another dang Amek thread...

[beruang]

Ok slutz, here is my real end all question-and yes, I have read the other threads and I know all about phantom power and patchbay risks. In fact, I have read all the threads I can search about this.

I have an Amek Einstein with pathcbay attached, all necessary cabling to run it to venus and back.

I have at least a dozen outboard preamps.

I have Aurora A/D converters and can get any type of DB-25 to whatever connectors.

I want to be able to use any preamp on any channel and have latency free monitoring for the artists. How do I make this happen in the best fashion? I'll be happy to attach a photo of the patchbay routing of the channels (plenty of empty jackstrips too) if it helps.
Thanks guys, help a hillbilly out, would you? It'll be good for Karma purposes.

[beruang]

anyone? fellas?

Nessie? Yettie? Chewbacca?

Crap. Lost in the woods with no food stamps.

[crypticglobe]

Ummmmm... just monitor back on the tape returns of the console. Use the aux sends.. pre-fader to create your headphone mixes. You have at least one stereo (maybe two) on that console and at least 4 mono's to create "more me's". The Furman HDS systems tie right into a console like that. Basic recording 101. You can patch the outboard pre in anywhere you want... the line of the channel so you can use the EQ... or directly into the tape input on the patch bay. The outputs of the Aurora should be hard wired to the "tape return" on the console. In "mix" mode these will even come up on the big faders so you can "mix" without affecting the "to tape" levels.

I am not sure what your "phantom power" worries are. I mean... the only time you have to worry about that is when you are patching directly into the mic pre. Just be sure you turn phantom off before you patch into a channel... all your mics and pre's will live a long life. It's easy to remember once you get in the habit... patching... check the channel... turn off the 48v.... make the patch... turn back on the 48v. It's easy.. say it again with me...

[beruang]

Steve, thank you.

This is what I have been doing, but had been told this was not correct by some ya-hoo. I do use the aux send and have a second small mixer in the live room for monitoring (all 8sends to the phones)-but I was specifically told not to patch the pre's into the cosnole like you said. Back to it then damn it!

The phantom power blurb was to avoid the usual "oh god, dont use it in a patchbay" which, of course, will not come between a mic and a pre anyway.

[Tim Farrant]

Well a normal recording path would be...

mic->console preamp->direct out->tape machine (DAW)

tape (DAW) out->console tape return->mix (aux's)

or with outboard preamp...

mic->outboard preamp->console line in->direct out->tape

The console should allow you to monitor the source (mic direct) or DAW return on the channel. I am not too familiar with the Einstein but there should be a button that allows you to do this. So whilst over dubbing, you listen the source along with the other DAW tracks.

Hope this is of some help.

Tim.

[Mike Caffrey]

IF you're using the onboard pres, there's probably an swtich next to the aux sends that determines whethter they are fed by the fader or the pre. I think it might be labeled "mix", so that when it's down it's monitoriing from the fader and when it's up from the pre.