How to MIX with HARDWARE

[@ColtCapperrune]

Anything specific you struggle with when it comes to hardware? Everyone, let’s help our fellow music peeps out here in the comments!

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

I just started using hardware on my mix buss, and my biggest issue is level matching...getting there, but still not quite as good as I want it to be...

[@dr1u23m2549]

Ok here's one that I've been pondering for the past several years and all it's done is lead me down a rabbit hole of other questions. How consoles are wired....(Note I've never seen an ACTUAL console in real life) What I've figured out is you can't really get any "mixer" and run it as a console because there's not an "output" on each separate channel, you'd need a "console" specifically designed for studio applications to record individual tracks in software and not just the stereo image or the bus tracks. You'd also need enough inputs/outputs on your AD/DA converter(s) to cover each channel. (SSL 48 channel 24 bus console would need 72 AD/DA's) but then where does that leave outboard gear? Is it routed through inserts on each channel, would you want/need more converters for them as well to run them individually, or put them in line before/after the channel in the console ? I'm assuming for example you'd route the snare top to track 2 on console and to add a outboard compressor you'd use an insert on that channel (is there and insert on every channel?)....to print the outboard compressor you'd then need to create a new track to print the new compressor. Anywho welcome to my rabbit hole.....

[@JimCardoza]

Colt Capperrune gain staging for dummies would be nice 😂 maybe sound examples of tracks printed with hardware vs using sends/returns

[@jamesstone5287]

First off, I love your videos, keeo it simple for dummies like me. Now here's my question, I have a Mackie mixing board with USB out to my computer. How can I record a band session/practice to multiple tracks to mixdown later? Everything is going in to one unified USB signal.

[@tomlebeau7921]

Colt Capperrune yeah. Affording it.

[@eyekzmusic]

I would love to see this with your actual gear. Basically 'seeing' all the connections that you are making and how everything is patched and connected, etc.

[@MarcusRoque]

Hey Colt, nice to meet you. My name is Marcus, and I'm from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I've been watching your videos for about a month now. I started professionally back in 1994, and like you, I've built my own project studio by myself. So, it was rewarding and nostalgic for me to see you designing your own. It really brought back some unique memories. I had it for 10 years and ended up in 2004 for several reasons. However, I'm enjoying your videos so much that I'm thinking about rebuilding my studio gear (yes, I still have them) back at home for me and my boys' pleasure. They're 10 and 13, respectively. Congrats on your career and keep it up, your smile and health. Cheers

[@ColtCapperrune]

Marcus Roque Amazing! What a great thing to share with your boys! Thanks for following along

[@MarcusRoque]

@@ColtCapperrune Thanks, man. Here's a link of some of my moments on my music journey back in the day: facebook.com/pg/psprostudio/photos/?tab=album&album_id=228297210539875 I'll connect with you over Facebook and Instagram and follow you from there. Cheers

[@taterfight]

I would love to see an extension of this showing your common signal paths when tracking. Thanks!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Great idea!

[@trevor8764]

I was hoping the video would abit longer showing the paper demo in action.

[@TwentyMinuteGuitarPlayer]

Trevor maybe he will do that in the next videos!

[@stuartnickolas503]

Has he done it yet???

[@keithpercussion]

I'm still a relative newbie to all the hardware possibilities. I run Pro Tools and have been mixing 100% with plugins. This has helped a ton - not only with how to use outboard gear, but why you'd want to. Thanks so much. VERY glad I stumbled across your channel. So much great info!

[@citizenway]

Thx Colt!

[@mrtravalor]

Colt always drops gems! Thank you again!

[@LightsandMotion]

ever worked with a Manley Massive Passive? Been thinking about getting one of those for ages

[@SanathKumarNaibhi]

Wow! Again Colt proved it, we asked, he gave ❤️ Thank you Colt! We need this series to continue for long time, expecting some deep dives 😀🙏

[@ColtCapperrune]

Sanath Kumar Naibhi Thanks so much! Any specific things you’d like me to talk about in regards to hardware?

