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Originally Posted by Action508  I am starting to understand a little bit. So say I have vocal mic on channel one in. Where would I send the out from the DAW? To a line in on channel one?
Lets say I got my drums tracked. After they are tracked I want to throw my favorite compressor snare and bass. It's just a one channel compressor, and I still want to be able to adjust the level of the snare and bass. What do I do then? Send the signal out and record it on another track? |
If you have an in-line console you can monitor your tape return (often on a small fader) within the same channel as your mic pre and tape send. A split desk will often just have the tape returns on pots, with level, pan and a few auxes in another section of the desk. If you have the channels I prefer to bring tape returns back on a whole other section of the desk so you get the long fader, full EQ, inserts and even automation if you want it straight from the get go.
There are lots of routing permutations and ways of working, which is a big plus for using a console.
That's the thing with hardware vs plug-ins. If you only have one real compressor you can only use it once (obviously), unless you print your stuff through it one track at a time, but then you lose ease of adjustment.
It's all a balancing act. Use a plug-in on the snare and bass and your hardware on the vocal?
Decisions, decisions.
