Aaaaaaaaaaalllright! I must warn you this is kind of a broad question and I will try to be concise, but I will most likely ramble*starting already*
Ok, my "studio" is a mix of high quality(Sebatron Thorax, Diezel, good mics) and low quality (US-428 audio interface) with Cubase VST 3.0.
Here's the thing. I have some quality outboard gear that I would like to use in my mixes. The problem is that the 428 doesn't have the functionality that I need to run stuff from the DAW to outboard gear so I was toying with the idea of a small mixing board to provide the capability. However, the only line outs on the 428 are RCA jacks. Also bear in mind that the 428 has some pretty assly preamps(which I would love to bypass, but dont know how. I currently crank the output on the Sebatron and keep the trim on the 428 line in as low as possible. Is this bad?). So, there is my setup. Now here are the questions:
1. Assuming that the mixer has two RCA inputs, can I run the RCA outs from the 428 to the mixer and then do what I need to do there. For example, add reverb to a guitar track then back to the DAW?
2. If so, would I then run a line from the mixer back to the 428, effectively re-recording the track slightly altered?
3. If I did this, Im assuming I can't hear how it will sound in the mix at all until afterward? If so, is it possible(with other setups) do run one track from a DAW to outboard gear while at the same time hearing the rest of the tracks in the mix? Cause it seems like not being able to hear it with the mix kinda sux. is that standard?
Thanks
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mixers are pointless to use with a DAW, imo. get a multi-channel
mixers are pointless to use with a DAW, imo.
get a multi-channel audio interface like a MOTU 828 MKII, or a Tascam 1804, M-Audio 1884, etc...
Inside your host sequencer you'll have the option for routing after you install the drivers for said device. Each track should show and "IN" and and "OUT". You can go out then back in, which introduces a bit of latency you'll have to compensate for, but you can mix with your external box's in realtime. I do it every day. Matter of fact I often times use my Kurz Mangler as a send track via spdif so I can use the Laserverb for multiple tracks and not jut one.
Ahh, that solution is intriguing. I have a couple questions on
Ahh, that solution is intriguing. I have a couple questions on that. First, is whether you can or cannot use outboard effects via an audio interface dictated by the interface drivers or the sequencer or both? Second, what am I looking for in the interface to do this? Is it called routing or what? Cause I would hate to get one only to find out that it doesnt let you do that. Btw, like I said, im running Cubasis 3.0 which I suppose is quite outdated now....is this going to affect things?
Ack, I think I might have answered my own question by digging in
Ack, I think I might have answered my own question by digging in a little deeper at tweakheadz..... Do I need a multi-output audio interface to do what I want to do? Run outboard effects while being able to hear it in the context of the rest of the mix in the DAW? If so, I suppose this requires a sequencer with bus functionality? I mean, how do channels in the sequencer map to outputs on the audio interface(e.g. I want to put the guitars on one bus in the sequencer and then map that to output 1 of the audio interface) Blah!!!! My head is about to explode with questions.