[@SanathKumarNaibhi]

@@ColtCapperrune I was thinking to start trying integrating pedals to my workflow, I'm a violinist and wanted to make it sound differently, so can you suggest some pedals before going into other expensive outboard gears?

[@BrandonLayMusic]

Great video man thank you

[@mouldypretzel]

Thank you for providing information about something I think a lot of creators skip over. It sounds really simple, but to someone like me who hasn't used hardware compressors, etc... before, it's good to know what I need to do when the time comes that I want to do it

[@d1l4te43]

This is great stuff! I'm a newbie so anything on the basics helps a bunch

[@danielkharrat]

I loved this🙌🏻 very clear and easy to understand explanation 👌🏻 can't wait for the next videos in this series

[@ColtCapperrune]

Daniel Kharrat Thanks for watching!

[@jomilo1993]

Second comment from Guatemala! Cheers man, love your content!

[@officialzachzmonay]

Just the video I've been asking for, Thank you. Kinda wish you showed demonstration with your hardware instead of drawing but i get the points you made

[@fastlife9484]

Man I have to say. There not much yt channels that show the real stuf. You killing it!!

[@LeyendaTheProducer]

Hey men! Thanks for the video i have a question, i have a apollo twin X wich means i just have 2 imputs i already have hooked up a Avalon 737 and i would like to ad a External EQ but you said on a prt to rute back from the EQ to the same number but i didn’t understand 😖

[@daddydanny5588]

gr8 vid ... bt in the mixing session, the output part ain't clear enough .. when the signal cme out from the computer, u didn't mention in which channel of the interface r we gonna use .. we can't use channel 13 coz we hav to use it for the input after passing through the Eq/comp before entering the computer .. its a bit confusing ..

[@sinslap_]

Could u please explain what the difference between a mixer and a audio interface is like is a ssl g 48 track console just a bigger version as a ssl 2+ audio interface don’t they do the same thing ?

[@AndyKingCo]

Great video brother! I have a very important question and hope you can answer it. I have an Apollo Twin x and just bought a 500 series chassis with a pair of Neve 542s and an SSL Ultraviolet EQ to be used specifically on my mix bus. A friend of mine recommended not to insert the 542s into the SSL and connect them independently instead. Since I only have 2 I/O what would be the best way to make my hardware work properly and/or I need a new interface. Cheers

[@ColtCapperrune]

It were me, I would run your mix bus out of your Apollo, into the 542, out of the 542 into the SSL, back into your Apollo. Hope that helps!

[@asabrown1430]

Great video! I’d love see how you have your patch bay set up 🤘🏾✌🏾

[@DCBMusic]

Great video! I was wondering if you have ever used Eurorack or any other modular synth format as a signal modulator but creating delays or filter sweeps on a track post recording... Also what may be the best way to go about recording/processing like this w/o feedback and recording with true volume..? I recently used my Eurorack and recorded using my Main outs, and my Headphone outs and got different, but great results creating my own filter sweeps with the modular. Thanks and have a great day!

[@randyfunkhouser7400]

Great information Colt! Now I have a better understanding of the signal chain.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@vontreherumaiBH]

Beautiful video , but I’m confused , .. I have a preamp to my comp, into my ad+ dangerous converter into my Hilo via aes . How do I connect it to get it to mix with my other comp I have ,? And then how do you print the track after you got it mixed with the hardware ? Sooooo confusing 🫤

[@visheshgupta9100]

Just curious, what is the best signal chain to record? Mic to Pre-Amp to PC, and then mixing with external hardware.... OR Mic to Pre-Amp to EQ to Compressor to PC, although this seems to be logical, doesn't this method restricts the flexibility to make changes in future? OR the third option to have a half normalled patchbay, recording the raw audio from Pre-Amp to PC as well as the entire signal chain that is Preamp to EQ to Compressor to PC simultaneously?

