No inserts???

[rdpar]

hOW CAN YOU INSERT OUTBOARD GEAR IF THERE ARE NO "INSERT INPUTS" ON THE INTERFACE.??

[BScout]

On i/o setup page, you assign your gear on the inserts tab. You will lose those inputs and matching outputs since they now belong to a hardware insert.

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by rdpar

hOW CAN YOU INSERT OUTBOARD GEAR IF THERE ARE NO "INSERT INPUTS" ON THE INTERFACE.??

There are two separate issues here.

Do you mean inserting hardware while recording? For this, your interface has to have analog inserts that come after the mic pre but before the A/D.

Or do you mean using I/O on your interface as "hardware inserts" like BScout is referring to?

Also, what interface would be helpful to know.

[rdpar]

Yes while recording . I don't understand why most new interfaces do not have inserts. However I bought a Focusrite clarett octe pre, Which has an insert on each channel , but the 8 channel clarett interfaces don't. I really like using at least a compressor on bass and vocals going into my daw. So I guess , that must be old fashioned or something, to insert . Thanks for the info.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by rdpar

Yes while recording . I don't understand why most new interfaces do not have inserts. However I bought a Focusrite clarett octe pre, Which has an insert on each channel , but the 8 channel clarett interfaces don't. I really like using at least a compressor on bass and vocals going into my daw. So I guess , that must be old fashioned or something, to insert . Thanks for the info.

In many ways, "old-fashioned" is a fair term. Since you can(and should) record at 24 bit, which gives a lot of headroom, there is good reason to record at lower levels. So, recording with no inserted hardware compressor is reasonably safe from hitting overs. Having said that, many of us choose to use gentle compression on the way in and there are ways to do that without insert points if you choose your hardware right("right" being a relative term, not an absolute). In my own setup, the only preamps I have that actually have insert points is a Focusrite ISA-428(but I don't use them as they handle drum overheads, hat and ride channels). Where I do use inserts is between external mic preamps(which started as a simple pair in an API lunchbox) and those were done by simply chaining the preamp out>Compressor in>compressor out>interface in.

My best advice is to steer future purchases to products that allow you to do what you wish. One of the first things I recommend is 1 or 2 "money" channels for crucial tracks(vocals being top of the list) and a "money" channel is not likely to be any 8-channel box. Its much more likely to be a premium mic pre/compressor combo(and maybe with an EQ). As nice as the Clarrett boxes are, you would probably enjoy having maybe a nice Neve 1073 clone thru an LA2-A

[rdpar]

So let me get this straight. I can take a direct out of my interface(which does not have inserts) , into my comp. out of the comp. into a line in on the interface? Yes , wouldn't we all love to have a couple "money pres".:):)

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by rdpar

So let me get this straight. I can take a direct out of my interface(which does not have inserts) , into my comp. out of the comp. into a line in on the interface? Yes , wouldn't we all love to have a couple "money pres".:):)

Depending on the interface, that could work dandy. "Money" channels can actually be done on a modest budget, and in stages. If you have good soldering skills, it gets even cheaper. There are a few companies that sell kits for excellent preamps(CAPI and Five Fish Audio both make great API 312 preamps in kit form). Buy a pair of kits for a great start. Follow that up with a pair of decent compressors(Warm Audio WA2A or build a pair of Hairball Audio 1176's). The Vintech 273 is another great option(at a higher price point) that includes enough EQ for any tracking(many of us track flat anyway). Even though I have outboard EQ's available, I rarely use them(plugins can match most any)