patching in compressors on preamps?(mixerless)

[T-RAVE]

How do you guys do this...I have access to some stand alone pre's and like to run a limiter as a satey net on vocals when I record ( these are screaming, metal, type vocals)...whats the best way to run a comp/limiter without a mixer with insert channels?

Thanks

 

[GABritton]

T-Rave,
Are there AUX sends on the board? That's the only other way I know without having it on your mixer...

 

[T-RAVE]

no....that is what I am trying to figure out...I see all these people going mixerless for there pc recordings, etc...do they just rely on plug-ins...If I am mistaken the limiting plugs don't work on a real time audio signal in "real time"...

 

[GABritton]

T-Rave,
What are you recording to/from. Are you just going from these pres your talking about to your soundcard on your computer? Where is the signal going, and through, what....we'll figure out how to help....

Soundcards on regular home computers don't have inserts, but most computer audio interfaces do have some sort of channel inserts...

 

[Farview]

You lust plug the output of the pre into the input of the compressor. The output of the compressor into the recorder. It's that simple. no inserts needed.

 

[T-RAVE]

thanks fairview..

my chain will be preamps----compressor-----nuendo 8/io to hammerfall

 

[chessrock]

Hey T-Rave,

How's things? Long time no talk.

I think you just want to go from the line output of your mic pre to the line input of the comp, from the line out of the comp to the line in of the sound card. At least I think that's what you're asking, and that's probably you're lone option.

Honestly, though, the best way to avoid clipping on the way in is just to give yourself more headroom than you think you need. Turn the volume down going in to your sound card. I wouldn't worry about what anyone might tell you about recording hot or "using up all your available bits" or whatever. That stuff's way over-rated.

 

[chessrock]

Woops. Looks like Fairview already took my answer.

 

[Farview]

Woops. Looks like Fairview already took my answer.

You really have to keep an eye on those answers, people are just stealing them left and right.

 

[T-RAVE]

Chessrock!,

how's it going...I am just looking to try to record without the usual noise inducing board, patch cables, etc. etc.

I like the more direct approace of preamp to soundcard....thanks for the advice!

what's cool in the mid priced ( actually sub $1000) preamps these days?

the m-audio octane is looking tastey ( I just want clean , mostly uncolored pre's)

 

[GABritton]

T-Rave,
I saw this, it would allow you to not use the soundcard, but instead use the PCI card that comes with this 8 channel preamp
http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-AAR-Q10.html#Aardvark Q10 Direct Pro PCI Audio Interface with Cubase LE (Macintosh and Windows).

 

[T-RAVE]

gab ,

thanks for the suggestion...the truth is I have great cards with ADAT lightpipes....I even have the ( gasp) behringer ada800...which is shockingly good for the cash ( 8 preamps, adat i/o)...but it doesnt have inserts...but I also have a nuendo ( RME ) 8/io converter box with a hammerfall card.....so I have a few options....some killer pre's would be a great match for my 8/io...which is my best recording stuff.

 

[T-RAVE]

gab ,

thanks for the suggestion...the truth is I have great cards with ADAT lightpipes....I even have the ( gasp) behringer ada800...which is shockingly good for the cash ( 8 preamps, adat i/o)...but it doesnt have inserts...but I also have a nuendo ( RME ) 8/io converter box with a hammerfall card.....so I have a few options....some killer pre's would be a great match for my 8/io...which is my best recording stuff.

Turn the volume down going in to your sound card. I wouldn't worry about what anyone might tell you about recording hot or "using up all your available bits" or whatever. That stuff's way over-rated.

thats the method I use most often...especially for drum tracks

 

[chessrock]

what's cool in the mid priced ( actually sub $1000) preamps these days?

If 800 isn't too much, then I'd go with the Sytek MPX-4A. If that's too much, then the Octane seems like a good option.