[@guruthesupremeatm]

Thanks for this

[@nikitaalaverdyan6791]

Exactly what i was looking for recently, thank you so much!

[@brysonedwards4466]

Funny thing in the 70s 80s 90s and even early 2000s there weren’t a lot of plug ins so with outboard equipment you really had to work hard to get a great sound out of the 🎶 🎼 🎵 👍🏾

[@tylerdegutis1359]

Came at the right time! Just got a new symetrix compressor and want to learn how to set it up in my chain

[@elbiso2004]

I’ve been waiting for just this video!!!! Awesome!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Biso G Awesome! I hope it helped!

[@antonh5300]

Yes, Thank you Colt!

[@erictorres5935]

Hey colt I understand. I’m trying to figure out why I insert the hardware insert why I get no playback but signal shows on the software for the interface for input and output

[@cydrums3411]

Let me just say,you just helped a bunch of folks wrap their head's around this process 👍. I wish I had this video years ago. Have you thought of offering a paid video pack to your KZbin subscribers? I personally enjoy your way of explaining things. Take care,CY.

[@WooDeWow]

So I want to start adding outboard gear to my studio, im running an Appolo twin and have been using UAD n waves plugins mostly . My question is, so if I want to use the outboard gear , pre, eq, comp for tracking , and mixing . How would I do that? Say I have multiple tracks like chorus and adlibs and want to change the EQ on the outboard gear on that track ? If I change the setting on the outboard gear it would change it on the other track ? How does the daw save those specific settings on an outboard gear for individual tracks? I can’t wrap my head around this.??

[@izziOnBass]

Great video! can you pls do a practical example of this on?

[@brennanstuart325]

Great vid! I believe logics I/O plug-in in has a way to automatically calculate the latency. Does PT not have anything similar? I’d also love to see what your printing process looks like when you’re mixing with hardware. Thanks!

[@jnstudiobcn7590]

ok. But do you know how is the direction I you have external converters, like a aurora n , for example? the compressors and eq will go to the aurora or to the interface? and how is the connection between the converters and the interface??

[@kaznielflores8473]

Good morning, I'm having trouble getting signal out while printing with hardware. I'm using a manley core with a distressor to a Apollo twin. I can hear the changes when I twist the knob but when is time to print the waves don't change. What am I doing wrong? I'm using pro tools as well.

[@Itsyunlo]

I never understood how to compress for example, multiple tracks with just one analog compressor lets say, does the audio get printed with the compression on it then you move onto the next track? thanks for the video!

[@johnschoppmusic]

Helpin the algorithm dude!!!

[@LJWolverine89]

im always using software to mix but now after scrolling across this, im like "damn, i'm bout to buy stuff again". smh. Great video.

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

Thank you for this video! I went to school for audio, we used hardware, but they didn’t ever tell us how to actually hook it up

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

Is this possible to do with just a 2in/2out interface?

[@codyak510]

Will my vocals sound better with a vocal chain (mic pre to eq to compressor to interface) or is the sound the same if I use the hardware like a plugin on the already recorded vocal? Please help me understand the difference 🙏🏼

[@DDM1995]

Could you draw us one of those but then with a patchbay and the optional XLR patchbay in between.

[@jjm9741]

How does the "insert" section of this video work with a DAW using a 2 in 2 out interface?

[@kevinakacoolbreeze]

Great video Colt! 👍👍

[@ColtCapperrune]

Kevin Taylor thank you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@kevinakacoolbreeze]

Colt Capperrune you’re welcome sir!!

[@doppewaxy282]

Your loyal man,much love from East Africa Tanzania.

[@KyleSince1986]

Are you using attenuators between line out of Apollo / input of 500 rack eq or compressors?

[@jacobisanangel]

Very easy to understand vid, you rock

[@Jeremy_Kinsey]

Signals be flowin!

