Dumb digital interface question

dblock · 15th August 2006

I read different things about connecting outboard gear in different orders for different effects.
In the case of using a digital interface (such as RME Fireface 800) with it's 8 ins and outs.does connecting my eq, compressor and limiter to it mean it's actually being used according to the input order I've connected them in?
In other words does having the eq connected to input one and the compressor to input 2 the same as if I connected cables from eq to the compressor so the eq will actually come before the compressor?
Told you it would sound dumb. Let me say it another way.
If I want eq and comp and limiter in that order, do I place them in my fireface comp (input 1) eq (input 2) and limiter (input 3)??
OR, is the outboard gear now in some kind of lateral chain?
If you can make sense of this, you deserve a medal.

drBill · 15th August 2006

??? I'm not sure I even understand your question and I've been doing this for 20+ years. I'd suggest a primer on signal flow basics and after a short study, I'm guessing you'd answer you own question. Here's one that a quick google search turned up:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_1.htm

You've to think out to in to out to in and etc. in other words, for tracking:

Out the mic, In the EQ, Out the EQ, In the Compressor, Out the Compressor, In the Interface. Serial flow not parallel.

For Mixdown: Out the interface (out 1 for instance) In the EQ, Out the EQ, In the Compressor, Out the Compressor, In the Limiter, Out the limiter, In the Console (Channel 1), etc.

I don't know if this helps or not, but again, a primer on signal flow will help you understand this much better. Add in a console and patchbay and a myriad of routings and you will hopelessly lost without a basic knowledge of signal flow. Good luck. Bill

15th August 2006	#1
dblock Gear nut Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 126 Thread Starter	Dumb digital interface question I read different things about connecting outboard gear in different orders for different effects. In the case of using a digital interface (such as RME Fireface 800) with it's 8 ins and outs.does connecting my eq, compressor and limiter to it mean it's actually being used according to the input order I've connected them in? In other words does having the eq connected to input one and the compressor to input 2 the same as if I connected cables from eq to the compressor so the eq will actually come before the compressor? Told you it would sound dumb. Let me say it another way. If I want eq and comp and limiter in that order, do I place them in my fireface comp (input 1) eq (input 2) and limiter (input 3)?? OR, is the outboard gear now in some kind of lateral chain? If you can make sense of this, you deserve a medal.

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15th August 2006	#2
drBill Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 11,509	??? I'm not sure I even understand your question and I've been doing this for 20+ years. I'd suggest a primer on signal flow basics and after a short study, I'm guessing you'd answer you own question. Here's one that a quick google search turned up: http://www.tweakheadz.com/signal_flow_1.htm You've to think out to in to out to in and etc. in other words, for tracking: Out the mic, In the EQ, Out the EQ, In the Compressor, Out the Compressor, In the Interface. Serial flow not parallel. For Mixdown: Out the interface (out 1 for instance) In the EQ, Out the EQ, In the Compressor, Out the Compressor, In the Limiter, Out the limiter, In the Console (Channel 1), etc. I don't know if this helps or not, but again, a primer on signal flow will help you understand this much better. Add in a console and patchbay and a myriad of routings and you will hopelessly lost without a basic knowledge of signal flow. Good luck. Bill