Routing what i have/Monitering w/effects

[Sunyboy]

Hi everyone.

This topic is set to express my concern of routing what i have to work with and monitering my input signal with vsts on the input strip in my DAW- REAPER.

I believe it'll be of much importance if i were to list my hardware now, so here it is.
-------------------
Behringer UB802 Mixer
http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Behringe..._8_Input_Mixer

EMU 1212m Sound Card

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...2&src=3SOSWXXA
-------------------

I use the phantom power on the UB802 so the mic signal gets sent to the first XLR port on the mixer. From the mixer I've a 1'4 cable going into the L Input of my emu 1212m.

Typical Monitoring Chain: EMU Outs---Behringers 5/6 line inputs---from Amplifier (Passive monitors) to Ctrl room outs on UB802.

-------------------

My concern: I record hip hop vocals and i'd like to know if (with what i have) it would be possible to monitor the input signal with a compressor on the channel. I've had little to no success in the past because i always get a feedback loop. This is probably due to my misunderstanding of routing. Some people tell me i need a mixer with more ins and outs, some people tell me i need an interface with more ins and outs, even some people have suggested i get a patch bay.

Now if i could avoid all of those and devise a way to make this happen, it would be of much help if the community would shed a few ideas.

Thanks

 

[Ethan Winer]

Behringer UB802 Mixer

There's your problem. You need a mixer with insert points, so you can insert a compressor into the recording path. But...

There's no real need to record with a compressor, and I generally suggest not to do that. Much better is to just record straight, with no effects, and add compression afterward when mixing. Even 16-bit digital recording is quiet enough to just record at a lower level to avoid clipping. Then fix the levels when mixing, and/or use a software compressor.

--Ethan

 

[Sunyboy]

Thanks but someone in another forum has suggested this advice which seems to work.

----------

Mic > Channel 1 on Desk
Main Mix Outs Desk > First 2 Inputs on EMU
First 2 Outputs on EMU to Tape In on Desk
Control Room Outs on Desk to your Monitors

Press the Tape to Control Room button on your Desk and you'll only hear the EMU outputs
Send Mic to Computer by panning left or right and assigning the 1st or 2nd channel from your EMU to record in your DAW - set this channel to input monitoring You can also insert a compressor on this channel and an aux to a reverb or whatever and monitor all this via your desk

If the mic is in the same room as your speakers use headphones, but they are driven from the Control Room out anyway so there's no need for a different setup

----------------------------------------------------


The only problem now is that when i do the input monitering i'm getting a "coupling " effect. any idea how to get rid of it?

 

[Whale Bone]

If I understand you, I think the problem is that ASIO direct monitoring needs to be off.

Is the coupling effect a doubling of your signal, with one being delayed slightly? I'm guessing so.

And you are turning input monitoring on in your recording software? If you aren't turning off ASIO direct monitoring, you'd get two signals with different latencies coming back out of the EMU.

 

[Sunyboy]

Problem fixed!

Thanks!