How to Use FX Sends to Add Depth, Vibe, and Character to Your Mixes

Hey y'all!

One of my favorite things to do is go wild with my aux sends- whether it’s routing reverbs through distortion or dialing in super melty, psychedelic delay sounds. Being a big effects nerd is what first pulled me into exploring aux sends and the huge role they play in giving a mix depth, space, and vibe.

That obsession is what led me to dedicate this blog to a deep dive into how creative aux routing can open up new sonic territory (and make things A LOT more fun, hehe).

Louie Valentino on How to Use FX Sends 

On that note, I had a blast chatting with Multi Platinum Engineer Louie Valentino and hearing his approach. 

I asked him: "Can you walk us through how you use FX sends to add depth and space in your mixes?"

He said: “One of the most powerful tools in mixing is learning how to properly use FX sends through aux tracks. Rather than putting effects directly on a track, I prefer to route them to a separate aux channel and then feed the original track into it. This gives me complete control over how much of the effect I want, while keeping the original source signal clean and unaffected. It also makes adjustments later in the mix much easier—you can simply ride the fader on the aux rather than reworking the plugin chain.

Delay Sends: Building Rhythmic Space and Motion

I typically run multiple delay auxes set to different subdivisions—½ note, ¼ note, ⅛ note, and sometimes even 1/16. Each serves its own purpose depending on the tempo and feel of the record. For clean, smooth delays I’ll reach for H-Delay, while for more experimental textures I like EchoBoy, often using ping-pong delays on ½ or ¼ notes with a bit of saturation to make the feedback pop.

Another go-to is YAK Delay, especially on a ¼-note setting. I’ll carefully dial in the feedback, then add extra character with plugins like Gorilla Drive or Cassette Bunny. This is a great way to bring background vocals or adlibs to life—especially in hip-hop records where tempo and bounce are everything.

Saturation Sends: Texture Without Overkill

I also keep aux sends dedicated to saturation. For example, Rabbit Tape works beautifully on background vocals and in-and-outs when I want to add texture or grit. Using saturation on an aux instead of the main track allows me to blend it in just right, adding excitement without overwhelming the vocal or throwing off the balance of the mix.

Reverb Sends: Creating Depth Without Drowning the Vocal

When it comes to reverb, I always run them on separate auxes rather than inserting them directly. Reverbs can quickly swallow a vocal if not managed carefully, so using sends gives me better control. I’ll often calculate reverb times so they’re in sync with the song’s tempo, then blend them in with the aux fader. This way, if I need to tweak the depth later, I can simply move one fader without losing the overall vocal tone I’ve built.

For hip-hop and pop, I often lean on Dirty Dog Reverb. It creates space while also adding a little ear-candy grit that grabs attention and keeps vocals feeling alive in the mix.

Templates: Speed Up Your Workflow and Stay Creative

The key to working fast and consistently is saving these setups into templates. That way, every session starts with my delay, reverb, and saturation auxes ready to go. This makes it quick to dial in the right amount of depth, width, and character for any record, without wasting time rebuilding chains.

Final Tip for Upcoming Engineers: Learn how to set up aux sends and train your ears on how different time-based effects and textures interact. When you use FX creatively—but with intention—you’ll not only create professional-sounding mixes, you’ll also shape the emotion and feel of the record in ways that raw tracks alone can’t achieve.

My Takeaways From Louie’s Answer

I had a blast reading through Louie’s answer. I really loved his no nonsense approach- especially his take on having a set template that helps you quickly dial in the sound you’re after. I’ve found the same to be true: when you’re familiar with your setup, it’s way easier to stay in the creative flow. Just as important, you can also tell right away when the template isn’t working, and it’s time to reach for something else.

I also really loved how he dials in saturation on delays- it makes the feedback pop and brings so much vibe. I came away with a bunch of new ideas after reading his answer! 

Thanks so much Louie for sharing your awesome take!
Catch y’all next blog!