I have wanted an outboard compressor for too long but have never decided on one until now, just getting an Alesis 3630 on a whim as so bloody cheap, why not.

My question is re routing options.
My hope was to have it assigned to group 1&2 as could then compress a drum group, or anything else I wanted to sum to that group, rather than the whole mix itself. However, the groups only have send for Aux 1 and unless I'm missing something that means going from a stereo group to mono, which seems a backwards step to a stereo compressor?
I can use the group mix out left and right, but then where would the return go? Can't really afford to use up 2 channels for the return?

If I'm correct and that's no good, next option is on the mix out. Would mix inserts L & R with Y-cable be the option for that?

I use this mixer for all of my drum machines and synths routed from a patch bay and love it, so don't want to bypass the EQs etc.
I have 2 of the 4 sends going to outboard delay and verb.
Main mix out goes into interface and individual tracks mixed down and additionally processed for pre-master in DAW.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Any suggestions for using on group one instead of master?

You refer to groups and at one point mention a mixer...But you don't ever say what mixer you are talking about.

You also don't mention at all what application you are using this for...Are you using this as you record things or while mixing?

What interface do you have It is very hard for people to answer a question like this without all the details.

However, a few things.

First. Your compressor from what I can tell is DUAL channel and NOT stereo. Meaning, you can compress two MONO things. Not one STEREO thing. You could technically route this and send a stereo mix to this...It is not ideal for that job. Unless I am mistaken and it has some function to link both channels.

Your idea of a Y cable also would not work. If you have a STEREO drum bus for example...Sending it out a MONO AUX via a Y cable would do nothing for you. It would take the left and right signal of your bus...Combine it to MONO then send it out AUX 1 via the Y cable. The Y cable would then make a copy of the new combined MONO signal and send it to each channel of the compressor...Then you would send both channels back to the mixer or your interface or whatever device and you would have a left and right channel but they would be identical. This is called "dual mono". And it is the exact same as MONO just using twice the channels.

The actual routing of this will entirely depend on what you are doing and with what equipment.

For example: Let's forget about STEREO and MONO for a minute. If you are using this to process something you have already recorded...Say a vocal...

In your DAW you would do to your vocal track and set the output to one of your LINE outputs of your interface instead of the main fader. You would then use a cable to go from that output on the interface to the input of your compressor...Then another cable to go from the output of your compressor to another input on your interface.

Then in your DAW you would create a new track and set the input of that track to whichever input on your interface you connected the compressor's output to. And you set the output of that new track to the master bus in your DAW.

You then listen to the new track and press play and make adjustments on your compressor until you are happy. Then you record enable the new track and press record and play the whole part through the compressor and re-record it on the new track.

This will apply some latency since your signal is going out of your DAW through the compressor and back into your DAW so you will have to then move the newly recorded vocal part to line it back up with the original. Then you will mute the original and this new part replaces the original.

Also, if you later decide that you don't like the compression that you applied and want to adjust it a bit...you will need to do this whole process over again starting with the original track...A lot of work to do something you can do in the box in 5 seconds and have total recall and the ability to adjust it at any time...Just something to think about.

I won't go into other routing options as this reply is already too long.

Maybe tell us exactly how you want to use it...even if it is in a couple different ways...And name the actual gear you have...Then I can be more specific with routing options.

The mixer is a Soundcraft 200B 16x4x2 and you’re using it for all your outboard drum machines and synths on there way to the interface and DAW.

Sadly it doesn’t offer group inserts, only the main outs offer em and y cables (also referred to in some circles as insert cables) will work here. If you did use the group outputs you’d have to dedicate to mixer channels to take the returns from the compressor and route them to mains (careful not to route them to the same group haha)

Compressor is fine - dual mono can always be stereo so you’re good there.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I did mention the mixer in the title - Soundcraft 200B, and the compressor is duel mono, which will be able to take 2 mono channels from the mixer panned hard L/R making a stereo channel.

I thought I was fairly detailed about my use in general.
Mainly compressing a drum bus, but perhaps adding some synths to that bus, to taste, but maybe also compressing finished tracks.

I'll consider your points, thanks again for replying.

Thanks very much Hobson.

