scratch stereo track

[whit]

I've got a 464 cassette machine. I want to record a song from my stereo onto one track on my machine, use it as a guide/scratch track, record my bass, guitar, lead vocal tracks onto tracks 2,3,4, then resuse trk 1. My problem is getting a stereo signal onto one track only. What would be the best way to accomplish this.

Thanks to all.

[Mark7]

I'm not familiar with the 464. What kind of input options does it have?

[The Ghost of FM]

To accomplish your task, plug your stereo input tracks into channels one and two of the Portastudio's input strips and assign them to record on track one and leave the pan controls hard left.

This will get the originating left and right channels to merge into a mono mix that can be feed to a singular channel on the tape.

Does your portastudio have track assignment buttons on it's channel strips? If so, you will have no problems.

If your portastudio does not have assignment buttons on the channel strips you can use a Y connector jack that will merge the two channels into one and feed that to the desired channel on the tape.

A Y connector would be a cable that has two female RCA plugs on one end and a singular male plug on the other end of the cable. Radio Shack should have these, if needed.

You should also be aware that it is not possible to put a stereo mix onto a single channel of tape in analog recorders and have it play back in it's original stereo state.

Cheers!

[Derek Verner]

Many consumer stereo decks have a "mono" switch which mixes the stereo signals to one mono output.

[whit]

The 464 is an older version of the 424MkII.
No track assignment buttons. Has a direct record feature where Ch1 rec to Trk 1, Ch2 to Trk 2, etc.
Sounds like the easiest option would be pan 1 & 2 hard left, or get a stereo to mono adapter plug.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
Great forum, happy to be here!


Whit