Quick question about compression and effects loops?
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Posted on Dec 29, 2009 01:08 am
jazzryandrums
Ryan
Member Since: Oct 01, 2008
Hello!
I was wondering if I could get some help with a couple of questions.
First, when using compression when recording guitars, what kinds of things can you use it for? Like how would I "fatten" up the sound or what else could I do that changes the sound with it? What is it usually used for? (I have a DBX 266XL)
The next question is if you are running a dry guitar signal into Cubase LE4, is there a way to add effects into the track such as distortion or reverb and have the altered signal play through the outputs?
I am talking about when recording live which i don't think there really is a way? Basically, if i record a guitar signal that is dry coming into the interface, is there a way that what i hear coming out of the monitors is that same signal with distortion or reverb (using cubase's effects on the track) while i am recording?
Sorry for the complicated question, I don't know how else to ask really.
If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated!!
Thank you!
-Ryan
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cruxTypo SzarMember
Since: Jul 04, 2002
Dec 29, 2009 01:21 am first question, usually compression on guitars is to reduce the dynamic range, such as if ur having alot of picking pops or to even out strumming. I dont think most ppl use it in terms of fattening but that will definitely be a result u get. I use it like i stated, when the player is more or less all over the place with their dynamics or if there r some annoying anomalies like a fret slide that just jumps out.
I dont know about Cubase LE since its a lite version, but most daws if u insert the effects to the track and activate the monitoring ull hear them processing even as ur recording, it might take some cpu juice though. From my experience its not the daws so much as the plugins themselves whether or not they support real time processing, some of the free ones out there just arent built for it but most standards plugins will work.
Dec 29, 2009 01:39 am thank you for the help!
but when i turn it on for monitoring and listen to the output, there seems to be quite a delay and it ends up sounding like a tremelo. is this because my computer is slow? or does it have to do with ASIO or latency? i'm not sure how all that stuff works exactly.
cruxTypo SzarMember
Since: Jul 04, 2002
Dec 29, 2009 04:58 am Its probably to do with latency, wat soundcard r u using? ull have to set up the driver so u can reduce latency. If the playback is effected but just slow and choppy, then obviously it works, u just need to setup ur system so that its more manageable
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 29, 2009 11:57 am If you're using your built-in sound card, then you're going to get some pretty high latency. This is because stock sound cards aren't designed with audio recording in mind, they're primarily playback devices. Combine this with the fact that integrated sound cards generally use some pretty bloated and inefficient drivers, and you get the latency that you're experiencing.
One thing to try is using the ASIO4ALL drivers (Google it) for your sound card. These drivers will improve the latency for just about any built-in sound card. In Cubase, you'll have to go into your device setup and select the ASIO4ALL drivers after they're installed.
Fattening up a direct, dry guitar signal is a tough proposition. You can try using some modelling software, but they're pretty costly (applications like Guitar Rig, Amplitube).
Or, a good investment for your situation would be one of the Line 6 interfaces. They're affordable interfaces that let you plug a guitar straight into them and then use their POD Farm software to model all sorts of effects, amps, and room ambience. It'd be a giant leap in quality over simply using a direct dry guitar signal into a stock sound card and processing using Cubase's built-in effects.
Dec 29, 2009 12:00 pm Hey, for fattening up tracks, I went to Google for the good ol' Green Machine...found out Wurr Audio have now turned all their plugs into freeware:
www.greenmachine.pwuq.net...g/Download.html
I thought the Green Machine was pretty decent when I reviewed it a few years back...nice free alternative to amplitube and such.
Dec 29, 2009 11:21 pm thank you everyone! this helped a lot!
