Why we can't use 1/2 as parent chanels when tracks have 2+ channels

[Daodan]

Hi.
Say we have Track 1 with 4 channels which is folder and track 2 with 2 channels. You can set 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 as parent channels for Track 2. But when channel count for Track 2 changed to 4 there is no way to set 1/2 as parent channels. We can set 1 and 2 separately but not 1/2. Why? Is there some limitations inside?


I work in "stereo" only and I have never been in a situation where I need channels other than 1/2 to go to parent folder.
Actually if you have some side-chain processing inside a folder those 3/4 goes to the parent. And when you want to use side-chain processing on that folder track you need to remember not to use 3/4. Otherwise side-chain will be triggered by track(s) inside that folder. Or you need to zero out 3/4 after side-chain effects on tracks inside folder.
In other words it requires a little bit of hustle. Would be great just to set "send 1/2 to parent" and forget it.

[ashcat_lt]

You understand that "parent channels" specifies the channels on the parent track where those from the child will appear?

Honestly, I've never tried sending a multi-channel child to a single channel on a parent. 4 channel child to 1/2 on parent gives 1/2>1/2, and I'm pretty sure that stereo child to 1 channel parent goes 1/2 summed to 1, but what happens when it's 4 channel child to 1 channel on the parent? It's not all 4 channels summed, is it?

But seriously just block your sidechains. It's built into the plugin pins now.

[Daodan]

Originally Posted by ashcat_lt

..and I'm pretty sure that stereo child to 1 channel parent goes 1/2 summed to 1, but what happens when it's 4 channel child to 1 channel on the parent? It's not all 4 channels summed, is it?

No, there is no summing. If you set 1 as parent channel for stereo child track then 1 goes to 1, and 2 goes... nowhere. Same with 4 channels.
I was thinking that if I set 2 as parent channel then 2(child) goes to 2(parent), but I was wrong. In this case 1(child) goes to 2(parent) and 2(child) muted again. So actually you can remap only first channel if you set one channel as parent.

Originally Posted by ashcat_lt

But seriously just block your sidechains. It's built into the plugin pins now.

Thank you. I know how to deal with it. I'm just wondering why there is no option to send 1/2 only to parent. And I think it would be great to set it by default because that's what you need most of the time and just don't worry about it anymore.

[Justin]

hmm yeah we should add this, looking at doing that!

[Daodan]

Originally Posted by Justin

hmm yeah we should add this, looking at doing that!

Thank you, Justin!

[MonkeyBars]

Something got deployed a couple versions back, but it doesn't really make sense to me.

You can select eg 4 for parent channels, and the only option in the drop-down next to it is "1-2". Shouldn't it say "1-4"? And how do we select "2-5" or "61-64"?

[Daodan]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBars

You can select eg 4 for parent channels, and the only option in the drop-down next to it is "1-2". Shouldn't it say "1-4"?

Looks like you have only 2 channels on parent track. To set parent send to 1-4 parent should have at least 4 channels.

Originally Posted by MonkeyBars

And how do we select "2-5" or "61-64"?

Same. For 61-64 child need to be at least 4 ch. and parent 64ch.

[MonkeyBars]

Originally Posted by Daodan

Looks like you have only 2 channels on parent track. To set parent send to 1-4 parent should have at least 4 channels.

[Daodan]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBars

...

It's not a folder.
Set folder (parent) to >2 ch. and you'll see other options for parent send for track (child) inside that folder.

[schwa]

Parent channels: [source] => [destination]

In the screencap, the destination (master) has only 2 channels, so the destination dropdown is limited to "1-2" for anything higher than mono source.

[MonkeyBars]

Oh yeah! Thanks guys. I figured that out weeks ago then forgot.

I think there's a lesson here: if it's that hard to remember what something unlabeled does, users probably need a label. I'm not exactly certain what UI would work best, but two dropdowns next to "Parent Channels" isn't clear imo.

Perhaps it should be more spelled out, like this:

Channels sending to parent
# channels: All...
Which channels: 1-2...