Using The Insert Jacks - Alesis iO14 Reference Manual

Getting In Deeper: Hardware
7

Using the Insert Jacks

Sometimes, you may want to add additional gear into your signal
path before your analog-to-digital converter digitizes your signal
and sends it to the computer. For example, many bass players
like to compress their instrument with an analog compressor
before recording into the computer. Inserts help you do this by
letting you tap into your signal after the IO|14/26's preamplifier
but before the A/D converter. The two diagrams below
demonstrate where the inserts fit into your signal path.
In the diagram to the left, no insert is used and your signal passes
straight from the preamp to the A/D converter. In the diagram
on the right, an effects processor is inserted into the signal path
just after the preamp (before the A/D converter).
Note that you need a special "insert cable" to utilize this
connection. These cables have a ¼" TRS connector on one end
and two ¼" TS connectors on the other end. The TRS side goes
into the "insert" jack on the IO|14/26. The two TS connectors
are usually labeled "send" and "return." The "send" plug goes to
your external device's input whereas the "return" plug connects to
the device's output.
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