Using Effects with the Portastudio 414 Mkii

Using Effects with the PORTASTUDIO 414 MKII

Effects and signal processing are areas where you can really start to have fun customizing your sound, and develop your own unique recording style. Because there are so many possibilities, it also can be confusing. There are many different effect units on the market, all with different controls, types of inputs and outputs, and other characteristics. Read the manual of your effects device, and the following sections to get the complete story of what's possible for your particular situation.

1.In-line processing: The processing that's easiest to understand doesn't involve the

414 MKII directly at all. You can plug your instrument directly into the input of the effect device, and plug the output of the device directly into a line input of the 414 MKII. The whole signal gets processed (flanged, doubled, limited, delayed etc.), and only one instrument can use that processor. Effect pedals for guitar are typically used this way. To get a mix of processed ("wet") and original ("dry") signal, the unit must have its own MIX or BALANCE control.

2.Send/return mix processing: This is the most common method of effect processing, especially for reverb and delay. It allows a number of different channels to use the same effect, while allowing you to control how much effect is mixed with each channel. Each of the 4 mixer channels can send signals to the EFFECT SEND 1 or 2 outputs. These outputs can then be connected to the input of effects devices. The processed signals from the devices are plugged into the stereo channels (5-6 and 7-8), for them to be mixed onto the stereo left and right buses. The whole path—from the EFFECT SENDS to the reverb and back into STEREO INPUTS—is called an “effects loop”. The EFFECT 1 and 2 controls determine how much signal goes to the reverb unit ; the LEVEL control on the stereo channels determines how much returns from the reverb unit. In this method the stereo inputs function as effects returns.

Setting Effect Send Levels

The goal is not to distort the device, while staying above the noise that effect units generate. To get the best signal-to-noise from most effects units, you should send it as strong a signal as you can. With a properly set input signal in the 414 MKII, the channel EFFECT send set to about 2 o'clock position (for EFFECT 1 or EFFECT 2 feed), you should get a fairly loud signal from the EFFECT SEND jacks.

If your effects device has an input level control of its own, it should be set so the meter or signal light of the effects device is just under the overload point on peak signals. When you want to hear less effect overall, turn down the return LEVEL control on the stereo channels.

Setting the Output Level of Effect Devices

If the effect send level has been set properly, in most cases the output level of the effect unit should be set as high as possible without clipping (distorting) the STEREO INPUTS of the 414 MKII, but low enough so that you have a reasonable range of control. If you can get the effect sound you want with the return LEVEL control in the 12 to 2 o'clock range, you're in the ballpark. If, on the other hand, very small settings of the Effects Return still give you a mix drowning in effects, turn down the output level of your effect device.

Some effect units have rear panel switches setting input and output level ranges between "+4" and "–20 dB". In this case, try setting the input to –20 (high sensitivity) and the output to +4 (full output level).