What is a Send Effect?

A send effect is an audio effect that processes a signal routed from a channel through an auxiliary send, allowing the processed signal to be blended with the original sound rather than replacing it.

In this setup, a portion of a track’s signal is sent to a separate effects processor—such as reverb, delay, or chorus—while the original signal continues through the main channel path. The processed signal then returns to the mix through an aux return or effects return channel.

Send effects are commonly used in mixing because they allow multiple tracks to share the same effect and provide independent control over how much of the effect is applied to each track. This approach is widely used in both recording studios and live sound systems.