[@crystalxzz3510]

This video helps me alot thanks bro

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

great teacher! subbed

[@ZenT8055]

hey which one of the flow is correct? mic -> preamp -> compressor -> eq -> interface -> mixer console -> daw or mic -> preamp -> compressor -> eq -> mixer console -> interface -> daw please help. i'm confused with the signal flow and setup here. pls advice

[@ClarityJustin]

Hi Colt, I have been using plugin compressors for my drum recordings. If I purchase 1 hardware compressor would it be possible to use it on 5 of the recorded tracks? Thank You

[@SOUNDCONTROLFLA]

How would I use inserts if I already have my db25 connected to my summing unit??

[@mikeb9311]

Hey I’m trying to figure out why I’m unable to use all 3 of my outboard gear in PT at the same time as insert?

[@butterblood]

Say I have an outboard preamp with EQ. I want to use it for tracking but then I want the EQ for mixing later. Is that where a patch bay comes in?

[@poznanskamusic]

This was great, thank you!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Hope it helped!

[@thevaultdwellergaming]

Good stuff thank you for the explanation 🎉

[@Esenabros]

Please how do we do it with logic pro x? I'm using yamaha 24x/14x to mix

[@miltonmagik]

What is the basic setup for analogue gear? I mean the essential equipment.

[@stoneroofstudios4700]

Great video, thank you Colt! Nearly all of my experience with recording and producing has been in the box using plugins, however I do hope to soon incorporate some hardware into my work flow!

[@thepick5663]

If I'm going to record in stereo (let's say acoustic guitar) should I get a 2 channel preamp, or will be using different two single preamps be ok? I guess the same could be asked about a compressor and eq for that matter.

[@TwentyMinuteGuitarPlayer]

Great video Colt! Looking forward to more hardware videos!

[@obedtorresdrums1380]

Man, clarified quite a few things. Thank you for this. 🙏🏽

[@MatiaIsHim]

Hey Colt, nice video. Question, in the mixing process, when you are assigning the output in the DAW, say channel 8 when using an apollo x8p, so if you assign output on your daw to channel 8, then the cable that is plugged into channel 8 on the x8p goes into the input of the hardware EQ you want to use, then the output of that EQ goes where? (to bring the processed signal into the DAW), hope I make sense. Thank you.

[@yohs5756]

It has to go back to the same channel, which in your case is input channel 8.

[@holywaterandgreentea]

Excellent Explanation, Thanks

[@two6nin]

Hi Colt, how you fix the latency then?

[@itszialmusic]

Do I have to re-record the audio processed with analogue gear or is it possible (or would it make sense) to send multiple signals at one time to one device? Probably not right?

[@storsender2032]

Is that latency part adressing phase issues when sending and recording at the same time by the same soundcard?

[@WavetableMetaphysics]

Perfectly explained. 🙏

[@zachmcgrain7815]

Hey Colt. I have been enjoying your videos and watching some of your fellow You-tubers . I`m very interested n the Capi lunchbox and module mic preamp, eq and compression. I have been just using 300.00 condenser mic and Apollo Twin to record for fun for me. The sound seems very sterile aside from the gear and room. Now, along with a good source is it safe to say that outboard mic pre ,compressor and maybe eq will give more of a lift if you will and 3 dimension to the sound? Thank you for opinion in advance.

[@ColtCapperrune]

So that is the biggest difference as you work your way up through the ranks in terms of hardware. Generally speaking the higher you go, the bigger more three dimensional, more impressive, less sterile sounding things get. I can’t say enough good things about the CAPI chassis, preamp‘s, EQs, and compressor. Everyone of them is top shelf. Hope that helps!

[@zachmcgrain7815]

@@ColtCapperrune Watching your other vids right now as we speak. I thank you so much for quick reply. I price can`t be beat and the sound I`m hearing are killer .

