VCA (Voltage Control Amplifier)

I've been exploring different ways of controlling a mixing session. Last trimester, VCA was mentioned briefly as a good way to have control of a group ( a group is a bunch of individual faders being tied together so that if you move one, they all move together). VCA is sometimes referred to as a channel gain controller

The idea of a VCA fader is to control only the volume, so it doesn't alter any other settings you have programmed into your tracks. For example all the plug-in inserts and settings.

Here is what it looks like when you have it engaged in your session. At the moment I've just started working on a DRAC"S EMPIRE song called 'Fight Zombies'. I put a VCA fader in the Drum group to have better control when it comes to the overall mixing level of the drums before mastering.

The midi drums have been split from stereo into multitrack.

VCA movement indicated by blue line.

In the picture above you can see a blue line that represents the movement of the VCA fader and the instrument track volume faders remain the same. I also put a VCA fader onto my guitar tracks.

Reference

Thornton, M. (2020, February 1). How To Use VCA Groups. Retrieved February 16, 2020, from https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/how-use-vca-groups