Can someone explain signal chains to me?

[leavings]

Okay, so I'm not entirely naive and I can guess what a signal chain is. However, though I hate to reveal how entirely unprofessional I am, I really don't know what goes into one. At least, I'm clueless what goes into a good one.

For example, I have a few sm-57's and two Rode NT-3's. I plug those into my Aardvark Q10 mic preamp, and that goes directly into my computer where I record and mix everything using Cakewalk. Now, I don't know if that constitutes all the necessary elements of a signal chain, but it's what I know. I hear you all discussing other elements of your own chains, and I am unfamiliar with the equipment you're using so I can only guess what purpose it serves.

I would LOVE for someone (or several someones) to share with me exactly what they have in their signal chain, and what purpose is served by each individual link in that chain. Not that the money for an upgrade is within my possession at this point. But I'd love to know so I can at least sound cool like all of you when I talk about it.

Thanks, Peter

[Track Rat]

Well, a signal chain is just that, the chain of equipment from source to recording medium. The best chain is subjective. My opinion is the shortest one with the least amount of "stuff" and alteration. What chain I use depends on what I'm recording and the context that whatever that is, will be used. The chain on drums, and what kind of tune they'd be in would be different from one another and completely different for what I'd use for acoustic guitar or a vocal.
The short answer however might be;
Mic>mic preamplifer>compressor/EQ (VERY optional, I avoid these at this point when I can)>recorder.

[Blue Bear Sound]

The best signal chain is a "straight wire with gain!" - especially if it goes "one louder!"

[StevenLindsey]

no no no The best signal chain is this: A Blue Tube through a Blue Max through a Behringer Virtualizer Pro through a Behringer Ultrafex Pro through a mixer with a Behringer Denoiser on the main inserts to a recorder. You really can't get any better than that. Really.

[willovercome]

any of this will make a fine signal chain...

http://www.theblingking.com/

[masteringhouse]

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound
The best signal chain is a "straight wire with gain!" - especially if it goes "one louder!"

I'm with you BB!

And the best preset is "bypass".