Tascam 424 mkII recording 1st track twice(im dumb, help)

[junglefacejake9]

Normally, when I'm doing a multi track song(and I'm probably doing this wrong), I'll lay the first one down, switch it to safe, plug the mic into the 2nd track's slot, set track 1 to tape and track 2 to mic and record. And every single time I have done this, there's a lower quality duplicate of track 1 underneath track 2, even when track 1 is turned off.

I'm guessing it's recording me monitoring it and playing over it. I don't want this to happen; what could I be doing wrong? I usually set it on Direct, though I know this is wrong now, but the manual says that will cause "bleed through" and I know what that is(definitely not this); am I just dumb and not using the tape cue like I should? Or is it a problem with my unit? A friend of mine owns one and doesn't know a thing about tape cue yet doesn't have this problem, so I'm lead to believe it's not that either. Help.

edit: i should note it does this for track 1 and 2 into 3 and tracks 2 and 3 into 4 etc.

[TheOwnageMaster]

Originally Posted by junglefacejake9

Normally, when I'm doing a multi track song(and I'm probably doing this wrong), I'll lay the first one down, switch it to safe, plug the mic into the 2nd track's slot, set track 1 to tape and track 2 to mic and record. And every single time I have done this, there's a lower quality duplicate of track 1 underneath track 2, even when track 1 is turned off.

I'm guessing it's recording me monitoring it and playing over it. I don't want this to happen; what could I be doing wrong? I usually set it on Direct, though I know this is wrong now, but the manual says that will cause "bleed through" and I know what that is(definitely not this); am I just dumb and not using the tape cue like I should? Or is it a problem with my unit? A friend of mine owns one and doesn't know a thing about tape cue yet doesn't have this problem, so I'm lead to believe it's not that either. Help.

edit: i should note it does this for track 1 and 2 into 3 and tracks 2 and 3 into 4 etc.

Tie a string around your nuts.

[nopainkiller]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. The way I use it, I keep the mic plugged into the first channel the whole time. Then when I want to record another track I set the track to 2 and turn the panning to the right channel. If I want to record on the third track, I switch it to the third, then turn the 1-2 button off, and press the 3-4 button. If u want to listen to the tape while recording, you have to have the tape cue button pressed in the monitor section. You don't have to switch jacks for different tracks, you just assign that channel to a certain track. You record tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 on the 1-2 buttons, and 3,4,7,8 on the 3-4 buttons.

If that's not yer problem, then you're setting the input on the channel you just recorded to tape, so it's sendning the tape signal to the track you are recording, which is impossible if you were recording track 1 to 2.

[nopainkiller]

oh heh, I have the 488mkII tho. sorry. dunno if it's much different

[analog aaron]

What you need to do is Keep your input plugged into channel 1 and turn the PAN to the R. (or if you really want to you can use any of the inputs, just pan the channel you want to use to the persective track, trk 1 L, trk 2 R, trk 3 L, trk 4 R) Switch the track 1 (that you've already recorded) to the mic input position - not off- not tape -IF you are going to leave your Mic or plug into the channel one input) Press the cue button and turn the cue knob on channel 1 to the right. This will be your volume of track one. Set it loud enough to hear it but not too loud that you can't hear your overdub onto trk 2. Set track 2 to record. and the last step........Become Phil Spector.

[danw]

I also use the direct mode because I never liked that whole panning thing, and I haven't had that kind of a problem.

Here's a silly question: are you sure it's actually recording the duplicate onto the new track, and you're not just hearing the tape cue of the first track? If you have the tape cue on, my understanding is that you will hear the track even if it's turned off.

[andyhix]

Make sure your heads are clean and you are using decent quality tapes, and that you are not recording too loud. Not sure that any of that will help, but you should do it anyway.

Next step: try the pan/bus recording method and see if you have the same problem.

Dumb question, but are your headphones just cranked up too loud or not providing good isolation?

[junglefacejake9]

"I also use the direct mode because I never liked that whole panning thing, and I haven't had that kind of a problem.

Here's a silly question: are you sure it's actually recording the duplicate onto the new track, and you're not just hearing the tape cue of the first track? If you have the tape cue on, my understanding is that you will hear the track even if it's turned off."

Glad someone else uses Direct so I don't feel so lost about this panning stuff! Yes, I'm sure it's recording the duplicate. When Track 1 is fully off, it lingers in the background of Track 2. When both are on, Track 1 is piled onto itself in this low quality mess of horrible. Track 2 is turned off, and everything sounds fine again. So it's not headphones or tape cue(I have tape cue off because I don't really get that either!)

My tape quality is good and my hands are clean and everything's alright so I'll try analog aaron's thing! That sounds right.

[analog aaron]

Using the panning method is THE ONLY WAY to insure that your input's
strongest signal will go to the ONLY track you choose. This is the only way to minimize track bleedthrough/crosstalk (whatever the hell they call it).....SOOO......use the panning method and I promise, it'll all PAN out in the end...Ahahahahahaa..Ha......Ha.....cough.....sniff...Sorry...It's too early for bad jokes Let-tuce (I can't stop myself) know how it works out!!

[andyhix]

Yep, for what it's worth, I used the direct method for years. It is clearly the more intuitive way to record. 1 goes to 1, etc. However, I kept hearing over and over about the buss method, and finally tried it. It was somewhat of an epiphany. You no longer have to unplug/replug to record your next track; you don't need to reset the trim and input levels. All you do is spin the pan knob to the other side, put track 1 on safe, and put track 2 on Buss R, and you are ready to record the next track. Once you start doing that, other benefits of the built in mixer (different routing options, etc.) in the 424 will start to become apparent.

I highly encourage all users of such portastudios to start differentiating in their mind between Channels and Tracks. The mixer section of the unti has 8 input CHANNELS. These CHANNELS can be routed any number of ways to the 4 TRACKS that are on the casette tape. There's no reason that TRACK 1 should only be fed by CHANNEL 1.

[busby99]

When you're finished recording on track 1 you said you switch the track #1 input switch to "tape". That's where your problem lies. When you record track #2 it's not only recording through the mic, but it's also recording track #1 as well. Instead, once you've finished recording to track #1, that input switch should be set to "Off". You can hear track 1 playback while you're recording track #2 by using the tape cue control on track 1 and switching the "effect 2/tape cue" switch to the right (tape cue) position. I've forgotten many times to put one of those switches back to the "off" position and have had to re-record more than a few a few tracks because of that.

I'd like to echo some of the other replies here that said it's easier to use the buss and leave the mic plugged into track one. The instructions in the manual for doing that aren't quite clear, but once you fool around with it for a while you should be able to understand the concept.

[A Reel Person]

Originally Posted by busby99

you said you switch the track #1 input switch to "tape". That's where your problem lies. use the tape cue control on track 1

How many posts missed this point completely?

Thanx!

[MCI2424]

Originally Posted by busby99
you said you switch the track #1 input switch to "tape". That's where your problem lies. use the tape cue control on track 1

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

How many posts missed this point completely?

Thanx!

I'm guessing everyone but this one?