Connecting everything together

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monkey Allen
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Monkey Allen

Monkey Allen

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Hi all,

I'm almost in a position where I can build my home studio and would like suggestions about the best ways of connecting all the components/ hardware etc. So here's a list of what I have for my studio:

- RME Fireface UC
- UA LA 610mk2
- ART Pro VLA 2 Compressor
- ART Mpa Gold
- Grace m101
- Mackie MR5 monitors
- Avantone Mixcubes
















I want to be able to have all preamps ready to record when I want to use them...and I would like to use the ART Pro VLA 2 compressor while tracking and for duties on the 2bus or for running things through from the DAW software (Studio One 3) such as an eZdrummer stereo track.

So is there a way that I can connect everything that will minimize the need to constantly get behind racks and change cables etc?

I'll be running 2 sets of monitors too.

So do I need some kind of patchbay thing and a monitor controller? These kinds of things?

thanks
 
At the very least, you're going to need a patch bay (or patch manually every time) and a monitoring controller.
 
Yup, a patch Bay and a monitor controller.

Also, your daw needs to be able to compensate for the round trip latency of sending audio out to hardware processors. I know that cubase does this, but I don't know about other daws.
 
You don't actually need a patchbay for this. I count four channels of mic pre and then the two outputs from the compressor makes six line signals you need to get into the thing. You've got 8 inputs on your interface. Unfortunately, this will mean running cables from the rear of one of the units to the front of the interface which is a little messy, but doesn't make any real difference. Then you've got 6 line outputs, which is exactly what you need to get a stereo pair to each of the monitors and the compressor.

Do all the switching and routing from the DAW. Yes, this will complicate the thing with tracking through the compressor. Your interface may have some routing software of its own that can get you there via hardware and without latency, and this is one time I might see where that crap (interface routing software that overrides what you do in the DAW) that I normally hate could be useful. If your machine is decently fast, though, you could probably get low enough latency that you wouldn't need it. Or, like, don't track though it and just "reamp" later.

If your DAW makes it difficult for you to do these routings and/or can't compensate for hardware insert delay (on playback, they usually don't when recording), then switch to Reaper. ;)

Edit - Oh yeah, that still leaves the actual inputs for most of your pres in the back of the rack. A shortish XLR snake or just some "permanently" installed (and properly labeled) cables could help you access those.
 
That would sort of work, however it would be a real hassle to run a mic pre channel into the compressor via software routing.

Switching monitors via DAW seems a bit fiddly as well.

Admittedly, I miscounted the number of inputs on the interface. But a normalled patchbay would be a good way to deal with the patching, especially if you decide to buy more preamps and/or compressors.

Either getting a monitor controller or some sort of balanced line level switch to go between monitors would be the easiest and cleanest way of dealing with two monitors.
 
Like I said, if doing it in software is more difficult than a patchbay and monitor controller, then you need a new DAW. :)

Edit - Not that I'm against a patchbay! They can be great and it definitely would allow the OP room for expansion. As is, though, it ain't exactly necessary.
 
Thanks fellas...I'm a total noob at putting all this together...I'll have to read up on patchbays...you say a patchbay could enable me to have everything connected with no need for manual rearrangement in the case of tracking through the compressor and using it on the 2bus? A patchbay will allow cabling that covers both duties without the need to unplug/ replug etc?

My DAW is Studio One 3....I'll have to read up on it's latency issues.

The RME Fireface UC comes with 'Totalmix' which is a somewhat fiddly software/ hardware routing solution...but very good apparently...and is able to run latency free routing...as far as I know.

Can you guys suggest a transparent monitor controller option? I was thinking about just switching monitors in Totalmix but as has been mentioned, that may be a bit annoying in terms of workflow.

Thanks for the advice...but I really need to get my head around patchbays etc first....and look into what ashcat is saying about not needing a patchbay. But...I am planning to expand on what I have in future...so maybe the patchbay is a good idea.
 
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All he patchbays does is put all the inputs and outputs in one spot. You will still have to repatch things, but you won't have to dig behind the rack to do it.

You can also normal the patchbays so that without patch cables, it is already hooked up in the standard way. So you only have to patch things when you are doing something different.

The latency will only be a problem if you are trying to use the compressor on the 2 bus in real time. That will be something that the daw has to deal with, not the routing software for the interface.
 
By the way, I used to run signals out to hardware all the time (nuendo can do that), but eventually I came to the conclusion that it is much more effective to get good emulation plugins and use those on the 2 bus. Besides the 100% recall, you will be able to use as many instances of that plugin as your system will allow...instead of the one hardware compressor.

The provla is really cool, but you will get similar (possibly better) results from an 1176 or la2a emulation. Using it during recording will still be a worthwhile use of the compressor.
 
No worries...it's just something I want to try anyway...but I'm not excluding your option either. Whatever sounds best.
 
Eventually, the only time I went outside the box was to use my Lexicon pcm80. There were a couple patches that I just couldn't replicate. At least not as easily as using the real thing.
 
Sure, I can understand that...there's a lot of configurations for getting the job done these days...all in the box or a hybrid approach etc. I'm just happy to be in a position where I'm lucky enough to have these few bits of hardware to experiment with.

By recording/ mixing hobby has been largely on hold for ten years now, due to work...but it'll be full steam ahead in 8 months. I look forward to seeing where my experimentation leads and to get a feel for what I use.
 
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