![]() Most DAW systems have multiple inserts for each channel that allow you to add software based "plug-in" processors. Now with modern software based DAW systems, we have plenty of power and flexibility to work with. If you wanted to insert more than one piece of external hardware into the signal path, you simply daisy chained them, connection the output of the first piece to the input of the next piece, and finally taking the output of the last piece of hardware back into the channel insert return. On some consoles, there are switches that allow you to change the EQ, or at least the hi and low pass filters, to come before the channel inserts in the signal chain. So, any external gear you insert will come before the channel EQ, Fader, and Pan. In terms of signal flow, the channel insert connections usually come right after the microphone pre-amps for that channel. On some lower cost home consoles, the insert jacks use one TRS style connector, which requires a special "insert cable" that breaks that connection out to separate send and return connectors on the other end, for patching to the inputs and outputs of your external gear. Usually there is a pair of connections, an "insert send" for sending the audio out to the external gear's input, and then an "insert return" for patching in the output of the external gear back into the channel. As soon as you plugged something into the insert, the normal signal path was broken, and the audio was routed out to whatever you patched into the insert, and then returned back to the channel signal path. If nothing was plugged into the insert, the audio proceeds through the channel normally. Of course, you don't actually insert the physical piece of hardware! It's simply a set of audio connections, usually wired to a patchbay in big studios, that allow you to send the signal out to the external hardware, and then bring the processed audio back into the same signal. On a traditional consol, an Insert is a set of connections in a channel path that would allow you to "insert" an external piece of audio processing hardware into the signal path. While there is no right or wrong way to do anything, and modern DAW software and computers have enough power to do almost anything you want, there are reasons why the more traditional methods of using inserts and sends were established. They may have had no formal training, and thus may be unfamiliar with the way channel inserts and effects sends, or aux sends, are traditionally used, especially in the big studios with big analog consoles. Many young engineers, and home recording enthusiasts, have never worked with an analog console before, and the only mixer they have ever used is that built into their DAW software of choice. Additionally, you will see the renamed inserts "Hardware EQ 1" and "Hardware EQ 2".The topic of inserts and effects sends came up in a recent post on the message board here, so I thought I'd write a permanent article to explain the difference and how they are typically used in recording or mixing applications. ![]() In this screen, inputs or outputs B1 and B2 may appear as yellow, indicating that they are currently being used in the session. Here, you will see all the interface I/O that can be utilized as insert points. Instead of selecting a plug-in, navigate to the bottom of the list and choose I/O. To utilize a hardware insert, first, click on one of the available insert points on a track in Pro Tools. Naming the inputs and outputs according to the devices that are connected to them saves time and eliminates the need to remember which device is connected to which input/output. The mono sub-paths, which can be accessed by clicking on the triangle, will be automatically named "Hardware EQ.L" and "Hardware EQ.R", but I can use the same labeling process to change them to "Hardware EQ 1" and "Hardware EQ 2". We would rename "B 5-6" to "Hardware EQ". ![]() By double-clicking on the stereo insert, I can label both channels at once. For example, I can designate channels 5 and 6 on my HD I/O for use with a hardware EQ. In Pro Tools, you can label the hardware insert points in the Insert tab of the I/O window.
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