Newbie question - Mackie/RNC routing

[Sicily]

Sorry about the stupid question, I did a search and couldn't find anything to help me...

My mixer knowledge is not very good apparently.

Anyway, I just purchased a RNC and I'm not exactly sure how to hook it up so that I can hear what it is doing to my signal while tracking. I'm using a Mackie 1202 as a mic pre and have been going out of the channel inserts into my Delta 44.

Last night I was messing with it and I can route the compressor in between the insert (what I'm using as a direct out) and the soundcard, but I can't hear what is going on.

I think that I need to get one of those Y shaped insert cables so that I can hear what the compressor is doing, but I'm still not sure how to get that signal into my DAW...

A little help please?



Thanks in advance!

 

[tigerbomb]

Y cable will do the job, but a patchbay is more useful. I usually use my patchbay to split a line level output.

One goes straight to AD input (soundcard input)

Another goes into a mixer channel. This can be the insert return, or another channel altogether.

 

[Teacher]

you would send the signal either thru the main out or the alt out...preferably thru the alt-out thats one less mackie op-amp the signal goes thru...

 

[Sicily]

Thanks for the help, guys...

After a little research at the Mackie site and with teacher's suggestion, I think that using the alt-outs is the right way for me to go.

I can use a Y cable to get the compressor involved through the insert and assign that channel to one of the alt outs while everything else plays on the main outs. Or something like that anyway...I will try it tonight and see if it works.

I am starting to learn more about mixers and routing really quick. I wish that I knew about inserts AND direct outs when I bought the 1202. It doesn't have both, but it's not that big of a deal for now.

Anyway, thanks again.

By the way...just got the Studio Projects B1 LDC as well and it sounds awesome!