Proper routing of outboard gear

Question

External hardware compressor question.
i have an issues with something that seems should be pretty straight forward to me.
I just got a first outboard compressor. I worked for years now ITB using plugs and a few pre amps with my Fireface 800 interface.
Well I got a overstayer stereo bus compressor, that was recommended to me.
I also have a UA pre with a T4 optical compressor but I have used it only on the actual pre inputs and not using it's line in.
OK So I got the compressor, hooked it up via Fireface 3/4 inputs and 3/4 outputs. (out of the comp to in of the ff and vice versa)
I fired up Logic, took a overhead stereo track and sent it to bus 1.
On bus one I inserted the I/O with 3/4 as inputs and 3/4 as outputs. So now, if I am understanding correctly Logic should be sending its out thru the FF to the compressor and back into the daw.
Well, I hear the return sound, if I set the OH drum track to pre fader and turn it down, I hear that same signal. When I turn up the OH track, you can hear the two tracks sounding weird, either due to latency (thiner, slightly doubled sound). I imagine that this would have to be fixed with the sample delay control right with in the I/O plug in, I don't know how to do that but I will try to find it in the forums.
My question actually has to do with the sound that I think is coming back from the compressor. I hear no compression, changing the input or output does not change the sound. I have worked with compression in the box long enough that I can hear it when it's subtle applied but this signal has none of it.
SO what am I doing wrong? I know I am a noob when it comes to outboard gear but what else is there to do? Am I supposed to route something with in the environment, am I screwing up something with in the FF800 mixer, I really have no idea.
Any insight would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,
Instead of using a buss object (track)
Do the following :
Assign the output of the track to be compressed (mono?) to another output that is not your main 1-2.
Example : MONO audio track.
Route "Kick" track to outboard compressor, and back into Logic.
Assign Kick track main output to output 3 (mono).
Patch your output 3 from your interface to the input of your compressor.
Patch the output of your compressor into Input 3 of your interface.
Inside Logic, create a new MONO AUX track, and assign it's input as input 3.
Now, play back the kick, and set your compressor the way you like it.
The only issue you will have, is the roundtrip latency.
So, once you have the kick sounding the way you like, you might want to create a new audio track, and record the signal into it, so you can then move it back to where it should be.
"Logic don't do latency compensation for external hardware" and anyone else telling you otherwise is insane.
Cheers