Mixing Main and Effected Signal with External Insert and Outboard Reverb

Hello all. I can't seem to figure out how to get things working properly (or at least, the way I would expect them to work), when using an external Lexicon MX400 reverb and the External Insert function in X2. When I use the External Insert, I can set send and return levels as well as what outputs to send from and return too, but I can't seem to get/find the ability to mix the pre-send signal with the post-send signal as you normally do when using a hardware mixer. I'm using an M-Audio Fast Track Pro interface with SPIF in/outs going to and from the MX400 and I see signal going into the MX400's meters, so I know the connectivity to the device is working, but I can't seem to find a way to hear (and adjust) the unaffected signal (I'm running a pre-recorded track through the reverb, fyi) and the effected signal simultaneously. I can hear one or the other when switching between the A/B switch on my interface (it just switches between the analog inputs and the SPDIF digital inputs), but not both. I'm wondering if it has to do with the Input and Output settings for the track itself, but I feel like I'm just not getting something that's probably pretty obvious (but is still frustrating!).
 
Any ideas or anyone who can more thoroughly explain the signal flow and metering in the situation would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks.
 
Bob O'Donnell

Basically yes...

Dean,
 
Thanks for the response. Essentially, I've been trying to do method number one, but expecting to have results similar to method two, which is probably where the confusion is occurring. There is no output level or mix control on the external reverb, so I would have to mix the wet and dry signal inside Sonar (as you suggest in method 2) and I guess I was expecting all  the signals to show up on the same track.
 
So, just to clarify, I would create a separate bus in Sonar. I would select the Output of the track I want to effect to be set to this new bus. I would add the External Insert to this new bus and then control the level of the wet signal there and the dry signal would be the output level of the original track? Also, I notice on buses that there's only a single input/output choice...not one for each. What would I set it to? Also, how do the send return levels in the External Insert fit into the signal flow? I guess I originally assumed that's where I would control the wet/dry mix, but I guess not.
 
Hopefully these questions make sense....
 
Bob

OK...got it. I'll give that a try tonight at home...thanks!

Dean,
 
Thanks. This does work, but I'm kind of surprised the meters on the main audio track don't register. You can see the meters on the inserted bus and on the master, but not the original track, which seems odd.
 
Anyway, from an audio/audible perspective, this does the trick.
 
Bob O'Donnell

Hi Bob,
Something's not right there. Inserting an FX send shouldn't do anything to the meters of the track. Check to make sure that you're not record armed like Danny suggested and if it's still not working I'd call tech support.
 
Dean

Finally figured out the meter issue. I had accidentally select the input of the playback channel to one of the interface's inputs so it was looking for signal there. Once I switched it to off, meters for both the dry and wet signals worked as expected. Now if I could just figure out the VST plug-in issue with my Lexicon MX400, I could actually achieve what I was shooting for in the first place....
 
It crashes immediately on startup. Of course, Sonar did warn me that it might be incompatible. It give the load failure reason reported as MAIN CALL. Any possible solutions for that?