POD-to-Tascam question (please don't laugh)

M

mgoldhammer

New member
I have a feeling this is a really stupid question..but I'm going to swallow my pride and ask it anyway: Does there exist an adapter (or some other means) to connect both the left and right outputs from the POD to a 4-track without using 2 tracks?
 
I think so...does this mean that using an adapter will result in the same diminished quality as using only one output from the POD?
 
Before you go and by an adapter check the POD owners manual to see if the the left output jack is also the mono output jack--this is pretty much industry standard anymore. As for diminished performance, as stated before, you will be loosing the spaciousness of the stereo field. This will be most noticible with some of your delayed settings, flange effects and your chorus effects when these are set up in stereo. Now, I don't have a POD (yet) but most of my rack effects sound pretty decent in mono if I take the time to tweak them just right. But I don't do this often because I like my guitar in stereo--at the least, my lead stuff. So I will record alot of my mono stuff (Bass, rhythm guitar and keys and then bounce them together onto one track and then record my lead onto two tracks. I then will master all of this onto VHS in stereo and record this onto two tracks of a four track and use the other two for vocals. Oh yeah, often, if I want my rhythm in stereo, I will record this with my drum machine, use track 3 for bass and track 4 for keys, master the rhythm tracks on VHS and then record thes on two tracks and then place my lead, master again, instruments on two tracks have two left for vocals. I know this is more than you asked for, but I could see where you next questions would go (or so I guessed). Also, everyone (especially in the analog world) seems scared to bounce or do reduction mixes (rhythm tracks as I call them). But don't be, usually you can get away with about two reductions (done on good tape machines or VCRs) before sound quality begins to get to muddied. At least that is what I have found.

Peace, Jim
 
Yes indeed, the left output is mono on the POD- but be aware that plugging in headphones to the POD overrides this and you'll get just left channel.
 
I've got the POD and man, it sounds pretty great. I know from using it that the left out is the dedicated left/mono. POD knows to convert the signal to mono when only one line is plugged into the left output.

I believe you're best off just going one cable from the left out of the POD into one track on your 4-track. I have an 8-track so I often record left and right onto two tracks (panning them left and right appropriately to get the stereo effect in my mix), but with a 4 track, you're pretty limited.

Good luck.
 
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