sounds in mono, effects in stereo?

I record/sample all of my drums, except for cymbals and sometimes hats in Mono, but I want to use outboard reverb, setup on an Aux/Send Return.

So since most of my sounds are in mono, should i bring back the reverb in mono, or should the reverb be stereo (hence stereo return)


it would seem you would rather have it as stereo, especially if its delay or ping pong

So if I have an effects unit with L/R outputs and L/R inputs, and my mixer has Aux Send and L/R Stereo Returns.....what would be the correct way to set it up?

1/4 TS cable from Aux Send 1 output -----> effect processor (L) input
1/4 TS cable from effect processor (L) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (L)
1/4 TS cable from effect processor (R) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (R)

(I would be using 3x TS cables, wouldnt I?)

1/4 TS cable from Aux Send 1 output -----> effect processor (L) input
Mono L not summed (only L side) maybe a Y adapter for Mono L to Stereo L/R connecting.

1/4 TS cable from effect processor (L) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (L)
1/4 TS cable from effect processor (R) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (R)
Or since mono may well be summed (L+R on both L and R), just connected all cables stereo all the way through.

Champloo wrote:1/4 TS cable from Aux Send 1 output -----> effect processor (L) input
1/4 TS cable from effect processor (L) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (L)
1/4 TS cable from effect processor (R) output -----> Mixer Stereo Return 1 (R)

depends on the processor which input is the mono input, but it will be labelled. if not, just go left.

consider routing to a stereo track instead of the aux return for more control over the reverb channel and possibility of feedback (fun - dont blow yourself up).

what if I have something like my Sp 303, that has RCA Inputs and RCA Outputs, if the mixer only has a single Aux plugin, and Im wanting to use it as an effects unit (for Vinyl Sim ,etc.) would I have to use a "Y" cable, like Lampdog said?

then using the "Y" TRS-->RCA cable, go

-Y cable TRS into Aux Send on Mixer---->the RCA sides go into the Sp 303 input
-Sp 303 RCA outputs ----->either back into Stereo Return or Stereo Channel

(cables used 1x TRS -to- RCA "Y" cable,,,,1x Dual Rca -to- Dual RCA)

sorry for this complex explaining, i really suck at it

yes that will work but your sp303 also has a mono 1/4" in.


only use y cables to split, never to 'mix'.

so that Y cable would work or should I not use it, what would you recommend instead?


the mono 1/4 on the sp 303 is the mic in, right?


I thought you could only plug actual mics into that input?


edit:, i just found a 1/4 Stereo Plug -to- 2RCA Female adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Plug-Female-Adapter-Cable/dp/B000TTHVYK

What if I connect a Dual RCA -to- Dual RCA cable, from the Sp 303 Inputs and the other side into this adapter, then the 1/4 side goes into the Aux Send?

man, with some "Stereo" processors, people say run Mono IN and Stereo Out, so if you follow that, you'd run a cable from your beat machine (or whatever) into the LEFT input of the effects unit and then run stereo 1/4 cables from the OUTS of the effect unit into either the input of the beat machine or a stereo return or channel on a mixer.

so i guess you could follow this same rule for the sp 303, if you wanting to use it as aux/return.

run a 1/4 to RCA cable like this from the Sp 303 "LEFT" input and go into the AUX on the mixer

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/190192-REG/Comprehensive_SPP_PP_25EXF_EXF_1_4_Male_to.html

Then, just Stereo RCA to Stereo 1/4 from the Sp 303 "OUTS" into the mixers Stereo Return or a stereo channel if you have one open.

also, my mixer has got a L and R Aux out and I return the signal back onto my 3rd channel...i dont know what mixer you have, but if it has some sort of Extra Outs, you can run those OUT into your Sp 303, then run that dual rca to 1/4 cable from the 303 outs into a stereo channel or stereo return on the mixer

the extra out (control room or alt outs) play the whole mix into a seperate source, then you would be able to mute or control what you wanted to let play through those extra outs and bring back into the mixer with the wet signal.

+ that seems a lot easier to hook up