User manual TASCAM PORTA SUDIO 424MKIII

[. . . ] 424@$ OWNER'S MANUAL 3D0023100A Table Of Contents Safety Instructions Introduction The Recording System The three steps to multitrack Understanding the Mixer Signal flow in the 424 MKIII mixer Tape cue monitor system Multitrack Cassette Recorder Track Format and Tape Recommendations PORTASTUDIO 424 MKIII Brief Guide Step-By-Step Operations Guide Let's try the 424 MKIII mixer How to record on track 1 Track 1 playback through TAPE CUE How to make an overdub on track 2 How to record tracks 3 and 4 How to record many sources onto a single track How to record a mix onto two tracks simultaneously Recording on more than two tracks simultaneously : DIRECT How to mix down Using Memory Location Points Loading MEMO points Locating the tape Repeat Play PUNCH-IN or INSERT Recording Preliminary Rehearsal and auto in/out procedures Manual punch-in Bouncing Tracks (Ping-Pong) Ping-pong procedure 3 4 5 5 6-7 6 7 8 9-10 11-14 15-24 15 16 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 25-26 25 26 27 28-32 28 29 31 33-34 33 Using Effects with the PORTASTUDIO 424 MKIII Setting effect send levels Setting the output level of effect devices Setting the mix/balance control on effect devices How to connect your effects devices Syncing MIDI-Tape--Using the TASCAM MTS-30 Troubleshooting Features and Controls 424 MKIII Mixer Input section Stereo input section Monitor section Master section Output section 424 MKIII Recorder Cassette loading and dbx system Transport controls Track controls Displays Autolocators Optional Accessories Care and Maintenance How the dbx Works Specifications Block Diagram Level Diagram 35-36 35 35 35 36 37 38 39-45 40 41 41 41 41 42 43 44 44 44 47 48-49 49 50-52 53-54 55 "© Copyright 1998, TEAC Corporation" All rights reserved under international and Pan American copyright conventions. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. "The following marking is located on the bottom of the unit. " CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to person. [. . . ] The 424 MKIII understands the lower MEMO point as the start point of the loop, and the higher point as the end. Operating procedure 1. 4. Use MEMO IN and LOC 1 and LOC 2 (as explained above) to establish the beginning and the end of loop. The tape will fast wind to the lower MEMO point. As soon as that location is reached, the tape will automatically start playing to the higher MEMO location. When the tape reaches the end of the loop, it will automatically rewind to the lower MEMO location and start over. To interrupt REPEAT sequence Press any transport keys (except Play). If the tape is wound outside the repeat loop points, the REPEAT LED that was on solid will start blinking. To resume the REPEAT sequence ­; - Press the LOC 1 or LOC 2 key. OR - If you are now within the loop or shortly behind the lower MEMO point, press PLAY. Note 1 Repeat Play does not work while the 424 MKIII is in Record mode (REC LED is blinking or lights on solid). A space of 0003 or more (as controlled on the tape counter) is required between two memo points. If you create a smaller loop and press REPEAT, the REPEAT indicator does not light up in the display and both the MEMO 1 and MEMO 2 indicators flash, showing that the loop cannot be played. Note 2 27 PUNCH-IN or INSERT Recording "Punching in" or "insert recording" is recording over a small section of previously recorded track to correct or improve a performance, while keeping the rest of the track intact. The mixer settings should be exactly the same as they were during the original recording. In the following, we'll use track 2 as the punch-in track as an example. Preliminary 1. As the punch-in track is track 2 in our example, your input must be sent to the stereo right bus. To do so, rotate the PAN control of the channel into which your source instrument is plugged all the way to the right. TAPE CUE signal path is used to hear the tape, so set the EFFECT 2/TAPE CUE select switch (located below the MONITOR LEVEL control) to the TAPE CUE position and set the EFFECT/CUE monitor switch to EFFECT 2/CUE. To hear the instrument, set the MONITOR SELECT LINE OUT switch to the MONO position. Press PLAY to play the tape, adjust the TAPE CUE control on channel 2 until the MONITOR level meters read a maximum of from 0 to +3, and adjust the MONITOR LEVEL control for the desired headphone listening level. You'll hear it together with the tape signals through the headphones. Stop the tape, and you hear only the instrument being played. Set the TRK 2 RECORD FUNCTION switch to BUSS R. The REC 2 indicator will start blinking in the display window, and meter 2 will show your instrument's output level. Adjust the channel and MASTER faders for the proper recording level. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Selecting in and out points For both musical and technical reasons, when punching in or out of a track, you must select points that are "in the points clear", i. e. , in pauses between phrases or notes. [. . . ] Turn it on, slowly move in to the tape path. Move the degausser slowly back and forth, touching lightly all metal parts in the tape path. Slowly move it away again to at least 1 m (3 feet) from the recorder before turning it off. To complete the cleaning and demagnetizing procedure, press STOP. [. . . ]