Does Aux Send Go to Monitor? My Frustrating Experience
Sometimes, you just want to hear what you’re doing. Not the whole room, not some over-produced studio version, just your own voice, your own instrument, raw and immediate. That’s where aux sends come in, right? The idea is simple: take a signal, loop it back, let you hear it in your headphones or a separate monitor speaker.
But ask anyone who’s spent more than five minutes fiddling with a mixer, and they’ll tell you it’s not always as straightforward as the manual makes it seem. Does aux send go to monitor? The answer, frustratingly, is ‘it depends,’ and that’s the part nobody tells you until you’ve already bought the gear.
I remember my first time trying to set this up for a small gig. I was convinced it was plug-and-play. Turned out, I spent an hour in the back of a dark venue, tangled in cables, wondering if I’d somehow broken the soundboard. All I wanted was for my guitar to hit my monitor, but instead, I got a low hum and the distinct feeling of being utterly out of my depth.
The Basic Idea: Why You Need It
At its core, an auxiliary send is a parallel output from your mixer. Think of it like a splitter. You take the main signal going out to your PA system (the ‘mains’), and you also tap off a portion of it—or a specific instrument’s signal—to send somewhere else. This ‘somewhere else’ is usually a pair of headphones for the performer or a dedicated monitor speaker placed on stage. So, technically, yes, an aux send is *designed* to go to a monitor.
This isn’t some fancy, boutique feature. It’s fundamental to live sound and even some home studio setups. Without it, you’re essentially playing blind. Imagine a drummer who can’t hear the bass guitar, or a singer who can’t hear their own vocals over the band. It’s a recipe for disaster, and not the fun kind. The practical application for performers is massive; it allows for individual monitoring preferences without altering the main mix. Everyone gets to hear what they need to hear, at the volume they need to hear it.
When ‘yes’ Becomes ‘not Quite’
Here’s where the marketing noise starts to get loud and the actual reality is a bit more nuanced. The statement ‘does aux send go to monitor’ is true in principle, but the *implementation* is what trips people up. You can have an aux send, and you can have a monitor, but you need to connect them correctly, and often, you need to tell the mixer to send the *right* signal to that aux bus.
My personal nightmare involved a brand-new digital mixer that promised ‘unparalleled monitoring control.’ What it actually delivered was a labyrinth of menus and sub-menus. I’d turn up the aux send for the singer, and nothing would happen. I’d check the routing, I’d check the faders, I’d check the signal path. Turns out, there was a specific ‘pre-fader’ or ‘post-fader’ setting for that particular aux bus that I’d missed. It was like trying to open a safe with the wrong combination, and the combination was hidden in a footnote on page 117 of the manual. I swear, I spent about $350 on extra cables and adapters trying to fix a setting that took me another hour to find.
The Routing Riddle: Pre vs. Post Fader
This is the big one. Most mixers have two types of aux sends: pre-fader and post-fader. Understanding the difference is key to figuring out if your aux send is going to your monitor in the way you expect. (See Also: Does Samsung Monitor Syncmaster 2333sw Support Hdmi )
- Pre-Fader: This takes the signal *before* it hits the channel’s volume fader. So, whatever you do to the channel fader later won’t affect the level going to the aux send. This is great for monitors because you usually want the monitor mix to be consistent, regardless of how loud the main mix gets.
- Post-Fader: This takes the signal *after* the channel’s volume fader. If you turn down the channel fader, the signal going to the aux send also turns down. This is less common for standard monitor mixes but can be useful for specific effects sends where you want the effect level to track the instrument’s overall volume.
So, does aux send go to monitor? If it’s set to pre-fader, absolutely, and it’s usually what you want for a stable monitor mix. If it’s set to post-fader, it *can* go to a monitor, but its level will be tied to the main channel fader, which might not be ideal. The sound coming from the monitor will change as you adjust the main volume, which is usually not the goal for a performer needing a consistent reference.
What About the Main Mix Itself?
Sometimes, people ask if the aux send output *is* the main mix. No, that’s not its primary purpose. The main mix is what goes to your PA speakers. An aux send is a separate, configurable output. However, you *can* use an aux send to feed a monitor speaker from the main mix bus. This is different from sending a specific instrument or vocal to the monitor.
Think of it like a kitchen. Your main mix is the main dining table where everyone gets served. An aux send is like a smaller, separate counter where you can plate up a specific dish for a special guest (the performer in their monitor). You can pull ingredients (signals) from anywhere, but the final presentation (the mix in the monitor) is assembled separately.
My Contrarian Take: Don’t Trust the Defaults
Everyone online says ‘just set your aux send to pre-fader and you’re golden.’ I disagree. While pre-fader is often best for stage monitors, it’s not the only way, and blindly following that advice can lead you down the wrong path, just like it did for me that first gig. Sometimes, a post-fader send *is* exactly what you need for a particular effect or a very specific monitoring scenario. The real lesson isn’t to follow a rule, but to understand *why* the rule exists and when to break it.
You have to listen. Trust your ears, not just the labels on the knobs. That’s why I always recommend getting a good set of headphones and a small, portable mixer to practice with at home. You can spend hours twisting knobs and hearing exactly what each setting does to the signal. I learned this the hard way after wasting about $200 on a “phantom powered” microphone that didn’t actually work with my interface without an extra box.
When to Use Aux Sends for Monitors
Auxiliary sends are your best friend when you need to provide a separate mix for performers. This is almost always the case for live bands, theater productions, and even in some home recording situations where you want to hear your backing track clearly while tracking vocals or instruments.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it typically works: (See Also: Does Samsung Gear S3 Classic Monitor Sleep )
- Identify your aux bus: On your mixer, find the aux send knobs or buttons for each channel.
