Outboard effects for PC recording

[A1A2]

hello, all

this probably belongs to the newbie section, but I never got an answer there about this question last time I posted there. So, here it is:

For digital audio recording, the less A/D, D/A ther better, and you want to track dry then add effects later. These are the rules I've learned here.
Now, where do the rack effects boxs come in if I follow those rules? Is S/PDIF the answer? I understand that mild compression during tracking is common, but how about other stuff like reverb and so on?
And, I have Audiophile 2496, which only has S/PDIF in, does that mean I can't digitally route the pre-recorded dry tracks to effects boxes that has S/PDIF ins and outs? or S/PDIF is a 2-way thing?
Please correct me if my understanding is off, Thank you

AL

 

[cominginsecond]

I understand that mild compression during tracking is common, but how about other stuff like reverb and so on?

Generally, people don't track with reverb, but some people go to tape with a little EQ.

And, I have Audiophile 2496, which only has S/PDIF in, does that mean I can't digitally route the pre-recorded dry tracks to effects boxes that has S/PDIF ins and outs? or S/PDIF is a 2-way thing?

The Audiophile has S/PDIF in and out. One cord is a stereo in and the other is a stereo out. So you should have no trouble patching, say, a stereo digital reverb with S/PDIF.