Sound Advice by Brent Handy Contributing Writer July 14, 2006

A: Check your owner and/or service manual for your console. You may have the option to change a "jumper" on the channel strip electronics. Allen & Heath, Soundcraft, Spirit and others offer this feature. "Pre or post EQ" and "pre or post fader" monitor sends may be selected per channel.

If you do not have the luxury of changing jumpers, then you still have an option.
1. Take a 1/4" TS cable and insert it only half-way into your Insert jack (If you have a Direct Out jack, use that). By inserting it half-way, you are connecting to the output of the jack.
2. Take the other end of your TS cable and plug it into an open channel's Line In.
3. Assign the first channel to the house mix outputs only. This is your house channel strip.
4. Assign the second channel to your monitor mix outputs only. This is your monitor channel strip.

Now, not only do you have discrete EQ's for the monitor and house mixes, but you can also assign digital effects processor outputs to either mix. You can do this as little or as much as you wish. You are only limited by the number of console channels available.

Q: I am a volunteer for our churches sound team. We want to record a musical, using our sound board. We will use a Alesis HD24 Digital 24-track. What is the best way to do this?

A: If your mixing console has Direct Outs, use the appropriate 1/4" TS, or TRS cables to connect to the HD24. If you do not have Direct Outs, then insert the plug half-way into the Insert jack. This effectively does the same thing, but it prohibits you from inserting compressors or gates into the channel. If you need to compress/limit a channel, then simply connect it into the chain (Insert output >>> compressor input, compressor output >>>recorder in).

You should monitor the recording from your Alesis HD24. If your mixer cannot accommodate the tape returns, then you should use a separate mixer. Simply connect the HD24 to the mixer via the same 1/4" TR, or TRS cables. This will allow you to Solo individual, or groups of channels and monitor on headphones.

I do not recommend subgrouping, to record mixed groups to the HD24. The reason is that it is permanent at that point. You can't go back and recreate the service if you don't like the mix, so it is best to keep it seperate until the mixdown.

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Monitor Feedback Another option is to insert a Sabine Feedback Exterminator in your monitor send path. It will vertically notch out up to 12 frequencies. It works great, you can point a hot mic right at the monitors and get no feedback....more Submitted by: Dana Harrah Location: Dayton, Ohio Monitor EQ Another option for EQing for monitors from the house position is to insert external EQ's on the output signal path. A 31 band graphic EQ works great and can be use on the AUX/Matrix/Group out that is going to the AMP/Monitor. You would need one for...more Submitted by: Todd A. Luhtanen Location: Plymouth, MI

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