Yes you can record direct.
When a particular tape track is set to DIRECT, its source is the corresponding mixer channel. So, track 1 sources mixer channel 1, track 2 channel 2, etc. can you record to tracks 2 & 4 that way?
And how about this: can you take any input on any mixer channel, sweep it hard right, raise the channel fader and the master fader, switch the L and R MON switches to the right, can you see any meter activity on the right side of the master meter, or if you turn up the LEVEL knob in the monitor section can you hear your source in the right channel of the headphones?
The EFF 2/TAPE CUE is a dual function buss that either functions as a post-fader aux buss for, like, send type effects, or functions as a tape monitor buss. When the EFF 2/TAPE CUE master mode switch above the master fader is set to EFF 2, the EFF 2/TAPE CUE knobs on channels 1~4 get their respective signals from the post fader signal on the corresponding mixer channel...the channel 1 EFF 2 pot gets its signal from the channel 1 input right after the channel 1 fader...same goes for channels 2 through 4. Then all 4 EFF 2 knobs are summed internally and the sum is present at the EFF 2 output jack. This would typically connect to the input of a reverb or delay effects processor or some other type of send effect, and be returned to the mix using the channel 5-6 or 7-8 strip. You can also monitor the sum by switching the EFF 2/TAPE CUE switch in the monitor section to MON and listen via the headphones or via the MONITOR OUT jacks connected to your speakers. When the EFF 2/TAPE CUE master switch is set to TAPE CUE, the channel 1~4 EFF 2/TAPE CUE knobs now source the corresponding tape track; the channel 1 TAPE CUE knob sources tape track 1, knobs 2 through 4 source tracks 2 through 4 respectively. This gives you the capability to independently setup a cue or “monitor” mix of your tape tracks when overdubbing, and you can monitor this tape cue buss just like you could when the mode was set to EFF 2.