2. How do I hook up the effect and the interface?<\/strong> SONAR\u2019s External Insert plug-in inserts in an FX bin, and diverts the signal to the assigned audio interface output. You patch the audio interface output to a hardware effect\u2019s input, then patch the hardware effect\u2019s output to the assigned audio interface input. This input returns to the External Effect plug-in, and continues on its way through the mixer. For this example, we\u2019ll assume a stompbox with a mono input and stereo output.<\/p>\n 3. What are correct settings for the External Insert plug-in parameters?<\/strong> When you insert the External Insert into the FX bin, a window appears that provides all the controls needed to set up the external hardware.<\/p>\n 4. Is it necessary to compensate for the delay caused by going through the external hardware?<\/strong> Yes, because the output has to go through a converter from digital to the audio interface\u2019s analog input, then come back into the system through the audio interface\u2019s analog-to-digital converter. If the stompox is digital, it will introduce further delays. Clicking in the Delay field causes SONAR to measure the amount of delay, and compensate automatically (in this instance, the delay is about 9 ms).<\/p>\n The compensation isn\u2019t always perfect, because an external effect like chorus has a varying time delay\u2014so there\u2019s no way for SONAR to know the \u201creal\u201d delay. One solution is to bypass the external effect when you click on the delay field, but this won\u2019t help if the effect introduces a delay when enabled. If needed, you can trim the offset manually in the \u201cOffset (Samples)\u201d field to tweak the timing.<\/p>\n Because you can save the External Insert settings as a preset, you can save time if there\u2019s some piece of hardware you use a lot.<\/p>\n 5. If the external hardware has a MIDI input, can I control it by sending MIDI control signals?<\/strong> That depends on the interface and the external hardware. Many processors have 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors; fortunately, the US-4×4 and US-2×2 offer 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors for input and output, so you can patch its MIDI output to the effect\u2019s MIDI input. However even if MIDI control isn\u2019t available, several External Insert parameters are automatable (Send Gain, Return Gain, Phase Invert, Left Mute, Right Mute, and Mono, which sums the right and left signals together so the same signal appears at the left and right hardware interface outputs). So, as one example, you can vary the input going into a distortion effect to change the amount of \u201cdrive,\u201d and automate the output coming back from the effect to compensate for level changes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Craig Anderton Plug-in signal processors are a great feature of computer-based recording programs like SONAR, but you may have some favorite stompboxes with no plug-in equivalents\u2014like that cool fuzz pedal you love, or the ancient analog delay you scored on eBay. Fortunately, with just a little bit of effort you can make SONAR think … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/noelborthwick.com\/cakewalk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Insert.png\" "\\"Insert\\"")
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