brassplyer
Well-known member
I.e. instead of the mic going into a hardware eq, a software eq before it hits the record path in the daw.
Armistice
Son of Yoda
Some audio interfaces have monitoring programs which allow you to apply effects like EQ, compression, even reverb on the way in - I have an RME interface and I know it can do it although I've never bothered, and you can probably apply an plug in EQ in the DAW as something's recording to "tape" - although I've never tried it either.
At least I assume you can... at least I can't see why you couldn't. It would be the only way to, say, apply a limiter if you wanted to stop a particularly loud source clipping on the way in - and if you could do it with a limiter, then you could do it with an EQ, I'd think.
At least I assume you can... at least I can't see why you couldn't. It would be the only way to, say, apply a limiter if you wanted to stop a particularly loud source clipping on the way in - and if you could do it with a limiter, then you could do it with an EQ, I'd think.
J
jonny deep
Disappointing Member
The built in compressor on my interface happens in software, i.e. after conversion to digital, so couldn't be used to prevent clipping at the analogue stage.
OP - I think some DAWs have an input track (i.e. before the track you're recording to) on which you can fiddle with the gain and maybe add plugins. I've no idea why you'd want to imprint anything on the way in rather than process after, though.
Armistice
Son of Yoda
Yeah, I sort of thought of that this morning, for no particular reason, and thought "DOH!"...
Still, I think it's probably possible, and I can imagine some situations where it would be useful, but they're "edge cases" to me...
brassplyer
Well-known member
If you know a particular mic benefits from a particular eq profile tweak, why not get it scienced out and have it done on the way in rather than have to tweak it later every time you record with that mic. Isn't this regularly done with a hardware eq? Once upon a time wasn't it common practice to even add reverb on the way in? Many vocals were recorded in echo chambers.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Well yeah, but then you would have years of experience and outboard gear that you would find that works with any particular mic, and probably recording to tape so you don't have the choice to change later.
A key point here, every source is not going to necessarily need the same eq or whatever adjustment for any mic. Just because said mic worked with one or however many other input sources and a certain eq, does not mean that is always good for another. That is why we find mics that work best for different sources. Screw the 'this mic needs this' approach. That IMO is way overcompensating for what is actually happening.
Recorded in echo chambers? You lost me now....
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
Or just save your settings as presets to use as a starting point for the next time. Best of both words.
The reason we committed certain effects to tape was that we didn't have enough processors to do it at mixdown. In some ways it was great, in some ways it sucked.
Guitars and keys are kind of special cases as far as effects to tape. Effects are more integral to those instruments than effects on vocals, bass, drums etc. where they're add-ons for the most part.