how do I use outboard effects with my computer?

[dobro]

By request, I transferred this post from Cool Edit to here, but the transfer didn't work. So lets see if this works for werewolf:

"How do I use outboard effects with my computer?
I know there is info on this, but my searches have not been helpful.

I'd like to use my outboard effects on some of my tracks, can someone explain how this is done? Does it require a soundcard with multiple in's and out's? I am using an Audiophile 24/96 and Adobe Audition.
Thanks,
werewolf"

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Yes, you would need a multiple I/O card to handle the routing - especially if you have multiple effects/tracks you want to use effects on.

Also consider that doing this will add an additional D/A/D conversion to your sginal. (depending on what you're doing and the gear invovled, this may not be important, but you should at least be aware of any potential degradation.)

 

[mrface2112]

the 2496 is a 2in/2out card, so the most you could do at one time is a stereo track (or 2 mono ones). simply put, you run a line out of the card, into the effects unit's in, out of the effects unit's out, and then back into the computer onto another track. you just play the original track and record the effects onto another track.

this means it WILL undergo another D->A->D, which as BB pointed out, may have an impact on the sound. you also may (will) notice some latency between the original track and the new one(s), so you may need to time shift the new track forward some.

hope this helps some. personally, i'll either track with the effects going to tape in the first place or i'll use a plugin.....i've found using outboard effects during mixdown to be a bit of a chore.


wade

 

[werewolf831]

Thanks for the replies.

Another question. When I using the fx box with an external mixer, I send two 1/4" cables (left and right) from the effects unit into the aux returns, left and right. Now, if going mixerless and using the soundcard, do I still need to send left AND right out of the fx box into the soundcard using up two inputs? And what is the newly recorded track supposed to contain, just the effected part and not the dry part?
Thanks for helping,
werewolf