Routing advice with Tascam Model 12 +DT+DK +Nord Electro

Citizen · 2023-10-29T10:27:27.735Z

So, I finally got a mixer that means I am not constantly plugging stuff in and out.

(its a bit of an adjustment thinking of actual routing vs. DAW routing, so please bear with me)

My set-up is Digtakt, Digitone Keys and a Nord Electro. I have a couple of delay pedals that I have previously had in serial following the Nord. I have a Zoia, but I dont really get along with it and will probably flip it for different multi-fx soon.

Originally my thinking was to have the submix IN going into the DT, so I could easily sample any channel by sending it to the submix.

This seemed like a pretty good approach, but the more I thought about different routing possibilities, the more I liked to the idea of sending channels to FX/delays in short bursts (dub style!), using the submix fader, and then returning the wet signal in two of the channels…

…but it would also be very cool to be able to re-sample these effected sounds.

My question:

Would it be best to just capture these wet FX via the SD recorder onboard, and then resample that playback into DT?

OR

Simply run ALL my FX and delays in serial from the Submix out and into the DT (Using the external input mixer) and bypass as desired?

OR

Is there another solution that is best of both worlds?

jemmons · 2023-10-29T11:35:14.981Z

This is what I use the Auxes for. This lets me control the level of send per track, independent of the mix, but still control global send if I need it. It also, by virtue of there being two auxes, lets me send different levels to different FX (say, a delay and reverb).

The big limitation is that the auxes are mono but most of my sounds are mono before hitting the reverb or delay anyway so it works for me.

Citizen · 2023-10-29T11:51:50.414Z

Thanks for your response. So, just to clarify - what’s your set-up/routing look like? Are you returning each Aux to two channels (panned hard left and right) each?

Are you then able to easily sample the returns? (Presumably by routing the return channels to Submix)

Are you using both external Auxes for FX, and bypassing the internal FX?

That does sound like a smarter use of the possible routing, although it does also mean one can’t do quick sends of signal to the FX, by rapidly whacking a fader up, and back down. (This is a little tricky with the pots, which I find tightly placed)

jemmons · 2023-10-29T14:57:19.728Z

Citizen:

what’s your set-up/routing look like

So I have synths on channels 1–6. Aux 1 goes out to delay that gets returned on 7–8. Aux 2 goes out to reverb that comes in on 9-10.

Citizen:

Are you then able to easily sample the returns?

I used to have a DT that recorded off the sub like in your example. That worked pretty well for me. If I wanted to sample dry, I just wouldn’t route 7–10 to sub. If I wanted it wet, then I’d send 7–10 along with whatever synths I wanted there. Pretty flexible — but more flexible than I personally needed, as it turns out. Now I mostly just sample to a 404 that I keep end-of-chain on the main bus. I don’t sample a lot, so this works for the kind of stuff I’m doing.

Now I use sub for when I need to break out something unexpected. Side channels or some special purpose mood pedal like a gen loss or something.

Citizen:

Are you using both external Auxes for FX, and bypassing the internal FX?

Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever even previewed the internal FX? Others have said they’re quite competent. But I’ve got these boxes, and I’m going to use them damnit!

Citizen:

it does also mean one can’t do quick sends of signal to the FX, by rapidly whacking a fader up, and back down.

I use the “master” aux knobs on the far right side of the row for this. They have a little more room. There’s also a mute button there for each if you just want to send bursts to FX. But yeah, there’ss no denying the fader is less fiddly (and 100% more satisfying).

Citizen · 2023-10-29T20:54:02.492Z

Oh man, thank you SO much for your comprehensive response! You’ve answered all my questions and given me some good ideas too!

While using the fader for sending FX would be nice, you make a real solid case for the Auxes, and in conjunction with the Aux Mute, you can send short bursts. Best of all worlds, really.

Just wondering why you had the returns on the Stereo channel, rather than using 2 mono channels each? I had mine set up the ‘opposite’ with my DT on stereo 7/8 and my DK on 9/10, and my FX returning to a pair of panned mono channels.

Does it make any difference?

jemmons · 2023-10-29T21:59:37.327Z

Citizen:

Just wondering why you had the returns on the Stereo channel, rather than using 2 mono channels each?

Personal preference, really. Most of the synths I run through the Model12 are mono — or, like the DT, they’re mono as long as I don‘t use the internal pan them or chorus/reverb. I do the panning on the Model12 and I like my reverb and delay better than the DTs, so it’s just as easy to bring them all in on the mono strips.

Reverb is obviously stereo and the delay can be if I do ping-pong, so it just makes sense to put those on 7–10. But the only real difference between that and hard panning two mono strips is you have to adjust gain, EQ, levels, etc. in pairs on the mono strips so they match.

If you’re comfortable with it, no reason to change. I’m sure there’s plenty of small variances between the right and left channels even on the stereo strips. That just seems to be the nature of mixers.

Acid-Nab · 2023-11-08T16:25:40.590Z

I am considering one of these for 2 digitakt setup would you recommend?