correct signal path of devices

[AsksQuestions]

This is my first post.

I have a question I'm definately a newbie. But I have what I at least think are "ok" recordings. But I record in a weird way.

Let me explain. I use Cubase to sequence with, and record audio tracks, and apply effects to the audio tracks. I do not mixdown to a 2 track master within Cubase, I'm just not comfortable with that (maybe if i had a faster computer- current: 500p3 512 mb ram win 98 Cubase 3.7r2)

I just use Cubase as a big mixer.

Let's say I have 8 vocal tracks at one time, and my sequenced parts, most people dump the midi'd parts onto a audio track. The more I dump that stuff back in, the more memory and cpu usage goes up-thats a given. So I leave the midi tracks for just what they are: midi tracks. Apply efects, panning, volume, ect as midi. once I get my mix "decent" I route the aux outs of my Omni to a whole other computer with just Wavelab on it.

Record enable Wavelab, playback the sequence, fade in/out, apply some reverb, chorus, stereo imaging, eq, normalizing, bada-bing, I'm done. Now I know this is ghetto, but I dont have a $100,000 pro-studio. I do have $30k invested so far, mostly instruments. I need to get better outboard audio gear to get the best possible clearest signal into the computer.

Here's what I want to do:

1. I want to daisy-chain a Anteras autotune and a DBX Compressor together. Which comes first in the path? The compressor or the Autotune?


I've used them seperate before, but not together at once linked.

thanks,

Mikala

 

[Robert D]

I'm gonna go with Auto tune first for this reason.....compression tends to bring up low level stuff like headphone bleed, background noise, mouth noises, etc. The less extranious signal autotune has to deal with and decide whether to tune, the better.

-RD

 

[Big Kenny]

nail down a cheap pre amp aand start there
then go out to either ( or neither, you could add that stuff later)
Though I always compresss a little on the way in
In His Name
BK

 

[a12stringer]

I asked a friend who has over 20 years of experience in his recording studio this question a couple of years ago and his response is that the pre-amp is always the first stage in the signal chain, EQ is always next to last, and compression is always the last. In between the pre-amp and the EQ is totally a matter of personal preference.

 

[jaeden]

Does this mean that an outboard effects unit should come before the compressor in this line?

 

[Massive Master]

This is one of those "rough call" situations...

If your AutoTune is working fine at the head of the chain, leaving it there would probably be the best way to go. However, those things can get so flaky if the level isn't "just right" - You may have to put the compressor first just to keep the level in the ballpark where it (AutoTune) will function properly.

Jaeden - No hard & fast rules with compression... Not a one. Except "Thou shalt not compress the master buss before sending to thy mastering engineer, for he shalt smote thy compressor but good." That's one to live by.

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com