Using / Inserting EXTERNAL compressors & effects w/ METRIC HALO 2882

[DanRock101]

Greetings all!

I currently have an Apogee Ensemble setup with Logic 8. I use a myriad of outboard pres (Wunder Audio, Millennia, Universal Audio, Ridge Farm) & comps (Ridge Farm Boiler & Distressors). I do use the Ensemble pres which are very nice as well, BUT, I'm not married to them. Also, I use comps while tracking as it's only way I can with the Ensemble setup.

I've been wanting use my comps INSERTED into Logic while mixing. I love MITB but, would like the option be able to INSERT outboard comps in Logic.

I know that with the Apogee Symphony System you can patch in things via insert points. And the Symphony system is about $8,000 - $12,000 easy! (AD16X/DA16X $3,300 each,=$6,600, PCI Card $750, ADX Card per unit $175, DSub & X-Symphony, Word Clock & patch cables, $500 minimum, & another Rosetta setup if you need more than 16 INS).

I've heard nothing but good things about the Metric Halo setup. It's integration, it's stability, it's awesome customer support, it's FUTURE support etc. AND a couple of 2882's with the DSP would run around, $3,800 tops..... I can sell my Ensemble and a couple of other things to pay for one of my 2882s....so, the price and other factors lead me that way.

Since I want to use the Firewire medium (bare with me here Slutz) and I want to have 16 INPUTS (stable, tried and true) minimum, Metric Halo seems like it's a definite for me.

So, my question is; has anyone else had experience patching / inserting OUTBOARD gear (compressors in this case) using the Metric Halo 2882's???? Can it be done with MH's routing?

Take into account that I'm using Logic 8.

Maestro's patching & usability SUCKS (I'm talking about the Ensemble version)....yes I have the current updates n such.... the Ensemble doesn't seem to work too well, nor does it get me where I want.

I'd like to get other user's advice with their experience of using Outboard patching / inserts.

Any help with any of the above inquiries would be much obliged!

[Allen Rowand]

Originally Posted by DanRock101

So, my question is; has anyone else had experience patching / inserting OUTBOARD gear (compressors in this case) using the Metric Halo 2882's???? Can it be done with MH's routing?

Yes I have, and yes it can.

Our interfaces work on a bidirectional system: you have DAW channels to send audio from the computer to the mixer inside the interface, and FW channels to return audio from the mixer to the computer. The MIO Mixer sits in between, allowing you to route, mix and process within our dsp environment.

For example:
To insert a compressor you would drop an I/O plug in your Logic track and send via DAW 3 (for example, assuming DAW 1-2 are your main outs) which is Output 3 in Logic. In the MIO Console you would route DAW 3 to analog output 3 which is the send to your compressor. The compressor returns on analog input 3, which is then assigned to FW3 and returned to Logic's I/O plug on Input 3.

It's no different than using a patchbay once you grok it. There are a ton of possibilities because you're accessing the mixer within the interface, so you can do other things like submix within the box or run dsp processes. Let's say you wanted to use your favorite outboard reverb, but need to eq it a little. You could use the MIOStrip plug in the interface (which is our ChannelStrip plug poured into hardware) to tweak the reverb before it goes into Logic.

Two 2882s would get you 36 channels in and out of your Logic session that you can use for analog or digital interfacing as well as virtual processing inside the MIO Console.

HTH,
Allen