You need more outputs to do that properly.

The inserts are no good for audio that you have already recorded into your DAW: these just provide a way to patch hardware between the mic pre-amp and the AD converter while recording.

To use external hardware after recording audio you would need to route the tracks out to your hardware via one or two spare audio outputs, then back into your software via one or two spare audio inputs... as your US-122 appears only to have two outputs this is not really an option.

IIRs is right about the inserts and the limitations of the US-122 interface.

However, you could add outboard effects two channels at a time using the two-channel output capability of the US-122. You would have carefully to line up the latencies of re-recorded tracks with respect to the original playing tracks, but that's not too difficult.

I don't see a way of getting four tracks correctly aligned to your four-track recorder, though.

Maybe it's time to think about a new interface with a higher channel count (in and out) if you are likely to be doing this sort of work frequently.

Boswell wrote: However, you could add outboard effects two channels at a time using the two-channel output capability of the US-122. You would have carefully to line up the latencies of re-recorded tracks with respect to the original playing tracks, but that's not too difficult.

Wouldn't this be creating a feedback loop? You would have to do one track at a time and you'd need to be sure enough with your track to commit.

Thanks for all of your advice! This is really helpful.

I now understand that the inserts are not what I'm looking for, since they're for adding hardware effects AS you record something.

I think sending only 2 tracks of audio out at a time would be fine for now (when I send stuff to the 4-track I'll probably be bouncing it down to 2 tracks anyway), but sadly I can't even get that to work.

All the us-122 has on its front is 2 mic ins, 2 line ins, and 2 inserts. On the back of the interface there are two rca outputs labeled line out L and R, but I assume those are just for monitoring. Does this mean that this interface doesn't have any way of sending audio out or am I missing something?

If it can't send audio out then what kind of replacement interface/mixer would let me do this stuff? I'm fine getting a new piece of equipment if it will let me do this. Thanks again for your help, it's greatly appreciated.

With the US-122 you have two outputs. Monitor out L and R. That's it. If you wan't more than that you will need to get another interface.

But does it make sense to use those monitor outs to send certain tracks to a 4 track or hardware effects? Do I just need to get some rca to 1/4in. cables and plug those in?

newpollutino wrote: But does it make sense to use those monitor outs to send certain tracks to a 4 track or hardware effects? Do I just need to get some rca to 1/4in. cables and plug those in?

I wouldn't do it. If you're planning to bring these back into the DAW, you're just going to end up doing more cleanup work. What kind of four track are we talking here? Reel to Reel or cassette. If you're talking cassette it'll be pointless. You'd only be adding noise.

If you plan on routing to effects and back into the DAW, you'll need to do it one track at a time and you need to pan everything HARD left and right. otherwise you will be creating a feedback loop. So send out right and return left.

hueseph wrote:
If you plan on routing to effects and back into the DAW, you'll need to do it one track at a time and you need to pan everything HARD left and right. otherwise you will be creating a feedback loop. So send out right and return left.

Huh?

think about it

hueseph is suggesting to use the stereo out as a two send device

channel one for the effects send
channels two for monitoring

print the effects you need
then revert back to a stereo mix

Oh, ok. So "one track at a time" means mono. (My DAW has stereo tracks!)

I read the Jp22 thread today: all I can think of is

My DAW uses stereo tracks! Ha ha!

we can only try to help

Looks like the misunderstanding is in what is played and recorded. The original suggestion was to play two independent tracks through the L and R stereo out, apply effects and then record the wets to two new tracks. No feedback danger with that route.

The big problem with the US-122 is that the outputs are single-ended at -10dBV (domestic standard). This may not be enough to drive the outboard effects units correctly unless they can be switched to take -10dBV inputs.

Thanks for the clarification boswell.

So just to make sure i get it: the line out RCA outputs on the us-122 are -10dBV? Is that always the case with RCA outs?

How can I deal with this? Do I just need an interface with better outputs?

Boswell wrote: Looks like the misunderstanding is in what is played and recorded. The original suggestion was to play two independent tracks through the L and R stereo out, apply effects and then record the wets to two new tracks. No feedback danger with that route.

But how are you going to monitor? You will need to mute the new tracks that you are recording to because, although you are recording to two new tracks, there is nothing you can do about the fact that they will still go to the main stereo output. Instant feedback loop. Can you record to a muted track in Cubase LE? And, if you can, how do you know that what you're recording is what you want? If this was tape with a physical mixer ok, you could probably get away with it but I'm not so sure you can in software.

May I extrapolate?

Stereo out >effects in>effect out>line in>new track in DAW>track to stereo out>feedback loop!

hueseph wrote:
You will need to mute the new tracks that you are recording to because, although you are recording to two new tracks, there is nothing you can do about the fact that they will still go to the main stereo output.

Of course there is: disable internal monitoring.

Alrighty. I'll give it a shot when I get home and see what happens. Still aren't you essentially "deaf" editing since you can't listen to the track or to the effect without creating a feedback loop? Unless of course the effects unit has a headphone jack.

Edit: Actually, after thinking about it, even the headphones on an effects unit would reflect the feedback. You wouldn't be able to monitor at all.

Alright call me a geek but I had to try. I plugged a short patch cable from monitor out directly into line 1 in. With my monitors taken out of the path of course. With direct monitoring(channel monitor button) disabled.....feedback. Not loud feedback but feedback just the same. when I recorded guess what? Even more feedback. I stand by my original idea that you could do this but only one track at a time. I don't think you could make this work at all if you're trying to affect the stereo bus. Out to an external recorder sure but not back into the DAW with a 2 I/O interface.

Again I say: disable your internal software monitoring (just as you would if you were using the 'zero latency' monitoring in your audio interface, or an external mixer) and the feedback will go away.

As far as monitoring the results are concerned: the only possible way would be to split the output of the processor in some way so that it feeds your monitors as well as the interface inputs. If the device has both jack and XLR outs you might be able to use both at the same time. Otherwise you would need a small mixer, or possibly some y-split cables.

hueseph wrote: I don't think you could make this work at all if you're trying to affect the stereo bus. Out to an external recorder sure but not back into the DAW with a 2 I/O interface.

Yes you can. I've done it with my Mackie Satellite (using just the pod unit, so with only 2 outs available.) I ran the satellite's outs into an external mixer so I could monitor at the same time.

The internal monitoring settings are specific to the DAW software you use (or possibly your interface drivers: if you have zero latency monitoring enabled that will also cause a feedback loop) so I can't tell you specifically how to turn it off. Unless you use Tracktion, in which case select the audio input and disable the "end-to-end" option.

The interface that the OP is using is a Tascam US-122. Two rca outs only. I'm assuming that the software is Cubase LE since that is what those units used to come bundled with. Anyway, even if you can get it to work, it's too much effort for too little return.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, so please accept my apologies in advance for my hardheadedness. I just tried this with Tracktion 3. End to End DISABLED. Feedback. Ok. So I muted the channel I would record to. No feedback....until I hit record. What did I miss?

Thats it! Add another sound card to the computer! Then run two different recording software packages. Sound out l/r from one sound card/recording software, get it effected and send it back in the other soundcard/interface/recording software.

Hey I just make 'em up as I go along :)

No tech support provided!

Space wrote: Thats it! Add another sound card to the computer! Then run two different recording software packages. Sound out l/r from one sound card/recording software, get it effected and send it back in the other soundcard/interface/recording software.

Hey I just make 'em up as I go along :)

No tech support provided!

Or just buy an interface with more than two outputs.

oh sure, you can take the easy way out too!

:)