Where should FX go

There are two distinct purposes for busses to group tracks and to route tracks to hardware devices. Within the context of tracks, bus FX would most commonly be used to group tracks and apply the same effect to all of them with identical settings. Perhaps one example would be to apply equalization to a group of tracks to bring them out of the mix as a unit. This is also a more appropriate location for a Reverb effect, where the grouping of the tracks ensures the instruments sound like they are in the same virtual space. 

To use effects at a bus level, you must first insert a bus into the project by clicking the Insert bus button in the Mixer window. Then assign specific tracks to the bus by clicking the Bus button (initially concentric squares and assigned to Microsoft Sound Mapper) in each track and assigning it to the bus (for example, Bus A). Finally, click the FX button on the bus in the Mixer window and select a plug-in. 

One great advantage to using busses this way is that you can use envelopes on the track to animate the level of the effect over time in the project, much like you use Volume or Pan envelopes. Assignable FX also share this advantage as well. 

You must right-click the Multipurpose Fader Mode button and select Fhe Volume to use the Volume and FX fader to adjust the Dry/Wet mix. 

To use Assignable FX, click the Insert Assignable FX button in the Mixer window. Then select an effect from the Plug-In window that automatically opens. Paradoxically, you do not need to assign tracks to the Assignable FX bus the way you would a hardware or group bus. Instead, the Assignable FX is available to all tracks and you only need to click the Multipurpose fader mode button and select the FX from the list to adjust the volume of the effect in a particular track. 

---