Help! Connecting inserts

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Shack

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Help! Can anyone please tell me how to connect inserts? I want to connect a track/channel to an external compressor to use for mixdown.

My mixer (Tascam DM24) has got insert jacks on each channel and so I connected the one on the vocal track to the compressor but zilch is going on. There is no singal coming through.

I am new to using inserts and assumed I only had to use a Y cable with the split ends of the Y going into the compressor. It appears, obviously, that there is more to it than that.

FYI if it helps, the channel I want to connect the compressor to is being used as a return from tape.
 
Describe in great detail your Y cables.
 
It's basically like Y shaped and at the three ends are line connectors. I was told that this was an insert connector and that what happens is that you plug the tail of the Y into the insert of the mixer and then take the other 2 ends into the in and out of the preocessor.
 
If it's an insert type of Y cable, it'll be a stereo 1/4" type of connector at one end that Y's out into two MONO 1/4" connectors. If that's what you have, as long as it's plugged in correctly, it'll work. If you're not getting anything reverse the ins and outs on the compressor side.
 
Thanks. I've tried that but there is just no signal coming into the compressor. Is the signal automatically supposed to come out from the 'insert' or do I have to do special routing/patching?

Does the fact that I am using as a tape return mean that the insert will not route the same signal?

The connection I have set up is the tail of the Y going into the insert of the track, one of the branches going into the line input of the compressor and the other going into the output of the compressor, is that correct?
 
Shack said:
Thanks. I've tried that but there is just no signal coming into the compressor. Is the signal automatically supposed to come out from the 'insert' or do I have to do special routing/patching?

Does the fact that I am using as a tape return mean that the insert will not route the same signal?

The connection I have set up is the tail of the Y going into the insert of the track, one of the branches going into the line input of the compressor and the other going into the output of the compressor, is that correct?
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That's the concept.

You need to make sure that the cable is properly routing the signal, however.

When you plug the stereo 1/4" plug into the insert, it interrupts the signal flow in that channel... sending a signal out, and bringing the compressed one back in. The jacks of the insert and compressor should be labeled to indicated how the signal flow operates.

Is your Y cable homemade?

Have you checked the cable, itself?
 
Yes, the signal is "automaticly" there and you do not have to do any special routing.If you're sure of the pin out and the continuity of your patch cable then something is defective. Again, you did try reversing the leads?
 
It appears it could be the mixer settings. As a check, is it possible to plug say, headphones into the insert and expect to hear any audio coming through if everything was working properly? Or is the type of signal coming through the insert not able to be heard on headphones?
 
If signal was present, you'd hear it in one ear only.
 
Tip is send, ring is return. Ohm it out and connect the send to the compressor input and the return to the compressor output. Also when you ohm it out, make sure that both are separate ( no continuity between ring and tip)
 
I don't know if all tape inputs actually route through the inserts. My guess is if you are using an Inline console then the inserts won't know if you want to use the tape returns or the mic/line input (unless the swap switch determines that). Try running your tape returns into the Line input and see if the insert picks it up.

I had to setup my Ghost that way but there may be something I am missing. I haven't been using the Mix B on it so I haven't experimented that much yet.
 
Thanks all, i've solved the problem! My mixer is a digital one and I was routing back tape returns digitally but found that the inserts do not work on digital channels, only analog mic/line channels.

So what I have done for the vocal track is take it back from the souncard to tyhe mixer via analogue line input and the insert works perfectly.

Thanks again.
 
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