Integrating rack mount effects/gear with a DAW (reaper)

[blavatsky]

So, i'm starting to put together a little rack system for my gear in the recording room; I have a USB audio interface, sonic maximizer, compressor, nanoverb - basic stuff.

What is the standard way of basically getting those effects (after being recorded dry) into a DAW, namely reaper? Do people typically route the outs of the audio interface through whatever effect, then feed them back as new tracks into the interface? (seems like possible feedback)... Or is the standard still, record with effects on (wet) into DAW and go from there.

Then other gear, such as the Lexicon MX series, has USB and VST capabilites, but again i'm just not sure how that would plug in with reaper, especially since my interface is USB , don't know how a DAW would treat that. Any experience with that?

[Stab Frenzy]

You need to use a multichannel interface.

[blavatsky]

Ok, its 16 channels

[Stab Frenzy]

So you main outs will be 1-2, send whatever you want to have the effect on it to 3, plug output 3 into the effect, then record the effect. Easy.

[blavatsky]

Cool that makes sense...now as usual, I need some more cords.

[blavatsky]

well I may be 1/2 a tard, only see 1 and 2 as main out on my interface (Tascam 1641)....it does have a digital out and a headphone jack.
I guess I could use the headphone jack to send it to the other effect then back into another input (it has like 8 or 10 line inputs which is good) but i usually try to stick with line where available for best signal

Or ... sorry i'm a newb at rack s**t....would this be where you get a patchbay, and use that to "break out" the signal before returning, and route it whereever?

[Stab Frenzy]

Have a look on the back, where it says line out balanced 1234. Use 3 or 4 there. How to send to those outputs should be covered by the manual of the software you're using.

[nathanscribe]

What Stabs said - interface output->effect->interface input on a different DAW channel to the audio you sent out. I don't know about other DAWs, but my experience with Logic is that accidentally trying to record the returning audio on the same track as your send hurts. Never have I hit a mute so fast.

Another way it to do it while recording - plug synth into effect, record one channel of dry and one of wet. Blend them afterwards in the DAW. The advantage of this method is not having to mess about with latency compensation.

As for the Lexicon MX range, they don not transmit audio over USB - it's solely a control method so you can call up your settings via a plug-in.

[Ashe37]

I have the same interface... it has two primary outs and the SPDIF out is the 3 and 4 out, IIRC.

[blavatsky]

Yep...I did notice in the control panel you have to select 1+2 out or 3+4 out only, that's a little wonky but maybe the digital out will be the trick.

[Ashe37]

But hey, I paid $220 for mine...