New to outboard effects, studio environment, need more I/Os?

[phatdimat]

Hi all,

tldr: Running low on Aux I/O, do I need some sort of extension for my X32 to fit outboard gear?

Just got my first analog compressor, etc and I'm pretty much out of Aux 1/4" in/outs on the X32...Sad part is the physical I/Os are open but taken up internally via routing for instrument DI's and monitor / computer audio control ...Could possibly move something around -- but my question is; if I'm planning to buy more analog gear in the future, and continue using the X32... Is the easiest solution to buy some sort of extension and/or patch bay? Because even if I 'make room' routing-wise for this new gear, I still won't have much room to get more. If I could use an extension, what do I even need? I have a decent understanding of routing and this interface but all this rack gear at once is making my head spin a little.

Any help is appreciated. Please let me know if I can clarify anything

[pvannatto]

Is the easiest solution to buy some sort of extension and/or patch bay?

Welcome to our forum. The answer to your question depends on what you mean by "analog gear". If you mean more analog compressors, EQs, etc., the answer is not really. The X32 is limited to the 6 Aux In/Out pairs that can be assigned to be insert (Routing, Aux Out screen). Not sure why you would want to do that since the included FX (compressors, EQ, etc) plugins are actually quite good. If you really want great FX plugins, consider getting the Wing.

If you mean more analog instruments, such as synths, guitars, fiddles, dobros, etc., the answer is to get some SD8 or SD16 stageboxes, which have combo XLR and 1/4" input jacks.

[MJKlein]

A patch bay can go a long way to helping, but in the end, the X32 only has 6 of Aux channels pairs.

The only way that I know of to get more capability is to somehow get the outboard gear accessible to the computer, by some means (audio interface). Then the gear can be added as inserts in the DAW.

[phatdimat]

Is the easiest solution to buy some sort of extension and/or patch bay?

Welcome to our forum. The answer to your question depends on what you mean by "analog gear". If you mean more analog compressors, EQs, etc., the answer is not really. The X32 is limited to the 6 Aux In/Out pairs that can be assigned to be insert (Routing, Aux Out screen). Not sure why you would want to do that since the included FX (compressors, EQ, etc) plugins are actually quite good. If you really want great FX plugins, consider getting the Wing.

If you mean more analog instruments, such as synths, guitars, fiddles, dobros, etc., the answer is to get some SD8 or SD16 stageboxes, which have combo XLR and 1/4" input jacks.

Hi, thank you. By analog gear I do mean more compressors, EQs, etc. I like the FX built in but for recording I may want additional effects that are real tube, real analog, you know? Would I essentially just need a seperate interface then? I can't use the AES550 expansion routing? I may have that acronym wrong

[phatdimat]

A patch bay can go a long way to helping, but in the end, the X32 only has 6 of Aux channels pairs.

The only way that I know of to get more capability is to somehow get the outboard gear accessible to the computer, by some means (audio interface). Then the gear can be added as inserts in the DAW.

Thank you for your reply, so get a separate interface just for outboard FX? I'm also assuming I can't use the Aux I/Os for outboard gear + internal routing

[MJKlein]

Sure you can use the Aux I/Os for outboard gear, and I think that's the best way. The X32 will allow you to Insert an outboard effect onto a channel or bus by using the Aux I/Os. I have a pair of tube EQs and also '76 type compressors that are connected to 4 Aux channel I/Os. When I want them in the circuit I Insert them into whatever channel or bus I need. This is completely separate from any onboard FX processing. I sometimes use the '76 compressors inserted and then apply the internal compressor too. Same goes for the EQ. Channel Inserts are their own thing and the Aux channels are specifically designed for that purpose (among other things).

You can also get separate interfaces but that doesn't help you get them in and out of the console. That's why I said "accessible to the computer." I have a 2 channel Dante interface and I can use it as a recording input and track output but it does nothing for the console signal path.

Wire up the 6 Aux channel I/Os to a patch bay and then you can connect whatever you want to them, and either Insert them into a channel/bus, or use a bus to feed a Send FX and mix the returns on the Aux channel faders. It's all accomplished in the Routing pages.