The Effects Return is a dedicated section on a mixing console designed to accept the output signal from external outboard gear, specifically reverb and delay units. It functions as the closing loop of the "Aux Send/Return" system. While it is possible to patch an effect's output back into a standard channel strip, doing so consumes valuable input channels. Therefore, manufacturers provide "Returns" which are essentially stripped-down stereo line inputs, lacking microphone preamps or complex EQ, optimized solely for blending the processed (wet) signal back into the main stereo bus.