamics of a group of sounds, such as backing vocals, within your mix. You'll learn how to make these elements feel more cohesive and balanced, improving the overall quality and impact of your mix.
We begin by adjusting the vocal fader back to its original level and explore a precision bus compressor plugin. Bus compression is specifically designed for processing multiple sounds simultaneously, optimizing the dynamics of a group rather than individual tracks.
In this demonstration, we examine the limited range of compression parameters offered by the precision bus compressor. We have options like 2:1, 4:1, or an extreme 10:1 ratio, which effectively limits the sound. This limited selection contrasts with the more varied choices usually available in standard compressors. These set ratios allow us to apply compression more broadly across the bus, affecting all the grouped elements collectively.
By the end of this lesson, you'll understand how to use bus compression to enhance the overall dynamics of a group of sounds, such as backing vocals, within your mix. You'll learn how to make these elements feel more cohesive and balanced, improving the overall quality and impact of your mix.
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