inserts question

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tapeboy

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So an insert can be used as a tape out (send) huh! By plugging the cable in to the first 'click' I just read. But then you lose the possibility of using the inserts for individual effects, no?
 
tapeboy said:
So an insert can be used as a tape out (send) huh! By plugging the cable in to the first 'click' I just read. But then you lose the possibility of using the inserts for individual effects, no?
Click to expand...

You can make specisl cables to do both Ha!
 
It's no loss. If you need a compressor or something, you can still patch it in line on the way to "tape". If you want to do inserts as direct sends, solder a 1/4" stereo connector on the insert end with the tip and ring tied together and soldered to the center conductor of the cable (that's NOT a balanced type cable). This way you can seat the connector in the insert jack and it won't break the internal path.
 
What exactly is an insert? I have them on my Compressor, but never used them. What is their point and how do they fit into the over all scheme of things?
 
An insert is an IN/OUT designed so you can "insert" a device into the signal chain such as a compressor or an EQ. In the case we're talking about, it can also be utilized as an output only. On your compressor, that insert is a SIDE CHAIN in/out and has a completly different purpose.
 
on a mixer, the insert is a jack that has both input and output at the same time. it uses a stereo cable and either the input our output is on the Left side and the other is on the Right (forget which is which). they are designed so that if you put a 1/4" cable in half-way, you get the out, but the signal keeps passing through the mixer channel; it doesn't look for the "in" signal. just acts as a direct out. the insert on your compressor is for a sidechain. you usually patch an eq in there. the eq does not effect the signal, but rather the signal that the compressor acts on. so if you cut all the lows on the eq, they wont affect the compression threshold. you can use this for "ducking" and other techniques that you'll probably never use.
 
FALKEN said:
on a mixer, the insert is a jack that has both input and output at the same time. it uses a stereo cable and either the input our output is on the Left side and the other is on the Right (forget which is which). they are designed so that if you put a 1/4" cable in half-way, you get the out, but the signal keeps passing through the mixer channel; it doesn't look for the "in" signal. just acts as a direct out. the insert on your compressor is for a sidechain. you usually patch an eq in there. the eq does not effect the signal, but rather the signal that the compressor acts on. so if you cut all the lows on the eq, they wont affect the compression threshold. you can use this for "ducking" and other techniques that you'll probably never use.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks you all for the great answers. So if I used a side chain as you described...I would almost be choosing which freqs I want to compress? Is that right? So I can keep my bass nice and loud but squash the highs....am I understanding correctly?
 
no, its not that simple. it will determine which frequences affect the threshold. so, if you are running a mix through the compressor and the sidechain is set to cut the lows, the bass thump wont kick in the compressor, but when the snare cracks, everything gets squashed.
 
Ahhhh! i got it...thats good stuff to know. Thanks! I am definently going to play with that.
 
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