- Select pre or post: For stage monitors, you’ll usually want to set these to ‘pre-fader’.
- Assign the signal: For each channel you want in the monitor mix (e.g., vocals, guitar, drums), turn up the corresponding aux send knob.
- Create the monitor mix: On the mixer, find the dedicated ‘Aux Master’ or ‘Monitor Send’ output and adjust its overall level. This is your main monitor volume control.
- Connect the monitor: Run a cable from the Aux Master output on your mixer to your monitor speaker or headphone amplifier.
The sound you get back from the monitor will be a blend of all the signals you sent to that aux bus. It won’t sound like the main PA mix unless you’ve intentionally set it up that way. You’re essentially building a mini-mix specifically for the performer’s ears.
Comparing Monitoring Options
It’s not just about aux sends. While they are the most common method, other options exist.
| Method | How it Works | Pros | Cons | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aux Send to Monitor Speaker | Uses mixer’s aux output to feed a wedge monitor or powered speaker. | Versatile, allows custom mixes per musician. Common on most mixers. | Can lead to stage bleed if not managed. Requires separate monitor speakers and cabling. | The workhorse for most live situations. Reliable and flexible. |
| Aux Send to Headphone Amp | Uses mixer’s aux output to feed a headphone amplifier rack or distribution system. | Provides isolation, allows individual headphone mixes for each performer. Excellent for studio tracking. | More complex setup, requires individual headphone amps for each person. Can be expensive. | Ideal for controlled environments and precise monitoring needs. |
| Direct Output to Monitor | Some keyboards or instruments have a dedicated ‘Monitor Out’ jack. | Simple for the instrument itself, bypasses the mixer for that specific instrument. | Limited to instruments that offer it. No flexibility for the rest of the band’s mix. | Niche use, good if your instrument supports it and you only need that one thing. |
| Sub-Mixer for Monitors | A secondary, smaller mixer dedicated solely to monitor mixes. | Gives maximum control and allows for complex monitor arrangements. | Expensive and adds another layer of complexity to the setup. | Professional-level setups where monitor control is paramount. |
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Beyond the pre/post-fader confusion, there are other traps. Feedback, for one. If your monitor is too loud, or pointed directly at a microphone, you’re going to get that piercing squeal. The common advice is to turn down the monitor, which is often right. But sometimes, the problem is the microphone’s position relative to the monitor, or a specific frequency building up. My first seven or eight gigs were plagued by feedback issues I didn’t fully understand.
Another issue is cable management. A mess of cables on stage isn’t just unsightly; it’s a tripping hazard and a potential source of noise if cables are poorly shielded or connected. Always use good quality, properly shielded cables. A cheap, flimsy cable can introduce hum or buzz that sounds like a faulty piece of gear, when really, it’s just a bad connection. I once spent an hour troubleshooting a noisy guitar amp only to find out it was a frayed cable I’d bought for $5 at a flea market.
Finally, don’t forget about power. Monitors, headphone amps, and sometimes even mixers need power. Make sure you have enough outlets, enough surge protectors, and that you’re not overloading circuits. It sounds obvious, but in the chaos of setting up, it’s easy to overlook.
The Bottom Line: It’s About Control
So, does aux send go to monitor? Yes, but it’s not automatic. It’s a tool that requires understanding and configuration. The key is realizing that an aux send is a signal path, and you, the user, decide where that path leads and what signal it carries. It’s about having the control to tailor your listening experience, whether you’re on a massive stage or just trying to record yourself in your bedroom.
Can I Use an Aux Send to Send Audio to My Speakers?
You can use an aux send to send audio to a powered monitor speaker, which functions as a standalone speaker. However, an aux send is not typically used to send the *main* stereo mix to your PA system. That’s handled by the main outputs of your mixer. (See Also: Does Samsung 4k 28 Inch Monitor Have Speakers )
What Is the Difference Between a Pre-Fader and Post-Fader Aux Send?
A pre-fader send takes the signal before the channel’s volume fader, so its level is independent of the main mix volume. A post-fader send takes the signal after the fader, meaning its level changes proportionally with the channel fader’s position.
Why Can’t I Hear Anything From My Monitor When I Turn Up the Aux Send?
There could be several reasons: the aux send might not be turned up on the specific channel, the main aux master fader might be down, the monitor speaker might not be powered on, or the routing on a digital mixer might be incorrect. Double-check all these connections and settings.
Is an Aux Send the Same as a Headphone Output?
Not exactly. An aux send is an output on the mixer that can be routed to *anything*, including a headphone amplifier. A dedicated headphone output on a mixer is specifically designed to feed headphones directly, often with its own volume control.
Can I Use a Regular Aux Cable for Monitor Sends?
Yes, for connecting the aux output of the mixer to a monitor or headphone amplifier, you’ll typically use standard 1/4-inch TS or TRS cables (often called aux cables in this context), depending on the mixer and destination device.
Verdict
So, to finally nail down that question: does aux send go to monitor? Yes, it’s the primary reason they exist. But the devil, as always, is in the details of how you connect it and configure the mixer. Don’t just assume it’ll work perfectly out of the box.
Take the time to understand your specific mixer’s routing options. Spend an afternoon just playing with the aux sends, listening to how each setting affects the monitor output. This hands-on experimentation is far more valuable than reading a dozen articles that all say the same thing. I learned that expensive lesson the hard way.
Honestly, most people think it’s just about plugging a cable in. It’s more involved. You’re building a custom listening mix. Get it wrong, and you’ll sound terrible. Get it right, and you’ll play better, sing better, and probably have more fun doing it.
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