Auxilliary cables

[relyte01]

Hi all,

I have a really silly question, and im actually quite suprised that i don't know the answer to this, but perhaps i am not alone.

I have an allen & heath zone 62 mixer, on the back i have booth out, record out, main mix out, etc... and of course "Aux Out".

Now, i know most equipment (audio and video?) comes equipped with these "Aux Outputs".

Now, I never have really fully understand exactly what a Auxilliary cable is, what function it is meant to serve, and how it differs from the other outputs.

----
The dictionary defines "Aux" as:

Giving assistance or support; helping.
Acting as a subsidiary; supplementary: the main library and its auxiliary branches.
Held in or used as a reserve: auxiliary troops; an auxiliary power generator.

----

So am i right to assume that the "Aux Outputs" simply mean "extra outputs" if you need to run outputs to another piece of equipment, or incase other outputs malfunction for some reason??

Any minute detials would be greatly appreciated, i have a problem with needing to understand even trivial things in as much detail as possible.

Thank you!!!

tyler.

 

[AudioGaff]

So am i right to assume that the "Aux Outputs" simply mean "extra outputs"

BINGO! That is correct. Often on mixers, AUX knob on the channel can also be what is commonly used as an effects or cue send for monitors/headphones. It should be clearly stated in the manual. Check the website if you don't have one as there is often signal flow diagrams in them that are helpful to understanding and describe the mixer I/O functions.

 

[realdynamix]

On one of my stand alone DAW's, the aux out's can be assigned by the software. An example would be to loop an effect from the digital domain to the aux as analog, and back again through another input. It can be a sub-group out mix, whatever the software allows it to be patched as.

On an analog board, the aux can be used for effects, as Gaff mentioned, or cue, or sub system mixer to send elsewhere, like a seperate mix for stage monitors. The more aux buses you have, the more seperate mixes you can aquire. They are like seperate mixers within your mixer, and some can be pre, or post fader.

--Rick

 

[relyte01]

Thank you very much for the reply's =]

much appreciated, i look forward to further correspondance and learning from this great resource!!

sincerely,
tyler.