dennisisme wrote: i run my snake into a mackie 24/4 vlz pro mixer and use the insert trs to send out into my preamp ...

what :shock:
no
The mic input of the Mackie IS the pre-amp

... and then to compressor and then out to my multitrack interface (motu 24i).

fine the insert is at line level and so the comp
and then comp to the the multi-track sould be fine

on the first two channels i run board/preamp/compressor. on the others i run board/compressors with no external pre. am i running everything in the correct order?

no
first two channels
Pre-amp ... line level
compressor
then to the Multi-track
OR
line level input of the Mackie so you could use the EQ if you wanted to

... i just dont wanna go snake straight into my pre and have it clip and not be able to turn it down.

what ?
which pre-amp (brand and model) are you talking about ?

Your signal chain should be:

Microphone into snake input.
Snake output into boutique microphone preamp.
Boutique microphone preamp output directly into 24i input channel of choice. NOT into the Mackie at all.

For the other microphones. Into snake input.
Snake output into Mackie microphone preamp input.
Inserts output into 24i input channels of choice.

Adjust microphone preamps gain trim for proper recording level through the 24i. Your boutique preamp and the Mackie should have ample output to properly drive the inputs of the 24i. If you're getting distortion on your tracks, trim the gain down. Average recording levels should be between -18 to -6 as indicated by your software's meters.

You're almost there!
Ms. Remy Ann David

thanks for the help remy, that was exactly what i needed. i had a feeling that was what i was supposed to do considering having a signal path basically running through 2 preamps.

one more question for you ms. remy if you dont mind...

the only reason i run anything through the board in the first place was to be able to send headphone mixes out of one of the aux sends. i have problems running headphones mixes out of my daw (cubase sx3) because there seems to be a tiny bit of lag. while tracking into cubase i use the monitor on each channel and that sends back out to the headphone output of my motu and there is that lag so i just send the mixes to the headphones out of the board. i know that i am doing this so terribly wrong but i cant figure out a way to get better headphones mixes. i want to have the headphones mixes with good eq, maybe some compression or even reverb for vocalists and i know i have to do this within cubase but the lag stops me from that. if you read all of this and understand you truly are my hero.

p.s. one day i will meet you and shake your hand for teaching me so much from these forums. i search out your posts to try to find answers and sure enough, you always have the right one.

what did I say ?

I only had the comp in the chain cos you started with it in the chain

if it's a good comp and you can set it right
there's nothing wrong with tracking with it

but with 24 bit recording it's fine to go Mic-pre straight to record

That lag you are hearing is from the inherent latency of whatever soundcard device you are using. This differs with each manufacturer. Sometimes, there are settings recommended by the manufacturer of the audio interface device that will allow for lower latency. But because everything is digital and must be processed from input to output, there will always be a tiny minute amount of delay that most everybody has to deal with. If you can get the latency down to less than 15 ms, you should be able to work with that? But I have seen/heard the latency grow to over one second when combining audio with video and monitoring output.

Some software bundles that come with certain sound cards offer a straight through input to output monitor feature that virtually eliminates latency during tracking and monitoring. Not everybody has those sound cards and so latency with those may be more of a factor.

So I might have to recommend that you contact the manufacturer of your sound card and discuss the latency issue with them and any improvements they can offer you?

Thanks for your lovely comments
Ms. Remy Ann David