Totally the master of the “shoe Horn’
Few methods you can do, for Drums and drum group, you can maximise the real estate… and get you some FX returns:
If you have a typical drum kit with say 12 mic's :
Bring the elements up on small faders say.. 1-12, switch the eq’s and dynamics to the monitor path, to shape and compress the source parts.
As the kit elements are on small faders, in Mix mode they automatically feed the matrix.
Send them all to Matrix 11-12
Channel 11-12, hit the subgroup buttons. This now acts as a master for the Drum group, and you could if you wish use insert 11-12 to put an outboard comp across this.
This leaves large faders 1-10 free!! to be used as automated FX returns, or drum Parallels. That are by default routed to L/R.
Downside you can only automate the master drum group.
But.. typically, I’m using the spare master faders for stuff like.. my ‘Tom Thunder’ with is actually a Behringer Bass FX fed from a pair of groups. I just route to toms to say 3-4 and then automate the effect on fills!!!
Sounds crazy.. but the results are really cool.
Also.. using a SSL X-Desk as an FX sub mixer. It’s has 16 paths with pan and volume, Typically, my 2nd H3000, Plate reverb, AMS Delay all come back on these, fed to a single Stereo Echo return.
If you can dream it.. you can make it happen on a 4k :-)))