Adding Effects...PLEASE HELP!

[emojoe]

Ok...this is something that I still don't understand...how do you add effects to an already recorded dry track with an outboard effects unit, such as the TC Electronic M-ONE?

More specifically...I have linked my TC Electronic M-ONE to my Soundblaster Live Platinum via the S/PDIF I/O. I record using Cool Edit Pro 1.2. I record one instrument at a time (since I'm a solo artist), using the TC Electronic M-ONE as my A/D and D/A converters, and then I send the signal to my computer via the S/PDIF I/O connection. I like this setup because I have my right and left balanced inputs at 24-bit, 128x oversampling, and I'm sending my signal digitally so I avoid extraneous noise (although the SBLive!'s S/PDIF I/O are supposedly only 20-bit and it only records at 16-bit, oh well).

I like to record my tracks dry, bypassing both effects engines on the TC Electronic M-ONE. After recording these dry tracks, I would then like to add effects onto my dry tracks using the TC Electronic M-ONE, but I am clueless how to do this. I don't have a mixer for obvious reasons (don't need one, as I'm only recording one track at a time), so I am without AUX send/returns. What do those things do anyway? Do I need a mixer just for those AUX send/returns?

Ok, so here's the nitty-gritty of my question:

I have these newly-recorded dry tracks sitting there in Cool Edit Pro 1.2, begging for effects from my TC Electronic M-ONE, which is linked via S/PDIF I/O to my SBLive! How on earth do I get those effects onto those dry tracks!? Do I send the dry tracks back through the TC Electronic M-ONE via the S/PDIF in and then send the now effect-ed track back out to my SBLive! via the S/PDIF out, where I record the now effect-ed track as a new track?

I've done this before, but when I do it, two things always happen. 1.)The TC Electronic M-ONE often overloads when its digital input setting is any higher than -10dBU, and 2.)when I send the newly effect-ed track back into Cool Edit Pro (which I am now recording on a new track), the new, effect-ed track I'm recording records at a considerably lower volume than the original track, and then I have to normalize the new, effect-ed track which adds unwanted noise. I don't get it! HOW ON EARTH DO I ADD EFFECTS TO MY RECORDED DRY TRACKS (especially without destroying my original sound quality)!?

Please help!

Love,
Joe Bonomo

 

[raindrops]

you are right in sending the signal back out to your m-one, just think about your computer as playing whatever instrument you have recorded, that needs to output to the M-one, the computer is also the recording device so its needs to go back into the computer to be recorded.

all i can suggest is playing with the levels to get an optimum result, maximum level before clipping cause digital clipping is nasty.
you could try using the analog inputs and outputs instead if all else is lost.
i dont know but could there be a problem in having 24 bit output into 20 bit input??? just a thought

hope that was of some use/value to you

 

[windowman]

Wow! That sounds tough. I'm not sure about those S/PDIF I/O connections as I never use mine. I'm thinking you might have to break down and buy a better soundcard with insert points on it for adding effects. I only have an SB-Live too so I'm not sure as to whether or not other soundcards have S/PDIF I/O connections specifically for insert points to keep things digital. You're really talking some money then too.

I know you probably love your M-ONE but you might be better off finding a software effects unit you like at a low cost. Either that or record through your M-One to begin with.

I realize you most likely know all this already. You might try sending an email to Dragon about it. He's pretty good with Computer recording.

Best wishes, Bill

 

[Cakey2]

Um, mixer?

That's how I do it, anyhoo.