Question about Toft ATB

[Towens1]

Does anybody multitrack with the ATB's pre amps by going out of the inserts instead of the direct outs? Just curious what the differences might be? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Kadden Heart]

if memory serves me correctly the insert sends and returns in signal flow are preEQ and fader and auxes,....

so by using the inserts aren't you eseentially sending the signal out of the board immediately after it hits the TOFTS pre's?

the direct outs would be at the bottom the the chain,...

i think. check the manual.

[Towens1]

Originally Posted by Kadden Heart

if memory serves me correctly the insert sends and returns in signal flow are preEQ and fader and auxes,....

so by using the inserts aren't you eseentially sending the signal out of the board immediately after it hits the TOFTS pre's?

the direct outs would be at the bottom the the chain,...

i think. check the manual.

I think you're correct. I think by using the inserts as "outputs" you are just utilizing the pres only for tracking.

[Kadden Heart]

what is your purpose in doing this tho>?

do you have a lot of nice outboard EQ and comps to mix OTB with?

if so, then using the inserts will save you some noise, to have a cleaner signal in your multitrack, hence cleaner signal to mix later.

but if you don't have a lot of stuff, i would run the direct outs into your multitrack,..this will add some "noise" from all of the circuitry it's running through, gets the coloration from the toft,...otherwise it's not worth owning it.

imo

[Towens1]

Originally Posted by Kadden Heart

what is your purpose in doing this tho>?

do you have a lot of nice outboard EQ and comps to mix OTB with?

if so, then using the inserts will save you some noise, to have a cleaner signal in your multitrack, hence cleaner signal to mix later.

but if you don't have a lot of stuff, i would run the direct outs into your multitrack,..this will add some "noise" from all of the circuitry it's running through, gets the coloration from the toft,...otherwise it's not worth owning it.

imo

My Toft ATB is in shipment as we speak and when i get it i plan on using the pre amps of the Toft for tracking drums (dry...no eq...no compression)
into PT (BLA moded 002R)....hence the desire to use the inserts. Then doing some mixing ITB and returning to the Toft for EQ and then summing.
All guitars, bass, and vocals will be overdubbed using Shadow Hills GAMA pre amps directly into the BLA 002R.

[kbshearer]

I haven't gotten my hands on a Toft, but usually the inserts are post EQ. I do have an 80b and this is the case. I would be surprised if Malcom changed his approach.

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios

[Kadden Heart]

cool,
only problem i really see is,.. you're using the toft as a summing mixer,...and for drum pre's only,.

i would at least try tracking the drums using the direct outs, maybe engage a hi pass or lo-pass just to add the color to it.

congrats on the toft purchase tho thumbsup

here's a question for you then, lol
didn't you post saying you also had a digimax pre?

[Towens1]

Originally Posted by Kadden Heart

cool,
only problem i really see is,.. you're using the toft as a summing mixer,...and for drum pre's only,.

i would at least try tracking the drums using the direct outs, maybe engage a hi pass or lo-pass just to add the color to it.

congrats on the toft purchase tho thumbsup

here's a question for you then, lol
didn't you post saying you also had a digimax pre?

Yes. I have a Digimax which I will use lightpipe.

[Towens1]

Oh yeah...Kadden... Thanks for the insight man. Much appreciated.

BTW.. i graduated from FS (RA) in 05/06.

[Kadden Heart]

welcome,
and cool, i graduated august 06.

the digimax,..if you optical it into the 002 does this actually ADD the 8 mic ins, leaving you with full access to the 002 still.
or does it just make all of the 002's in into "better" mic pres?
,..stuid question i know... lol

[Towens1]

Originally Posted by Kadden Heart

welcome,
and cool, i graduated august 06.

the digimax,..if you optical it into the 002 does this actually ADD the 8 mic ins, leaving you with full access to the 002 still.
or does it just make all of the 002's in into "better" mic pres?
,..stuid question i know... lol

not a stupid question at all... I recently (with the help of people on this forum) figured out that the Digimax FS (via ADAT) will only convert the AD/DA of its own 8 mic pres. It IS an additional 8 though. So I have used it's 8 pre's via ADAT and then used the line ins of the 002R (with other outboard pre amps). You can still use the 4 pre amps of the 002 and it's 4 line ins if you choose. The thing is... without the BLA modification to the 002R the converters aren't so great. So I'm in the process of also having my 002R modded by Black Lion. This will leave me with the Tofts pre amps into 8 Digimax > 002R's 8 ADAT, and the tofts preamps into the 8 line-ins of the 002R with upgraded BLA converters. So... 16 inputs if i don't hook up the 2 SPDIF and 18 if i do.

I'm a newbie to mixing/summing OTB so any insight you may have is always appreciated.

T

[Kadden Heart]

that's what i thought.
just making sure the bla mod doesn't like,...negate the digital functions on a 002.

i'm going to be moving soon and figuring out how to hook up a cheap mixer, but i don't have the cash to go HD, and i don't want to use logic or something else just so i can use a different interface.

that sounds like a nice setup though.
i'd still track your drums through the entire board to achieve some color rather than bypass the eq's and such.
but i'm also kind of a fan of "commiting" to tape, so i tend to go overboard on the way in.

as long as you're getting good sounds i guess.
lol