Hardware inserts Pro Tools

[Becharax]

I got my main Interface as an Apogee Symphony I/O with 2 Analog Inputs and 6 Analog Outputs ...

Output 1 and 2 and Output 3 and 4 are connected each to a set of monitors

Output 5 and 6 are connected to an external compressor

Input 1 and 2 Are connected to the Output of External Compressor ...


Now I got 2 questions:

First how can I easily alternate between the 2 set of monitors from my master fader ? I used to be able to change between output 1-2 and output 3-4 from the Master Fader Output and automatically i can hear the sound coming out of each set of monitors

Secondly, concerning the hardware insert, is it possible to setup the insert in I/O in Pro Tools whereas output 5-6 are sending to compressor and input 1-2 are returning to Pro Tools ?? for some reason it is not working

Help

[JFreak]

Hardware Inserts need matching i/o numbers so set it for outputs 1-2 instead

[Becharax]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Hardware Inserts need matching i/o numbers so set it for outputs 1-2 instead

Won't Work since Output 1-2 are my main monitors ....

[JFreak]

just connect your monitors to 3-4 and so on, but if you have hardware inserts you need matching i/o numbers

[albee1952]

Can the Apogee take a card to add more inputs?(that could solve the insert problem)? For multiple sets of monitors, a monitor/source switcher is the best route. The Audient Nero gets great reviews as does the Presonus Monitor Station(both are under $500). There are other options at several price points, but these 2 are what I would call solid performers(IOW, I'd probably not go with the cheaper options).

As I often ask when the question comes up about hardware inserts....what are you wanting to insert? Lots of folks jump thru hoops on this and it turns out they have some cheap DBX or Alesis compressor. They are so bent on doing it that they lose sight of whether its worth it. Too many times, a plugin will match or beat the quality(and with zero hassle) I used to run a commercial studio in Nashville and I spent the time and money to give the rig hardware inserts, and I had several great compressors and 2 Pultec clones. Once I got done testing and making sure everything worked perfectly, guess how often I used a hardware insert..............you guessed it; not once. I used the outboard gear during tracking(and it worked great), but during a mixdown, staying in the box made more sense(even after direct comparisons). Food for thought

[JFreak]

I have similar box, Apogee Symphony mkII which has 2 in 6 out, and yes there is a slot for additional i/o but the thing is if you want to use the 2in 6out with hardware inserts the hardware insert need to be input and output 1-2 and monitoring 3-6

[Becharax]

On a side note ... In Logic with the I/O Plugin ... I can choose the output as 5.6 and input as 1.2

So is it that just Pro Tools requires matching numbers of Inputs Outputs ?

[JFreak]

PT Hardware Insert requires matching I/O numbers. Need to be on the same interface and same number. As in Output1 to Input1

[albee1952]

Is there anything preventing using 3-6 as outputs? That would free up 1&2 IO for 2 channels of inserts. I ask as I am able to select any pair of outputs on my 003 or Presonus 1810c to be the main L/R out

[JFreak]

Only possible thing would be analog wiring... the 2/6 card has a DB25 output and if the harness has different type connectors on 1-2 than 3-6 then that would need to be modified.

But it is necessary to be able to set up Hardware Insert as it requires outputs 1-2 going thru external box and coming in inputs 1-2