Currently working on a track that, like all of mine, is routed out via 24 outputs into a Mackie 32:8 desk.
I love the way this sounds so don't want to change the routing (no analogue comparison discussions please).

The problem though is I now want to apply a filter sweep over the whole track. I have considered buying an analogue filter, and automating a MIDI parameter. This is a last resort though.

Is there any way I can get all 24 channels to be sent to a single track momentarily so I can use a plugin? I really think I'm out of options on this Using Cubase 4.5 as per the subject line.

Personally I think I'd do it by simply rendering the master and then editing that - i.e. put a filter sweep over the final mix. I can't think of any obvious way of sweeping it once you've already outputted it to channels.


Having said that, you know you want to buy a nice juicy analogue filter...

(Which you'll still have to put over the master, or at least group most things back together via a buss)

Although I just thought maybe you could use an aux from every channel (similar to a foldback mix aux) and then feed that back into Cubase - I assume you'll have 6 aux sends? But you'd have to be able to mute auxes on your desk for when the filter's not on...I wouldn't have thought a standard Mackie can do that? It's a while since I had a big desk, and although I could midi mute channels, in-line channels and busses, I don't remember having mutes on the auxes, at least not on the aux returns.
But you could aux everything back into a buss and mute/unmute that?

That also depends on your soundcard too - whether it can play out and return in and avoid feedback. Have you got assignable multi outs/ins on your soundcard? And you'd have to be able to automate between card outputs, so you could flick between master out and buss (filter) out.

And you'd probably need direct outs on your busses so that you can feed that into Cubase.

In fact the more I think about it, the more of a headache it gives me, as it'd involve a shitload of automated muting. Easier to render and do it in Cubase. It should be doable though.

That's the only way I can think of. Aux send everything to return to a group buss which is muted most of the song. Mute the channels, then unmute the group buss and send it direct into Cubase for sweeping via a 2nd set of soundcard ins, while switching main input to the card from master outs to 2nd set of ins from you group buss. It also means you have to really have precision on the gain of the main ins and aux ins to the soundcard. Not that easy on a desk (although I suppose you can match gain easier within Cubase itself.)

I'm still only on poor old SX2, so it would be fiddly, but I thought newer Cubases had that studio room thing that handled foldbacks better?