Question about "Folder" VCA channels

[cremationritual]

Hey guys. So I group all my instruments using "folders" as I'm sure all of you do. As you know, when you make a folder track it then controls the volume of the entire group thus acting as a VCA fader.
My question is:
Is it ok to put plugins on this channel? Say for instance putting a compressor on the DRUMS VCA (folder) channel. Or should I use a dedicated BUS channel for this?
I DO use bus channels. But I'm just wondering if this is possible as well. You can't really do this in other DAWS I have noticed.

[Alistair S]

Think of folder tracks as more sub-groups than VCAs.

Yes, you can add plugins to folders (but not to VCAs, which you can set up separately)

[Judders]

Originally Posted by Alistair S

Think of folder tracks as more sub-groups than VCAs.

^^^ This, except not "as more" but folders are sub group busses.

VCA's have no audio bussed to them, they are just a fader that controls gain for selected tracks.

Folders have all of the audio of their child tracks bussed to them*, so they are busses, not VCA's.



* unless master/parent send is disabled, then the folder track has no effect on the child.