Direct outs with aux
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Posted on Aug 31, 2005 06:21 am
Festive D
Member Since: Aug 31, 2005
Hi guys,
I have a problem I wonder if any one can enlighten me on.
I have just bought a Soundcraft M4 mixer which is great but i'm a bit confused using the direct outs to my laptop via my presonus firebox.
I want to take, say a mic signal and add eq and effects through aux 1 and 2 of the M4. Then send it via the direct out to the firebox.
But the signal that comes out of the firebox has Eq but no effects on it why is this?
Is the direct out path not connected to the aux pots of the mixer and if so what is the best way to use wet effects on an input signal?
Would I have to plug the mic directly into effects box and then into mixer for eq and then finally direct out into firebox.
Dave
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Aug 31, 2005 06:41 am if you're only using 2 channels, then send the signal out the main out, that'll have all your signal chain in it (aux, eq, etc). You could probably use the monitor out, if you wanted to use 1/4" ts plugs. I believe the firebox has xlr inputs. Watch that you don't preamp your signal twice, once from the mixer, and again in the firebox.
Mix the two signals hard left, and hard right to keep the two signals separate.
The direct outs are meant to be signal taps right after the trim/gain control. I guess yours has the eq included in the direct out as well.
Another note, the insert may be pre-direct out. You may be able to put a device on an individual channel with the insert. You wouldn't be able to mix wet and dry, the insert is all or nothing (hence the name: insert), but it may live before the direct out.
hth
Aug 31, 2005 07:15 am Cheers for that
Much apprieated
Dave
Aug 31, 2005 08:27 am What you are seeing is the difference between pre and post aux loops, I presume your direct output is before the loop being used for EQ so you are sending the signal out of the board before the EQ can be processed.
Sep 29, 2005 01:57 pm Yeah, direct out, by definition, come directly from the microphone, before any tweaking. Sometimes, the direct outs are even before the volume faders. So use the board's main outputs.
Sep 29, 2005 04:17 pm Most of the time Direct Outs are post fader though.
jmailjimmie neutronMember
Since: Feb 14, 2005
Sep 29, 2005 11:16 pm Inserts are generally pre-everything, Direct Outs are the Channel Strip out, whatever is in the strip, minus any Aux Sends, which return into the subs &/or mains... Which is where sending the Aux Send to an effect and then *back into another channel* is so great (IF you've got another channel available). Use the Direct Out of it...
