Question

I have a Warm Audio WA-2A that I am wanting to use for Lightly compressing vocals while recording before it goes into Studio One. Being new to  using analog gear, I can’t seem to find a definitive answer on if the in/out on the quantum 2 is the same as the send/return or do I need to get a separate mic preamp?

Answer 1

There are no insert points on Quantum or Quantum 2.

You will need to use an external preamp before going into the WA-2A and then into one of the line inputs.

Answer 2

You don't necessarily need an insert point to connect a compressor. You'll need to set up what input channel your DAW is sending to the line out ports, but that is easy enough. For you this example, you'd want to send input 1 to line out 1. Here is an example of the signal flow for running through a compressor: Mic > XLR mic input one (adjust input gain to peak at around -15) > TRS cable line out 1 > TRS input channel of Warm Audio > Warm Audio TRS line out > Any channel line in on the Quantum > Select this as the input source on a DAW input channel strip. Adjust output gain of the compressor to that the DAW channel strip is peaking near that same -15. Now record your vocal. Voilá.