Using External Effects with Pro Tools, using analog connections

I will describe the setup to use an external effects device with Pro Tools as an A) Insert and in a B) Side-Chain setup.

Generally speaking, effects that are normally applied to tracks using an insert are EQ and Dynamics processors, like compression and gating. The side-chain approach is generally used for time-based effects, such as Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flange, etc. These again are generalizations, and under certain circumstances an engineer might apply EQ or Dynamics via a Side Chain, for example when setting up the New York Compression trick; or apply Chorus or another time-based effect via the insert fashion. However, when a time-based effect is applied via insert, typically the effects device’s mix control is utilized to balance the un-effected signal with the effected signal. On to the details:

A. & B. For both signal flow types, insert & side-chain, you will connect the effects device to the audio interface in the same way. Lets say we are connecting a Lexicon PCM 91 to an 002 interface.

1. Connect the PCM's analog outputs to audio inputs on your interface. These will need to be treated as a “line” inputs, so find the appropriate input connection on your interface. On most interfaces Outputs 1-2 are your main outs, so you will not want to connect it to inputs 1-2. For instance we will connect the PCM outputs L/R to inputs 5 & 6.

2. Connect the PCM's analog inputs to the audio output on your interface. You will need to use the same output numbers that you used to connect the Audio Outputs of the effects device. So we will connect the PCM's analog inputs to the interface outputs 5 & 6.

A. Making the connections in Pro Tools to use the PCM as an insert:

1. On the track that you want to use the PCM as an insert, go to the insert assignment section (typically using the Mix Window), and click on the insert location where you want to place the device. Remember that the inserts (plug-ins and hardware inserts like this) are processed in order from top to bottom. From the list, instead of choosing a plug-in, choose “i/o” from the list and select the input/output pair that you connected the effect to. In our example we will choose “i/o > A 5-6”. Depending upon how you have your paths labeled in the I/O Setup page the text after the “>” symbols may vary.

Now when you playback, the audio on this track will be processed through your effects device. Again for time-based effects, you will typically want to adjust the “mix” control to allow some dry signal to pass through the effects device.

B. Making the connections in Pro Tools to use the PCM as a side-chain effect:

1. Create a stereo Aux. Input track, and set the track input path to the pair of inputs on your interface where you connected the effects device. Using my PCM example, we will choose Interface Inputs 5-6. Set the output to your Main Output path. Option-click (Alt for PC) on the fader on the Aux. Input track to set it to 0dB. Command-click (Control for PC) on the Solo button on the Aux. Input track, to solo isolate this track. This is done so that when you solo a snare track, for example, you will still hear the effect of the PCM as well as the soloed instrument.

2. On each track in your session that you want to send to the PCM, create a send to “interface > A 5-6” in the “sends assignment” section of each track, again depending upon your I/O path labeling your labels may differ. I try to use the same send slot, so always use slot A, for example. This will help for step 4.

3. You will then adjust the send level and pan on each of the sends to create an “alternate” mix of these instruments that is sent to the PCM where it will be processed and returned to the Aux. Input track.

4. If go to the “View Menu > Sends A-E > Send A” this will set the Send A-E area in the mix window to only show send A and Pro Tools will use the remaining area to show you the fader, mute, pan, etc. This will make creating your mix to the effect much faster. There is a keyboard shortcut for setting this assignment, if you care to look it up.

Good Luck and have fun.