Insert point

Definition

A mixing desk connection that takes the signal from an input and sends it to an external processor in such a way that the signal flows through the external processor before being returned to the rest of the mixer channel.

Insert points are used predominantly for patching in dynamic processors due to the fact that such processors need to change the basic nature of the signal in some way. Insert points tend to be in the form of a single TRS jack socket where the tip of the socket sends the signal out, the ring of the socket returns the signal to the desk and the sleeve is earth. More complex mixers may have a separate socket for each function, send and return.