A very strange MIDI problem....

[gilwe]

Setting up my studio - how to connect effect racks ?

I use a Fostex M-80 tape recorder along with a Yamaha 16/4/2 mixer. It give me a really great sound. Now, I want to add some effects to the system but I don't really know how to connect them what effect modules I should buy.

What is the minimum effects requirements for mixing and mastering?

Are there effect racks that has few inputs and outputs so they can process few track on real time ?

I really don't want to use digital for recording as I don't like the sound. So can I only use lets say one compressor/limiter, one EQ and one multi-effect (for reverbs/delays) ? The system is 8 tracks.

Currently, i use tracks 1-8 on the mixer for recording inputs (each track insert's output is connected to the mutitrack recorder's 8 inputs so I can control the input signal's gain) and tracks 9-16 for playback (recorder's 8 outputs to mixer's 9-16 track's input)

Or any good link that covers this issue if you have one...

Thanks !

 

[Sennheiser]

For compression you'll need to free up an insert. You don't usually put a compressor on a send because it splits the signal.

Using an insert for the compressor, you could always buss your signal to tape rather than going direct.

If you'd rather not do it this way, you could compress the signal before it enters the channel strip.

That's the only bad thing about using compression, you need a compreesor for each channel you are recording at the same time, unless you compress the whole mix out of the masters which isn't always a good idea unless you are mastering.

The effects unit is usually put on a send so each channel can use the box. I hate doing this because even though you can adjust the individual channel effect amount, they all share the same reverb. The only way around this is to have a separate box for each channel and have as many sends as you have channels and boxes. Not very practical or cost effetive unless you're rich.

I don't have an outboard EQ so I cannot comment on its use.

When I buy one it will be at least a five band parametric and I will probably use it on the final mix rather than on an individual channel.

 

[gilwe]

Funny how the wrong subject title has come up in this thread ...

Anyway,

if I use the same reverb effect for all channels, using the effect send-return, each channel is going to get the mix of all reverbed cahnnels into its return... right ?

I only need to be able to reverb / delay / compress /eq for the mixes ... I guess in professional studios the own as many compressors as the number of channels in the studio if so....

 

[Sennheiser]

each channel is gonna get the whole mixed channels into its return... an I right ?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Could you rephrase that?

 

[gilwe]

OK nevermind... I figured the answer myself...