??s about using outboard gear with the 688...

[Hi_Flyer]

I have a project coming up and I'm thinking about renting an outboard compressor for tracking drums, so I have several questions...

should my signal chain be: mic>compressor>input on the mixer ?

if so, which input should I use? The mixers on these things don't have channel inserts, do they? if the mixer did have a channel insert, would I want to use it instead?

also, which mics would you use compress while tracking, snare/kick or overheads? I'm thinking the kick/snare combo- that is if I can get ahold of a 2 channel compressor for rent from the local store...

are other 688 owners using outboard gear like EQ and compression while tracking, with good results? My thinking at this point is that since its a narrow track-width machine, it would be advantageous to get as much GOOD sound as possible to tape, which means fattening up and taming transients with compression, and trimming excess frequencies with EQ. Am I correct in this line of thinking?

[A Reel Person]

so I'd use those....................

[A Reel Person]

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[Hi_Flyer]

thanks dave, I knew you would be on this...

in the pic you posted, the line input is the input below the XLR, and the channel insert is the input below that, correct?

what kind of cable do I need? When you plug a TRS cable into a channel insert is it both a send/return signal, right? Will an outboard compresor have the same kind of input/output?

Unfortunately most of my effects processing experience is "in the box", or running crappy guitar effect pedals through the effects loops in my 424. So I'm just beginning to learn how to use the more sophisticated mixers, analog/outboard gear, signal chains, etc...

[A Reel Person]

There is a special "Insert" cable, that's TRS on one end, and splits out to 2 TS plugs on the other end. It's a common accessory, on a well accepted standard, so go to your music retailer and find an "Insert Cable".

Insert is just that. There's an In and Out on the same plug on one end, and splits out onto two separate plugs on the other end. It's a Y-cable of sorts.