I don't.  I try to get as much saturation as needed from analog during tracking.  If I do that, I find the CE just clouds the sound.

FreeFlyBertl
... 
2. To simulate console preamp coloration: The NLS Channel is placed on the first insert of your DAW audio tracks, and the NLS Buss can then be inserted at any point on the buss or master track.

The NLS automatically ensures channel variation by loading a different channel model for each instance of the NLS Channel component, chosen from the pool of 32 modeled channels per console.
...

Maybe it doesn't matter, but I'm wondering if the specific channel model for each instance is saved in the song state, the way the setting is saved if the Tolerance switch is enabled on the SONAR ProChannel console emulators.

Good question TheMaartian:) Don't know

Yes, that seem like best practice there AT, however I mostly use Software synth. I find that the CE sometime can make the sound a bit warmer and clearer.
 

AT
I don't.  I try to get as much saturation as needed from analog during tracking.  If I do that, I find the CE just clouds the sound.

AT
I don't.  I try to get as much saturation as needed from analog during tracking.  "If I do that, I find the CE just clouds the sound." thats wat puts me off them, i thought it was me lol

AT
I don't.  I try to get as much saturation as needed from analog during tracking.  If I do that, I find the CE just clouds the sound.

Yeah, I have a tube preamp that I use for vocals and guitars and sometimes it's just too much of a good thing and stuff starts to get a little fuzzy. When I track vocals direct into the interface using an SM58 (which sounds really good for my voice in some situations) I will not use the CE for that vocal's signal chain until it hits the summing bus where I will use a single instance for the entire mix.

Depends to me. If I am recording instrumental contemporary jazz, I want things tight, focused, and uncolored. As little PC in the signal path as possible. For acoustic/ vocal , I use it on almost everything.
Even when I don't engage the majority of the modules, however, I ALWAYS use the quad curve, at least subtractively. It's a pretty good EQ and it sits in a good spot ergonomically and signal chain wise. good for keeping the source and it's mic from barking or ringing. Also good for keeping 20khz material out of the kick drum.

michaelhanson

"You will typically want to insert the Console Emulator module as the first module, and make sure ProChannel has Post FX Bin disabled. However, you can also experiment with placing the Console Emulator module at the end and enable Post FX Bin, so all your effects and processed sound are affected."

Mojo,
Taken from your Console Emulator link above, in the 2nd sentence.  At the end, post FX bin.

Yet by default it's LAST in the chain... And when I questioned this based on the above statement - I was given the advice in the forum to "leave it where it is by default" - which is LAST in the chain. And that makes no sense.
 
So who knows! :-)

There's no "one size fits all" answer because the answer is context-dependent. The ProChannel was originally envisioned as a mixer channel strip. If there was no FX Rack, that would be the end of the story...the CE would go at the end of the PC. Although usually it wouldn't make much difference if the CE was at the beginning or end, placing CE before Tube Saturation (distorting the CE) will provide a different effect than if placed afterward (CE processing distortion). Also, you have the same question as "EQ before or after compression?" where the answer is "it depends on what you want to do - compress the EQed sound, or EQ the compressed sound."
 
If you use the FX Rack mostly for time-based effects like reverb or delay, it makes sense that you would want to process the mixed sound. But, suppose you want 8 stages of EQ, so you use the ProChannel EQ and also insert an EQ into the FX Rack. Now the FX Rack is acting more like an extension of the "channel strip." In this case, you'd probably want the CE in the ProChannel to be post-FX Rack.
 
However, placing the ProChannel post-FX Rack has other implications. For example if you're compressing with the ProChannel, you might not want to compress the sound of the processors in the FX Rack. So then you have decide what your priorities are...
 
I would recommend placing the CE at the end of the ProChannel if you're treating the PC as a channel strip. OTOH if you're adding effects like delay or reverb in the PC, you might want to put the CE between the "virtual channel strip" and the "outboard time-based effects."
 
Just remember that ultimately, there are only some cases where there's going to be a significant difference between putting the CE at the end of the chain and elsewhere. Also, the CE will not be the determining factor in the appeal of a song. The CE can add that extra little bit of coolness; you'll get most of the benefits of that if the CE is placed properly within the ProChannel.

You use the tap emulation on most tracks? I don't know why I always thought that should just be on the master for authenticity. In my mind it goes through the console to tape right? Am I missing some sonic goodness here?