User manual TASCAM 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. [. . . ] Remember : If you don't hold down but just hit the LOC key, the tape is autolocated to the corresponding MEMO point. Checking MEMO points Erasing Both MEMO points are erased when the cassette is taken out from the compartment or the power is turned off. 25 Locating the tape To zero Press the RTZ key to fast wind the tape to the counter zero point. If you press COUNTER RESET during the RTZ process, the tape counter is reset to 0000 and the tape stops. To MEMO 1 Hit the LOC 1 key to fast wind the tape to the MEMO 1 point. If you hold it down for 0. 5 second or more, autolocation does not start and only the tape counter shows the location point. To MEMO 2 Hit the LOC 2 key to fast wind the tape to the MEMO 2 point. Note : For the deck to autolocate, the current point must be 0003 or more higher or lower than the memo point. A shorter distance only causes the MEMO 1 (or 2) indicator to flash upon hitting the LOC 1 (or 2) key. Auto play If PLAY is pressed after RTZ, LOC 1 or LOC 2, the tape will automatically start playing when the location point is reached. 26 Repeat Play The REPEAT function provides a "Playback Loop" or "Block Repeat" between the two programmed MEMO points. 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. 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. [. . . ] In addition, the compression during recording permits a net gain in tape headroom of about 10 dB. 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 employs RMS level sensors to eliminate compressor-expander tracking errors due to phase shifts in the tape recorder, and provides excellent transient tracking capabilities. [. . . ]