[@va941]

Sweet video man!....all that gear you got...got me thinking! I mean...I have a 4 in 4 out interface...have the mpc1 hooked up on input channels 1 & 2...presonus 8xt's on the monitor outs...wich leaves me with a pair of in and out...and am thinking it would be pretty cool to have the audio from the mpc1 and or DAW run trhough some analog gear....like a stereo master or maybe some separate channels also...any ideas or suggestion fo gear I should take a look at? ....am thinking either a compressor of sorts or maybe a limiter or a exciter....maybe? Am ALL ears if anybody has any ideas.

[@adieltm]

That Marker🤦🏽‍♂️

[@soundonsound71]

Do you manually route every time? Or do you have a patch bay for this?

[@kenzorwings]

So how we configure in the daw? I use reaper and studio one 4

[@sebastiangut25]

Hey Colt! How loud/quiet do you send the signal for the ADDA roundtrip? Is it always -18 DB (analouge 0)?

[@clearerphish]

super helpful, thank you!

[@Darksagan]

Awesome video. I am brand new and just picked up some gear and couldn't get anything to work. lol This might help.

[@africanrevolution3551]

WOW!!!! super dope explanation!!!! what happened to the rest of the video lol...hooking up everything

[@ablackshedd]

Love it, man. Any tricks for doing this with only 2 outs on my interface? It's an apogee rosetta 200. i also have an A/D 16X. no help with the outs though.

[@badfrank6924]

I really don't know what is this hardware use for ? I'm a beginner beatmaker n I wish to know about mix and master , can I mix n master without hardware shown on video above ?

[@chacra6studios79]

Awesome! I just got some new hardware I'll be posting about :)

[@donniehill5688]

Hey Colt, Thanks Again. You might show them a little on the routing such as Patchbay, The Software that lets you route your hardware to the Mix Buses weather it be single track, Master Bus and so on. I'm using my hardware in Stereo mostly on my Master Buses. Sometimes I might use something on one of the Mono tracks. I try to purchase my Hardware in Pairs or Stereo units.

[@JayTheWorst1892]

Super off topic but for the 7⬆️ demo, I would have a singer sing like Mary had a little lamb? Don’t think they can screw with that? Could be wrong

[@anywherenearzero]

You said “it does it the speed of light” . . . I think you mean the speed of sound as that’s what we use as producers 🤣🤣

[@yeshudasbhadani6801]

Thanks 👍👍👍

[@williamwilkinson2959]

yeah I was looking into I/O last week for ableton. I've actually got a presonis tube channel strip (I use for giutar DI) and use a presonis 16.0.2 dig mixer that has comp/verb fx and only last week I was thinking why haven't I tried the fx for outboard mixing. thanks man....lol one more thing eh... audio engineering -fk its a deeper hole than learning scales

[@viktorkigyos]

Dear Colt! You does'nt say an important thing (at my opinion) take the ad/da round-trip less as possible... That's what I heared from a mixing/master engenieer. He said for me:" If you going in and out too much time at the converters the audio gets lost from their own quality... It's like take a picture from a picture!"

[@IndustrianoOficial]

How can I do it with Cubase ?

[@getezra1]

and the clock generator comes at.....?

[@povertytaretv]

Nice video thanks!

[@geoffsides408]

Good stuff !!

[@GokulChandCreation]

sir i m only listening only that routed track only...how to listen the whole mix with the routed track for mixing, plz make a real video

[@rudz1943]

dope tutorial.

[@jmikesandthewell]

This video is great!

[@EdwardSmithMusic]

Hey man! Can we do a collaboration after this covid period is over? Maybe a video on "How to record better vocals in your Home Studio"? Let me know!

[@wolfazarstudios5655]

‘Do what males and females do’ 😂😂😂 Love it

[@desimaylisa2921]

now I know why thunderbolt 3 is really really crucial for reducing latency in hardware mixing. RIP USB 2 interfaces connection for mixing in hardware 🤣

[@king-kore-studio]

Why don't you just use something you mixed to show the line booster?