User manual TASCAM 414MKII

[. . . ] » 414@# OWNER'S MANUAL 3D0028100A Table Of Contents Safety Instructions 3 The PORTASTUDIO 414 MKII is. . . 4 The Recording System 5 The Three Steps to Multitrack 5 Understanding the Mixer 6-7 Signal Flow in the 414 MKII Mixer 6 Tape Cue Monitor System 7 Multitrack Cassette Recorder 8 Track Format and Tape Recommendations 8-9 Optional Accessories 10 PORTASTUDIO 414 MKII Brief Guide 11-14 Step-By-Step Operation Guide 15-23 Let's Try the 414 MKII Mixer 15 How to Record on Track 1 16 Track 1 Playback through TAPE CUE 17 How to Make an Overdub on Track 2 18 How to Record Tracks 3 and 4 20 How to Record Many Sources onto a Single Track 20 How to Record a Mix onto Two Tracks Simultaneously 21 Recording on More than Two Tracks Simultaneously : Direct Recording 22 How to Mix Down 22 PUNCH-IN or INSERT Recording 24-25 Preliminary 24 Punch-in Procedure 25 Bouncing Tracks (Ping-Pong) 26 Ping-pong Procedure 26 Using Effects with the PORTASTUDIO 414 MKII 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 414 MKII MIXER Input Section Stereo Input Section Monitor Section Master Section Output Section 414 MKII RECORDER Cassette Loading and dbx System Transport Controls Track Controls Displays Care and Maintenance How the dbx Works Specifications Block Diagram Level Diagram 27-28 27 27 28 28 29 30 31-35 32 33 33 33 33 34 34 35 35 35-36 36 37-38 39-40 41 "© Copyright 1999, 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). [. . . ] In this Direct recording, each track gets its signal from a single mixer channel only -- track 1 from channel 1, and so on. s In Direct recording, the MASTER fader has no effect on the record level. It only affects the level going to the headphones/monitor speakers (via MONITOR L-R switch). s Even when using the direct recording capability, a channel still goes to the Left/Right mix. If you record another track with the stereo left or right mix at the same time, you must check your PAN settings. For example, you can record a vocal directly onto track 3, and record multiple instruments on track 1 via the stereo left bus at the same time. But channel 3's PAN control must be turned hard right, otherwise you'll wind up with vocals "bleeding through" onto track 1's instruments. s The direct recording can be used whenever you want to record a single channel to a single track. How to Mix Down When the 4 tracks are all recorded, the final step is mixing them into a standard stereo format. During this procedure the tracks are blended together and balanced to create the desired sound. 1 Connections Connect the LINE OUT L jack of the 414 MKII to the left line input of the mixdown deck, and the LINE OUT R jack to the right line input. 2 Master level Raise the MASTER fader to the shaded area between 7 and 8. Monitor source L-R MONITOR 3 ` Press the MONITOR L-R switch on. All other MONITOR switches must be off. 4 Routing inputs Set all the INPUT select switches on the input channels to the TAPE position. 22 Step-By-Step-Operation Guide 5 Playback level Press PLAY and, while listening to the tape play, tentatively set the channel faders. Adjust the PAN controls to set each track's left-to- right position for the desired stereo image. You may also want to use the EQ controls to adjust the individual tracks for the desired tonality. 27 & 28. ) Using the MASTER fader, adjust the overall playback level. Review When the signal balance, level, and tonality sound right, rewind the tape, and press PLAY again to check the result. Put a blank tape in the mixdown deck and let it play for 5 seconds, then stop it and reset the mixdown deck's counter to zero. 10 11 Press PLAY on the 414 MKII. Record level Put the mixdown deck into its "Record Ready" mode, and adjust its input level controls for the desired record level. Put the mixdown deck into Record mode then press PLAY on the 414 MKII. When recording is done, stop both machines, rewind the mixdown tape and listen to it. If the mixdown tape does not sound right, make the necessary corrections and re-do from the beginning. 6 12 13 14 7 8 9 23 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. 6 Set the RECORD FUNCTION switch for track 2 to R. [. . . ] A compression factor of 2:1 is used before recording; then, 1:2 expansion on reproduce. These compression and expansion factors are linear in decibels and allow the system to produce tape recordings with over a 90 dB dynamic range ­ an important feature, especially when you're making live recordings. The dbx system employs RMS level sensors to eliminate compressor-expander tracking errors due to phase shifts in the tape recorder, and provides excellent transient tracking capabilities. To achieve a large reduction in audible tape hiss, without danger of overload or high-frequency selferasure on the tape, frequency pre-emphasis and deemphasis are added to the signal and RMS level sensors. Input Á Encoder Á Cleaning the Capstan Shaft After cleaning the pinch roller, clean the capstan shaft with a cotton swab moistened with head cleaning fluid. Tape deck Playback Á Decoder Decode (Expand) Output Dynamic range Encode of Record (Compress) input signal Á40dB 80dB +20dB 0dB Á Á40dB Á 80dB +10dB +15dB Saturation level +25dB +20dB Dynamic range of tape (65dB) Erase head Capstan Pinch roller ­60dB ­30dB Á Record/Play head ­50dB ­60dB dbx encoding/decoding level diagram ­80dB Noise level Degaussing the Tape Path Hold the degausser about 1 m (3 feet) away from the recorder. [. . . ]