Yes, this is pretty much what I've come to.
I can do pretty much what I want, but not exactly on that mixer.
I'll try the mix out returns with Y cables and see how that goes, but may try group L/R out to comp, then take the comp outs to interface first.
That way I still have the group bus choice of what I route to it, just limits on how I use the signal after the comp. That does ultimately give me the option of routing the whole mix or finished mixes back from the DAW through that into the group.

Many thanks for your help.

Sorry, I missed the mixer.

And yes it is dual MONO...while you can route the left and right channels of a stereo mix to each channel of the compressor...this isn't really correct. You will be processing each side of the mix independently from each other.

This is not ideal.

Now, you are welcome to do this of course. It is your mix or live performance or whatever you are doing.

But this is not the right tool for the job. To compress a stereo bus you would want to use a stereo compressor.

Dual mono compressors are just two mono compressors conveniently placed in a single box.

Would be great for compressing the kick on one channel and the snare on another channel.

Just not so: Dual Mono, Left & Right, Two channel … all can be stereo if the content they carry is panned accordingly.

Two compressors with the same settings are just as much a stereo compressor albeit without the unison controls.

You misunderstand.

I am not saying that it will no longer be stereo...I'm saying you will be processing the left and right differently.

If you pull up a compressor plugin on a stereo bus...you will not have a threshold, ratio, make up gain, attack, release controls for the left and the right. You will have ONE set of controls for both sides. Typically. I'm sure you could find an outlier example.

In a situation where you are using a dual mono compressor...you will have to set the input level for both channels...the ratio for both channels...the attack for both channels...the release for both channels...the threshold for both channels...the make up gain for both channels.

So as I said before...yes...you can do it. But no, it is technically not the correct tool for the job.

I’m thinking you’re pulling this distinction from plugin perspective/paradigm… in the analog world (which is where the author is working from) there is no such thing… never really has been. In the early days of stereo there were two channels and two compressors for stereo content - they were adjusted with identical settings.

Plugins and interleaved audio files give the impression of “stereo” compressors.

I think you'll find a simple google search will show you many analog stereo compress/limiters.

In the old days...the norm may very well have been two distinctly seperate compressors with their own controls...but we are not in the old days.

Again, nothing you have said is different than what I have claimed. I never said this could not be done with dual mono. Just mentioned there are stereo compressors that are meant specifically for the job...and there are.

SSL consoles had bus compressors that were stereo for many decades now. Stereo bus compressors are not rare...nor have they been for a long time.

Unison control is the only thing that makes them “stereo” with the added comfort that you’re getting exact settings from unique channel one (re: left) and unique channel two (re: right).

The author is fine to use a dual mono compressor for stereo compression in the analog world - it’s been done for ages! Sure, go buy a ssl 4k or any modern equivalent that combines the process into “magic” stereo … they still process two independent channels of audio coming in and going out… dual mono.

You keep saying things thinking you are correcting something I have said.

You are saying nothing different to what I have said about 4 times now.

Stereo is 2 channels. Yes you can do that with dual mono. I literally said that.

And you have no idea if the OP is "ok with dual controls" though I assume he/she is.

A dual mono compressor is probably the best option for them as they can use it as 2x mono compressors or "hack" it to do stereo.

That changes nothing. This is not a stereo compressor...and there ARE stereo compressors. Unlike what you claimed that there "never really were stereo compressors".

Just because you think the unison controls are a minor thing doesn't change the fact that they exist and are quite common and have been for a very very long time.

Unison controls are not minor at all - but they do not fundamentally alter two channels into a unique “stereo” classification just because the unit is marketed as “stereo”.

It’s fine - I connected w the author and answered his questions. I felt you came in strong with the information the he could not use the gear the way he intended… and that’s where I chose to engage.

What if he was trying to process MS stereo?

Nothing alters the signal into a unique stereo classification. Stereo means 2 channels.

At no point did I make such a claim. Nor did I say he couldn't do what he wanted to. I said the opposite.

You misread what I said and tried to correct it.

And made some untrue claims about the lack of stereo analog compressors not existing along the way.

This is the quote I was referencing…

I would never expect to correct anyone and I recognize we are engaged in what I feel to be a semantic discussion.

It is duel Mono, but i forgot to say the 3630 also has a link switch, so left hand controls control both channels as 'stereo'.

Glad it has a link function. That will make it much less annoying to operate in stereo.

But this still doesn't change the issue you were mentioning eating up 2 channels instead of one and thinking of using a Y cable. That won't work.

Good luck with your stuff. Have fun with your new gear!