Routing question

[Dogboy73]

I want to take an output from the computer, send this through my hardware synths (Neptune 2, MS2000) to mess with the sound & then record the result back onto the computer. I'm thinking I need a simple multi I/O card/interface as a way of doing this. But would I be able to send a signal out & then re-record back onto the computer without getting feedback loops in the signal? I'm not sure if this depends on the interface's digital mixer, my sequencing/recording software or what.

Here's a diagram I made of how I imagine I need to set things up (using, in this case, an M-Audio Delta audio card/interface - friend has one I can have for £40. So if it does the job I'm having it);

[JAYDMF]

Yeah this is perfectly fine. I dont know what your using but in cubase 4 anyways what i would do is just add another stereo output (assigned to outs 3+4) route the signal you want to that output. The return signal can then be sent into inputs 1+2 direct or 3+4 if you have them and monitored with listen enable(which would be set to come out of the first stereo pair 1+2) on and recorded to a stereo audio track. there would be no feedback loop because its coming out of a seperate stereo pair.

Edit: if you route back through your mixer as in the diagram then you will get feedback loops occuring as its all being fed into the main output of the mixer. Go direct from the synths to the interface and theres no issue

[Dogboy73]

Originally Posted by JAYDMF

Edit: if you route back through your mixer as in the diagram then you will get feedback loops occuring as its all being fed into the main output of the mixer. Go direct from the synths to the interface and theres no issue

I think I really need an interface with more I/O. That way I could probably do away with the mixer all together. What about one of these maybe?;

http://www.dv247.com/invt/32250/

[JAYDMF]

Yeah the alesis stuff isnt bad but if you can afford it look at something like either the Motu ultralite or the 828 Mk II. its gonna depend on how many preamps you need really. If you need more pres then the alesis or one of the mixer/interface type jobs is gonna be a better bet. If you can deal with just 2 then the the MOTU stuff is top notch in my book. but let everyone else give you their opinion and decide.

[Dogboy73]

But routing wise I should be able to do what I want with a more capable interface i.e. one with more I/O and competent digital mixer/router?

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by Dogboy73

But routing wise I should be able to do what I want with a more capable interface i.e. one with more I/O and competent digital mixer/router?

Depends on how much routing you want to do. With a 4 in and 4 out like you have doing what you want seems easy enough. you really need to think about what it is your going to be doing.

I have a 24 i/o but i use outboard comps etc so this comes in handy. However when im just getting the track down i wouldnt say im using any more than 8/10 ins at a time and thats using the blofeld, morpheus, mpc, sometimes a laptop running reaktor and occasionally a d110, but thats if ive got a lot going on.
it depends on how you work really i mean sometimes i may just be using the blofeld so i only need 2 inputs (or even one), everything else is going on in the machine and is layered up by recording parts in seperatly and building it up that way. If you want a lot of things running outboard then more i/os are needed but if not you should be fine with say 4.

[Dogboy73]

Originally Posted by JAYDMF

You really need to think about what it is your going to be doing.

It's really about taking a signal out of the computer (a drum loop for example), feeding this through the Neptune 2 or MS2000 & then recording the resulting audio carnage back onto the computer

At the moment I'm not using the audio input ability of my 2 synths, which is a shame - The MS2000 has a built in vocoder I could route stuff to from the computer. The Neptune 2 can use an audio input as the OSC2 source, often producing results (according to the Future Music review) that put a smile on your face from ear to ear I need to be doing that stuff.

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by Dogboy73

It's really about taking a signal out of the computer (a drum loop for example), feeding this through the Neptune 2 or MS2000 & then recording the resulting audio carnage back onto the computer

At the moment I'm not using the audio input ability of my 2 synths, which is a shame - The MS2000 has a built in vocoder I could route stuff to from the computer. The Neptune 2 can use an audio input as the OSC2 source, often producing results (according to the Future Music review) that put a smile on your face from ear to ear I need to be doing that stuff.

Seems to me like your interface will do that job easily enough.

[Dogboy73]

Originally Posted by JAYDMF

Seems to me like your interface will do that job easily enough.

Except earlier you said not to route the outputs of the synths into the mixer in order to avoid feedback loops. Instead go straight into the interface. That doesn't give me enough inputs with the Delta card. I need x2 for the mixer, x2 for the MS2000 & x1 for the Neptune 2.

At the end of the day I'm going to need an interface with more analogue I/O. If I get a decent enough interface I'm thinking I'll be able to do away with the Compact 4 mixer all together. This will mean less cabling, which is good + my set-up is really all centred around the computer so it makes sense at the end of the day.

It's just a question of whether I can route things from the computer to the my external devices & then record the output of these back onto the computer. I'm still a bit confused about whether this depends on the digital routing provided by the interface, the sequencer/recording software I'm using ..... or both.

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by Dogboy73

Except earlier you said not to route the outputs of the synths into the mixer in order to avoid feedback loops. Instead go straight into the interface. That doesn't give me enough inputs with the Delta card. I need x2 for the mixer, x2 for the MS2000 & x1 for the Neptune 2.

At the end of the day I'm going to need an interface with more analogue I/O. If I get a decent enough interface I'm thinking I'll be able to do away with the Compact 4 mixer all together. This will mean less cabling, which is good + my set-up is really all centred around the computer so it makes sense at the end of the day.

It's just a question of whether I can route things from the computer to the my external devices & then record the output of these back onto the computer. I'm still a bit confused about whether this depends on the digital routing provided by the interface, the sequencer/recording software I'm using ..... or both.

Ok right if you want it all hooked up at once then yes your going to need more analogue ins but are you going to be using these all the time ? if yes then get an interface with more inputs. If no then maybe consider a patch bay, you wont need to use all of it but you can have everything hooked up and use patch cords to get what you want hooked in when you need it. If you have the cash get an interface with more inputs and a patchbay that what you can route what you want where you want whenever.

In regards to routing its dependant on your DAW, most DAWs will allow you to assign ins and outs as you wish so you can taylor it to your needs in each project you work on. all the major names will do this very easily.

[Dogboy73]

Cheers for you replies, jaydmf.

Part of my modest little set-up includes a Technics SL1210 turntable, which I use all the time to record from vinyl. I'd be looking for an interface that I can hook this up to. Not many seem to have this. The Alesis I/O 26 does have phone inputs (with a phone stage) & for the price this is looking like a good candidate for an upgrade at the moment. It's got more than enough inputs as well as outputs that I can (hopefully) use to route audio from the computer into my external synths & then record back into the computer. Providing this all works out I should be able to take the mixer out of the equation & have all my gear hooked up perminently to the Alesis.