Where/How to plug FX racks into analogue mixer.
 

Alright everyone how's it going been a bit lazy with the old music making lately so haven't been around for a while anmd I've just put the studio backl together.

Anyway as the title suggests I am having trouble connecting my fx units up. In the past I had to just connect them to the outputs of the synth/drum machine and then into the inputs of the mixer but I would like to set it up properly so I can apply FX to any channel I want on the mixer using the Aux connections. Can anyone explain this I am following the instructions on the Soundcraft manual but it doesn't seem to work. Each channel has a Direct Out, a Line(which the instruments are plugged into) and an Insert. The mixer, a spirit SX also has 3 aux connections.

Anyone able to explain how this should be setup I'm lost now.

Cheers

Send effects are connected to the AUX busses (AUX send to FX in and AUX return to FX out). The inserts are just connected to the inser jacks.

Yep, what Juho said. To explain a little more though....

Once you have the sends and returns hooked up as Juho said. Plug your gear into the normal channel inputs, now when you turn the send knob on each channel it will send the signal on that channel thru the send to the FX.

.....and then it will come back from the FX unit into either the aux returns, or better yet a stereo line channel, so you can then record the processed FX into your sequencer!

I have my FX unit (TC Electronic M300) hooked up via S/PDIF in/out to my soundcard, so when I want something processed, I duplicate the track I want effected, and set it's output to the FX unit, and then set up another channel with it's input from the FX unit, so I use it almost like a plug in. It is so damn cool! of course I have to record my MIDI stuff to audio first.

I love computer recording so much! How much??? This<--------> much!

.....I sometimes run my FX back onto a stereo channel instead of the return too. That way I can EQ the FX independantly - great for distortions or colouring delays.

well...Between the 3 of us we should be able to get this sorted for ya.

cheers guys, i will give this a try tomorrow once the hangover has cleared and let you know how i get on.