Apogee's VBus is only available when audio interface mode is set to Symphony. VBus creates virtual hardware buses to allow expanded routing of audio within one application or between different audio applications. For example, it’s possible in Logic Pro to record a submix of multiple audio tracks onto a new audio track as described below. It’s also possible to route between two audio applications by selecting a VBus output in the source application and a VBus input in the destination application. As an example, the output of a soft synth opened as a Standalone application may be routed via VBus to the inputs of your DAW application.
To choose the number of VBus channels, open Maestro > System Setup. In the VBUS drop down menu, select the number of virtual buses desired.
In order for VBus I/O to appear in your audio application’s I/O list as VBus In 1-2, 3-4, etc, it’s necessary to specify the use of the Symphony driver’s names in the application’s I/O list. For example in Logic Pro, open Audio>Audio Configuration>View>I/O Labels and option-click on all the I/O found under the Driver’s I/O Label column.
As an example of how to use VBus, let’s record a submix of drums onto a new stereo audio track in Logic.
1. Open Maestro and select 8 Channels under the VBus Selections menu.
2. In Logic’s Track Mixer, set the outputs of the individual drum audio tracks to VBout 1/2.
3. Create two audio tracks (or one stereo track) and set their inputs to VBin 1 and VBin 2.
4. Record-enable the new track and commence recording. The new track will record the mix of the individual drum tracks.