Tim,
Typically, in a studio, all connections are brought up to a patch panel. These are set up in a way that all equipment that is regularly connected together is connected through the patch panel but the connections may be broken and routed in alternate ways. This can get quite complicated and convoluted. Setting up patch bays is not a task for the novice. IMO you should get someone in who is experienced to help with this.

I'm using N-Track, currently trying to get Sonar XL to work with my hardware (ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port 8in/out).

The C-Port has 2 XLR ins and 8 1/4" ins for its 8 inputs, and 8 1/4" outs. I bought a patch bay but I'm not sure the proper way to use one! (doh)

I own an Alesis NanoVerb, a Lexicon MPX100 and an Aphex 104.

I am not familiar with the N-Track Sonar or the DSP2000 C-Port however much of the DAW hardware works in a similar fashion. You could set up some sends to your outboard and returns back to the DAW to use your outboard when mixing but to be honest IMO the NanoVerb, MPX100 and The Aphex aren't such great pieces that they would be any better than your plug ins. I usually don't add effects until I'm mixing except in the case of recording guitars which I quite often will "print" reverbs and effects. One way to do what you want would be to "print" the reverbs or effects on separate tracks and mix them in with the original dry tracks at mix. Hope that gets you on the way, keep us posted! .... Fats
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Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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Fats,
Thanks for the quick reply. What is the 'difficulty' in setting up a patch bay (other then having lots of cables :D ) It looks pretty simple. I am just not sure of the best way to connect everything.

N-Track is a very cheap but quite powerful multitracking piece of software. Sonar is Cakewalk's newest line.
I didn't know that I could set up a /hardware/ send/return chain. (ie, tell it to use the C-Port's out/in jacks for the send/return) That makes a lot of sense, it just didn't occur to me. Is this a common feature in DAW software?
Both N-T and Sonar have 'virtual' send/returns where I can use DX plugins and that works great. I will look for this feature.

Thanks for your help. This is a great forum!!! :c:

The problem is just what you said.

”I am just not sure of the best way to connect everything.”

Also an ergonomic set up and proper normaling of the bay. Some connections such as effects sends on mixers will be normaled (hooked up to) a reverb or headphone amp, things like that. It’s just better to get someone who has been around studios for a while to help with this. If you want to “poke and hope” your way through it won’t hurt but it would be much more efferent to get some help on this. Ask for a reference from your local music store. In the bargain, you will meet someone who has similar interests as you and do a little “networking”. Can’t hurt. ….. Fats
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Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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