Using VST plugins as insert effects on a hardware mixer.. ?

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overstand
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Using VST plugins as insert effects on a hardware mixer.. ?

Post by overstand » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:44 pm

Anyone ever had a go at this?

Essentially, I am curious if anyone has tried to mix using a hardware mixer and then using the aux sends, send a signal to an audio interface, apply an effect (e.g. reverb/delay) to the signal and then send it back out to the return on the desk.

I would imagine, even with direct monitoring, latency would be a major issue here.

Would love to hear people's experience on this.

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interruptor
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Post by interruptor » Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:53 pm

You are right. Depending on the audio hardware and the computer itself you'll have a latency that is clearly audible. On my laptop it is around 50ms. For a reverb effect this will not be a big problem - Many reverb presets have a predelay time anyway. For delays on the other hand it will be disturbing.
When I programmed my own plugin "Echolive" I included a latency compensation feature to tackle this problem. It works fine.

http://www.interruptor.ch/vst_overview.shtml

unityunityunity
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Post by unityunityunity » Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:22 am

hey,
i don't have my firepod plugged into the chain cause I'm waiting on a firewire adapter...

But I did this setup and it worked pretty nice. ...

used two Y-cables

one into the aux send - to the mic input on the front of the laptop.
and one into the cd/tape in - to the headphone plug on the laptop.

basically no latency.

used a handful of different vst effects...
the tape delay interruptor made, the space echo replica, and a bunch of other ones, flanges, phasers, ect. ect...

i was wondering myself if this was possible.
then i saw this post and decided to try it...

I'll hook up my firepod and my headphone distro. once I can, and give some feedback if anyone cares for it.


like I said this works and fairly well.
:-)

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