1 Topic by edoctor24 (edited by edoctor24 2024-08-21 16:22:42)

  • Registered: 2009-05-08
  • Posts: 32

Topic: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

Dear all,

would like to achieve the following task/use-case with the fireface:

use DAW channel with inserts as (soft-)FX for external gear. and then record the signal from the external gear back in the daw. how would i have to route that in totalmix/matrix view? would i have to turn, in mixer-view of totalmix, certain volumes up/down? smile or could i accomplish this only in the DAW I/O settings, no need to route/turn anything in totalmix? smile

thank you and kind regards!

p.s.: external gear (1073) is connected via line out to a line in of the FF, via send to another line in of the FF and via return to a line out of the FF

  • waedi
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
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Re: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

You have to route the outputs from the DAW to the external gear. Thats all.
Click onto the hardware output channel and lift faders of the playback channels from the DAW.
The returns via analog inputs in the FF are available in the DAW for recording without further ado in Totalmix.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by edoctor24 (edited by edoctor24 2024-08-25 09:37:14)

  • Registered: 2009-05-08
  • Posts: 32

Re: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

Dear all, servus waedi,

Sorry but i probably didnt depict my usecase fully. So what i wanna do:

Mic goes into mic in on 1073,
1073 send goes into fireface/totalmix/daw
In the daw i put e.g. a compressor on the vox (via eg insert slot)
Return that processed signal via daw/totalmix/fireface to 1073 via return input on the 1073
Pass signal further through the 1073 (eq and output transformer)
Go via line out of 1073 back into fireface/totalmix/daw and record that smile

Possible? Disadvantages like latency induced avoidable in this scenario?  How would you route/record without Hardware compressor in order to compress the signal after the 1073 input transformer but before the Output transformer).

Thanks!

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-08-25 09:48:48)

  • ramses
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
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Re: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

Which 1073 do you have, there seem to be several models with different connections on the rear / features.

I don't know the Neves capabilities.

So you hope that the Neve has two different outputs, one for its recorded (raw) mic input and
and another one for an insert on the Neve with processed DAW signal as source?

I have certain doubts that a Neve Mic Pre is designed for such tasks; therefore the exact model would be … "useful".

From TM FX perspective, this is an "isi pisi" task. In the DAW, you send the processed signal to another output than the main mix.

This signal you see in TM FX (assume Full Mode) in the middle row under Software playbacks.

Choose a free hardware output on your RME recording interface. Select this output in submix mode and raise the fader of the respective SW Playback signal.

Then you have the signal at the Neve ... to what input to plug or whether the Neve is capable to process this separately, sorry I don't know.

Of course, you would need another (2nd) connection from Neve to the recording interface to record this in another input channel to avoid a loop.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14

5 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-08-25 13:29:57)

  • waedi
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Re: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

edoctor24 wrote:

Dear all, servus waedi,

Sorry but i probably didnt depict my usecase fully. So what i wanna do:

Mic goes into mic in on 1073,
1073 send goes into fireface/totalmix/daw
In the daw i put e.g. a compressor on the vox (via eg insert slot)
Return that processed signal via daw/totalmix/fireface to 1073 via return input on the 1073
Pass signal further through the 1073 (eq and output transformer)
Go via line out of 1073 back into fireface/totalmix/daw and record that smile

Possible? Disadvantages like latency induced avoidable in this scenario?  How would you route/record without Hardware compressor in order to compress the signal after the 1073 input transformer but before the Output transformer).

Thanks!

For sure I would record the mic signal directly into the DAW as pure and clean as possible (mic directly connected to the interface ).
Routing back after compression into the 1073 and route back into the DAW is possible and the latency is negligible, no problem.
But for what ?
To me this sounds like snake-oil, speaking of output transformers is new to me and sounds like coming from marketing.
A Mic-Pre with FX-return connector because we have dedicated output transformers.
Why should there be an output transformer at all ? The job of the preamp is to bring up the signal to line level, the job is done, no need for further transformer.
Next question, what output transformers is used in the RME 12Mic ?
Sorry I hope this is not rude to you, I'm digital hightech follower.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

6 Reply by edoctor24 (edited by edoctor24 2024-08-25 19:37:23)

  • Registered: 2009-05-08
  • Posts: 32

Re: Use Software-FX as Insert for Hardware-Gear and back to the DAW

dear all,

thanks so much for your replies! it is the behringer 1273 i am using, a 2 channel mic preamp which has mic-ins, line outs, and send and returns for each channel.
why do i want to compress the signal via send/return - because users of the 1273 on gearspace say, that the output transformer doesnt distort so easily if signal is compressed via external send return - but since i dont use external compressors i wanna use the software-compression in the daw.
original 1073 schematics show that, as the behringer 1273, after the mic input (not line input) there is a input transformer, and at the line outputs there is a output transformer.
of course i could record the vocals via the fireface A/D and send it compressed from the daw to the line in of the 1273, but that means i use the A/D of the fireface, then the A/D of the 1273 and then i still miss the input transformer in the 1273 smile so if it would work with the send/return method, might be better. hope i explained it in a more comprehensive way.

thx so much for your valuable input and advice!

cheerio!