Fantastic advice!!

I have to say, this post has changed a lot on how I am going to work. Using the Aux as way of distorting is ****ing great. I found you can not only distort this way, you can group channels too and have them compressed....

I had, kickdrum channel 1, Roland Juno bass channel 2. Distoted the kick slighly using the gain pot. Eqed the bass, unclicked the L-R button and sent them both down Aux 5 on Pre fade. Wired Aux 5 out into channel 3 and compressed. Hey presto. 2 Channels become 1 with slight warmth added to the the kick. You can also EQ more, its like double Eqing if you use the mid sweeps (in differant areas).

Ok its prolly not much differant to using the subgroups, but it deffinatly feels better doing it this way.

As for sending kicks to moogerfoogers/synths :D , I just wish I could do that. I have read someplace that Speedy J does this on his whole mix!! Has it going thro an Analog synth and uses the filter live.